GW Holds Live-Fire Training Exercise

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class(SW) Carlos Gomez, USS George Washington Public Affairs

June 28, 2010 - USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NNS) -- The crew of USS George Washington (CVN 73) fired off numerous weapons systems simultaneously during a live fire training exercise June 26 for preventing night boat attacks.

This training is designed to prepare the crew to more effectively combat the threat of small boats. Because of their low radar signature, small boats are difficult to track and might be able to get close enough that they have to be engaged with the ship's crew-served weapons systems.

"Our ship's first line of defense has to be ready at all times, no matter if it's a small boat attack or an aircraft attack," said Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Shawn Peacock, the leading petty officer of the ship's armory.

In just under 30 minutes, Sailors from GW's Weapons and Combat Systems departments, as well as the ship's security force, fired approximately 8,600 rounds of ammunition from several weapons systems including: the ship's 10 .50-caliber machine-gun mounts; Mark 19 grenade launchers; M-240 machine guns; and the ship's Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) or "Phalanx", which fire's 20 mm tungsten rounds at rates of up to 4,500 rounds a minute.

"It's good training to have a night shoot. It makes our guys more proficient," said Chief Gunner's Mate David Kaye, the armory's leading chief petty officer.

Training at night makes Sailors more familiar and comfortable with their weapons [during difficult situations], he said, which in turn raises their situational awareness.

Shooting within such a close range of other Sailors also improves their communication with each other – a must for real-time situations.

"We're definitely training like we fight," Kaye said.

Though the aircraft from the embarked Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5) serve as GW's primary striking arm, all of the ship's 1,115 feet are still susceptible to threats only a fraction of its size.

According to Peacock, GW crew's is constantly ready to respond to an actual small boat attack.

"Exercises like these keep this warship top notch," Peacock said.

GW is the flagship of the George Washington Carrier Strike Group, which is commanded by Rear Adm. Dan Cloyd. The strike group is also comprised of Destroyer Squadron 15, the guided-missile cruisers USS Shiloh (CG 67) and USS Cowpens (CG 63) and CVW-5.