Swim Call

Having a nice reliable internet connection here in Lisbon (don't let the date on this post throw you) allows me to reach way back into the middle parts of cruise to finally post of few of the goings on. We had a swim call off of elevator 3 a couple of months ago. You might not think 35 feet is that far, but it is. You also might think, "Daniel, you big sissy, why are you holding your nose?". The answer, of course, is that the ship's instruction said we had to and there was someone at the edge making sure that 100% compliance was obtained.

Pale? Why, yes, yes, I am. The North Arabian Sea is quite buoyant, especially for a fat kid.

Dubai Golf

A highlight of our recent port visit to Dubai was a round of golf at Arabian Ranches. I brought my golf clubs all the way to the other side of the world and I was going to make sure they got used.

Plenty of scrubby wasteland to hit into...

The obligatory first tee photo. Our radiation health officer and I were still a nice pale shade of whiteness. That would soon change, cause that light fog in the background burned off to reveal a robust day of 33 degrees Celsius. If it weren't for the GPS in the cart (or buggy), I would have had to play everything in metres. I need a calculator for all these conversions. At any rate, we both got burned to a nice medium rare and the peeling continues even today.

Overheard

These lyrics floated down from on high whilst I was walking around the Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai, UAE:

"Where I come from, it's cornbread and chicken..."

Nashville's finest serenading the Emirates.

Suez Chop

15 March 2009: The ides of March brings us through the Suez Canal. It was hot, there was lots of desert, and this picture pretty much says it all. Apparently, there were not enough rocks to pull off the 'T' in Egypt. I was amused and then went down to the Wardroom for waffle Sunday. Fat kid's gotta eat.

Marseilles, France

Ahhh, beautiful Marseilles, France. Our first port call, fantastic Mediterranean location, deep blue water, just a mile or so out of reach. The Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica rises above the old port area, and makes for a stellar opening picture.

Aw, I'm still smiling because its early in the port call. I had duty the first day, the sea state was really rough for the liberty launches, there were problems getting people on and off the ship, yada yada yada, the port visit got cut short and the duty day lasted about 48 hours. Smiles didnt exist at the end of that. This is less painful now since I am sitting in my room at the JW Marriott Dubai, after 54 straight days at sea. I know subs go longer, but I am just a simple dentist.

Early Deployment

The Mighty IKE pulled out of Norfolk on 21 Feb for little cruise to the other side of the world, mainly to deliver American goodwill and cheer, but also some other stuff.

Other stuff, like the business end of an F/A-18C.

We rolled past the Moroccan coast line in the Straits of Gibraltar. The seas were rough and the view obscured, but land is land and I am always glad to take it in when I can.

Just checking on the ordinance. Cause, you know, that could be a collateral duty of mine. Or I am waaay to close to things that go boom.

I had no idea that the fintails of bombs had expiration dates and warranties. How would one cash in on that warranty? "Um, yes, I would like to speak to someone in Customer Service regarding the bomb tail warranty. I think they are out of date..."

Just a Workin' Man

Fine motor control with 16-foot seas and 50 knot winds, like it's my job.

A Few More Pictures of COMPTUEX

A deck level view of a COD catapult...

the USS Bainbridge steaming along as our escort...

and engine turns off the fantail at night.

Moonset

And with that, the IKE wraps up a torrid preparation schedule and pushes off for deeper waters. The moon sets in the west and reflects the color of the rising day.

COMPTUEX

From within yet another list of alphabet soup Navy acronyms comes COMPTUEX! We spent the greater part of January out off the balmy Florida and Bahamian coasts, playing war games against the dreaded 'Red Team'. Apparently, we did something right, as CSG8 (Carrier Strike Group...go google it...) passed and is certified for deployment and blue water flight ops. And now the pictures:

An E-2 Hawkeye comes in for a trap while the USS Vicksburg (CG 69) keeps watch in the background. There was usually one of the strike group guided missile cruisers within sight of the IKE, as an escort and a maneuvering buddy. Or something like that... my surface warfare qualifications are non existent.

A C-2 Greyhound pulls into the slot for a shot off catapult #3, slowly bringing its wings up for flight.
The same C-2 (obviously, its side number is 54) at the beginning of the shot. The shooter (yellow jersey guy pointing down the flight deck) gives the all clear to fire, the hold-back bar drops from behind the front landing gear, and steam starts to rise as the catapult pistons move down their chutes.

For the first time, I really got to see some ordinance being moved around this ship. Laser-guided bits of joy that hose red-shirted guys really love. Seriously. They dig blowing stuff up.

Late afternoon glance up the flight deck. When cats 3 & 4 are active, the fore of the deck becomes a 2 acre parking lot.

Sunsets at Sea

Really doesn't need many words does it?

