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Kitty Hawk Eludes Submarines During Valiant Shield Exercise

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060625-05
Release Date: 6/25/2006 3:38:00 PM

By Photographer's Mate Airman Jacqueline Russell, USS Kitty Hawk Public Affairs

USS KITTY HAWK, At Sea (NNS) -- The USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Carrier Strike Group began its participation in Exercise Valiant Shield June 18, as Kitty Hawk and her escort ships, USS Lassen (DDG 82), USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) and USS Cowpens (CG 63) simulated defending themselves against five hostile submarines within a 60-by-60 nautical mile area.

According to Lt. Cmdr. Keith Patton, one of Kitty Hawk’s tactical action officers (TAO), the combat direction center plays a large role in this type of exercise.

“We use sonobuoys from helicopters, sonar from escort ships and the newly installed automatic radar periscope detection and discrimination (ARPDD) radar to track down the enemy,” said Patton. “This exercise was designed to evaluate our strengths and weaknesses. Kitty Hawk is forced to push our tactical resources to the limit.”

The TAO is in charge of making sure no weaponry is coming at Kitty Hawk. He is the also the only person, other than the commanding officer, authorized to deploy Kitty Hawk’s weapons systems in defense of the ship. During exercises like Valiant Shield, the TAO also works closely with engineering and the officer of the deck (OOD) to control the maneuvering and speed of the ship to elude the enemy.

“An aircraft carrier’s only defense is speed and maneuverability, which is why engineers are so important in these evolutions,” said Patton.

These exercises will be held 24 hours a day for the duration of Valiant Shield. According to Lt. David Brinson, one of four at sea OODs aboard Kitty Hawk, during the exercise, OODs have extra responsibility and concerns while carrying out Kitty Hawk’s everyday tasks. This is especially true while launching and recovering aircraft and conducting replenishments at sea while evading the simulated enemy.

“It is a delicate balancing act we do in order to meet all mission requirements to be successful,” said Brinson.

Most of the submarines involved in the war games, according to Patton, have underestimated Kitty Hawk because of her age.

“So far we have had total control by finding them first or evading their forces. Enemy submarines have not managed to get one hit,” said Patton. “Kitty Hawk and her escort ships have laid out 36 hours of continuous fire upon the submarines, forcing them to call an eight-hour cease fire.”

The Kitty Hawk Strike Group is the largest carrier strike group in the Navy and is composed of the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, the guided-missile cruisers USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) and Cowpens, and Destroyer Squadron 15.

For related news, visit the USS Kitty Hawk Strike Group Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cv63/.