The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) conducted its first large-scale stores replenishment-at-sea (RAS) in more than a year, June 20.
A 250-person working party helped to onload 219 pallets, offload 30 pallets and receive fuel from the Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12). Although the number of pallets may not have been excessive, Lt. Cmdr. M. Tucker, Truman’s assistant supply officer, said there was certainly reason to coordinate a larger than normal number of people.
Tucker said:
[This RAS was] about one-third the size of a normal RAS during last deployment. However, we wanted to muster a large working party to start building muscle memory in preparation for the upcoming deployment. We wanted the Sailors to get in an operational rhythm, so when the time comes for the real deal, we’ll be ready.
Chief Ship’s Serviceman A. V. Ransaw said a RAS generally occurs weekly during deployment, and stressed the importance of training Sailors early and often to carry out the mission. He said training is especially important to maintain vigilance while transferring stores via connected replenishments (ship-to-ship) and vertical replenishments (helicopter-to-ship).
Image: US Navy