Navy Commissions Aircraft Carrier Ronald Reagan

Navy Newsstand ^ | 7/1/2003 4:17:00 PM | U.S. Deparment of Defense

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Special release from the U.S. Deparment of Defense

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy's newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) will be commissioned July 12 during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony at Norfolk Naval Station, Va.

Vice President Richard Cheney will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Nancy Reagan, wife of the ship's namesake, will serve as ship s sponsor. In the time honored Navy tradition, she will give the order to "man our ship and bring her to life!"

Capt. J. W. Goodwin of Dublin, Ga., is the first commanding officer of a ship named to honor America's 40th president, Ronald Reagan, who was born in Tampico, Ill., Feb. 6, 1911. With a crew of more than 5,500 men and women, including embarked air wing personnel, Ronald Reagan will be homeported in San Diego as a member of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Construction of the ninth Nimitz-class ship took place at Northrop Grumman, Newport News, Va., starting with the ship s keel laying Feb. 12, 1998, and christening March 4, 2001.

Ronald Reagan towers 20 stories above the waterline, displaces approximately 95,000 tons of water, has a flight deck width of 252 feet, and at 1,092 feet long, is nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall. This floating airfield has a flight deck that covers 4.5 acres. Reagan's two nuclear reactors are capable of more than 20 years of continuous service without refueling, providing virtually unlimited range and endurance, and a top speed in excess of 30 knots.

The ship will support a wide variety of aircraft, including the F/A-18 Hornet and F/A-18 Super Hornet strike fighters, the F-14 Tomcat fighter, the E-2 Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft, the C-2 Greyhound logistics aircraft, the S-3 Viking anti-submarine aircraft, the EA-6 Prowler electronic warfare aircraft and the multi-role SH-60 and MH-60 helicopters.

To watch the live broadcast of the commissioning ceremony on Navy NewsStand, visit www.news.navy.mil/management/videodb/html/live.html.

For more news from around the fleet, visit the Navy NewsStand at www.news.navy.mil.

030507-N-0610T-013 At sea aboard Precommissioning Unit (PCU) Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) May 7, 2003 -- The Navy's newest Nimitz-class aircraft carrier tests its counter-measure wash down systems (CMWDS) during scheduled builder sea trials off the coast of Virginia. CMWDS includes a series of sprinklers in vital areas throughout the ship to help contain the spread of fire or chemical, biological, radiological (CBR) attacks. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class James Thierry. (RELEASED)

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Excellent!!

[Arpege92]

It's a little sad that Ronald Reagan won't be there!

[BlueOneGolf]

President Reagan would be proud...

[Astronaut]

A magnificent ship, and a fitting tribute to a great man.

GO NAVY!

[shaggy eel]

ping

[jla]

Peace Through Strength ping

[b4its2late]

Wooo Hoooo!!!!

[exnavy]

The USS Ronaldus Magnus, I like the sound of that!

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Do you miss it? :)

[taxcontrol]

Ok 9 of the worlds largest most powerful aircraft carriers only 7 oceans. I'm starting to think that we are getting into over kill here.

Nice ship though.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

A little bit.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I thought so. You had an excellent time in, if you think about it. Time sure flies, doesn't it?

[skeeter]

Four & a half more acres of sovereign US territory.

I like the name, too.

[AmericaUnited]

Do you know big an ocean is? One carrier per ocean is not overkill. Maybe 50 per ocean...

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Overkill nothing. The first two rounds of the war have shown that many countries like to pull our chain by denying America the use of their airbases. When land bases are not available, what do you use to hit the enemy? Bad language? You can't fight a war with cruise missiles, although Bubba Klinton gave it a hell of a try (and reduced America's military capability by depleting them--a win-win situation for that scumbag ).

[texson66]

Ok 9 of the worlds largest most powerful aircraft carriers only 7 oceans. I'm starting to think that we are getting into over kill here.

Nice ship though.

Never, ever, come to a surprise war under equipped!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Big time.

[socal_parrot]

God Bless the Gipper and all who sail on her(?).

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Yes, a ship is referred to as "she" because it costs so much to keep her in paint and powder. (I wish I could remember who said that.)

[AlextheWise1]

20 years before refuel? hmm
didnt it used to be like 7.... thats why at least 2 are always drydocked I thought.
New technology or editorial goof?