NATO MUltimedia
Supercarrier: crossing the Atlantic on the USS Gerald R. Ford
Publication date
02 Aug 2023 14:36
Country
N/A
Themes
Filming date
30 Oct 2022
Location
The Atlantic Ocean
Type
EDITED
Format
16:9
Version
Master
Language
English
The largest warship in the world, and the US Navy’s newest and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier, crossed the Atlantic for its first operational deployment in 2022. What was it like to sail the high seas on a floating airbase?
Synopsis
The largest warship in the world, and the US Navy’s newest and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier, crossed the Atlantic for its first operational deployment in 2022. What was it like to sail the high seas on a floating airbase?
The Ford is the largest and most powerful ship in NATO’s maritime arsenal. The first in a new class of super carriers, the Ford uses electromagnetic catapults to launch jets, breaking with the steam-powered system used by carriers for decades. This new system requires fewer sailors to operate, and its power levels can be calibrated for specific aircraft, leading to less wear and tear and lower long-term maintenance costs.
Sailing from Halifax, Canada – its first foreign port of call – the Ford took part in exercise Silent Wolverine, a series of drills off the coast of Portugal involving 11 ships from six NATO Allies. During the exercise, the Ford launched and recovered strike fighters, surveillance aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft and helicopters while coordinating with ships from Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. Working together in a multinational carrier strike group, the drills gave NATO Allies a chance to see the Ford in action and familiarise themselves with its systems.
The Ford is the largest and most powerful ship in NATO’s maritime arsenal. The first in a new class of super carriers, the Ford uses electromagnetic catapults to launch jets, breaking with the steam-powered system used by carriers for decades. This new system requires fewer sailors to operate, and its power levels can be calibrated for specific aircraft, leading to less wear and tear and lower long-term maintenance costs.
Sailing from Halifax, Canada – its first foreign port of call – the Ford took part in exercise Silent Wolverine, a series of drills off the coast of Portugal involving 11 ships from six NATO Allies. During the exercise, the Ford launched and recovered strike fighters, surveillance aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft and helicopters while coordinating with ships from Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. Working together in a multinational carrier strike group, the drills gave NATO Allies a chance to see the Ford in action and familiarise themselves with its systems.
Transcript
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘It’s the largest warship in the world. On the high seas, it stands unrivalled. And for its very first deployment, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford headed from North America to Europe, making the transatlantic journey to train alongside NATO Allies.’
TEXT ON SCREEN
SUPERCARRIER: CROSSING THE ATLANTIC ON THE USS GERALD R. FORD
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘The Gerald R. Ford is the first ship in a new class of US Navy aircraft carriers. It's a nuclear-powered, technologically advanced floating airfield with enough firepower to deter potential adversaries on sight.
After years of sea trials and shock tests, the Ford was finally ready to deploy alongside NATO Allies in October 2022.
The journey across the Atlantic begins in Halifax, Canada.
From there, the Ford and its multinational Carrier Strike Group will retrace the path blazed by Canadian and US merchant ships during World War Two.’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Rear Admiral David Patchell
Vice Commander, US 2nd Fleet
‘Over 80 years ago, Canadians, Americans and our Allies fought together across the Atlantic to secure the sea lines of communication.
They endured heavy seas. They endured a relentless enemy, but they enabled that war effort and enabled victory throughout that longest battle of World War Two. And today we continue that tradition.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘From there, the aircraft carrier evolved, growing in size and strength. Nuclear power plants gave them global range while the advent of steam-powered catapults let them launch heavier fighters.
Aircraft carriers were soon a common sight in Allied navies, including France and the United Kingdom, with a strike group of warships accompanying them. These ships carry powerful weapons of their own, but their main mission is to defend the carrier against attack. Protected by this ring of steel, the carrier can sail almost anywhere.
