 USS Ronald Reagan in the Straits of Magellan in 2004. | |
| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) |
| Namesake: | President Ronald Reagan |
| Ordered: | 8 December 1994 |
| Builder: | Northrop Grumman Newport News |
| Laid down: | 12 February 1998 |
| Launched: | 4 March 2001 |
| Sponsored by: | Nancy Reagan |
| Commissioned: | 12 July 2003 |
| Homeport: | NS North Island San Diego, California |
| Status: | in active service, as of 2011 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, Ronald Reagan subclass |
| Displacement: | 101,400 long tons (113,600 short tons)[1] |
| 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 ft (11.3 m) Limit: 41 ft (12.5 m) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors 4 × steam turbines 4 × shafts 260,000 shp (194 MW) |
| Speed: | 30+ knots (56+ km/h; 35+ mph) |
| Range: | Essentially unlimited distance; 20 years |
| Complement: | Ship's company: 3,200 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 and decoys: | SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures |
| Armament: | 2 × Mk 29 Sea Sparrow 2 × RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile |
| Armor: | Classified |
| Aircraft carried: | 90 fixed wing and helicopters |
| Motto: | Peace Through Strength |
| Nickname: | Gipper |
Contents
|
Ship's seal
Naming
Ronald Reagan was the first nuclear powered warship of any kind to be named in honor of a living former president.[4] 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.
Design and construction
Main article: Nimitz class aircraft carrier
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.[5] This included a redesigned ship island.[6] Reagan was christened by Reagan's wife Nancy on 4 March 2001 at Newport News Shipbuilding, the crew moved aboard on 30 October 2002,[7] and the ship was commissioned on 12 July 2003 at Naval Station Norfolk, 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.
Service history
After a five-month post shakedown availability (PSA), Reagan received flight deck certification on 8 May 2004,[8] and then began her transit from Naval Station Norfolk, Va., around Cape Horn, South America, to her new homeport of Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California. Carrier Air Wing Eleven, which is normally assigned to USS Nimitz, embarked only 25 percent of its total strength for the transit. The squadrons making the transit were VFA-14 and VFA-41 flying the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, VAW-117 flying the E-2C Hawkeye 2000, HS-6 flying the SH-60F Seahawk and VRC-30 flying the C-2A Greyhound. The ship transited the Strait of Magellan on 20–21 June and made port visits to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Valparaiso, Chile, and Callao, Peru before arriving in San Diego on 23 July 2004.
2006 maiden deployment
USS Ronald Reagan departed San Diego on 4 January 2006, on her maiden deployment to conduct naval operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as to conduct maritime security operations (MSO) in the Persian Gulf. The ship entered the Gulf on 22 February 2006, and returned from deployment on 6 July 2006.[9][10]2007 surge deployment
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[11] to the Western Pacific, fulfilling the role of the forward deployed carrier Kitty Hawk while it underwent maintenance in Japan. On 20 April 2007, Ronald Reagan and her CSG returned to Coronado. The "surge deployment" was part of the Navy's Fleet Response Plan (FRP), which provides the U.S. with the ability to respond to any global commitment with flexible and sustainable forces and the ability to rapidly respond to a range of situations on short notice.In January 2007, it was announced that Ronald Reagan had earned the 2006 Commander Naval Air Force, Pacific Carrier Battle Efficiency “E” award for the West Coast, the first Battle "E” ever for the carrier.[12] 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.[13][14][15]
Reagan returned to Naval Air Station North Island on 20 April 2007, following the three-month deployment in support of operations in the Western Pacific.
2008 deployment
USS Ronald Reagan, with CVW-14 embarked, departed San Diego on 19 May 2008, for a scheduled 7th Fleet and 5th Fleet deployment.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.[17] 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. The mission in Panay would earn the entire strike group the Navy's Humanitarian Service Medal.
The Strike Group arrived in the U.S. Fifth Fleet area on 28 August 2008, where she launched more than 1,150 sorties into Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Reagan returned to San Diego on 25 November 2008.
2009 deployment
On May 28, 2009, Reagan deployed with Carrier Air Wing 14 to the 7th and 5th Fleet Areas of Responsibility.[19] Reagan relieved the Eisenhower CSG and launched its first sorties in support of OEF on 6 July. Reagan returned to homeport on 21 October after a five-month deployment.[20]2010
In early 2010, Reagan was awarded the 2009 Chief of Naval Operations Afloat Safety "S" Award.[21] and the 2009 Pacific Fleet Battle "E" for combat efficiency. The Battle "E" award was Reagan's second consecutive and third in four years.[22]In November 2010, Reagan provided emergency supplies and assistance to passengers stranded aboard the Carnival Splendor, which was rendered inoperable in the Pacific Ocean by an engine fire.[23]
2011
On 11 March 2011, Reagan was in the Korean peninsula region for a long-planned exercise off Korea, but was redirected towards Japan to provide support after the massive 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The ship, stationed off Sendai, was used as a floating refueling station for Japanese military and coast guard helicopters flying relief missions in the area.[24] US Navy helicopters also flew relief missions from the carrier. On 14 March 2011, the ship was forced to relocate to avoid a radioactive plume from the Fukushima I nuclear accidents which had irradiated 17 crewmembers of three helicopter crews.[25][dead link] On March 23, the Reagan's crew conducted a radiation decontamination operation to remove any further radiation hazards from the ship, which included scrubbing down any surface that could have been contaminated, including the flight deck and aircraft.[26]On 4 April 2011, Japan's minister of defense, Toshimi Kitazawa, accompanied by US ambassador to Japan John Roos, visited the ship to thank its crew for its assistance as part of Operation Tomodachi. Said Kitazawa, "I have never been more encouraged by and proud of the fact that the United States is our ally."[27]
Commanding officers
- John William "Bill" Goodwin — November 2000 – 28 August 2003
- James A. Symonds — 28 August 2003 – 17 November 2005 [28]
- Terry B. Kraft — 17 November 2005 – 2 May 2008 [29]
- Kenneth Joseph "KJ" Norton – 2 May 2008 – August 2010
- Thom W. Burke – August 2010 – present [30]
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