Scott Hanko
USS George Washington (CVN 73)
USS George Washington (CVN 73) is an American nuclear-powered supercarrier, the sixth ship in the Nimitz class and the fourth United States Navy ship to be named after George Washington, the first President of the United States. It was built by Newport News Shipbuilding and was commissioned 4 July 1992.
During the South American transit, the Washington Battle Group participated in US Southern Command exercises Partnership of the Americas and Unitas, a joint military exercise between the US, Brazilian and Argentine Navies. On 22 April 2008, George Washington arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for her first port visit to that country. The ship transited the Strait of Magellan on 9–10 May.
On 22 May 2008, while the ship was off the Pacific Coast of South America, a fire occurred that injured 37 sailors. There were no fatalities. The Navy defined the incident as 'serious'. According to a statement from Naval Air Forces' public affairs office, the fire broke out in the ship's air-conditioning and refrigeration space and an auxiliary boiler room. The fire spread via a cableway and caused extreme heat in some parts of the ship. It took several hours for the ship's crew to contain and extinguish the fire.
On 27 May, George Washington stopped at NAS North Island in San Diego, California for repairs. On 20 June, the Navy announced that the damage from the fire was more serious than previously thought, and that repairs would take at least until August and would cost $70 million. It was announced that the turnover with Kitty Hawk was postponed and would take place in San Diego instead of Hawaii.
On 13 July, 13,000 Japanese protested in Yokosuka against the basing of George Washington in Japan, saying that the onboard fire showed that the nuclear-powered carrier was unsafe. The U.S. Navy said that Rear Admiral James Kelly, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Japan, would meet with Yokosuka Mayor Ryoichi Kabaya to fully explain the fire and what preventive measures the Navy would take.
A Navy investigation found that the fire was "entirely preventable" and was caused by unauthorized smoking in a room where 115 US gallons (440 L) of flammable refrigerant compressor oil was improperly stored. The room was near the aft auxiliary boiler. The ship's damage control team took nearly eight hours to discover the source of the smoke and flames. By that time, the fire had spread to eight decks and 80 compartments and destroyed miles of electrical and fiber-optic cables. The damage control department had been found deficient in three inspections between June 2007 and April 2008. Although the carrier's commanding officer started a program to remedy the team's training and performance in the month before the fire, the report concluded those efforts were insufficient. Rear Admiral Frank Drennan, who led the investigation, said, "It is apparent from this extensive study that there were numerous processes and procedures related to fire prevention and readiness and training that were not properly functioning. The extent of damage could have been reduced had numerous longstanding firefighting and firefighting management deficiencies been corrected."
On 30 July 2008 Admiral Robert F. Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, announced that Captain David C. Dykhoff had been relieved of his duties as Commanding Officer citing "a loss of confidence in his ability to command and his failure to meet mission requirements and readiness standards." Executive Officer Captain David M. Dober was also relieved for "substandard performance." Six other sailors were disciplined with non-judicial punishment. Four sailors were found guilty of violating a lawful order and hiding hazardous materials in direct violation of safety regulations. Two non-commissioned officers were found guilty of negligence and dereliction of duty for not properly supervising the workspace. The Navy's Pacific Fleet refused to name the enlisted sailors disciplined. The Navy and Marine Corps Medal was later awarded to Senior Chief Petty Officer Keith Hendrickson for leading a team that rescued four shipmates trapped by the fire deep in the interior of the ship.
On 21 August, under new skipper Captain J.R. Haley and executive officer Captain Karl O. Thomas, George Washington departed NAS North Island for Japan, with Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW 5) embarked.[19] The carrier arrived at Yokosuka, Japan on 25 September 2008. Several hundred local proponents and protesters greeted the ship's arrival.
The ship sailed to Korea on 1 October and participated in that country's International Fleet Review. Afterwards, the carrier, accompanied by cruiser Cowpens and destroyer John S. McCain traveled to Guam, arriving on 31 October 2008. The George Washington Carrier Strike Group returned to Japan 21 November.
USS Midway Aircraft Carrier CV-41 Museum-San Diego Ca.
