USS Enterprise (CVN 65)
The Shuttle Newsletter Edition
“We are Legend”
September 26, 2012 Issue
CIWS: Pulling the Trigger on Defense Story by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Britney Epps
Fire Controlman 2nd Class James L. Kincheloe, assigned to CS-7 division, performs meter readings on a microwave assembly for the Close-In Weapons System mount 24. (Photo by MC3 Jared King)
USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea – When dealing with the possibility of an inbound threat to aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) there is one weapons system that stands out as the ship’s last line of defense - The Mk 15 PHALANX Close-In Weapons System (CIWS). The maintenance and upkeep of this weapons system is the responsibility of the Fire Controlman (FC) of Combat Systems department’s Weapons division (CS-7). It is their job to ensure the CIWS is up and ready for any possible attack. The CIWS is an automatic, fast reaction, 20-mm, sixbarrel gun system with integral computer-directed radar controls. It is also completely autonomous; from initial search and target tracking to final kill. There are two systems installed aboard Enterprise and the FC’s who man them are trained to troubleshoot and repair these systems as well as operate them. “I love knowing my systems are ready to defend our ship, to save lives,” said Fire Controlman 2nd Class Bryan May, “and I’m always excited to pass my knowledge and experience on to new CIWS techs.” Maintenance is a big part of keeping the CIWS ready to defend the ship and the Sailors responsible for keeping the systems “online” perform maintenance on the CIWS daily, with checks ranging from five minutes to 22 hours. “The thing I enjoy most about working on the CIWS is that I have to think around corners to fix my equipment when it goes down,” said Fire Controlman 2nd Class James Kincheloe.
The maintenance conducted by the CIWS technicians can be stressful, requiring certain precautions to prevent injury due to mount motion. “Stress is unavoidable when you’re responsible for maintaining, operating and repairing weapons systems, said May, “but that stress is greatly reduced because I work with such a remarkable team of CIWS techs.” The technicians who man the CIWS are just as impressive as the weapons system itself. The PHALANX is the only deployed close-in weapon system capable of autonomously performing its own search, detect, evaluation, track, engage and kill assessment functions. “My job was pretty difficult at first,” said Kincheloe. “It has gotten much easier now that I am more familiar with my equipment.” This familiarity is extremely valuable given the importance of the CIWS. Were a CIWS mount aboard the ship to be lost, it would reduce the Enterprise’s short-range air defense capability by 50 percent. Training, maintenance and consistent practice keep the FC’s responsible for this vital weapons system ready to pull the trigger to defend the ship.
A Close-In Weapons ystem aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) conducts a test fire. (Photo by MCSN Eric S. Brann)
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Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Big E Happenings
Lt. Cmdr. David Hunt checks his signal wand. (Photo by MC3 Scott Pittman)
Air-Traffic Controllers man the Carrier Air Traffic Control Center during routine case three flight operations. (Photo by MC3 Jared King)
Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Dean Rollins, from Lisbon Falls, Maine, vacuum-seals a bomb rack. (Photo by MC3 Scott Pittman)
Air-Traffic Controller 3rd Class Nicholas T. Williams, from Chattanooga, Tenn., and Air-Traffic Controller 3rd Class William Kasten, from Queens, N.Y., man the approach watch stations during routine case three flight operations in the Carrier Air Traffic Control Center. (Photo by MC3 Jared King)
The Shuttle USS Enterprise (CVN 65)
The Shuttle is published and printed daily underway and bi-weekly in port by the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Media Department, FPO AE 09543-2810. This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Please direct all story ideas, questions and comments to MC1 (SW) Steve Smith at smithsw@cvn65. navy.mil. Commanding Officer Capt. William C. Hamilton, Jr.
