By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Aaron Shelley, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Air Department worked Dec. 13-14, to completed a new milestone for the V-4 division and transfer 750,000 gallons of JP-5 aviation fuel back aboard the ship.
The transfer marks the first time since the beginning of Carl Vinson's 40-month refueling complex overhaul that JP-5 has been stored on board.
"It was a divisional effort by everyone in our chain of command and it couldn't have been done without them," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) 1st Class (AW/SW) James Hendershot, V-4 division leading petty officer.
The division conducted dry runs months ahead of schedule, finding the most efficient way to bring the fuel aboard and to its designated area.
"The plan went flawlessly, we went over it until it was perfected," said Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels)(AW/SW) Raymond J. Gray, V-4 squadron flight deck chief.
A robust fuel supply is vital to aircraft carrier operations. JP-5 is used to fuel various types of equipment aboard including aircraft, flight deck gear, and emergency generators.
With the fuel aboard, Carl Vinson is significantly closer to completing its overhaul process and becoming fully operational and combat ready.
"Without this fuel we can't launch aircraft, and if we can't launch aircraft, we can't fight," said Hendershot.