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ON BOARD THE SUPERCARRIER USS ENTERPRISE

"I can see the landing light." LtdCdr Fred McMurry turns his Hawkeye into the final approach. A short time later the aircraft crashes down on the deck with a loud bang. The E-2C from the VAW-126 "Seahawks" comes to an abrupt halt. In the absence of a landing strip, rope no. 3 slows down the twin-engine early warning aircraft from 220 to 0 km/h within 70 meters. This takes around one second. Like dummies in a crash test the five crew members are slung into the safety belts: Welcome to the USS Enterprise, the world's biggest warship.

After the parking position in front of the tower has been reached, the pilot gives the order to leave the aircraft. The noise from outside is deafening even through the flying helmet. You are met with hot air from the running engines. The air smells of burnt kerosene.

If you have never been on an aircraft carrier, the size and level of activity will be overpowering. 340 meters in length, a width of almost 80 meters and a height of 25 storeys, with atom bombs and vast amounts of explosives in her belly, 80 fighters and almost 6,000 crew on board - the USS Enterprise is an enormous nuclear powered fighting machine. She is the centrepiece of the Carrier Battlegroup 4, which includes eleven other warships.

These aircraft carrier units operate globally and are able to reach any destination within a few days in case of a crisis. They enable the USA, the only remaining superpower, to have a "global projection of power", which is always visible. Twelve carriers are currently in service, five of these operating with active fleets.

The USS Enterprise belongs to the veterans from the 60's. With the then astronomically high construction costs of US$ 451 million (the CVN 75 costs 4 billion today) she was America's most expensive and biggest warship. With her eight reactors she was the world's first nuclear powered aircraft carrier. In the last 38 years the Enterprise has been refitted several times and upgraded with the latest technical developments. In 1994, after spending three years in the shipyard and new reactor fuel rods installed, she crossed from the Pacific to the Atlantic Fleet.

She is now on her way to the Caribbean to take part in COMPTUEX, one of the US Navy's most important exercises. Following long stays in port, all the ships of an aircraft carrier battlegroup are coming together for the first time. The aim is to achieve the "combat ready" status under simulated crisis and war conditions. Afterwards group will be assigned to one of the US fleets.

For the exercise the Enterprise battlegroup will consist of two cruisers of the Ticonderoga Class, two destroyers of the Spruance and Arleigh Burke Class, two Perry frigates, two Los Angeles submarines and the Supply vessel USS Detroit (AOE-2).

A geographical situation similar to that of the Straits of Hormus will be simulated in the Virgin Islands area, where one side of the sea is being controlled by an anti-western government which denies passage to international shipping. Another air wing with ships of the US Navy, carrying a multitude of western and eastern weapons systems, will simulate the enemy.

The daily exercise flight plan is divided into so-called events. Event No.4 involves the take-off of 20 aircraft at 17.00 hrs local time. Carrier Air Wing 3 is on board the Enterprise. Currently it consists of nine squadrons totalling about 80 aircraft.

We are with the "Seahawks", an E-2C Unit. With a squawking loudspeaker message and a gong the crew's briefing for the afternoon flight is starting right on time. Sitting in front of the monitors in the ready room, a new crew consisting of five staff await their instructions.

In the adjoining room the crew which has just landed hand up their helmets, harnesses and lifejackets on individual hooks. Every flight member has been given his own personal hook. There is a brief two hour break, after which they have to take off again for a night flight. Cola and Gatorate quench everyone's thirst after the four hour radar surveillance flight. Alcohol is strictly forbidden on board.

During Event No.4 the E-2C(0) with the side marking 603 will take off first. It is one of four Hawkeyes belonging to VAW-126. The twin turboprop is normally on station far from the carrier and is able to survey an area of almost 500 nautical miles with the disk shaped radar dish attached on the back of the fuselage. Data of every friendly or hostile sea or air target are transmitted to the operations' rooms of the carrier and her accompanying ships. Since it has an important surveillance task and a longer endurance than the jets, the E-2C is normally the first on the take-off cycle.

