Enterprise Steers Course to Readiness

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - USS Enterprise (CVN 65) successfully completed manual rudder testing in preparation to return to the fleet after more than 18 months in the shipyards.

The test is conducted in close coordination with the ship's bridge and provides the bridge watch team the ability to steer under emergency situations.

Sailors and shipyard employees worked together to calibrate the timing for two of the four rudders on Enterprise in order to validate swing checks from left to right, judging how quickly the ship can turn.

"By performing these tests we can ensure that all the work done during the maintenance availability period was completed correctly," said Machinist's Mate 1st Class (SW) Thomas T. Taylor.

Enterprise still has further tests to complete as it moves into Crew Certification Phase Three, an advanced readiness assessment. However, with the completion of rudder tests, Enterprise moves one step closer to its goal of putting the shipyards behind her and steaming for her next deployment.

"This is just one more check in the box proving we can steer out to sea under normal and emergency situations," added Taylor.

Enterprise is currently undergoing a maintenance period in the Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard and training to maintain proficiency in preparation to return to the fleet.