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USS Ronald Reagan

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The USS Ronald Reagan
USS Ronald Reagan
History
USA
NameUSS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)
NamesakeRonald Reagan
Ordered8 December 1994
Laid down12 February 1998
Launched4 March 2001
Commissioned12 July 2003
HomeportSan Diego, California
FateTemplate:Ship fate box active in service
General characteristics
Class and typeNimitz-class aircraft carrier, Ronald Reagan subclass
DisplacementTemplate:Nimitz class aircraft carrier displacement
Length
  • Overall: 1,092 feet (332.8 m)
  • Waterline: 1,040 feet (317.0 m)
Beam
  • Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m)
  • Waterline: 134 ft (40.8 m)
Draft
  • Maximum navigational: 37 feet (11.3 m)
  • Limit: 41 feet (12.5 m)
Propulsion
Speed30+ knots (56+ km/h; 35+ mph)[3]
RangeUnlimited distance; 20–25 years
Complement
  • Ship's company: 3,532
  • Air wing: 2,480
Sensors and
processing systems
  • SPS-48E 3-D air search radar
  • SPS-49A(V)1 2-D air search radar
  • SPQ-9B fire control radar
  • 2 × SPN-46 air traffic control radars
  • SPN-43C air traffic control radar
  • SPN-41 instrument landing system radar
  • 3 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems
  • 3 × Mk 95 radars
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armamentlist error: <br /> list (help)
2 × Mk 29 Sea Sparrow
2 × RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile
ArmorUnknown
Aircraft carried90 fixed wing and helicopters

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the service of the United States Navy. The ninth ship of her class,[4] she is named in honor of former President Ronald Reagan.

Building, christening, and commissioning

Template:Livingships Ronald Reagan was the first aircraft carrier to be named in honor of a living former president.[5] Unlike most of the other men honored by inclusion in this group, Reagan was not associated with the United States Navy apart from his term as Commander-in-Chief, though one of his key initiatives in office was the 600-ship Navy program.

Former First Lady Nancy Reagan christens USS Ronald Reagan with President George W. Bush and Newport News Shipbuilding CEO William Frick looking on, 4 March 2001

The contract to build Reagan was awarded to Northrop Grumman Newport News and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 8 December 1994, and her keel was laid down on 12 February 1998. The budget for the ship had to be increased several times and ultimately $4.5 billion was spent on her construction.[6] She was launched on 4 March 2001, christened by Reagan's wife Nancy the same day, and commissioned on 12 July 2003, with Captain J. W. Goodwin in command. Vice President Dick Cheney and Lynne Cheney were both present at the ceremony, as well as Nancy Reagan, who gave the ship's crew the traditional first order as an active unit of the Navy: "Man the ship and bring her to life." Ronald Reagan made her maiden voyage on 21 July 2003. President Reagan, who did not attend either the launch or the commissioning due to Alzheimer's disease, died eleven months later. At the end of the graveside services, the ship's commanding officer at that time, Captain James Symonds, presented the flag that draped the former president's casket to Mrs. Reagan at her request. This was also the flag that had flown over Capitol Hill on 20 January 1981, when the president was inaugurated. At a later date, Captain Symonds also presented Mrs. Reagan the flag that had been flying over Ronald Reagan when the former president died.

Specifications

Ronald Reagan displaces approximately 95,000 tons of water fully loaded, has a top speed of over 30 knots (56 km/h), powered by two nuclear reactors driving four screws, and can sail for over 20 years before needing to refuel.[7] She is nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall[8] at 1,092 feet (333 m) and is 134 feet (41 m) wide at the beam and has a flight deck 252 feet (77 m) wide. The flight deck covers over 4.5 acres (18,000 m²). She carries more than 5,500 sailors and over 80 aircraft.

In the news

During her transfer from the Atlantic to the Pacific, she transited the Straits of Magellan. On 7 November 2005, Captain Terry B. Kraft relieved Captain James A. Symonds as Commanding Officer.

Commissioning ceremony of USS Ronald Reagan, 2003

On 28 January 2006, an F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter attempting a night landing aboard Reagan crashed into the ship's flight deck about 200 km (120 miles) southeast of Brisbane, Australia. The aircraft struck the ramp at a low angle, caught fire and skidded overboard. The pilot ejected safely, but the aircraft was lost.[9][10][11]

On 6 July 2006, Ronald Reagan returned to Coronado from her maiden voyage, where she conducted operations in support of the continuing war on terror. USS Ronald Reagan and the Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) departed North Island, Coronado in San Diego on 27 January 2007 on an unscheduled surge deployment[12] to the Western Pacific, fulfilling the role of the forward deployed carrier Kitty Hawk while it underwent maintenance in Japan. On 20 April 2007, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and her CSG returned to Coronado.

