At Sea Replenishment and Refueling details

Ships when in port are topped off with fuel and fresh stores and ammo are always bought to the ships by truck. When at sea we don't have the luxury of pierside delivery. All US Navy ships when in port have to be kept ready to get underway with a few hours notice. At sea fuel is consumed around the clock and meals are served three times a day and midrats (midnight rations) for the midwatch. Destroyers don't have the storage capacity of larger ships and need to be refueled every 2 to 3 days just to keep up and keep safe in case of storm or attack. We don't wanna run out for any reason. The navy had been experimenting with underway replenishment since conversion from coal to oil fuel just prior to the 1920s. During WW2 it had been pretty much perfected and some improvements to hookups have been made in years since. In 1953 a first was done when a destroyer became the first surface vessel to refuel a submarine while underway. The DD was the USS New DD 818 and the sub was the USS Torsk SS 423 which is now part of the Historic Fleet and in Baltimore, Maryland. Helicopters during WW2 were still experimental but by the Korean War they proved very useful in many ways including picking up downed pilots and hauling out wounded. The fifties saw great advances in design and uses of this strange bird. In the sixties during the Vietnam War the choppers role had been expanded as it's range and hauling capabilities became greater. The need for in-flight refueling became greater. Newer and larger destroyers and destroyer leaders were being designed for helo operation and with helo hangers. FRAM 1 and FRAM 2 conversions were built with a helo hanger and flight deck but too small for a manned helo. They were designed for Gyrodyne's DASH, Drone Anti Submarine Helo. Or as it was sometimes called Down At Sea Helo. These FRAM conversions had storage tanks for helo fuel and in the Tonkin Gulf were used to refuel helos in flight on North SAR station. They had to fly a long way to get there. During naval air raids over the north Naval helos were used for search and rescue operations. When the Air Force flew they used Air Force helos. While the Navy had been doing in-flight refueling for it's own helos from destroyers it had never been done to an Army/Air Force helo until 1967 when USS New became the first to refuel the Jolly Green Giant in flight. It soon became routine. During the 60s and into the 70s helos were used more and more for food supply and ammo transfer as the new supply ships with helo capabilities and flight decks replaced the old ones.  This page is dedicated to pictures of refueling, taking on stores, ammo or just highlining mail and personnel.

These six pictures were sent in by Dan Bonnet taken during 1976-77.

unrep with the USNS Mispillian the two guys on the left are BM2 Felix and BMC Russel the other two I don't know.

Mispillian again, two guys on the left are BM2 Felix and BM3 Stolper on the left is BMC Russel and on the right is ENS. Klauer.

vert-rep west-pac 1977

retractable padeye on asroc deck used for unrep

Picture is me ( SN Bonnett ) the other side of the aft refueling station on the asroc deck

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Below four pictures sent in by Ken Weekly of a refueling from an oiler during the 77 West Pac. Two views from the foc'sle looking aft  are particularly good. They show the hose hooked up and pumping to the forward refueling station. The ships travel at about 10 knots with close distance between. At sea a mile between ships is considered close and a collision could happen in a matter of a minute. When two ships travel side by side like this the water is churned and very turbulant. It has a tendancy to pull the two vessals together and it takes some expert seamanship from the conn officer, the helmsman and lee helmsman to maintain a steady course and speed.

The radarmen in CIC are responsible for tracking all course and speeds of all ships in the area and making recommendations to the bridge for course and speed changes to take and maintain station. The end responsibility is with the captain and conning officer. Crews are also trained for emergency breakaway in case of an attack or an unforseen emergency. Other ships in the formation are on screen and at rescue positions should a man fall over the side.

Below is more helo transfer operations taken by Ken Weekly. The ship must take a course and speed to gain adequate wind speed and direction to keep the helo steady and with air under it's blades to keep it in the air. It may look simple because it is done and practiced over and over to maintain the readiness needed. It is always dangerous.