SHORE LEAVE FOR 5,000 CREW ON THE ISIL FRONTLINE

Aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt docks in Dubai after five months of military action against the terror group in Syria and Iraq, writes Nick Webster

The USS Theodore Roosevelt is called the “Big Stick” by many who serve on the 332-metre long aircraft carrier – and it is easy to see why as it sits in Jebel Ali Port on a brief Dubai stopover.

Described as “an implement of power” and towering 20 storeys above the waterline, the ship is loaded with more than 70 fighter planes and helicopters primed for conflict.

The giant vessel has been a menace patrolling the Arabian Gulf in support of anti-terror Operation Inherent Resolve.

Since leaving San Diego in October, the nuclear-powered, Nimitz-class carrier has been leading operations in Syria and Iraq, targeting ISIL strongholds.

It has been a long four months for the 5,000 crew who, along with a further 1,500 sailors and marines on board supporting vessels in the carrier strike group, are not due back in the US until later this year.

America’s ambassador to the UAE, Barbara Leaf, addressed the ship’s crew before their short break in Dubai and the next stage of combat operations in the Arabian Gulf. “Since departing from San Diego with the cruiser USS Bunker Hill, and destroyers USS Sampson, Preble and Halsey, the USS Theodore Roosevelt has exemplified our country’s commitment to regional security and defence co-operation in the Middle East,” Ms Leaf said.

“These sailors and marines represent the most capable maritime fighting force anywhere in the world today.

“Whether for military operations with our host partners, scheduled maintenance visits or rest and relaxation stops, their presence is helping to strengthen security relationships with the UAE.

“It has been a profound privilege to be part of this deepening defence and security relationship between our two countries.” Since December 2014, the UAE has had 178 port visits from carriers, destroyers, cruisers, ships, submarines and other US ships. In that time, 130,000 sailors and marines have gone ashore to experience the culture of the UAE. Dubai is a regular stopping point thanks to its strategic location, wealth of supplies and attraction as a recovery destination for crew. Life on board the Theodore Roosevelt, one of the largest ships in the US fleet, is a 24-hour operation for its crew, with the craft’s nuclear capability enabling it to stay at sea indefinitely.

Replenishment at sea is scheduled weekly with supplies of jet fuel, food, repair parts and mail delivered by helicopter, cables and hoses.

“We have 5,000 people residing on this ship and it takes every single one of them to make things work,” said Rear Admiral Steve Koehler, Commander of Carrier Strike Group 9.

“It is an implement of power for the US and gives us the ability to execute that power in security operations alongside all our friends and allies in the Gulf region.”

The 31-year-old Theodore Roosevelt will return to the US after completing its tour of Guam, Bahrain and the UAE.

Travelling the 40,200 kilometres through the Sea of Japan at more than 30 knots, the ship can be sent to the region from US waters in less than two weeks.

“We couldn’t come to the UAE without the great partnership we have in place with this great nation to help make this place a safe place in which to live and work,” Rear Admiral Koehler said.

“This is a 24-hour operation when we are at sea, so to be able to come into port for a few days and give the crew a break is phenomenal.”

Many of the aircraft on board can launch GPS-guided smart bombs to take out their targets. Although most of the ship’s major maintenance is completed when back in dock in San Diego, the crew can resolve most issues at sea. Kitchens supply well-fed staff with more than 18,000 meals a day, but Dubai is timely stop for the crew who have been at sea for most of the past three months. “Operations against ISIL have been our main objective during our time here in the Arabian Gulf,” said executive officer Capt Fred Goldhammer. “Our aircraft are flying missions into Syria and Iraq in support of those operations against ISIL, that has been our main job out here.

“We use precision-guided bombs. We are very specific with the targets selected for missions in counter ISIL operations to minimise risk to civilians or any other casualties.

“Our progress against ISIL in this region has been very successful but this has not just been a US operation. We have been working with our partners in the region.”

The flight deck’s MH-60 helicopters are used to look for other ships and submarines and gather intelligence, while the Hawkeye command and control aircraft delivers information back to the carrier air wing to help plot a route and monitor operations.

Strike fighters such as the F18 can counter other aircraft and engage in combat, and fly air-to-ground combat operations.

Nuclear power runs the ship, while electromagnetic catapults launch aircraft from the flight deck. Rubber tracks attach to a metal shuttle that connects to the aircraft, to power them down the runway like a slingshot at 190kph in half a second. Everything is overseen by a runway “shooter”, monitoring four catapults simultaneously to launch fighters as quickly as possible. “When I started flying 20 years ago, to change an engine on a fighter would take a couple of days. Now it takes one hour,” Capt Goldhammer said.

“The older versions of the helicopter also took a lot longer to repair and it was more of an art than a science – a bit like having a classic car.”