Official U.S. Navy website - Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

AT SEA - On 30 September, 2011 the USS WILLIAM P. LAWRENCE completed Combat Systems Ship’s Qualification Trials (CSSQT) live firing events and launched eight SM2 missiles.  After over four months of preparation and rehearsal the USS WILLIAM P. LAWRENCE’s air defense team launched missiles at inbound targets of various speeds and trajectories.

FC1 Jonas Pablo from Pearland, Texas said, “Getting to fire that many missiles with such a great team will go down as one of the high points of my career in the Navy.” FC1 Pablo manned the Radar Systems Controller (RSC) console during the event.  His job was vital to the success of the event, because he controlled the ship’s primary radar for detecting inbound targets.

The air defense team completed four air defense scenarios, launching missiles against supersonic drones emulating anti-ship cruise missiles, and enemy attack aircraft profiles. Additionally, the ship engaged two high speed fast attack watercraft with the MK 54, 5-inch gun and their highly accurate 22 millimeter Gatling gun known as CIWS which stands for Close In-range Weapons System.

FC1 Jacob Thompson from Woodbridge, Virginia, the air defense team’s Missile Systems Supervisor (MSS), talks about the experience and reflected on the pre-commissioning process: “When I launched that missile and it impacted its target, there was a sense of pride and honor to be part of the team that took piles of steel and forged the Navy's finest warship.”

The completion of the live missile firing events marks the USS WILLIAM P. LAWRENCE’s conclusion of all (CSSQT).