A sailor from Ronald Reagan, Jarrod Fowler, appeared on the popular television contest American Idol, but was eliminated in the second round.[13] Reagan had held a "Reagan Idol" Contest, which Fowler won, and his name was submitted to the show. Fowler received a letter from Nancy Reagan congratulating him on his performance.[13]

USS Ronald Reagan conducts rudder checks in October 2007, as part of the ship's periodic inspection

Captain Kenneth J. Norton became the fourth commanding officer on 2 May 2008 when he relieved Captain Terry Kraft in a ceremony aboard the ship, moored at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, Calif.

On 15 December 2007, the carrier answered a distress call from a cruise ship off the coast of Baja California. An Illinois teenager whose appendix had ruptured while on a Mexican cruise was airlifted by an SH-60 helicopter to Ronald Reagan, where an emergency appendectomy was performed by the ship's surgeon.[14]

On 19 May 2008, the carrier and its strike group departed Naval Air Station North Island for a scheduled deployment.[15]

The Reagan Carrier Strike Group performed humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in the Philippines on 24 June 2008 after that country was devastated by Typhoon Fengshen, killing hundreds from the central island regions and the main island of Luzon. The typhoon also capsized the passenger ferry MV Princess of the Stars.[16] Working in support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Reagan and her escorts of Carrier Strike Group 7 focused their efforts on the island of Panay in the Central Visayas. For eight days, SH-60 Seahawk helicopters and C-2A Greyhound aircraft of the Ronald Reagan Strike Group helped deliver more than 519,000 lbs. of rice, fresh water and other supplies to areas of Panay, which were not reachable via truck due to flooded roads.

Reagan and her strike group returned to Coronado on 25 November 2008, just in time for Thanksgiving.[17]

Ship's Seal

CVN 76 Seal.

The design of USS Ronald Reagan’s (CVN 76) seal was created entirely by her plankowner crew with historical assistance provided by staff members at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library foundation. The red border rings the ship’s seal much like the distinctive red rim defines the White House china designed for the Reagans during their White House years. Four gold stars represent President Reagan’s 40th presidency and his four pillars of Freedom: individual liberty; economic opportunity; global democracy; and national pride. “Peace through Strength,” was a recurring theme of the President’s life in public service. The aircraft carrier is positioned by the West Coast, representing President Reagan’s two terms as Governor of California and the ship’s homeport in the Pacific Fleet. The three aircraft with their patriotic contrails symbolize the three major military operations the President directed during his tenure: Operation Urgent Fury (Grenada/1983); Operation El Dorado Canyon (Libya/1986); and Operation Praying Mantis (Iran/1988). The view of the globe signifies the President’s vision of global democracy, and the center is the United States representing the country's national pride. Colors of red, white and blue dominate the seal reflecting the American flag. [18]

References

  1. ^ Kuperman, Alan; von Hippel, Frank (10 April 2020). "US Study of Reactor and Fuel Types to Enable Naval Reactors to Shift from HEU Fuel". International Panel on Fissile Materials. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  2. ^ Hanlon, Brendan Patrick (19 May 2015). Validation of the Use of Low Enriched Uranium as a Replacement for Highly Enriched Uranium in US Submarine Reactors (PDF) (MSc). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  3. ^ Gibbons, Tony (2001). The Encyclopedia of Ships. London, United Kingdom: Amber Books. p. 444. ISBN 978-1-905704-43-9.
  4. ^ "USS Ronald Reagan Departs on Third Deployment". United States Navy. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
  5. ^ "USS Ronald Reagan Commemorates Former President's 90th Birthday". CNN. 4 March 2001. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  6. ^ CVN-76 Ronald Reagan
  7. ^ US Navy Aircraft Carrier Page
  8. ^ Judge, Clark (2006-08-11). "Chargers find whole new meaning for 'carrier'". CBS SportsLine.com. CBS. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  9. ^ "US jet crashes off Queensland". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2006-01-30. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  10. ^ "U.S. fighter jet crashes into the sea off Australia's east coast". Pravda.ru. 2006-01-29. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  11. ^ F-18 Crash video. United States Navy. 2006-01-28. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  12. ^ "Ronald Reagan Strike Group Departs San Diego on Surge Deployment" (Press release). USS Ronald Reagan Public Affairs. 2007-01-27. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  13. ^ a b "Jarrod Fowler". Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  14. ^ Burst appendix spurs Navy cruise rescue - Yahoo! News
  15. ^ SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Military - Reagan strike group departs San Diego
  16. ^ GMA NEWS.TV, US ship coming to help retrieve victims of sea tragedy
  17. ^ Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group Returns Home After Deployment
  18. ^ http://www.reagan.navy.mil/ships_seal.html

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76).
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