USS Gonzalez Tests PUMA at Sea

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class D. C. Ortega, USS Gonzalez Public Affairs

ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) conducted testing of an unmanned aircraft system during a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX).

RQ-20A Puma (Block II) is the second iteration of the all-environment unmanned aircraft models and is used in situations with a greater need for maneuverability, such as maritime interdiction and counter-piracy operations.

The all-environment term comes from its ability to withstand temperatures ranging from -20 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, an inch of rain per hour, and wind speeds of 25 knots. Also it is fully operational day or night. Its smart batteries and waterproof body allow for many types of missions all over the world.

"When I first checked aboard USS Gonzalez I wasn't expecting to get the opportunity to run the PUMA project, but after working with the equipment and people, I realized its capabilities are innovative and resourceful," said Ensign N. Sanchez. "It augments what we are already capable of doing. It really aligns with the Chief of Naval Operation's mandate to 'operate forward and be ready'."

Nine of the 12 PUMA team members are enlisted PUMA operators. Each was hand-picked as the best in their field by the command and attended a two-week course in Camp Lejeune, NC.

"We spent countless hours doing classroom and field training. It was a lot to learn but we all walked away really confident in our abilities to operate PUMA successfully and help carry out the Navy's mission," said Operations Specialist 2nd Class E. Luck, the first female PUMA pilot.

A two-person team controls PUMA locally; it can also be remotely controlled inside the skin of the ship.

At the end of operations it can land on the ship's deck in a net or in the ocean with follow-on retrieval by rigid-hull inflatable boat. In case of an inability to recover, no information can be taken as all information is transmitted to and kept within the receiving ship.

PUMA weighs 13.5 pounds with a wingspan of just over nine feet and has an operating altitude of 500 feet or higher in order to maneuver above terrain.

"It has been exciting to field this technology in a robust environment such as the Composite Training Unit Exercise," said Cmdr. Stefan Walch, commanding officer. "We have learned a lot of lessons that will prepare us for deployed PUMA operations on destroyers."

PUMA II brings advancement in surveillance technology to the Navy to help ensure the maritime safety of our allies.

Gonzalez is underway participating in their Composite Training Unit Exercise with the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, composed of Carrier Strike Groups 8, Destroyer Squadron 28, Carrier Air Wing 7, guided missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) and guided missile destroyers USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS Gravely (DDG 107) and USS Ramage (DDG 61).

Fleet Week Sailors Help Display National 9/11 Flag

By Mass Communcication Specialist 1st Class Jeremy K. Johnson, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (NNS) -- Sailors from USS Mitscher (DDG-57), USS Gonzales (DDG-66) and USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) joined members of the New York Says Thank You Foundation (NYSTY) in a brief ceremony to unfurl and display the National 9/11 Flag at The Sullivans Pier May 26.

Also participating in the ceremony were local Boy Scouts, New York Civil Air Patrol members, Fleet Week volunteers and Fleet Week attendees.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to participate," said Seaman Dustin Johnson of USS Mitscher.

The 30-foot American flag displayed was discovered hanging on the side of a building tattered and torn, close to where the World Trade Center towers fell on Sept. 11, 2001. The flag was recovered, and has been fully restored by NYSTY volunteers.

"There's a lot of love in this flag," said Jimmy Sands, a NYSTY volunteer and New York City firefighter. "We estimate probably about 6 million people have held this flag since 2008."

Volunteers of the NYSTY organization answered the call to serve after Sept. 11, 2001, and travel around the country to help rebuild communities affected by disasters.

The National 9/11 Flag contains patches from retired flags of all 50 states, patches of flags recovered after the 9/11 disaster, a patch stitched aboard USS Missouri (BB-63) on Pearl Harbor Day by World War II survivors, and many more patches representing the strong history and pride of our nation.

Fire Controlman 3rd Class Jeremy Kirby of Donald Cook said seeing this flag was a very moving experience.

"To see the way these volunteers came together to repair this flag is encouraging. It shows what we can do as Americans if we just believe in ourselves."

Held nearly every year since 1984, Fleet Week New York is the city's celebration of sea services. Fleet Week New York provides an opportunity for the citizens of New York City and the surrounding tri-state area to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as see, first-hand, the latest capabilities of today's maritime services. More than 6,000 service men and women from the U.S. and coalition nations are participating.

This year, Fleet Week New York is one of the signature events around the country commemorating OpSail 2012, the bicentennial of the War of 1812, and the Star-Spangled Banner. The Commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 is a salute to all Sailors and Marines who fought gallantly in that conflict, who served in all our nation's conflicts since then, and who are defending freedom around the world.

U.S. Second Fleet Ships Complete Successful Ballistic Missile Defense Tracking Exercise

From Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Three Commander, U.S. Second Fleet ships successfully completed a tracking exercise Jan. 22, off the coast of Virginia using the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system during Atlantic Trident 2011.

USS Monterey (CG 61), USS Ramage (DDG 61) and USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) all successfully tracked the short-range ballistic missile target that was launched from NASA Wallops Island Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Va. The target missile fell harmlessly into the Atlantic Ocean.

Monterey, an Aegis cruiser, and Ramage, an Aegis destroyer, took turns tracking and simulating engagement of the target while Gonzalez, a guided-missile destroyer, participated by tracking the target.

All three ships were able to successfully track the target, with Monterey and Ramage providing simulated target solutions that would have resulted in a successful intercept. No missiles were fired from the ships as it was a tracking exercise.

Ballistic missile defense is a Navy core mission. The Missile Defense Agency and the Navy have modified 21 Aegis BMD combatants (5 cruisers and 16 destroyers). Of the 21 ships, 16 are assigned to the Pacific Fleet and five to the Atlantic Fleet. The Secretary of Defense announced in 2010 that six more destroyers would be upgraded to the Aegis BMD capability.

Atlantic Trident 2011 is the first live Fleet Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) exercise to take place in the Atlantic.

For more news from Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/c2f/.