Salute to Sailors: Navy employs technology and training to ready sailors – WHP Harrisburg

Norfolk, VA

With 350,000 sailors and 300 ships spread across the globe, the U.S. Navy is one of the largest in the world. But, China is outpacing the U.S. when it comes to shipbuilding. So, right now, Navy brass is leaning on the manpower and training to prevail on the high seas.

In todays Salute to Sailors, CBS21s Michael Gorsegner gets an inside look at the technology and tools preparing these men and women for battle.

Technology has improved our training drastically, said Lt. Commander Tommy Getty, Surface Warfare Officer.

During a simulation, five sailors are put through the paces. A small boat armed with two .50 caliber heavy machine guns fend off the enemy. Instead of spending huge amounts of time and money with live fire training, a simulator acts as a guide.

There is a lot of learning curve associated with it. It's just a different way for the Navy to implement their pre planned responses, said Lt. Commander Getty.

We can put the sailors through any environments or situations that are just too dangerous to simulate at sea, said Lt. Commander Matthew Campbell at the Submarine Learning Facility.

Before getting behind the controls of a billion plus dollar Los Angeles class fast-attack submarine, crewman run through a simulator. Learning to experience operations underwater is a vital part of the experience where mistakes dont cost lives.

We can do any number of things in here from basic level servicing, evolutions to periscope depth or we can do complex casualties that actually really test the team as a group, said Lt. Commander Campbell.

We are looking at the LCAC. One of the greatest things in the Navy, said Petty Officer Breana Harris, Gas Turbine Mechanic.

Technological advances fuel the Navy at every turn. With 16,000 horsepower turning four double sided fans, the LCAC, or landing craft, air cushion, is able to transport materials, equipment and personnel from ship to shore.

Anything that we can strap on the deck that they need to get from the ship to the beach, we are the transportation, said Petty Officer First Class Marty Little, Gas Turbine Systems Technician.

We transport Marines. Whatever they need, we take them where the ships can't go, said Petty Officer Harris.

Air cushion technology makes the LCAC unique because it is able to land just about anywhere. In fact, only about 15 percent of the worlds coastline is accessible to conventional landing craft. With the LCAC, that number jumps to 70 percent. At top speeds of over 40 miles per hour, the LCAC is a big, fast, expensive taxi.

It is a one-of-a-kind job. I really really enjoy operating it, said Petty Officer First Class Little.

To get the LCAC, the hovercraft, from place to place takes a much bigger effort. Enter the USS Carter Hall. This well deck right here floods with water from two feet all the way to eight feet. That way, the hovercraft can come on board to not only complete, but start a mission.

This is where we launch and recover landing craft, said Lt. Commander John Horst, Surface Warfare Officer.

With a motto of working for peace, ready for war, the Carter Hall is a dock landing ship tasked with transporting Marine personnel, landing craft, vehicles and cargo to forward positions.

Our offensive capability is the ability to take Marines from the city and put them wherever they need to be on land, said Lt. Commander Horst.

With 350 sailors on board, Lt. Commander Horst, from Lancaster County, oversees about two dozen men and women to make sure Carter Hall and her crew are ready for both military and humanitarian efforts. Almost two decades of service has expanded the world view of this Central PA native.

I have seen so many more countries than I would have ever normally seen as a kid from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, he said.

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Salute to Sailors: Navy employs technology and training to ready sailors - WHP Harrisburg