By MICHELLE MORGANTE
Associated Press Writer

SAN DIEGO - When the USS John Paul Jones fires a Tomahawk missile, the destroyer shakes from the force and the noise rumbles through every corner of the mammoth vessel.

"Have you ever driven a Ferrari at 200 miles per hour? That's about what it feels like," said Jason, a quartermaster responsible for the ship's navigation. "There's a great deal of noise, of smoke. It's very dramatic."

The San Diego-based ship's captain and other officers spoke Tuesday with reporters via satellite phone about their mission in the Arabian Sea. Under U.S. military security rules, members of the 340-man crew can be identified by first name only.

"It's going very well," said the commander, identified only as Dave. "Every single mission that we've been assigned we've carried out to perfection. The air wings that are flying are doing very well. Every plane has returned and we're all very thankful for that."

The 505-foot destroyer is among the battle group that is participating in the U.S.-led strikes against the al-Qaida terrorist network and the Taliban militia in Afghanistan.

The John Paul Jones, the USS McFaul destroyer and one submarine have launched several Tomahawk cruise missiles from undisclosed locations.

Before Sunday's missile strikes, the commander said he stressed to his crew the importance of their task.

"I told them it's a very small piece in the overall campaign to defeat terrorism and it would allow our families to live safely and peacefully. I told them it was very serious business _ that the lives of pilots and of soldiers and Marines depended on us swiftly and accurately carrying out our mission."

"Lives were at stake," he said, "and we needed to do our job well. There was no need to be boastful about it."

The John Paul Jones left San Diego June 5 for a five-month deployment to enforce U.N.-ordered sanctions against Iraq. The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks changed that mission and the length of the deployment is being re-evaluated as needed, according to the Navy.

The commander said his men _ there are no women based on the John Paul Jones _ were "pretty thrilled to have the honor of being able to participate" in the reprisals.

Brad, a gunner's mate aboard the John Paul Jones, said he doesn't consider vengeance part of his duty.

"I can't speak for my shipmates but I personally don't believe in revenge," he said.

"It's a terrible thing that it's come to this. But it's something that our leaders have decided has to be done. So we're doing it."

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On the Net:

http://www.john-paul-jones.navy.mil/