Damage Control: Always Vigilant!

A US Navy ship is a highly-developed, powerful, fast and seaworthy thing. It is truly an engineering and craftsmanship wonder.

It is a giant conglomeration of parts-- thousands of tons of steel, miles of electric wires, fuel and water pipes, ventilation & heating & cooling ducts, and so on. Fill it up with people and countless other things-- many of which are flammable or can sink! There are so many things that can threaten the safety of the crew and the seaworthiness of the vessel.

Damage Control is critical to the survival of the ship, in war or in peacetime.
While on board the Harry S. Truman in September 2015, I got to witness a common but very important training event, conducted by the crew-- a GQ (General Quarters) Drill.

"General Quarters" is regularly sounded to keep the crew sharp, and on their toes, ready for any contingency. Every crewman has a duty station when this happens, and they all rush to their battle stations, put on their gear, and do drills. It's a very interesting thing to watch, and it makes you admire the efficiency and teamwork the Navy engages in with every sailor and section on board a naval vessel.

 Getting geared up fast for fire control...

"Fire Drill in Aft D.C." 2015, oil on canvas, 20" x 24" 

Here are some of the Fire Control related sketches I did while visiting the destroyer USS Carney (DDG-64):

 

 

General Quarters-- Checking the Roster

The Muster Sheet is about as old a tradition as the Navy itself.  Accountability and readiness are key in maintaining a fighting ship's effectiveness, and the ships of the US Navy are no exception.

When I was visiting the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) back in September 2015, I got to see several General Quarters drills, and saw each section handle accountability during the drill.

Here, I've depicted two female sailors in charge of a group, checking the roster to make sure all are accounted for.

This is a small oil on canvas, where I used a toned ground and tried to maintain a deftness to the paint application, to keep the sketchy quality to the piece while also rendering realistically.

Refuel At Sea-- Quality Check

Greetings, Navy Art Aficionados and Lovers of All Things Sea-Going...

As you may know, I got the opportunity to go aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) as the ship went through pre-deployment training in September 2015.

One of the fun and exotic things I got to witness was a Replenishment At Sea, wherein the USNS Kanawha pulled up alongside, sent over hoses, and pumped fuel for the HST's aircraft.

I was given a float coat and cranial, and was allowed into Fuel Station 13, where I photographed the sailors working the lines between the ships to bring over the hoses. I also watched the ABF sailors (the Aviation Boatswains Mates - Fuels), a.k.a. "Grapes," test the fuel's clarity and color in a sort of "proof test" in a glass jar, before beginning the fuel transfer...

All the while, the sea is rushing by only a few feet below and between the ships as they maintain their close parallel track. It's something you just don't see every day.

Here is a painting based on that, called, "Refuel At Sea: Quality Check" (subtitle, "Proof Test").

Evening Colors!

While still in port, I also got to witness another wonderful military and US Navy tradition: Evening Colors-- the ceremony every day wherein the flag, or National Ensign, is lowered at sunset, while the tune, "Retreat" is played in the background.
I got a video of the sailors lowering the colors on the 13th of September, the last day we were to be in port. I hope to use it as reference for a painting or some sort of color sketch.
Here is the video:

Polishing the Brightwork

The first sketch I did while aboard Bataan was of a young sailor doing what so many have done for centuries now-- making all the shiny brass things stay just so!  "Polishing the brightwork" as it is called, is a great Navy tradition.

So when I was wandering about smartly on deck the first day and saw a sailor engaged in this activity, I had to sketch it! So I got out my pencil and sketch pad and dashed off a quick contour drawing of the scene. Here is the modest result (a doodle of sorts, but it captures it):

Away to the USS Bataan!

I just got back from eleven days out with the Navy and Marine Corps, visiting two ships: the USS Bataan (LHD-5) and the USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19). I was given the great privilege of getting on board and underway with the 24th MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit), to see them work and train on board the ships, and to sketch and photograph their activities!

I also had the privilege of doing art with several other war artists of note: Marine Combat Artist Col. Craig Streeter,  Marine Combat Artist CWO2 (ret) Mike Fay, and War Artists Victor Juhasz and Richard Johnson. Together we "wandered about smartly," finding people and things to sketch, to document for posterity the goings-on aboard a modern US naval vessel.

Richard Johnson and Michael Fay sketching and photographing Marines of the 24th MEU while they board USS Bataan (LHD-5) September 11th, 2016.

 War Artist Richard Johnson sketching on the fantail of the USS Bataan (LHD-5)  Sept 12th, 2016

War Artist and Illustrator Victor Juhasz sketches in the Ready Room on USS Bataan, September 16th, 2016.