Year End Catchup

Failing to update anything for almost two months is really a good way to garner any attention. Whoops. Here are some cool pictures of stuff that has happened on the ship over the last little bit.

The IKE tests its Sea Sparrow missile capability. If these are utilized, the pan is getting hot. I was told by the Combat Systems guys that we hit our target. Of course, everyone tells me they floss too.
Away the missile goes from the IKE...

Shout out to my cousin Ryan who is also apparently a Navy Hornet pilot in his spare time.

A few shots of one of our UNREPS (underway replenishments). A USNS refueling ship comes alongside to deliver fuel through direct lines, cargo over shot lines and through helo ops. Its a pretty spiffy thing to see from Vulture's Row.

'Cause I'm Hardcore, Ya'll...

Dig my military bearing.

Night Ops

Night operations off the carrier deck are an incredible thing to watch. The colorful ballet of the day gives way to a series of bright reflections, muted surroundings, and sudden bursts of hot light. Flashes aren't allowed from Vulture's Row (don't want to confuse the pilots...landing safely on a pitching and yawing deck in the dark is hard enough) so these pictures were taken with a long exposure time as I kept the camera as still as possible. Clearly, ships are rarely still or level.In the first picture, you can see the exhaust trail of a departing F/A-18 from catapult #2. The blast door is up and all the little bright dots are reflections from the float coats and cranials of the deck personnel.
This is a shot straight down catapult #1 as another F/A-18 is thrown off the deck at nearly 200mph. Still quite shaky, but you can make out several images of the plane and its trail as it head up toward the full moon.

Baby Planes!

Before the jet pilots get the big thrill of a fully loaded F/A-18, they have to train on less powerful jets. These little T-45 trainer jets are two-seater, single engine planes that look like little toys down on the flight deck when compared with E-2s or C-2s. The school squadron flew onboard to practice carrier landings and take-offs, with some success. Even to my (very) untrained eye, the difference between these guys and F/A-18s is really apparent. Poorly calculated approaches, too much speed, not enough speed, missing the wires altogether; its the equivalent of crawling before you can sprint. Nonetheless, some of these ensigns and lieutenant junior grades are the future flying aces of the Navy and it was cool to see them practice.

Catch and Release

A little view from Vulture's Row of some of the everyday goings on of an aircraft carrier. Words fail to describe the awe of seeing this ballet of metal, fiberglass, and steam. Feel free to hum 'Danger Zone' as you scroll through...

The Workspace

Gaze down the majesty of the IKE dental clinic. This p-way (or passageway for you landlubbers) is the main street of our little dental clinic. Its also the only street. The operatories are on the right, the office is directly on the left, and HM2 Chestnut is all the way at the end.






My own operatory, secured for sea. If the chair wasn't in the middle, you could probably turn around with your arms outstretched. As is, there is little room for extraneous movement, which is fine. Dentistry done with extraneous movement sounds rather dangerous to me...






The doc's office. Five officers and three chairs makes for goofy math. We actually have a huge reference library of textbooks, including a serious book on implantology. Which we don't practice on the ship. At all. Not even a little. It does make for a excellent filler on the shelf. Also, the giant supporting pillar is never in the way. Really.

My Pad

Some pictures from my sweet stateroom on the ship. The first is a view from the foyer into the living room and bedrooms. Note the spacious study and kitchen just beyond the luxurious living room accommodations.

Turning directly to the right reveals a unique powder room/communication bay combo that really streamlines the morning rituals. The bright label in the lower right of the photo is the on the housing of one of the room's two EEBDs. The emergency escape breathing device provides more than 10 minutes of pure oxygen delight, should we have to vacate the premise in haste.

The garage/chest of drawers/flip down desk/safe combo comes in a subtle haze grey finish, sure to brighten anyone's day by echoing the possibilities just outside the door. They also feature latches on the drawers and door to prevent those pesky spills when the ship is weathering a nor'easter.

Hiding behind the rack's privacy curtains, you'll find an state of the art 19" Poloroid flat screen, with Direct TV hook-up, as well as a PS2 to make those long, dark hours of the night speed an through to the promise of a new day full of exams and bombed out teeth.

Seriously, the room is maybe 10'x15'. It's small. And it's for two fully growed men. Fortunately, it is right on the centerline of the ship, so it rocks evenly, and it is below the wardroom, so it is really quiet compared to the guys who sleep under the flight deck. All in all, not too bad. Also, my roomate brought in a 26" flat screen. We live large down in 3-197-0-L!

Can You Fishtail in the Ocean?

As a big part of the sea trial evolution, the ship performed a series of rudder checks, mostly to make sure everything still functioned properly after months in the shipyard, but also because its cool to try and make the flight deck skim the surface of the water.

The flight deck leans off to port as the left rudder check begins.
















The sea churns as the IKE bangs a hard right.

















Swinging up and out of the right rudder check.


















Power slide across the pond.