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Captain Dan Catlin
Commander, Air Wing 8
‘If I had to capture what a carrier strike group is, I would describe it simply as the centrepiece of power projection. We operate self-sustained, independent and can go anywhere globally to wherever we need to go, at the drop of a hat.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘Commissioned in 2017, the USS Gerald R. Ford is the first ship in a brand-new class. And, according to the US Navy, the most technologically advanced carrier to ever set sail. But what makes it different from what came before?’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Captain Paul Lanzilotta
Former Captain, USS Gerald R. Ford
‘Our propulsion plant is all new. New electrical distribution system. Smaller crew, intended for less maintenance. We’re excited about the new technologies that Ford brings to the table. The most prominent ones are the electromagnetic aircraft launch system and the advanced arresting gear.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘Most aircraft carriers launch jets off their flight decks with catapults powered by steam. But you won't see any hot air coming off the Ford's flight deck. This ship uses an electromagnetic launch system to get its jets airborne. When it comes to these new catapults, there’s more than meets the eye.’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Captain Paul Lanzilotta
Former Captain, USS Gerald R. Ford
‘We can shoot aircraft at a wider range in terms of weight. We anticipate using more unmanned vehicles in the coming years. Those might be lighter than the strike fighters that we're shooting right now. And we anticipate less stress on those aircraft, less lifetime cost on the aircraft.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘When it comes down to it, the most important thing on an aircraft carrier is the aircraft. Embarked on the Ford is Carrier Air Wing Eight, which includes approximately 60 aircraft From strike fighters to surveillance aircraft and helicopters, each airframe has a role.’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Captain Dan Catlin
Deputy Commander, Air Wing 8
‘You can almost think of it like a football team. You have layers of defence. You also have layers of offense. They all have to work together in order for that play to succeed.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘While a fully loaded flight deck is certainly impressive, those planes can't fly without pilots. Far from the cocky aviators of Top Gun fame, today's fighter pilots embrace a different mindset.’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Lieutenant Commander Phillip Kunzig
Strike Fighter Squadron 37
‘We definitely subscribe to a bit of a ‘work hard, play hard’ mentality. But really what we end up looking for is somebody who is humble, credible and approachable.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘The naval aviators of Strike Fighter Squadron 37, the “Ragin’ Bulls”, train to fly everything from bombing raids to combat air patrols to acting as flying gas stations for other fighters. What does an ordinary day look like in this less than ordinary job?’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Lieutenant Commander Phillip Kunzig
Strike Fighter Squadron 37
‘About an hour prior to your take-off, you're going to go get kitted up, get all your flight gear on and then it's time to go up to the flight deck. So the flight deck is always a very dynamic and quite dangerous place. So you kind of have to be strategic. Once you're in the airplane, a whole bunch of checks to do between your systems and the ship. It's a whole lot of work leading up to that cat shot, which is the moment that you’ve been waiting for.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘The defining trait of a naval aviator is the ability to land on a small floating runway in the middle of a very large and very unforgiving sea. To accomplish this feat, the Hornets use a tail hook to snag a thick steel cable bringing 20 tonnes of metal to a dead stop in a matter of seconds.’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Lieutenant Commander Phillip Kunzig
Strike Fighter Squadron 37
‘Landing on an aircraft carrier is definitely difficult. It's challenging. We've got a whole lot of technology helping us do it. In the moments leading up to touching down on the aircraft carrier, really kind of fine-tuning those corrections to make sure that you're on the optimal glide path just prior to touching down. There might have used to be panic and uncertainty. That's what you do all the training for, to get all of those moments out of the way.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
It's been several days since the Ford set off from Halifax. Its sailors have settled into the groove of daily operations. With more than 4,000 sailors aboard, the Ford isn’t just a ship. It's an office, a dinner table, a gym, a home.
A ship this big can burn through supplies at an alarming rate. To top off its stocks, the Ford must conduct replenishments at sea, a complicated operation where pulleys and helicopters ferry across everything from jet fuel to air-to-air missiles to mail from home.
The journey referred to by sailors as an underway can be long, and routine can lead to tedium. But the mission is more than worth the effort.’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
ABH1 ALIX MARCANO
Aircraft handler, USS Gerald R. Ford
‘Being at sea for a long period of time, it does get a little stressful sometimes. You have to find ways to be able to relieve stress, whether that be going to the gym, decompressing, having conversations with other people and friends. We have to make that camaraderie and be able to get to the finish line of the mission.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘The Ford has crossed the Atlantic to arrive off the shores of Portugal. Sailing alongside it are ships from six NATO Allies. Their job is to keep the carrier safe and to provide extra firepower in the simulated battles that will test the Carrier Strike Group's combat readiness. It's been a long trip, but now it's time to hit the throttles and see what the world's largest warship can do.
Day and night, the flight deck is busy as jets launch on training missions that simulate air interceptions, surface strikes and anti-submarine warfare.’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Rear Admiral David Patchell
Vice Commander, US 2nd Fleet
‘We're here to conduct high-level maritime operations across the spectrum. We're here to showcase the Gerald R. Ford, and then integrate Allies and partners.’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Captain Dan Catlin
Deputy Commander, Air Wing 8
‘No nation can truly stand on their own. We are stronger as an alliance. And so working together allows us to create those frameworks, and through exercises, truly be able to work in partnership with each other whenever we need to.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘As the exercise nears its end and the Ford prepares to conclude its journey in Portsmouth, England, the flight deck turns emotional as several of the ship's naval aviators share a bittersweet milestone: the last carrier landings in their naval careers.’
Captain Dan Catlin
Deputy Commander, Air Wing 8
‘Certainly, we're all going to have to stop doing this one day. We're always going to miss the flying, for sure, every single one of us. But really, really, really, it's going to be about missing the people.
