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From: dale@rosevax.Rosemount.COM (Dale Borgeson)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: nuclear powered ships
Message-ID: <12263@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 13 Dec 89 04:27:18 GMT
References: <12167@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Organization: Rosemount Inc., Eden Prairie, MN
Lines: 46
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: dale@rosevax.Rosemount.COM (Dale Borgeson)

in article <12167@cbnews.ATT.COM>, henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) says:
> 
> My recollection is that off Vietnam, typical carrier operations were
> something like 7 days "on the line" followed by 4 days off to replenish
> fuel and munitions.
	
	I was in a fighter squadron (VF-114) on the Kitty Hawk from
	1970 to 1973. This included two combat cruises to Vietnam.
	On later crusises (72), the AOE class supply ships (I think
	AOE is the correct ship type) like the Kansas City and
	Sacramento were available for unrep (underway replenishment).
	The AOE carries everything; food, JP-5, avgas, ordinance, spare
	parts, and ship fuel (NSFO & ND):one stop shopping.

	With the AOE the the rate of replenishment was mostly determined
	by ordinance. in 72 we were using a lot of bombs ( > 200 tons/day ).
	We would fly for 12 hours and break for 12 hours. we would
	resupply every three to five days during the non-flying time.
	About every 14 days we would have a stand-down day where we were
	supposed to take it easy but the aircraft maintanence people
	(me) worked even harder because all of the planes were available.
	This would go on for 30 to 60 days ( a line period ) after which
	we would go to SUBIC BAY for 4-5 days of liberty and then go back
	to the line. A cruise lasted 9-12 months.

	The AOEs were huge. THe main deck was at about the same level
	as the hanger deck, which made unrep a little easier. They were
	almost as long as the carrier. There were at least two fuel lines
	and four cargo lines between ships.  The AOE also had a helicopter
	pad aft and a hanger for two CH-46s (I'm not sure about the type,
	it had two rotors fore & aft). The helicopters would take the light
	stuff to the flight deck.

	Mostly we took on bombs. After 2+ hours there would be bombs and
	bomb finn pallets everywhere; in the magazines (full), the mess decks,
	the hanger deck, and the starboard side of the island on the
	roof. After 3-5 days of flying it would be all gone & we'd do
	it again.

	Dale Borgeson
	Rosemount Inc.
	Minneapolis