Photo By Cpl. Joseph Karwick | A bulk fuels specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Marine Aircraft Group...... read more read more
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TINIAN, Japan - One of the most important parts of Exercise Geiger Fury 2012 is aircraft. In order for the aircraft to operate, they need fuel, and lots of it.
Bulk fuels specialists with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Marine Aircraft Group 12, are crucial when fuel from KC- 130Js arrive on Tinian for flight operations.
“Without this fuel, we cannot operate any of our components,” said Sgt. Jonathan R. Cadenas, MWSS-171, MAG-12, bulk fuels specialist. “There would be no fuel for the planes, vehicles, generators as well as all other fuel requiring systems.”
Expeditionary fuel bladders have capabilities of storing more than 20,000 gallons of fuel.
Fuel bladders are never filled to maximum capacity, as fuel expands in heat. Completely filling them may cause a rupture in the liner of the bladder.
If a rupture occurs, safety systems applied around the bladder ensure the safety of fuel and prevents harm to the environment. A self contained hazardous material liner lies underneath and around the bladder system as a safety system to prevent leaked fuel from seeping into the ground.
“The protective berm around the bladder is basically a fuel safety net,” said Lance Cpl. Daniel L. Featherston, MWSS-171 semitrailer refueler operator. “That berm allows us to safely store the fuel we receive from the planes so that no fuel can leak out and harm the environment in the area.”
The amount of time it takes to unload fuel from the KC-130J aircraft differs with the amount of fuel the plane is carrying.
“Each plane seems to be carrying about 6,000 gallons of fuel,” said Featherston. “It can take anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half to properly unload the fuel into the bladder systems.”
The fuel bladder system is a vital tool for Exercise Geiger Fury 2012, and the Marines who work with it are part of a complex system designed to put rounds on target.
Just like a heart is required to pump blood through the body, bulk fuel specialists and their fuel are vital to keep Exercise Geiger
Fury alive and well.
| Date Taken: | 05.15.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 05.30.2012 22:19 |
| Story ID: | 89206 |
| Location: | TINIAN, MP |
| Web Views: | 41 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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