Mast installed on U.S. Navy carrier

NORFOLK, Va., Aug. 29 (UPI) -- The main mast of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman has been installed at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

The installation marks a milestone in the ship's 13-month drydock planned incremental availability, the Naval Sea Systems Command said.

The 112,000-pound mast -- 10 feet taller and 23,000 pounds heavier than the mast removed June 18 -- supports the modernization of the carrier's combat systems suite and radars for its new weapons systems.

The mast required more than two years and two shipyards to build. As part of Naval Sea Systems Command's "One Shipyard" concept, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility assisted with fabrication of the mast.

In addition to the main mast replacement, the shipyard's CVN 75 availability project team will be modernizing and improving the carrier's propulsion plant control.

NNSY, a field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command, is the oldest and largest industrial facility belonging to the U.S. Navy and specializes in repairing, overhauling and modernizing ships and submarines.

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2011/08/29/Mast-installed-on-US-Navy-carrier/UPI-13921314617470/.