The U.S. Navy conducted a test on Oct. 11 to evaluate the combat readiness of the Transferable Reload At-sea Method, or TRAM, on an underway warship in open ocean waters off the coast of San Diego.
The Defense Visual Information Distribution Service said Friday sailors used the hydraulically-powered TRAM device to load an empty missile canister into the MK 41 Vertical Launching System of the USS Chosin while it was connected to the USNS Washington Chambers, a Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship.
The missile canister was transferred to the cruiser using cables and then moved along the rails attached to the cruiser’s VLS modules using the TRAM. The sailors then used the TRAM’s cable and pulley system to tilt the canister into a vertical position enabling them to lower it into the VLS cell.
The TRAM prototype, developed by Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division engineers, is designed to enable warships to rearm during the underway replenishment process or when the supply ship is connected to the warship at sea and transferring materials like food and fuel.
A land-based demonstration of the TRAM was conducted in July at the NSWC PHD in California.
Secretary of the Navy and 2024 Wash100 Award winner Carlos Del Toro, said, “Today, we proved just how game-changing TRAM truly is – and what a powerful deterrent it will be to our competitors. This demonstration marks a key milestone on the path to perfecting this capability and fielding it for sustained operations at sea.”
According to Del Toro, the TRAM can be fielded in two to three years.