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Truman Completes its First RAS in 19 Months

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS120721-09
7/21/2012

By By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Taylor DiMartino, USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs

ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) completed its first replenishment-at-sea (RAS) in 19 months, July 20.

Seventy Sailors from Truman's deck and air departments participated in the five-hour evolution.

"The operations went very smoothly thanks to all of the great training the crew had leading up to Truman's RAS," said Chief Boatswain's Mate (SW) Kenneth Campbell, leading chief petty officer for deck department's 2nd division. "Sailors flawlessly executed all evolutions."

Truman received more than 1 million gallons of JP-5 from the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195) while underway for carrier qualifications.

"With our recent flight operations, Truman used between 40,000 and 50,000 gallons of JP-5 daily," said Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) (AW/SW) Matthew Altekruse, fuels aviation chief for air department's fuels division. "Even though Truman can hold three million gallons of fuel at a time, an embarked air wing can easily use up our supply in no time. The fuel must flow, and RAS is the best way to keep it coming."

Seaman Richard Mendez, assigned to deck department, handled the phone and distance line connecting Truman to the Grumman.

"We could not have done our job without all of deck department involved," said Mendez. "It took everyone to keep the line steady. We always hear, 'one team, one fight,' but nowhere is it truer than in operations like the one we had today."

With its first RAS complete, Truman is one step closer to rejoining the fleet, said Campbell.

"We can stay out to sea for extended periods of time without the need to go in port for fuel and supplies," said Campbell. "We know that we are ready to carry out our mission to launch and recover aircraft wherever the fight takes us."