Sailors aboard 'USS Abraham Lincoln' (CVN 72) completed a major step in its overhaul, removing all flight deck catapults.
The aircraft carrier's V-2 division teamworked with Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News Shipbuilding shipyard workers, allowing them to begin their inspection for structural corrosion beneath the catapult troughs sooner. In all, Lincoln's V-2 Division saved 4,800 man-hours of labor from shipyard workers, saving the Navy $480,000.
"Not only is the catapult removal process unprecedented for ship's forces during an RCOH period, but we also did it quickly," said V-2 Division officer Lt. j.g. Matt McCauley.
V-2's Sailors also removed the catapult's sheathing bands and panels. "That is almost 18 tons of steel in total, as well as the insulation or 'lava-rock' from the catapult's trough," said Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) Frank Bartanowitz, V-2 division.
"It's difficult to remove more than 20 years of hardened grit in bad weather," said Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (equipment) Salvatore Gumina. "Pure teamwork is what makes this group of Sailors work so well, on or off land, underway or during RCOH."
V-2 Division is now taking on the task of removing the side sheathing in each catapult's trough, which will save the Navy and the shipyard even more money.