Second Lieutenant Valerie Rud, pilot of the 603, takes down the expected weather data. No problems are expected for this afternoon - good visibility and medium high, thin clouds, with a moderate wind and water and air temperatures around 28*C. The main task of the three crew sitting in the back will be radar checks of several aircraft of the air wing.

The next planes to follow in the Event will be two S-3B Vikings of VS-22 "Checkmates". Their task is to identify and photograph trade vessels. Later an aircraft is intended to refuel two F-14B Tomcats of VF-32 "Swordsmen" in mid-air.

The Viking, which is also called "Hoover" because the engines sound similar to a vacuum cleaner, were deployed mainly as submarine hunters from the beginning of the 70's. As the underwater threat is very much reduced nowadays, the four-seat S-3 is increasingly used as a multi purpose aircraft. After technical adjustments it can be used as a bomber, to attack ships with AGM-84-Harpoon missiles, with Buddy-Pods for air-air refuelling and in a special version as ES-3A for passive reconnaissance.

Also on board the Enterprise is Detachment A which comprises two aircraft of this Viking version of VQ-6 "Black Raven", which are fitted with several aerials. During this Event none of them will take off, since one plane is still airborne. It is flying a so-called triple cycle, which lasts three times as long as the normal one and a quarter or one and a half hour missions. This is no problem for the Viking, since its internal fuel supply is sufficient for it to stay airborne for around seven hours.

"He is coming low!" After LCDR Tom Gedney's remarks, everyone in the briefing room is staring at the black and white landing monitor hanging in the corner. A C-2 Greyhound of the VCR-40 is approaching. However, the pilot manages to correct the approach and touches down safely. The touchdown is audible almost everywhere on the ship because of the noise made on landing and the hydraulic hauling ropes.

The aircraft catches the first available steel rope on the landing strip. The third would have been ideal. This is why this approach, which had been too shallow, does not get good marks during debriefing. At any rate, the mail has landed safely on board. The C-2A, also called COD (Cargo Onboard Delivery), can be used as a multi-purpose transport plane and can carry up to 39 people as well as freight. The C2-A was developed from the E-2 and is not one of the aircraft which are kept permanently on board. It mostly supplies the carrier from fixed ground bases twice daily. It has just arrived from the Naval Air Station Roosevelt Roads, the biggest naval base on the eastern side of Puerto Rico.

After the short distraction of the C-2A's shallow approach, the crew members give their full attention to the continuing event briefing. An F/A-18C of VFA-37 "Bulls" is supposed to carry out an FCF (Functional Check Flight). Two further "Bulls" are planned for Combat Air Patrol (CAP) to protect the carrier.

They are controlled by the NATO E-3A AWACS, which is flying to the north of the battlegroup. The Boeings, which are fitted with four jet engines and are based in Geilenkirchen near Aachen, take part at regular intervals in this Navy exercise. This makes joint deployments much easier, as they are common over Kosovo and Bosnia.

There are three F/A-18 squadrons on board. As well as the "Bulls", there are the VFA-105 "Gunslingers" and the Marines VMFA-312 "Checkerboards". The Hornet, which is fitted with two jet engines, has meanwhile become the workhorse of the Carrier Air Wings. Every squadron has between eight and twelve of these aircraft for deployment. Today her versatility becomes apparent during Event 4.

As well as its fighter role, the F/A-18 is mainly used as a fighter-bomber. Four "Gunslingers" will attack ground targets on the Vieques range with live weapons.

Three further Hornets of the Marines VFMA-312 are initially to be refuelled by a KC-135 of the US Air Force. They should then simulate attacks on known SAM (Surface to Air Missile) positions with their AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles.

They are supported by an EA-6B Prowler of VAQ-130 "Zappers". The four-seat Prowler is deployed for electronic warfare. It is intended to "blind" hostile radar with its jammer pods, in order to make it easier for the Hornets to fight hostile missile positions.

The last point of the Event-4 briefing comprises the deployment of two SH-60F of helicopter squadron HS-7 "Dusty Dogs". An Ocean Hawk helicopter will take on the so-called plane-guard task. During take off and landing operations a helicopter is close by the carrier. This is of the utmost importance for safety, since two days ago during a night exercise, a frogman, who was onboard the helicopter, was able to rescue a sailor, who had fallen over board.

