Posted on 06/30/2010 10:25:30 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) successfully launched two Tomahawk missiles during a weeklong weapons training exercise in the Pacific Ocean June 21-25.
"The missile launch was a success," said Pablo Dasalla, lead platform test coordinator, who was on board to observe the launch.
According to Dasalla, the planning required to launch a Tomahawk missile takes three to four months to coordinate. The coordination involves mission planning, approval from different organizations, scheduling of range time and fulfilling requirements prior to the missile launch.
The ship's crew has been preparing for the past four months to maintain its mission readiness by conducting daily drills and training evolutions.
"We've been conducting a simulated land attack missile exercise (SLAMEX), twice a month," said Fire Controlman 2nd Class (SW) Elliot Asmah, who is part of Sterett's strike group and was responsible for launching one of the Tomahawk missiles during their second day out to sea.
The missile launch became an historic event for the Sterett, as this was the first time the ship launched a Tomahawk from its vertical launch system.
According to Asmah, every year a ship is chosen to test the Tomahawk missiles, but there are many ships that can spend their entire lifetime in the fleet without ever shooting one.
For many aboard the ship, the missile launch was a lifetime experience especially for Asmah, who pushed the button that sent the missile soaring into the sky after a countdown.
"It was a privilege to be the first person on the Sterett to shoot a Tomahawk missile," said Asmah. "This will make history, and I am part of it."
Dasalla credits the flexibility of Sterett's leadership and its crew to the success of the missile launches.
(Excerpt) Read more at asdnews.com ...
I don’t get why this is news? hasn’t the Tomahawk been around for like twenty years or somthing?
Why is a test launch of one a big deal? Make that 6 mach Waverider thing operational. I want to see that news.
In this age of instant communications, the bureaucrats are sure to tie both hands, blindfold, and denut our soldiers.
Tomahawks are extremely expensive. I have also never heard of one vertically launched like they said they did here. Usually, they sit above the deck on 45 degree launch tubes which look a lot like giant mortar tubes.
When I read that I could not believe it took four months to get through the red tape for a test.
My brother was on the USS Paul F. Foster when they (Spruance) class went through modernization by removing the tomahawk box launchers for Vertical launch systems in the late 80s.
Seconded!
I haven't heard of that one.
Operational soon?
They did launch on vertically
The X-51 is still in the experimental stage.
That was explained in the article...
All current surface T-hawks are launched from a Vertical Launching System (VLS). You are thinking of the Armored Box Launcher, which is obsolete...the Navy stopped using ABL years ago; there are no ABLs on the DDGs or CGs unless it’s an 80s relic.
It actually does take a while to get things in place for these tests. The planning starts a couple years in advance. The execution is now a little quicker due to the acquisition cycle shortening (Rumsfield and his predecessor under Clinton).
I remember that. They were homeported at NAVSTA Long Beach at the time. I think they were if not the first, among the first, Sprucans to get the VLS.
Yep, that is right. I remember them returning to Long Beach after the first cruise after receiving that refit. It was done up near Portland, Or. Also I remember my brother showing me pics from his ship in Long Beach with two of the reactivated Iowa class BBs parked next to each other.
Long Beach was a good base. I much preferred it to San Diego. It’s all gone now.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.