US Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) departed Yokosuka, Japan, May 11, for post-repair sea trials.
The carrier got underway after wrapping a two-day fast cruise, a simulated underway period that prepares the crew for life at sea.
The week-long sea trials are designed to test the ship’s systems and equipment after a four-month selected restricted availability involving combined maintenance teams from the ship, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and US Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center.
“This is what we have been working towards for these last few months,” said Capt. Buzz Donnelly, Ronald Reagan’s commanding officer. “Everyone involved has made it possible to get us poised for success for our upcoming patrols. I’m proud of the crew and we’re ready to showcase our capability.”
During sea trials, Ronald Reagan’s crew will participate in major evaluations, including the execution of high-speed turns, sea and anchor evolutions, precision anchoring trials, testing of countermeasure wash-down and aqueous film forming foam systems and testing of the ship’s self-defense weapons system.
“This is all about doing what we’ve been trained to do,” said Quartermaster 3rd Class Miguel Medrano, from Dallas, one of three qualified master helmsman aboard Ronald Reagan. “We have to make sure the ship drives likes it’s supposed to and that all our watch teams, from engineering to the bridge, are ready to go for a full patrol.”