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USS George Washington Conducts Vertical Replenishment-at-Sea

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110327-05
3/27/2011

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Juan Manuel Pinalez, USS George Washington (CVN 73) Public Affairs

USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NNS) -- USS George Washington (CVN 73) successfully conducted a vertical replenishment-at-sea (VERTREP) after receiving supplies from fast combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10) March 26.

George Washington is currently deployed in the western Pacific Ocean with a full ship's company and an additional group of more than 450 civilians from the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington state and Norfolk Naval Shipyards.

During the VERTREP, 117 pallets, carrying mostly food and some logistical supplies, were transferred via a supply helicopter, an MH-60S Knight Hawk, from the "Wild Cats" of Helicopter Combat Squadron 23 to George Washington's flight deck where they were then transferred to their respective storage facilities.

"We requested a VERTREP to top off on food and make sure our crew and our civilian ship riders are well fed," said George Washington's Assistant Supply Officer Cmdr. Tim Griffin. "We need to take advantage of our support systems and all opportunities provided by food suppliers, given the [current] uncertainty of our ship's schedule."

This VERTREP marked George Washington's first replenishment-at-sea in 2011. The nearly four-hour replenishment was accomplished with the help of 150 logistics specialists and an 100-man working party.

While at sea, George Washington regularly receives supplies via VERTREPs and underway replenishments. With the latter, a supply ship and George Washington pull alongside each other and supplies are transferred aboard George Washington's hangar bay via tensioned cables.

"This was a great experience. It served as a training opportunity, especially with only one [helicopter] dropping off the payload," said Logistics Specialist 1st Class (SW) Reggie Guevarra, from the Philippines. "Even though many of us are veterans, we've performed hundreds of replenishments, it still serves as a refresher for us and an excellent, controlled evolution for our Sailors fresh out of their initial training."

After the supply helicopter completed the VERTREP, teams of aviation ordnancemen transferred the thousands of pounds of food and supplies to one of the ship's flight deck elevators using forklifts. Teams of logistics specialists then sort and direct the supplies for further transit into the ship.

"I had a fun time today on the flight deck," said Logistics Specialist 3rd Class (AW) Bruce Holmes from Oakland, Calif. "I moved more cargo than I ever thought I could and because of our team's work ethic, it was actually not too challenging — it was hard, but organized."

George Washington is the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed nuclear powered aircraft carrier, ensuring security and stability across the western Pacific Ocean.