Cross-Deck to ABE LINCOLN
By AWTR Candice Kauta
On 30 July in the Arabian Sea, HMNZS TE MANA was invited to take station on the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, as the big carrier conducted air operations. At 24 knots, from a thousand yards on LINCOLN’s port beam, TE MANA’s ship’s company enjoyed the ‘air show’ as Super Hornet fighters, Prowler electronic warfare aircraft and Hawkeye early warning aircraft were flown off and landed on.
Nine lucky punters and I from HMNZS TE MANA had the rare opportunity to cross deck with a US aircraft carrier, USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN. For some of us it was our first time in our helo, as we flew from TE MANA over to ABE LINCOLN.
We arrived with our cameras at the ready and were split into groups depending on our branch. I was to have my tour with another from the Support branch, ACH Fergus, and our tour started back on the flight deck.
We had a fantastic guide, who was able to explain all the equipment on the flight deck that assists the jets in take off and landing.
After the flight deck tour, we went below decks into a whole new world. It was like its own city. We were amazed at the sheer size of the ship. There was everything on board from a fully equipped library to a barber’s shop and a bank! If I remember correctly, there were at least 7 galleys on board and so much food to choose from. With 5000 people to feed, the messes were open almost 24/7 and were only closed for short periods to clean and start afresh.
After we had eaten, we were able to go and watch some of the jets take off and others come in to land. It is such a rare opportunity for our small Navy to be able to watch this event first hand, that TE MANA was sailing along next to ABE with the crew on the upper decks also watching.
Once the flight ops were over, we finished our tour below decks. Somewhere around 18 decks kept us busy and we were exhausted by the end of it. Extremely grateful for our time on board, we left ABE with caps and other souvenirs including American Girl Guide biscuits!
LINCOLN Sailors Experience A New Zealand Ship
By MC3 Rialyn Rodrigo
Ten sailors from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72) had the opportunity to visit the Royal New Zealand Navy Frigate HMNZS TE MANA (F111) and experience another nation’s navy during a crew exchange. During the sailors’ time aboard TE MANA, they were able to tour the ship, enjoy lunch and learn about New Zealand Sailors.
“It was a nice break for me,” said Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class (SW) Zachary Lind, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, assigned to Deck Department’s 1st Division. “It’s my first time to cross-deck to another ship, and it was more exciting because it’s a foreign ship. It was a new experience for me. I liked how sailors are more relaxed here. Everybody’s friendly since it’s a small crew, everybody knows everybody and I’ve also noticed that the ship is very clean.”
Leading Electronic Technician Darryl Hanson and Leading Marine Technician Richard Te Nana, are two of the New Zealand sailors who gave the tour while LINCOLN sailors were on board.
“I think it’s cool to have other sailors on board,” said Hanson. “From my point of view, it’s good to take advantage of the opportunity to go to another ship that belongs to another Navy. It’s a good chance to see how things are the same or maybe compare the differences. It gives us a chance to talk to other people and see our common interests.”
Te Nana said he enjoyed giving the tour and showing what a New Zealand ship can do. “It was a good day,” said Te Nana. “I was looking forward to seeing a carrier, but when I heard that there were LINCOLN sailors coming to our ship, I volunteered to give the tour. I like meeting new people; I had a great time interacting with another Navy,” he said. “We’ve busted a few myths. We’ve always heard that American carriers have Mc Donald’s on board, but today I found out it’s not true,” said Te Nana. “It’s my first time to see a carrier after being in the Navy for nine-and-a-half years. It’s an amazing ship and it’s really cool watching the aircraft take off.”
The engine room, flight deck, sickbay and berthing are some of the spaces LINCOLN Sailors explored while on board TE MANA. “It’s an outstanding experience,” said Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (SW) Aaron Frost, a native of Winnemucca, Nevada, assigned to Engineering Department’s A Division. “I was able to see what other countries have and compare it with what we have on LINCOLN. It’s amazing to see two ships’ technology side-by-side.”
Operations Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Dana Spangler, a native of Newport Beach, California, assigned to Commander, Carrier Strike Group 9, brought some hot sauce, patches and coins to give away to some of the New Zealand sailors. Other LINCOLN sailors traded their ball caps. “I had a good time,” said Spangler. “It allowed us to see a new environment. It’s my first time to cross-deck, but riding the helicopter again after 11 years was the most fun part for me. I think we should give sailors a chance more often to cross-deck; it’s a morale booster and gives us new experiences of other ship’s life.”
A Floating Airport
USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN is a floating airport, capable of launching as many as four aircraft every minute. The ship hosts seven different types of aircraft which perform a variety of missions. When deployed, ABRAHAM LINCOLN is the nucleus of a carrier battle group, which includes guided missile cruisers, destroyers, frigates, replenishment ships, and submarines.
During flight operations, the 4.5 acre flight deck is the scene of intense activity, with crew, aircraft, and other equipment functioning as a well-rehearsed and carefully choreographed team to ensure efficiency and safety. The various functions of the flight deck crew are identified by the colours of the jersey they wear:
- yellow is for officers and aircraft directors
- purple for fuel handlers
- green for catapult and arresting gear crews
- blue for chock and chain runners and
- red for crash/salvage teams and ordnance handlers.
Four aircraft elevators bring aircraft up to the flight deck from the hangar bays below. Aviation fuel is pumped from the tanks below and bombs, rockets, and missiles are brought up from the magazines.
Four powerful steam catapults (affectionately known as "Fat Cats") can each accelerate a 37-ton jet from zero to 180 miles per hour in less than three seconds in just the length of a football field.
For landing-on, pilots use a system of lenses to guide their aircraft "down the slope" (the correct guide path for landing). Four arresting wires, each consisting of two-inch thick wire cables connected to hydraulic rams below decks, snag the arresting hook, stopping the aircraft from 150 mph to zero in less than 400 feet.
High in the island, seven stories above the flight deck, the "Air Boss" and his staff coordinate the entire operation, carefully monitored from the flight deck as well as from the Captain on the Navigation Bridge.
Tech Specs
Keel Laid_3 November 1984
Christening_13 February 1988
Commissioned_11 November 1989
Dimensions
- Length_1,092ft
- Beam at flight deck_257ft, 5in
- Height keel to mast_206ft 6in
Flight Deck Area_4.5 acres
Displacement_97,500 tonnes
Propulsion_Two nuclear power plants; four propellers
Speed_Over 30 knots
Spaces & Compartments_3,200
Complement with Air Wing_ Nearly 5000
Each Day on Board
- Bread baked_600-800 loaves
- Sodas consumed_13,000
- Milk consumed_600 gallons
- Hamburgers consumed_620 pounds
- Eggs consumed_180 dozen
- Vegetables consumed_800 pounds
- Fruit consumed_900 pounds
- Laundry cleaned_5,500 pounds
- Haircuts_250