A further SH-60 is intended to fly to the USS Gettysburg with two specialists who have just arrived on the COD. As well as the SH-60F, the HS-7 also has the Combat rescue version HH-60H. This kind of helicopter is specially designed to retrieve pilots who have been shot down behind enemy lines.

After the general briefing "Seahawk" Flight Commander CDMR Dave Newland stands before his crew. He is the Mission Crew Commander and will deliver the prescribed internal crew briefing for the planned deployment with the female Aircraft Commander Second Lieutenant Rud. For the last five years the absolute equality of the US Government allows the deployment of women onboard aircraft carriers. The army has had to give up its masculine ways and today women are working in almost all capacities on board ship. There are female F/A-18 fighter pilots as well as female radar officers as "back seaters" on board the F-14.

"Hey Commander...", the door of the ready room opens and two pilots of the F-14 "Swordsmen" squadron enter. They want to discuss their imminent mission in detail with the Hawkeye's crew. As well as the two F-14, which are to be refuelled by the Viking of their own carrier, two further Tomcats are to be refuelled first by the Air Force tanker and then carry out an airspace patrol flight along the Puerto Rican coast under the command of the E-2C.

A few days ago an F-14 crashed into the sea very close to the Enterprise because of flight control system problems. The two crew members were able to get out safely with their ejection seats and were picked up after only ten minutes by the destroyer USS Thorn. The flight accident investigation is still underway, which explains why the Tomcat pilots are somewhat reserved with their statements about the crash.

The F-14B is a much-improved version of the Tomcat. With her AN/AWG-9 fire control system it is able to track 24 targets and fight six of these simultaneously. It has AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-54 Phoenix missiles at its disposal. Its new F110 engines with improved thrust even enable a catapult take-off without afterburner.

VF-32 "Swordsmen" is the only F-14 squadron on board the Enterprise. During the Cold War two Tomcat squadrons per carrier were used solely as long range fighters. Today carriers are only fitted with two F-14 squadrons if their main task is air surveillance, as with "Southern Hawk" above Iraq.

The Tomcat is constantly adjusted to new tactical demands. It is being deployed for interception and is also able to carry the TARPS reconnaissance pod. It can be used as so-called "Bombecat" after improvements to its avionics were made. Almost the complete arsenal of weapons for use against ground targets can be targeted exactly. Secretly even diehard F/A-18 pilots admit that the F-14 is the better bomber now.

The few minutes one has before getting ready are used for a late lunch. Together with the F-14 "Cowboys" the Hawkeye crew goes to the front officers mess. Life below deck is sparse and limited to accommodate only what is necessary. Even Flight Officers very often share a spartan little room, which has only a sink but no shower or toilet. There can be as many as twelve people in three storey curtained bunk beds.

Entertainment is not on the agenda. There is neither a bowling alley nor a swimming pool on board. Below the flight deck there are no windows or portholes through which a ray of sunshine could fall. If you want to smoke, you must go to a little platform on the outside of the ship. The supermarket is so tiny that it does not really deserve this name. Only the basics are available here - the only item that is easy to get is the TOPGUN video cassette, since big chunks of this flight film classic were made on the Enterprise.

Since there is little variety apart from duty, food becomes increasingly more important. The crew of the Enterprise has to be catered for around the clock. Every day 10,000 eggs are used for omelettes, cake or bread dough. A ton of meat is used daily. The cold store is as big as half a football pitch. Without continuous supply by the USS Detroit, the Enterprise would be without food and unfit for action after a few days.

Several times per week the troop supply ship has to bring provisions for the floating town. While she is sailing and during normal flight operations the ship travels along the Enterprise's starboard side and for hours pallets are being heaved via ropes from ship to ship. On the afterdeck two CH-46 Helicopters put down loaded containers every few minutes.

