It's not often sailors get permission to take a baseball bat to a multimillion-dollar aircraft carrier. But when the Navy's aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman sailed into the Arctic Circle for the first time in nearly three decades, its crew was ordered to do just that. The Truman sailed into the Arctic Circle on Oct. 19 to conduct operations in the Norwegian Sea. After years of operations in warmer climates, leaders had to think carefully about the gear they'd need to survive operations in the frigid conditions. In one of the guides they read in preparation was a tip for the Truman's crew from a savvy sailor who knew what it would take to combat ice buildup on the flattop. "[It said] 'Hey, when you get out to do this, when you head on out, don't forget to bring a bunch of baseball bats,'" said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson. "'There's nothing like bashing ice off struts and masts and bulkheads like a baseball bat, so bring a bunch of Louisville Sluggers.' And we did." Read more about the plan on Military.com.
Why the Navy is Deploying With a Bunch of Louisville Sluggers
