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Armament Systems Branch Fields New Gun System on Deploying Ships

NAVSEA

By Scott Johnson, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane

CRANE, In -- Naval Surface Warfare Center, (NSWC) Crane was tasked by NAVSEA (PMS NSW) in direct support of Chief of Naval Operations' (N764) Operation Task Force Hip Pocket to install additional small arms weapons on deploying ships for force protection. The directive to provide MK44 systems to several ships scheduled for near-term deployment was received late last year and in less than 45 days, 56 systems were procured, assembled, inspected, and delivered to the Truman Battle Group (BG) ships in Norfolk and the Nimitz BG in San Diego.

To accomplish this series of new installations at the direction of OPNAV, NSWC Crane personnel began training the Fleet last month. NSWC Crane technical representatives from the Armament Systems Branch (Code 4082) conducted the necessary training and provided a complete system technical manual for Fleet operation and support. Crane will be providing interim spare parts support until the Navy Inventory Control Point can support this system.

Task Force Hip Pocket is a collaborative effort among the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark and other major Navy communities including Commander Fleet Forces Command, the surface warfare communities of both Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, the Naval Sea Systems Command, the Naval Surface Warfare Center, the Navy's operational test community, and industry. "The CNO wants near-term capability as soon as possible for [deploying vessels]." "Including un-stabilized [gun] systems such as chain guns and other small arms."

The MK44 Gun System is a shipboard version of the 7.62mm Gatling gun currently used in the UH-1N and HH-60 helicopters supported by Crane. The Armament Systems Branch has also installed this type of weapon on various small craft in support of the Navy Special Warfare Command. Since the initial issue of these gun systems in SPECWAR, several system improvements have been made which has significantly increased the reliability of the weapon and reduced the maintenance requirements as well.

The upgraded MK44 systems provided to the Truman BG were delivered and formal training conducted on board the USS Winston S Churchill. During this training a total of 25 Navy personnel representing crews from the Truman BG also attended the two-day course when 22 MK44 weapon systems were delivered by NSWC Crane for installation.

Upon completion of the East Coast installations, the team began training and installations for the Nimitz BG. Recently, the Armament Systems Branch delivered and conducted training for the MK44 7.62mm Gatling gun system at the Fleet Training Center in San Diego. During this training Navy personnel representing crews from the Nimitz BG attended the two-day course during which 14 MK44 weapon systems were delivered for installation. Additional training and installations were conducted in Yokosuka, Japan for three additional ships, which included six (6) MK44 weapon systems. A total of 26 MK44s have now been successfully installed on West Coast ships.

To complete the MK44 urgent installations, recently, the Armament Systems Branch delivered and conducted training for the MK44 7.62mm Gatling gun on the USS Firebolt, USS Chinook, and HSV-X1 Joint Venture. During this training Navy personnel representing crews from these ships attended the two-day course during which six (6) MK44 weapon systems were delivered by Crane Division for installation as a new capability in force protection.

The directive to provide these MK44 systems to the deploying ships was received this past month. Crane personnel assembled, shipped, trained and installed these six systems the following week at the Little Creek Amphibious Base to meet deployment schedules. NSWC Crane technical representatives conducted the necessary training. Draft MRC data is being sent to FTCLANT for review and approval in support of this new system.

This effort included the total procurement, quality assurance inspection, packing, shipment, training and installation of 56 MK44 gun systems.