You’ll be happy to know the first blog post of deployment 2017
is on a positive note! And, packed with goodies. We’ve been very busy and have
already done some pretty cool stuff.
I’ve recently started working more closely to our 20mm gatlin
gun. Formally known as the closed in weapon system or CIWS pronounced ‘See-whiz’.
She’s a beast and requires a lot of attention. I suppose I would too if I had
the pressure of being the last line of defense for the ship against air
threats. Of course firing at a rate of 3000 rounds a minute doesn’t help her
high maintenance personality either. One successful PAC fire, or practice fire,
under our belts and high accolades from the captain have brought us closer
together.
In addition to the CIWS PAC fire, we’ve also shot our 5” gun
successfully. It’s essentially a cannon hurdling a 5” round projectile at
surface or air targets up to 9 miles away. If you’re anywhere in the forward
part of the ship it will not go unnoticed.
Of course the drills continue. Man over board, firefighting,
battle stations, helo crash, medical drills to name a few. I’ve managed to come
full circle from ‘launching’ Tomahawks, starting IVs, firing .50 cals and
dressing in full firefighting equipment. And will do it all again this week….
A taste of R&R was all we could afford in our 1st
port visit. We were in Manzanillo, Mexico for about 24 hours. The luckiest of
the bunch got 6 hours of liberty (free time off ship). But a much appreciated 6
hours it was!
Doesn’t quite feel like deployment yet. Maybe because I’m
well calloused at this point, maybe because I know what to expect, but mostly, I
know, it’s because I have so much support. I have gotten an outpour of little
messages and notes and what an encouragement they have been! My mental state couldn’t
be better at this point. Zach is also doing well, but you should contact him
yourself! He would appreciate it and is always up for visitors…just saying.
Stay tuned!
No comments:
Post a Comment