USS John C Stennis completes sea trials early

Photo: US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dakota Rayburn
Photo: US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dakota Rayburn

USS John C Stennis (CVN 74) returned to its homeport after successful sea trials on August 13, completing the last phase of its planned incremental availability (PIA) five days early.

John C Stennis completed the largest six-month PIA for an aircraft carrier ever attempted, which included more than 2,800,000 man-hours of work, including opening, cleaning and inspecting 104 tanks and vent spaces, conducting repairs to John C Stennis‘ collection, holding and transfer tanks, installing a new incinerator, a feat never before completed during a six-month availability and replacing the trough cover for one of the carrier’s catapults – again, never before accomplished during a six-month availability.

During sea trials, sailors exercised the ship’s systems, including combat systems, damage control equipment, flight deck and engineering systems.

Sailors also put into practice their seamanship skills underway for the first time since beginning the availability, and simulated flight deck operations with operational catapults.

John C Stennis has returned to Bremerton, and will now conduct training and evolutions to prepare them to return to operations at sea


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