Kearsarge Engineering Plant Reaches A Milestone

By Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Scott Pittman, Commander, Amphibious Squadron Four Public Affairs

AT SEA (NNS) -- The engineering department aboard amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) reached 225 consecutive days of operations on 29 March.

Kearsarge has been underway for all but eight days of its current deployment which is in its seventh month. The Sailors charged with the daunting task of maintaining and operating the propulsion plant of Kearsarge belongs to the main propulsion divisions of engineering department. They are responsible for the two boilers that provide steam to two main engines and five generators used to generate the ships electrical power.

"We're trying a new concept where we have fewer watchstanders in our main space than past deployments," said Engineering Department Leading Chief Petty Officer, Master Chief Machinist's Mate John Tucker. "This allows us to have a maintenance team to supplement our three watch teams. It enables a 'four on, eight off' watch rotation, which allows propulsion engineers an opportunity for more time to study, rate training, and personal time while underway."

The modified watch organization is modeled after a program used by the Military Sealift Command. Since the boilers aboard Kearsarge were lit on August 25, 2010 they have been running, barring planned maintenance, with exceptional proficiency. That much time at sea does result in general "wear and tear" on systems and equipment so Kearsarge engineers plan accordingly.

"We've been able to conduct all of our routine preventative maintenance repairs by strategically securing boilers without impacting the ship's propulsion requirements," said Kearsarge Chief Engineering Officer, Cmdr. Jerry Chapmon.

The hard work and planning of Kearsarge's engineering department has kept the ship functioning without any time taken away from operational commitments. This effort has not gone unrecognized, as Kearsarge was awarded its fifth Command Engineering/Survivability Excellence Award on Febuary 11. The Navy gives this award annually to recognize sustained superior engineering and damage control readiness.

"I have never seen an engineering department, as a whole, overcome as many obstacles as these Sailors have with only eight days in port during a deployment," said Chapmon.

With 225 days and counting the men and women of Kearsarge engineering department are steaming toward the future, ready for anything and any mission.

Kearsarge is the command ship of Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, currently deployed supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.