Executive Officer Capt. G. C. Huffman
Command Master Chief Public Affairs Officer CMDCM (AW/SW) Dwayne E. Huff Lt. Cmdr. Sarah T. Self-Kyler Editor MC3 Brian G. Reynolds
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) 3rd Class Travis Forney, from New York City, the fuel division repair parts petty officer, updates the repairable log for his division. (Photo by MC3 Scott Pittman)
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
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In the News Navy Housing Service Centers Offer Free Issue Resolution
By COMMANDER, NAVY INSTALLATIONS COMMAND HOUSING PROGRAM OFFICE
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- As many service members and their families are aware, Navy Housing Service Centers are a resource to help them find on and offbase housing when they are moving to their next duty station. HSCs offer issue resolution services to all Sailors and their families, whether they live on-base, in privatized military housing or out in the community. All HSC services are provided free of charge. In a recent blog by Vice Adm. Bill French, Commander, Navy Installations Command, he stated, “As a Navy leader - and someone who lives in Navy housing - I am committed to ensuring service members and their families have suitable, affordable and safe housing. Recent events pertaining to mold in Navy barracks, and government owned and family privatized housing, indicate a need to more clearly communicate assistance available on all issues, but particularly when pertaining to health or safety issues.” “This is a personal issue for me. I am determined to ensure we are providing the very best housing throughout the fleet - but I also need your help. If you help me by reporting your housing issues, we can help ensure you maintain a house or barracks room that you
can feel proud to say is your home,” French added. “The HSC is prepared to serve as the Sailor’s advocate when housing maintenance, health or safety issues arise. For families living in family privatized housing, we can also assist as an independent facilitator to help you and your landlord communicate when there is an issue and assist with coming to a resolution on a dispute,” said Corky Vazquez, CNIC N93 Housing Program Manager. “Our Housing Service Center staff has professional relationships with both the privatization partners and many community landlords,” he said. “We want to work with service members and their families to assist them in finding effective housing options wherever they choose to live.” Service members and their families can contact Navy Housing and find information through our active social media sites: Facebook - www.facebook. com/NavyHousing, Twitter - www.twitter.com/ NavyHousing, or YouTube - www.youtube.com/ NavyHousing. Our website offers plenty of resources for Issue Resolution services that may be required: www.cnic.navy.mil/housing. Customers can find a listing of HSCs contact information at www.cnic.navy. mil/housingquickreference.
U.S. Naval Exercises Send Message In The Tense Gulf
By Peter Kenyon, NPR
The U.S. military, along with more than 30 allied countries, has just launched a new round of naval exercises in the Persian Gulf at a time when tensions in the region are running particularly high. But U.S. officials say the aim is not to increase anxiety, but rather to ensure stability. More specifically, the exercises are designed to deal with mines that could hamper shipping in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil supply transits. Iran has said if it is attacked, it will close the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Cmdr. Jason Salata, spokesman for the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, says the Navy’s confidence is high that it can deal with any threat to navigation. “I wouldn’t put a timeline to it, but I think that this exercise demonstrates that,” Salata says. “I mean, there’s more than 30 countries here, and I think that signals a strong resolve from the international community to go after the threat.” The Navy won’t name a specific threat, but everyone here knows it’s a message for Iran.
Bahraini official Sheikh Abdul-Aziz al Khalifa says all of Iran’s neighbors have a keen interest in what happens to that country’s nuclear facilities, such as the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant just across the gulf from Bahrain. “That nuclear plant is closer to Bahrain than it is to Tehran,” Khalifa says. “I think what these minesweeping exercises say to Iran is that the whole world is here to make sure that the waters of the Gulf will remain open and safe.” The scenario riveting the attention of people in the region at the moment involves an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear installations. Michael Elleman, a Bahrain-based analyst for the International Institute for Strategic Studies, says if Israel does strike, without U.S. involvement and without leaving a huge death toll, Iran may well offer a limited retaliation. Elleman says Iran is well aware that drawing the Americans into a conflict - by laying mines in the Gulf, for instance - could have rapidly escalating consequences.
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Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Sailors of the Day Seaman Apprentice David Alexander Peterson
SA David Alexander Peterson, from Kodiak, Alaska, joined the Navy six months ago to have a solid career, see the world and serve his country. In his spare time, he enjoys drafting houses, reading and running. In the future, he plans to become a Seabee and build his own house.
Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Brad Smylie
AD3 Brad Smylie, from Chehalis, Wash., joined the Navy five years ago to support his country and see the world. In his spare time, he enjoys motocross racing. In the future, he plans to become a certified diesel mechanic.
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