The Rainier, commanded by Capt. Kendall Card, is one of several Navy ships traveling to the Persian Gulf with USS Constellation carrier battle group. Kim Marks of the Navy's Northwest regional office in Seattle said the delayed departure won't affect the ship's rendezvous with other ships in the group. They'll still make all their port calls and return home at the same time. She said the lube oil cooler for the Rainier's No. 1 reverse reduction gear was found to be leaking, so repair crews now are replacing all 640 cooling tubes in the mechanism.
Pumps fill the tubes with seawater, which in turn cools the lube oil.
The Rainier is expected to return to the States in September. While deployed, the ship will refuel and replenish other forward-based Navy ships in USS Constellation's battle group. Click here to send your ideas to The Sun.