Facilities

90,000 Tons of Diplomacy
By Kevin Carpenter, Manager, Government Sales, kcarpenter@pelco.com

The USS Nimitz has answered its country’s call many times in response to regional and international crisis. In doing so the carrier has secured a prominent place in history and Pelco’s CM9500 Matrix Systems and Genex Multipliers have shared in that success.

From the 60-foot-long metal lathes used to fabricate the giant drive shafts that propel the ship, to the massive dry-dock where the recently christened USS Ronald Reagan was constructed, the only word to describe a Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier is enormous.

And, Pelco equipment has the responsibility of watching over the Nimitz, a symbol of defense, humanity and diplomacy.

About the Ship

The keel of USS Nimitz was laid on June 22, 1968 at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia. Construction of the USS Nimitz took five years to build, with 47,000 tons of structural steel and about a million pounds of aluminum. The ship was commissioned on May 3, 1975, at Pier 12, Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, by President Gerald R. Ford. Made in America and manned by Americans, the crew of the Nimitz stands ready to answer the nation’s call on regional and international crises.

Recently, the christening ceremony of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) took place on March 4, 2001. The Ronald Reagan is the ninth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier built by Newport News. With top speed exceeding 30 knots, and carrying over 80-plus combat aircraft, the Ronald Reagan weighs 66,220 pounds. It is 1,092 feet long, nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall, and towers 20 stories above the waterline. Home to about 6,000 military Navy personnel, mobility, flexibility and combat readiness are the primary characteristics which highlight the aircraft carrier, Ronald Reagan and her crew.

The Ronald Reagan (CVN 760) is preceded by eight other ships in the class-Nimitz, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Carl Vinson, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, John C. Stennis and Harry S. Truman. Advancements in technology result in each of the ships being slightly different, but Reagan is part of a transition to the new class of carriers and its modifications are more significant than those of its predecessors.

Among Reagan’s design changes are a completely new island, a bulbous bow for improved flight operations, larger arresting gear to land heavier aircraft, and a relocated weapons elevator to improve safety and weapons movement.

In addition, significant changes were made to the support systems on the ship such as better power and lighting distribution, increased air conditioning capability, and an advanced fiber optic-based network for improved communication and machinery monitoring and control, making the Ronald Reagan the most modern and sophisticated aircraft carrier in the world.

Video-Security, A Team Effort

Hjalmar Fond, Engineer for Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), and his team consisting of Electrical General foreman Mike Rollins, Electrical foreman Tom Reap, Lead Mechanic Charlie Rogers, Electronics Test Foreman Rick Campbell, Test Engineer Ron Eure and System Engineer Paul Snyder were responsible for the installation of Pelco’s security equipment aboard the USS Nimitz. Pete Peek from 1 Volt Associates and Jerry Hancock from Scopus assisted with this project as well.

The goal of the installation was to provide security and safety video in five areas. Ship access, cash handling and disbursing, pilferable items monitoring, hanger bay and aircraft elevator operations safety, and monitoring security for machinery spaces access. Video was specified in the Engineering Change Proposal for the ship because it provided more usable information than any other sensor medium. "A picture is worth a thousand words and video is worth 30 pictures per second," stated Hjalmar Fond of NNS.

Pelco’s 100% Commitment to Excellence with 24-Hour Turn Around on Parts and 24-Hour Service and Repair Programs, along with Pelco’s ImagePak® have saved time and money for NNS and the Navy. Fond added, " Pelco’s adaptability and ability to make their product fit the special needs of aircraft carrier installation and the training program was far superior to any other vendors. The CCTV equipment, customer service, and training we have received from Pelco has been outstanding."

Installing the security systems on the giant aircraft carrier was a challenge to the NNS team. There were a few obstacles to overcome, but with Pelco’s help, it was quickly resolved. During a Pelco training session, NNS realized they had specified the wrong cable. And, just in time they were able to change the cable type and avoid rework. In addition, the first camera enclosures used (EH-2512-2) were too small to accommodate the camera, lens, fiber optic transmitters and associated power supply. Backed by Pelco’s 100-percent Customer Satisfaction Warranty, the enclosures were returned and replaced with a larger camera enclosure. And, at the last minute it was discovered that some of the vari-focal lenses would not work, but a "fish-eye" vari-focal lens was required, the new lenses were sent immediately. "Thanks to Pelco’s excellent customer service, this prevented any costly delays," said Fond.

Special Challenges

What was unique about the installation of the security systems aboard the Nimitz? "First, was the extensive use of fiber optics to carry the video and control signals. Also, the space available for the head-end equipment was limited. The relatively small footprint of the Pelco CM9500 Matrix Switcher was the key to fitting the head-end in the space allotted while providing the required number of cameras and monitors. In addition, Pelco received the Litton night vision scopes and installed them to the exterior cameras.

With the interior cameras, each were fitted with an infrared illuminator for use in low or no-light conditions. The illuminator is powered from camera power. An engineering change was made to provide three cable penetrations in the explosion proof camera enclosures and pan/tilts, which were installed in the hanger bay," added Fond. "And finally, the camera enclosures were finished in light Pelco gray in lieu of the standard coatings."

Pelco’s PT1280s with EHX housings and MC3500 cameras are located throughout the three hanger bays, with the EH2515 and MC5700 cameras watching over numerous areas of the ship. The Pelco CM9500 Matrix Systems, and nine Genex multiplexers complement the head-end. Pelco’s Genex multiplexers became available just in time to be used and bridged to gap between the matrix switcher and the video recorders. "With 85-percent of the system currently online, the end results are terrific! The capabilities of bright clear video in both live and multiplexed modes… what more could we ask for," stated Fond.

Building for the Future

With the Nimitz nearing redelivery, this has provided security personnel with greatly enhanced monitoring capabilities. "Future plans are to increase the number of cameras and to incorporate PelcoNet, which will allow for the control and viewing of cameras over the ship’s Wide Area Network (WAN)," said Fond. "In addition, surveying the waterline for hostile intruders and specialized monitoring purposes like shaft bearings and lube oil sumps, which will save man-hours of manual monitoring, are in the future goals. We are already planning our next assignment. The USS Eisenhower is scheduled to undergo a similar installation."

As the lead ship of the world’s most powerful and capable class of warships, Nimitz will long be remembered as our nation’s finest instrument of peace, power projection and platform for diplomacy. Pelco is proud to be a part of the largest American warship, the USS Nimitz.