Posted on 04/13/2009 6:36:29 AM PDT by Freeport
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) successfully completed acceptance sea trials April 7-9 off the Virginia Capes and is in final preparation for delivery. Acceptance sea trials are the final test of the ship's readiness to begin fleet service.
Navy representatives from the U.S. Navy Board of Inspection and Survey tested and evaluated the ship's systems and performance. Acceptance trials will formally conclude April 10.
George H.W. Bush is the nation's 10th, and final, Nimitz-class carrier. The ship is designed to carry all current and future aircraft in its embarked air wing until the completion of her service life in approximately 2,059.
George H. W. Bush incorporates numerous design improvements to reduce operating cost, enhance operational effectiveness and protect the environment. These include newly designed propellers, a new underwater hull-coating system, advanced waste disposal systems, a new JP-5 (jet propellant) distribution system, and modernized aircraft launch and recovery equipment. Improved medical and dental facilities have been included in the ship to enhance quality of life. George H.W. Bush also has a new composite mast that reduces topside weight and maintenance.
George H.W. Bush incorporates a modernized island, bulbous bow design and three-wire arresting gear configuration, first introduced on USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).
The ship's keel was laid Sept. 6, 2003, at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Newport News. Ms. Dorothy Bush Koch, daughter of former President George H.W. Bush, served as the ship's sponsor during its christening on Oct. 7, 2006. The ship was commissioned Jan. 10, 2009, at Norfolk Naval Base. USS George H.W. Bush is commanded by Capt. DeWolfe H. Miller III, USN. Upon delivery to the Navy, the ship will conduct post delivery maintenance before commencing training for operational deployment in 2010.
For more news from Naval Sea Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navsea/.
Fun Facts About CVN-77:
* There is no broccoli served in the Officers’ Mess;
* The all-hands announcement “NOW HEAR THIS!” is replaced by “READ MY LIPS!”
You are permitted to be seasick on any person of the same rank.
How commonplace is it to name Naval vessels after living servicemen, politicians,etc.?
Used to be they named carriers after famous battels ( Lexington, Yorktown, Saratoga, Midway, ...Battleships after States...Iowa,New Jersey...Cruisers after Cities...Indianapolis...Submarines after fish...Tarpon,Skipjack... )
Ah yes, but they do serve jelly beans on the USS Ronaldus Magnus
The bad news is that CVN(X) is dead, and thus there are no follow-on carriers. I foresee smaller ships like LHAs carrying unmanned aircraft as replacements to our CVNs. The last manned tactical aircraft crews are now being trained.
They sure do...”Jelly Belly.” I still have a bag.
Anticipate this being the last one built for a while.
The French will pick up the slack.
They're canceling the USS Ford?
Uncommon, but it's been done before. CVN-70 (Carl Vinson) comes to mind. Vinson participated in the ship's christening but I think he passed away before the ship was commissioned. Ronald Reagan was around when they decided to name CVN-76 after him but passed away before the ship was built.
You have the USS J F Kennedy and the USS Reagan was commissioned while he was still living.
USS Ford will be a test platform for new technolgies, much like USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000). It will carry unmanned aircraft. There is no money for more carriers and only enough for three Zumwalts of what was to have been a 55-ship fleet. The Navy is being hit hard by Obama.
B-Chan
Former MM3
USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65)
Was the term “Nimitz Class” formed after the Admiral was dead?
The X-craft has been cancelled? I watched an interesting show on the military channel about it a while ago.
Another big submarine target sails.
Construction has already started on CVN-78, USS Gerald Ford, and the other follow-on carriers are still in the budget cycle, slated to replace the Nimitz class one for one after the Ford replaces the Enterprise.
The one caviat with the Obama budget regarding carries is that we will be down to ten carriers for several years after the Ford comes online...but slated to go back to 11 in the late 20-teens.
Here are some pics of the current CVN-78, PCU Gerald Ford construction:
I'm not sure. Nimitz died in early 1966 and CVN-68's keel was laid in 1968.
My dad lost part of a finger in a stupid accident while the ship was being built. He always said it helped his golf game...cured his hook. LOL.
I didn’t mean “X-Craft”
I meant CVN-X.....
Monday morning brain drain.
I’ve got a few too, including some small bags they passed out at the commissioning.
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