Details on Latest Tasks for USS Wasp, USS Ronald Reagan, SS Petersburg

The United States Navy reports that the USS Wasp (LHD 1) recently participated in a crisis response exercise in the Persian Gulf. The Wasp was used as a command platform, carrying and offloading equipment, and giving humanitarian aid to allies in the region.

The Wasp served as a platform for MH-53 helicopters, as well as for its own MH-60 helicopters, used to carry marines inshore, carry supplies, and carry out rescue missions.

While this was an exercise, Wasp carried out actual humanitarian aid rescues off of Nicaragua during Hurricane Felix. Helicopters carried relief supplies like hygiene kits, blankets, and food. Wasp air crews also surveyed the damage so planners could determine which areas to assist first.

In another part of the world, the SS Petersburg is heading to California after serving ten years at the island of Guam. The Petersburg (T AOT09101) is a tanker. Petersburg is 48 tons and built in 1963. It provided good service to the Navy, but it is now 45 years old, so a replacement is on the way.

That will be the MV VADM K. R. Wheeler (T-AG 5001), not a tanker, exactly, but a ship that pumps fuel, capable of running 500,000 gallons per day through its system, and more flexible than other ships.

The new ship will be welcomed, but the old salts in the Navy will miss the Petersburg, which served in various capacities in the Marianas.

Closer to home, the gigantic nuclear aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) returned to base. Flight deck certification has been successfully completed, one day earlier than expected, a firm step forward in making the ship combat ready. This is the first of a three part process, the other steps being landing equipment certification, and then flight, deck and operations department certifications.

These are important steps, because the deck of an aircraft carrier is one of the most dangerous places in the world, with high powered jet engines operating close to deck personnel, high octane jet fuel and bombs, missiles and other ordnance on the deck. In 1967 the USS Forrestal suffered a disastrous fire when a missile discharged from a jet and ignited fuel and bombs. At times it was feared that the ship would be lost. The fires were, however, heroically controlled by crew members, not without casualties. Since then, all members of such ships are trained as fire crews and new safety policies have been instituted.

One major goal of the Reagan's training is to prevent such mishaps.

The Ronald Reagan is home to 3000 sailors.

Reagan Earns Certification, USS Ronald Reagan Public Affairs
Guerry, AnTuan. Wasp Supports Crisis Exercise, USN
Guerrero, Jesse Leon. SS Petersburg Heads Home, USN