The USS Theodore Roosevelt gets a top-up whilst underway! (Run the clip)

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2449946/Spectacular-video-shows-USS-Theodore-Roosevelt-aircraft-carrier-receive-600-000-gallons-jet-fuel-sea-underway-replenishing-years.html

 

 

Thanks Ian. It brought back some fond memories. I served aboard a Fleet Oiler during the VN conflict. Obviously didn't have her alongside, but I remember having the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) alongside for jet fuel and black oil (for refueling her escort Destroyers) along with most all of the other aircraft carriers who served in the Gulf of Tonkin. Most people don't realize the complex and dangerous effort it take to accomplish an underway replenishment at sea, especially when the Bird Farm is to Port and one of her escort Destroyers is alongside to Starboard---then you get the command to change course while all this is going on in order to head into the wind for the Carrier to launch or recover aircraft. Thanks, Al.

Nice video!!

 

It is interesting to note the Teddy Roosevelt has been in the yards for the last 4 years and that is why she has not had an unrep in the last 4 years. I was onboard the TR during Desert Storm, and we had unreps three times a week. The video is nice, but a more interesting and complex unrep is when they are passing 1000lb and 2000lb bombs between the two ships while also simultaneously conducting a vertrep (helo) between the two ships. I have seen them pass gas, beans and bullets all at the same time.

 

Chris

Don't know about now, but back when I was on my ship, "What movies do you have?" was a priority, followed closely by "Can you spare some fresh water? (from the smaller ships)"!! Thanks Al.

Hey Al...did you trade ice-cream for movies?!

Don't know about now, but back when I was on my ship, "What movies do you have?" was a priority, followed closely by "Can you spare some fresh water? (from the smaller ships)"!! Thanks Al.

Al,

I know movies were still a priority before the satellite tv came about in the early 1990s.

 

I also remember seeing the first USN females at sea onboard the replenishment ships. It was a real treat to see females come along side during the unrep. Always made for a great day.

My 2nd ship was an AOE and I saw more than my fair share of UNREP and CONSOL operations.

Ranger alongside with four lines pumping DFM/JP5:


Midway breaking away:



Approaching the Sacramento for my 1st ship's first-ever UNREP. The Enterprise was along the Sac's port side taking on JP5 while E-2Cs were doing carrier quals.

Just because it is such a cool shot, my brother-in-law was aboard the Sac when she refueled two BB's simultaneously during Desert Storm:

This has really got the "ol' salts" reminiscing! I like it!

You think that's cool...try doing it at night...

Hey Al...did you trade ice-cream for movies?!

 

Hi Ian. Unless the other ship had a movie that was scarce and in high demand, we kept all of our ice cream. Or, to get the movie, we could threaten them with not doing a complete back suction on a NSFO hose before disconnect. Pic is of the Coral Sea (CVA 34) some time during my second tour, 1969-1970. Thanks, Al.

 

... we could threaten them with not doing a complete back suction on a NSFO hose before disconnect...

I saw a MM1 make MM2 in one day following the aftermath of an incomplete back-suction. The DDG's fueling station and personnel were drenched in DFM...DRENCHED! I got to hear the personal arse-chewing (CO's mast was held in the passageway between the bridge and CIC -which was one of the most entertaining aspects of that ship).

Here are some pics from when I was on sea duty...

And because the Navy would NEVER automate linehandling (why would they do what civilians do, after all, when you can throw bodies at it?) the process is still very manpower intensive...

More bodies

Nice picture of the phone and distance line. The point of the P&D line is to carry the phone cable for comms between the ships and serve as a distance marker. For the folks driving the receiving ship, it is a constant challenge to keep at the specified distance.

Please can you ex Navy men supply a glossary of all those naval terms for the rest of mere land-lubbers?! Thank you!

I have seen them pass gas...

 

 

We will let that pass without comment...

 

My dad had some 8mm film he shot aboard the Essex during one of these maneuvers and there's an officer being transported between ships: the ships got too close, the lines went slack and he got briefly dunked.

P&D line (Phone and Distance Line).
UNREP (underway replenishment) - 30-60 minutes average time along side.

CONSOL (Consolidation UNREP - transferring fuel from a fleet tanker to an UNREP vessel). These ops last from 6-12 hours...yes...along side for that long!

 

My dad had some 8mm film he shot aboard the Essex during one of these maneuvers and there's an officer being transported between ships: the ships got too close, the lines went slack and he got briefly dunked.

 

There's a term for that, called "dipping the ensign"...

P&D line (Phone and Distance Line).

UNREP (underway replenishment) - 30-60 minutes average time along side.

CONSOL (Consolidation UNREP - transferring fuel from a fleet tanker to an UNREP vessel). These ops last from 6-12 hours...yes...along side for that long!

 

Also...

RAS - Replenishment At Sea

CONREP - Connected Replenishment

VERTREP - Vertical Replenishment (via helo)

Have transferred millions of bbls. of oil product. Brings back old memories.

 

Black Oil: Heavy Bunker Fuel

 

JP-: Jet Propellant (jet fuel)

 

 

 

The Wharfmaster

DFM : Diesel Fuel Marine

Question: During a lengthy deployment, are the "replenishment" vessels rotated in and out so that they can receive new supplies? In the case of being on station, say in the Middle East, how far do replenishment vessels have to go in order for them to receive new cargo? Probably dumb questions, but was just wondering. Very informative thread with great photos. Thanks

Question: During a lengthy deployment, are the "replenishment" vessels rotated in and out so that they can receive new supplies? In the case of being on station, say in the Middle East, how far do replenishment vessels have to go in order for them to receive new cargo? Probably dumb questions, but was just wondering. Very informative thread with great photos. Thanks

 

Well, back in my time in the Navy (1967-1970), being on a fleet oiler, we were always the guide vessel. That is to say, once the course and speed (usually 12 knots) was established, ships coming along side had to maintain distance and speed with our ship. During aircraft carrier unreps, the carrier would come alongside to port and her destroyer escorts (usually three) would take their turns coming alongside to starboard. These unreps took as long as four hours, based on the amount and types of fuel being transferred and any ammo, supplies, retrograde, etc. that needed to go back and forth. As far as the order in which ships came alongside, I'm not sure, but it probably had to do with who needed the fuel the most. Unreps with ships not in carrier groups were done on an as needed basis and sometimes involved only one or two ships. Thanks, Al.

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