Aircraft Carrier Shakedown ?

There's a difference between sea trials and shakedown cruises.

With carriers, there are 2 sea trials, a builder's trial and an acceptance trial. The builder's trial, conducted mostly by the builder, Northrop Grumman Newport News, is first to demonstrate the ship is to specs. The acceptance trial is conducted by the US Navy's INSERVE unit. When the carrier passes INSERVE, a small delivery ceremony is held.

The ship is then commissioned into the fleet and begins a series of shakedown cruises. The flight deck is certified and flight ops begin. Crew training is stepped up to at sea conditions. After about 4-6 months of this, the carrier returns to the builder for a Post Shake-down Availability, sort of a warranty check. Anything needing repaired, adjusted, etc. is done. In addition, any new gear that couldn't be installed during the construction can be installed during the PSA.

The carrier will go through many modification and maintance periods during its service life. The Nimitz class get refueled and a complex overhaul after 25 years. The Nimitz finshed hers, The Eisenhower is currently undergoing its RCOH.

Mike

Hey Jeff, When I moved to the Southeast, I thought living room lawn furniture was just a Jeff Foxworthy joke. Until drove through my new neighborhood. I also like the LazyBoy rumble seat in the back of a 73 Chevy I saw a few days ago.

A shakedown is when the cops raid your place looking for anything they can nail you on because you haven't made your protection payments...

Oh...uhhh....you meant a shakedown cruise?? Nevermind... :-)

Just a little humor there...but speaking of cops, I'm sitting at my model table looking outside when a local cop pulls up in front of my house, gets out, and inspects the sectional sofa sitting on my front lawn (waiting for the local thrift shop to come and pick it up, since I bought the missus a new livingroom set). I figured I was going to get a ticket for leaving on the front lawn (for nearly 4 days now, DOH), figured one of my snoopity neighbors complained.

At any rate, he wants it for his basement...LMAO...

Jeff

Shakedown is the slang term for a sea trial. A ship may have one after being built or after a refit, modification, or upgrade. Bruce's explaination is very true.

As I understand it photos taken during the "shakedown" can sometimes be misleading as changes as a result of that cruise or changes identified during the first few voyages resulted in relocating of equipment and gear to increase efficiency and usability. I know it occured in the smaller craft eg patrol boats, perhaps not so much with the larger ships.

A "shakedown" is an initial cruise, or series of cruises, often with the civilian contractors on board, to exercise and test all the ship's systems.
Also an opportunity for the crew to come together and work as a team.

At the end of the shakedown the contractors swear everything is marvellous, and the crew has a list of complaints and deficiencies a mile long. At the end of the day, when all is remedied, everyone goes for beers together and shake hands.
Regards,
Bruce