USS George Washington (CVN 73)
USS George Washington (CVN 73) is an American nuclear-powered supercarrier, the sixth ship in the Nimitz class and the fourth United States Navy ship to be named after George Washington, the first President of the United States. It was built by Newport News Shipbuilding and was commissioned 4 July 1992.
During the South American transit, the Washington Battle Group participated in US Southern Command exercises Partnership of the Americas and Unitas, a joint military exercise between the US, Brazilian and Argentine Navies. On 22 April 2008, George Washington arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for her first port visit to that country. The ship transited the Strait of Magellan on 9–10 May.
On 22 May 2008, while the ship was off the Pacific Coast of South America, a fire occurred that injured 37 sailors. There were no fatalities. The Navy defined the incident as 'serious'. According to a statement from Naval Air Forces' public affairs office, the fire broke out in the ship's air-conditioning and refrigeration space and an auxiliary boiler room. The fire spread via a cableway and caused extreme heat in some parts of the ship. It took several hours for the ship's crew to contain and extinguish the fire.
On 27 May, George Washington stopped at NAS North Island in San Diego, California for repairs. On 20 June, the Navy announced that the damage from the fire was more serious than previously thought, and that repairs would take at least until August and would cost $70 million. It was announced that the turnover with Kitty Hawk was postponed and would take place in San Diego instead of Hawaii.
On 13 July, 13,000 Japanese protested in Yokosuka against the basing of George Washington in Japan, saying that the onboard fire showed that the nuclear-powered carrier was unsafe. The U.S. Navy said that Rear Admiral James Kelly, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Japan, would meet with Yokosuka Mayor Ryoichi Kabaya to fully explain the fire and what preventive measures the Navy would take.
A Navy investigation found that the fire was "entirely preventable" and was caused by unauthorized smoking in a room where 115 US gallons (440 L) of flammable refrigerant compressor oil was improperly stored. The room was near the aft auxiliary boiler. The ship's damage control team took nearly eight hours to discover the source of the smoke and flames. By that time, the fire had spread to eight decks and 80 compartments and destroyed miles of electrical and fiber-optic cables. The damage control department had been found deficient in three inspections between June 2007 and April 2008. Although the carrier's commanding officer started a program to remedy the team's training and performance in the month before the fire, the report concluded those efforts were insufficient. Rear Admiral Frank Drennan, who led the investigation, said, "It is apparent from this extensive study that there were numerous processes and procedures related to fire prevention and readiness and training that were not properly functioning. The extent of damage could have been reduced had numerous longstanding firefighting and firefighting management deficiencies been corrected."
On 30 July 2008 Admiral Robert F. Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, announced that Captain David C. Dykhoff had been relieved of his duties as Commanding Officer citing "a loss of confidence in his ability to command and his failure to meet mission requirements and readiness standards." Executive Officer Captain David M. Dober was also relieved for "substandard performance." Six other sailors were disciplined with non-judicial punishment. Four sailors were found guilty of violating a lawful order and hiding hazardous materials in direct violation of safety regulations. Two non-commissioned officers were found guilty of negligence and dereliction of duty for not properly supervising the workspace. The Navy's Pacific Fleet refused to name the enlisted sailors disciplined. The Navy and Marine Corps Medal was later awarded to Senior Chief Petty Officer Keith Hendrickson for leading a team that rescued four shipmates trapped by the fire deep in the interior of the ship.
On 21 August, under new skipper Captain J.R. Haley and executive officer Captain Karl O. Thomas, George Washington departed NAS North Island for Japan, with Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW 5) embarked.[19] The carrier arrived at Yokosuka, Japan on 25 September 2008. Several hundred local proponents and protesters greeted the ship's arrival.
The ship sailed to Korea on 1 October and participated in that country's International Fleet Review. Afterwards, the carrier, accompanied by cruiser Cowpens and destroyer John S. McCain traveled to Guam, arriving on 31 October 2008. The George Washington Carrier Strike Group returned to Japan 21 November.
USS Midway Aircraft Carrier CV-41 Museum-San Diego Ca.