Air Ops in Rough Seas on the USS Kitty Hawk ... Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 16:00:21

This carrier is 90,000 ton. Imagine what this is like on a 2,200 ton destroyer?

The aircraft seen in the attached video is a helo from a deployed helicopter squadron (HS-14) based at the U.S. Naval Air Facility in Atsugi, Japan.

The carrier is the USS Kitty Hawk, based in Yokosuka, Japan.

The 'Hawk' was underway for CQ (Airwing Carrier Qualifications) in the Sea of Japan during the week of March 22, 2008.


The chopper seen on the ship's bow, tied down at helo Spot 2, is a Sikorsky SH-60F from HS-14.

The pilot had just landed on deck, and his helo was tied down on Spot 2 because the seas were too rough to move it to a safer place.

Fortunately, it only suffered some minor damage (blade crutch support socket) and a lot of salt water intrusion from the sea.

While viewing the video, please remember that the carrier's flight deck is approximately 60' above the ship's normal water line.