Military Sealift Command Public Affairs
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Laura Seal (202) 685-5055
August 19, 2009

Bridge connects Nimitz Strike Group to the world, keeps Navy mission ready

U.S. Navy press release by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Amara R. Timberlake

USS NIMITZ, At Sea-- Military Sealift Command (MSC) fast combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10) conducted a replenishment-at-sea (RAS) Aug. 14 with the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

The RAS allowed for transfer of fuel and supplies to Nimitz prior to her transit into the 7th Fleet Area of Operations.

"It's important for us to do underway replenishments," said Chief Warrant Officer Terry Norris, Nimitz's first lieutenant. "It saves time and money so that a warship at sea can stay at sea and not have to pull into port to get fuel and supplies."

Bridge will accompany the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG) on her Western Pacific deployment.

Although she is a noncombatant, Bridge and other MSC ships are vital to the Navy's maritime strategy. MSC's mission is to support the nation by delivering supplies and conducting specialized missions across the world's oceans.

Bridge is crewed by 160 civil service mariners. The logistics support the MSC crew provides Nimitz allows the ship to remain mission ready.

For an aircraft carrier, the primary reason for conducting a RAS is to replenish the ship's supply of aviation fuel. The ships also transfer fuel, ammunition and supplies.

During this RAS, Nimitz took on approximately more than 1 million gallons of aviation fuel and 42 tons of ammunition.

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