Carrier Strike Group 8 Destroyers Conduct Missile Firing Exercise

June 29, 2015

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Four Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers of Destroyer Squadron 28 conducted an integrated missile firing exercise (MISSILEX) in the Virginia Capes, June 5.

USS Gravely (DDG 107), USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) and USS Ramage (DDG 61) took part in the test firing exercise. Each ship fired a Standard Missile (SM-2) equipped with telemetry to track missile performance. Gravely assumed duties for planning the exercise and orchestrated several rehearsal opportunities to prepare for the firing event. The exercise was intended to increase watch team proficiency and assess weapon and combat system performance of the firing train.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jason Brock, Gravely's systems test officer, provided the firing orders to the four ships as the Force Air Defense Coordinator.

"This exercise is the culmination of many, many hours of practice and maintenance by the ship's fire controlmen," said Lt. j.g. Daniel Fallon, the ship's fire control officer, who was the air warfare coordinator for the launch. "The fire controlmen flawlessly executed the exercise, hitting their target dead on. It was awesome."

The fire control officer is in charge of all the missile fire control systems as well as the combat systems that calculate the fire solution and interface with the launching system.

"I could not be more proud of my crew's performance during this event," said Cmdr. Alysa Ambrose, Gravely commanding officer. "All four of the ships prepared very hard for this event, and executed flawlessly."

Gravely, Bulkeley, and Gonzalez will deploy together with the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and Carrier Strike Group 8 later this year. Ramage will independently deploy around the same time.

Source : US Navy