USS Wichita completes major repairs while deployed

The US Navy’s Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS-13) has completed several major engineering repairs while deployed, restoring propulsion and power systems without returning to port or entering a shipyard.
The US-flagged vessel’s crew repaired a ship’s service diesel generator, a main propulsion diesel engine and associated auxiliary systems while operating in the Fourth Fleet area of operations. The work kept the ship fully mission-capable throughout the deployment.
“Our primary task is to maintain and operate the engineering plant in a consistently high state of readiness in order to support the ship’s mission as an instrument of national policy,” said Lt Brandon Cravey, USS Wichita’s chief engineer. “Our weekly engineering evolutions and damage control drills allow us to respond quickly and efficiently to a wide variety of casualties. We must be ready to answer all bells.”
The most complex job began after watchstanders detected an abnormal luboil leak on a diesel generator. The crew isolated the fault, identified a failed component and completed repairs within 24 hours while underway. In a separate incident, engineers repaired a failing heating element on a main propulsion engine within 72 hours.
Cmdr Travis Snover, commanding officer of USS Wichita, said: “Their initiative, professional curiosity, and commitment to mastering their equipment are the enablers of our success at sea.”