However, fuel is transferred only occasionally. Since the Enterprise is nuclear powered, the diesel tanks needed on conventionally powered ships can be used for kerosene. The internal kerosene tanks are large enough to hold fuel for twelve days' uninterrupted flying.

During flight operations there is constant action on deck. It is an extremely dangerous place, since planes and helicopters with their engines running, are being directed by aircraft directors, who are dressed in yellow and white waistcoats, to their designated places with the utmost precision.

Each of the 100 or so people on deck carries a coloured waistcoat and a matching helmet with protective glasses. Green mechanics and brown Plane-Chiefs are waiting for their pilots following pre-flight controls. People clad in purple are refuelling the E-2C with the number 603, which is standing next to catapult 1, while the "reds" attach Sidewinder missiles and iron bombs onto the waiting Hornets near catapult 2.

The Enterprise has four steam catapults, which enable her to launch an aircraft every 20 seconds. Touch down is not quite as quick, during the day 45 to 60 seconds are the target times, (during the night 90 seconds).

An operating flight deck is extremely interesting, because there is no place like it, where jet flight operations can be experienced at close range. The crazy noise of running engines, hot exhaust fumes, afterburner noise, the shock waves of which can be felt through and through, flame tails of launching jet fighters, which almost cause one's glasses to melt, heavy fighters, which are accelerated in 80 meters to 280 km/h within two seconds and dart off like canon balls, people, which materialise from the steam of the catapults like ghosts, steel ropes, which give off sparks, aircraft which bang down on deck and brake abruptly, the voice of the "Air Boss", at times audible in the background through the deck loud speakers. It is there all the time.

You can see precision in operation. 24 hours, during day and night, rain and shine - pilots and deck crew know they are the best. In their eyes the others are only there to keep the floating airport afloat. As well as the exciting jobs of pilots, deck crew, on the commando bridge or in the central operations office, there are still skilled volunteers, who sign up for at least four years. They are given schooling and job training, which would be expensive if they went through it as civilians on land.

The 603 of the "Seahawks" takes off on time. Then the two Vikings follow and shortly afterwards the four Tomcats of VF-32. In less than ten minutes all but one aircraft of Event Number 4 are airborne. For the FCF the Bull's Hornet is standing on Catapult 3 with blue-orange afterburner. Its own mechanics, who are dressed in green, check whether the Hornet is clipped properly into the catapult carriage and give the thumbs up.

The pilot, known as "Animal", salutes and looks to the right at his shooter, who lifts both arms and looks to the front and the back for the last time just to make sure before pressing the start button. The pilot is pressed into his seat with six times is body weight in the acceleration phase, which only lasts two seconds. During the short "blackout" the aircraft steers itself.

The Hornets climbs quickly into the blue Caribbean sky. "Launch completed, stand by for recovery", can be heard from the swallow's nest of the "Air Boss". Above the Enterprise the air changes into a hornet's nest, because the first F/A-18 of the Event Number 3 are waiting for permission to land. There is no time for a rest on deck, flight operations onboard an aircraft carrier does not know any hold ups.

In the meantime the fighters designated for CAPs, have reported to their allotted control aircraft and are starting their surveillance and control flights to protect the carrier. The two "Bull" Hornets are getting busy straight away. The APY-2 Radar of the NATO E-3A AWACS has detected several low flying targets in the west. The Italian Fighter-Controller Captain Christiano Turrin leads the F/A-18 with brief radio messages to identify the "bogeys", (non-identified radar contacts).

The Mission Leader reports Mirage F1, simulated by Navy A-4 Skyhawks, who are flying an Exocet attack profile, (anti-ship missile). On board the USS Gettysburg the officer in charge of air defence orders the two F-14B for support in a westerly direction. Far enough away from the carrier and outside the theoretical shooting range of the Exocet, the combined units manage to simulate the shooting down of the attacker.

The exercise flights are repeated daily, the demands and intensity increase continuously. After two hard weeks with up to 200 missions per day, the carrier battle group has removed the simulated blockade of the strait. The team of inspectors is content with the achievements of the Enterprise Battle Group and gives the desired award "Combat Ready".

From page 12 of FLUG REVUE 7/1999