The other pilots that I fly with, the leadership that we are under, the 18, 19-year-old sailor who is working on the aircraft and we trust our lives with.
It's really a symphony of literally thousands of dedicated people working together towards one common goal. To be part of that, on a personal level, is very special.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘For these aviators, the journey is over. But for the USS Gerald R. Ford, it's just beginning. Just months after this deployment, the Ford returned to European waters for a full tour of duty, coming under direct NATO command for the first time. With unmatched range and power, the Ford now leads Allied navies in the crucial task of deterring aggression and, and, if necessary, defending NATO against external threats. In these uncertain times, the world's largest warship is on watch in Europe and on guard.’
TEXT ON SCREEN
This video contains Thomson Reuters copyrighted library material licensed by NATO, which cannot be used as part of a new production without consent of the copyright holder. Please contact Thomson Reuters to clear this material.
‘It’s the largest warship in the world. On the high seas, it stands unrivalled. And for its very first deployment, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford headed from North America to Europe, making the transatlantic journey to train alongside NATO Allies.’
TEXT ON SCREEN
SUPERCARRIER: CROSSING THE ATLANTIC ON THE USS GERALD R. FORD
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘The Gerald R. Ford is the first ship in a new class of US Navy aircraft carriers. It's a nuclear-powered, technologically advanced floating airfield with enough firepower to deter potential adversaries on sight.
After years of sea trials and shock tests, the Ford was finally ready to deploy alongside NATO Allies in October 2022.
The journey across the Atlantic begins in Halifax, Canada.
From there, the Ford and its multinational Carrier Strike Group will retrace the path blazed by Canadian and US merchant ships during World War Two.’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Rear Admiral David Patchell
Vice Commander, US 2nd Fleet
‘Over 80 years ago, Canadians, Americans and our Allies fought together across the Atlantic to secure the sea lines of communication.
They endured heavy seas. They endured a relentless enemy, but they enabled that war effort and enabled victory throughout that longest battle of World War Two. And today we continue that tradition.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘From there, the aircraft carrier evolved, growing in size and strength. Nuclear power plants gave them global range while the advent of steam-powered catapults let them launch heavier fighters.
Aircraft carriers were soon a common sight in Allied navies, including France and the United Kingdom, with a strike group of warships accompanying them. These ships carry powerful weapons of their own, but their main mission is to defend the carrier against attack. Protected by this ring of steel, the carrier can sail almost anywhere.
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Captain Dan Catlin
Commander, Air Wing 8
‘If I had to capture what a carrier strike group is, I would describe it simply as the centrepiece of power projection. We operate self-sustained, independent and can go anywhere globally to wherever we need to go, at the drop of a hat.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘Commissioned in 2017, the USS Gerald R. Ford is the first ship in a brand-new class. And, according to the US Navy, the most technologically advanced carrier to ever set sail. But what makes it different from what came before?’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Captain Paul Lanzilotta
Former Captain, USS Gerald R. Ford
‘Our propulsion plant is all new. New electrical distribution system. Smaller crew, intended for less maintenance. We’re excited about the new technologies that Ford brings to the table. The most prominent ones are the electromagnetic aircraft launch system and the advanced arresting gear.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘Most aircraft carriers launch jets off their flight decks with catapults powered by steam. But you won't see any hot air coming off the Ford's flight deck. This ship uses an electromagnetic launch system to get its jets airborne. When it comes to these new catapults, there’s more than meets the eye.’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Captain Paul Lanzilotta
Former Captain, USS Gerald R. Ford
‘We can shoot aircraft at a wider range in terms of weight. We anticipate using more unmanned vehicles in the coming years. Those might be lighter than the strike fighters that we're shooting right now. And we anticipate less stress on those aircraft, less lifetime cost on the aircraft.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘When it comes down to it, the most important thing on an aircraft carrier is the aircraft. Embarked on the Ford is Carrier Air Wing Eight, which includes approximately 60 aircraft From strike fighters to surveillance aircraft and helicopters, each airframe has a role.’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Captain Dan Catlin
Deputy Commander, Air Wing 8
‘You can almost think of it like a football team. You have layers of defence. You also have layers of offense. They all have to work together in order for that play to succeed.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘While a fully loaded flight deck is certainly impressive, those planes can't fly without pilots. Far from the cocky aviators of Top Gun fame, today's fighter pilots embrace a different mindset.’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Lieutenant Commander Phillip Kunzig
Strike Fighter Squadron 37
‘We definitely subscribe to a bit of a ‘work hard, play hard’ mentality. But really what we end up looking for is somebody who is humble, credible and approachable.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘The naval aviators of Strike Fighter Squadron 37, the “Ragin’ Bulls”, train to fly everything from bombing raids to combat air patrols to acting as flying gas stations for other fighters. What does an ordinary day look like in this less than ordinary job?’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Lieutenant Commander Phillip Kunzig
Strike Fighter Squadron 37
‘About an hour prior to your take-off, you're going to go get kitted up, get all your flight gear on and then it's time to go up to the flight deck. So the flight deck is always a very dynamic and quite dangerous place. So you kind of have to be strategic. Once you're in the airplane, a whole bunch of checks to do between your systems and the ship. It's a whole lot of work leading up to that cat shot, which is the moment that you’ve been waiting for.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘The defining trait of a naval aviator is the ability to land on a small floating runway in the middle of a very large and very unforgiving sea. To accomplish this feat, the Hornets use a tail hook to snag a thick steel cable bringing 20 tonnes of metal to a dead stop in a matter of seconds.’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Lieutenant Commander Phillip Kunzig
Strike Fighter Squadron 37
‘Landing on an aircraft carrier is definitely difficult. It's challenging. We've got a whole lot of technology helping us do it. In the moments leading up to touching down on the aircraft carrier, really kind of fine-tuning those corrections to make sure that you're on the optimal glide path just prior to touching down. There might have used to be panic and uncertainty. That's what you do all the training for, to get all of those moments out of the way.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
It's been several days since the Ford set off from Halifax. Its sailors have settled into the groove of daily operations. With more than 4,000 sailors aboard, the Ford isn’t just a ship. It's an office, a dinner table, a gym, a home.
