December 14 2009 Everett, WA

On Tour, Vern was accompanied by friend Captain Ron Miller and escorted by MSCREP SEATTLE director Bruce Leach Jr. and Steve Busby.

This central area of an OILER is where Replenishment At Sea occurs, Pumping thousands of gallons of fuels to every type of war ship; Especially jet fuel for the Carriers.

We received visitor badges at quarter deck –v

This Photo describes the Starboard side the best.

Photos on this starboard side occur at station 5A and 7

We were greeted by 3rd officer C.L. Main

The 1st photos were of Station 7 – PROBE; Then the control cabin.

Before moving to the port side, photos of Sta. 5A Receiving station were taken.

< --Quarter Deckis in here

Ron Miller, right, is telling story to 3/O

This photo was taken on leaving ship

STATION NO.7 FIXTURES

The starboard and port sides each have 3 fuel replenishment rigs.

The stations rig is controlled from an all weather covered cabin that

faces every area the fuel line is flown to.

Also, the starboard and ports sides each have 3 dry goods replenishment rigs where goods are delivered on pallets.

Some pallets are visible in photo above.

The history of the “PROBE” goes back to 1957 where it was noted that the restrictions imposed by the end couplings and the time needed to rig and unrig them was not acceptable.

The new connector was designed using aircraft – in - flight refueling techniques. A final form was ap-proved in 1965 consisting of a male fitting attached to the terminal end of a 7-inch hose “flown” by the oiler.

The fitting rides the span wire on a trolley, and mates with a swivel elbow on the receiving ship (see diagram below). Upon mating, the female fitting is sealed in the re-ceiver and a poppet valve opens to permit the flow of fuel.

The poppet valve prevents leakage of fuel when, at breakaway, the probe disconnects from the receiver.

Rainier's Station 7 refueling Probe

This probe is normally covered with a bag but was removed so Vern could photograph it.

CLOSE UP

Rainier’s Station 5 has two Swivel Elbow Female Receivers

A few months earlier Vern snapped a photo of USS Abraham Lincoln’s Double receiver.

A double probe UNREP from USNS Kanawha TAO-196

PROCEED TO PORT SIDE SHOW