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Description
Before I served as a judge advocate (lawyer) in the Navy, I was a surface warfare officer serving aboard a destroyer (not this one). One of the most harrowing duties we performed on the destroyer was as a "plane guard" during flight operations. This is when a ship (usually a destroyer, cruiser, or frigate) positions itself from 1000 to 2000 yards (1/2 to 1 mile) astern of an aircraft carrier during flight recovery operations. The ship is in position to quickly react and position itself to recover an aircrew if their aircraft crashes or goes over the side of the carrier. It is harrowing duty because you are very close to the carrier, and must make a lot of minor course and speed corrections to stay in position, and sometimes significant changes as the carrier chases the wind for recovering aircraft. It is even more harrowing in bad weather, at night, and if the carrier is not telling you where they are going.

In this picture, the destroyer has executed a sharp quick turn (you can tell by the wake) to get into position for plane guard duties. See how close she is to the stern of the carrier. You have to be a good ship driver to perform these maneuvers!

Description
Before I served as a judge advocate (lawyer) in the Navy, I was a surface warfare officer serving aboard a destroyer (not this one). One of the most harrowing duties we performed on the destroyer was as a "plane guard" during flight operations. This is when a ship (usually a destroyer, cruiser, or frigate) positions itself from 1000 to 2000 yards (1/2 to 1 mile) astern of an aircraft carrier during flight recovery operations. The ship is in position to quickly react and position itself to recover an aircrew if their aircraft crashes or goes over the side of the carrier. It is harrowing duty because you are very close to the carrier, and must make a lot of minor course and speed corrections to stay in position, and sometimes significant changes as the carrier chases the wind for recovering aircraft. It is even more harrowing in bad weather, at night, and if the carrier is not telling you where they are going.

In this picture, the destroyer has executed a sharp quick turn (you can tell by the wake) to get into position for plane guard duties. See how close she is to the stern of the carrier. You have to be a good ship driver to perform these maneuvers!