A ship this big can burn through supplies at an alarming rate. To top off its stocks, the Ford must conduct replenishments at sea, a complicated operation where pulleys and helicopters ferry across everything from jet fuel to air-to-air missiles to mail from home.
The journey referred to by sailors as an underway can be long, and routine can lead to tedium. But the mission is more than worth the effort.’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
ABH1 ALIX MARCANO
Aircraft handler, USS Gerald R. Ford
‘Being at sea for a long period of time, it does get a little stressful sometimes. You have to find ways to be able to relieve stress, whether that be going to the gym, decompressing, having conversations with other people and friends. We have to make that camaraderie and be able to get to the finish line of the mission.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘The Ford has crossed the Atlantic to arrive off the shores of Portugal. Sailing alongside it are ships from six NATO Allies. Their job is to keep the carrier safe and to provide extra firepower in the simulated battles that will test the Carrier Strike Group's combat readiness. It's been a long trip, but now it's time to hit the throttles and see what the world's largest warship can do.
Day and night, the flight deck is busy as jets launch on training missions that simulate air interceptions, surface strikes and anti-submarine warfare.’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Rear Admiral David Patchell
Vice Commander, US 2nd Fleet
‘We're here to conduct high-level maritime operations across the spectrum. We're here to showcase the Gerald R. Ford, and then integrate Allies and partners.’
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
Captain Dan Catlin
Deputy Commander, Air Wing 8
‘No nation can truly stand on their own. We are stronger as an alliance. And so working together allows us to create those frameworks, and through exercises, truly be able to work in partnership with each other whenever we need to.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘As the exercise nears its end and the Ford prepares to conclude its journey in Portsmouth, England, the flight deck turns emotional as several of the ship's naval aviators share a bittersweet milestone: the last carrier landings in their naval careers.’
Captain Dan Catlin
Deputy Commander, Air Wing 8
‘Certainly, we're all going to have to stop doing this one day. We're always going to miss the flying, for sure, every single one of us. But really, really, really, it's going to be about missing the people.
The other pilots that I fly with, the leadership that we are under, the 18, 19-year-old sailor who is working on the aircraft and we trust our lives with.
It's really a symphony of literally thousands of dedicated people working together towards one common goal. To be part of that, on a personal level, is very special.’
—VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH —
‘For these aviators, the journey is over. But for the USS Gerald R. Ford, it's just beginning. Just months after this deployment, the Ford returned to European waters for a full tour of duty, coming under direct NATO command for the first time. With unmatched range and power, the Ford now leads Allied navies in the crucial task of deterring aggression and, and, if necessary, defending NATO against external threats. In these uncertain times, the world's largest warship is on watch in Europe and on guard.’
TEXT ON SCREEN
This video contains Thomson Reuters copyrighted library material licensed by NATO, which cannot be used as part of a new production without consent of the copyright holder. Please contact Thomson Reuters to clear this material.
Music
“Neonlicht” by Edgar Möller and Lucia Wilke; “Parabola” by Grove and Marett, “Cyberian” by Trifon and White; “Turbulence” by Holmes
Usage rights
This media asset is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is restricted for use for other purposes. Some footage courtesy of the US Department of Defense. This video includes Thomson Reuters copyrighted library material licensed by NATO, which cannot be used as part of a new production without consent of the copyright holder. Please contact Thomson Reuters to clear this material.
Reference
NATO919361
ID
2034