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How to replenish a super-carrier at sea!


Sabrejet
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I possibly didn't pose my question clearly-in the case of a fleet oiler, what is the SOP when it runs low on replenishing fuel? Is there another fleet oiler coming from port to replace the original oiler? or does a fleet oiler replenish a fleet oiler at sea? Thanks

 

Sorry, I misinterpreted your question. When a fleet oiler ran low on product, or even to top off, we underwent a consolidation with a smaller, slower pumping oiler, usually at night. We were a fast pumper, so we could get the product to other ships as fast as possible. Obviously, when you are unrepping on a fixed course and speed, it doesn't take much to figure out where you and the others would be at a certain time, so, the faster, the better. While consolidating with a smaller oiler, we usually would be taking on product while underway all night long, then, making a rendezvous with ships during the day to offload product. We did not return to port to top off when we got low. Usually out on the line (Yankee Station at the DMZ) for 30 days at a time, we then would steam back to Subic Bay for a few days rest, leaving Subic topped off. Thanks, Al.

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Thanks for the great information. I'm sure a fleet oiler (along with other supply ships) don't get their fair share of recognition. Perhaps with the link Ian posted more folks can see how important the auxiliaries actually are.

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Salvage Sailor

Yep,

 

I shot the Destroyer line waiting for fuel while escorting a carrier group.

 

The carrier would refuel now and again, we had to do this every other day, rain or shine.

 

 

IMG_0022a.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

Receiving end of the donkey di......uh, refueling probe.

 

I shot this one looking down at the navigator and QM on the bridge wing while I shot bearings from above.

 

Refueling Probe.jpg

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  • 7 years later...
  • 3 months later...

Was dangerous work. Was on the USS Mauna Kea AE-22. Remember when we collided with the USS Wichita AO1 during UNREP the high line wires snapped during the pulling away every buddy was running not to get cut in half by that wire. The phone distances line that went through a closed choke rapped around the legs of two sailors and if BM1 did not cut the line they would of went through it and turned into hamburger. Our boat-boom got banged up pretty good and had to be replaced. Used to do all the maintenace on the cargo drop reel and the fuel prob and fuel receivers and sometimes was the high line operator. Then boatswain mate of the watch during UNREP.

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collectsmedals

I was on the USS Nimitz from 1979 to 1983. I worked in the Reactor spaces so never had any direct involvement on deck for an underway replenishment, but I stood throttle watch on several occasions during them. We had four main engines and four separate throttle operators, one for each engine. It was tricky as we  had to coordinate on sound powered phones between the four throttle positions and the bridge while making numerous small incremental bell changes of one or two RPM several time each minute. Very tense and nerve wracking.

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collectsmedals

Here are three pictures I took from the USS Nimitz sometime between 1979 and 1983. The top two pictures are Nimitz replenishing at sea. I am not sure which ship is in the top left photograph but the top right is the USS Suribachi AE-21. The bottom photograph shows an underway replenishment ship with a cruiser (I  believe the Texas and the California) on either side and supplies being airlifted to Nimitz via helicopter.

EPSON014.JPG

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