Home > USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)
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The USS John C. Stennis |
| Career | |
|---|
| Laid down: | 13 March 1991 |
| Launched: | 11 November 1993 |
| Commissioned: | 9 December 1995 |
| Fate: | on active service |
| General Characteristics |
|---|
| Displacement: | 91,300 |
| Length: | 1,092 ft (330 m) |
| Beam: | 134 ft (41 m) |
| Extreme Width: | 257 ft (78 m) |
| Draft: | 38.4 ft (12 m) |
| Speed: | 35 knots (65 km/h) |
| Complement: | 3,200 officers and men |
| Armament: | 3 Mk.29 NATO Sea Sparrow launchers, 4 20 mm Phalanx CIWS Mk.15 |
| Aircraft: | 85 |
| Nickname: | Johnny Reb |
The USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) is a nuclear-powered supercarrier in the United States Navy. It was commissioned on 9 December 1995. At present its home port is San Diego; however, in January of 2005 the Navy plans to transfer the ship to Everett, Washington.
1 Mission and Capabilities
The mission of USS John C. Stennis and her embarked Air Wing ( Carrier Air Wing Nine ) is to conduct sustained combat air operations while forward deployed in the global arena. The embarked Air Wing consists of eight to nine squadrons. Attached aircraft are the F/A-18 Hornet, F-14 Tomcat, EA-6B ProwlerEA-6 Prowler A U. Navy EA-6B Prowler Description RoleElectronic attack CrewFour: pilot and three electronic countermeasures officers Dimensions Length59 ft 10 in17. 7 m Wingspan53 ft15. 9 m Height16 ft 8 in4. 9 m Wing area528. 1 m² Weights Empty34,000 lb1, S-3 VikingThe Lockheed S-3 Viking is a United States Navy jet aircraft used to hunt and destroy enemy submarines and provide surveillance of surface shipping. The ES-3 version is fitted for electronic warfare and reconnaissance. Because of the high-pitched sound of, E-2C HawkeyeE-2 Hawkeye Description RoleAirborne early warning, command and control Crew5 (2 pilots, 3 naval flight officers combat information center officer, air control officer, radar operator) Dimensions Length57 ft 7 in17. 56 m Wingspan80 ft 7 in24. 58 m Height1, and SH-60 SeahawkThe Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk (or Sea Hawk is a twin-engine anti-submarine warfare helicopter, based on the airframe of the UH-60 Black Hawk. It is used for anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, drug interdiction, anti-ship warfare, cargo lift and speci.
The Air Wing can destroy enemy aircraft, ships, submarines, and land targets, or lay mines hundreds of miles from the ship. USS John C. Stennis' aircraft are used to conduct strikes, support land battles, protect the Battle Group or other friendly shipping, and implement a sea or air blockade. The Air Wing provides a visible presence to demonstrate American power and resolve in a crisis. The ship normally operates as the centerpiece of a Carrier Battle Group commanded by a flag officer embarked in USS John C. Stennis and consisting of four to six other ships.
USS John C. Stennis' two nuclear reactorsAn A4W reactor is a type of nuclear reactor in use aboard the United States Navy's Nimitz class supercarriers. The A4W reactor is the nuclear fission pressurized water reactor (PWR) design used in powering U. Navy aircraft carriers. It is a joint design b give her virtually unlimited range and endurance and a top speed in excess of 30 knots (56 km/h). The ship's four catapults and four arresting gear engines enable her to launch and recover aircraft rapidly and simultaneously. The ship carries approximately three million gallons (11,000 m³) of fuel for her aircraft and escorts, and enough weapons and stores for extended operations without replenishment. USS John C. Stennis also has extensive repair capabilities, including a fully equipped Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department, a micro-miniature electronics repair shop, and numerous ship repair shops.
For defense, in addition to her Air Wing and accompanying vessels, USS John C. Stennis has NATO Sea Sparrow short-range, surface-to-air missile systems, the Phalanx Close-in Weapons System (an extremely rapid firing 20 mm gun) for cruise missile defense, and the SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare System.
Propulsion system
- Type: Nuclear reactor
- Number of reactors: 2
- Maximum speed: More than 30 knot (56 km/h)
- Number of screws: 4 (5 blades each)
- Weight of screws: 66,200 lbs. (30 t) each
Flight deck/air wing
- Number of catapults: 4
- Number of aircraft elevators: 4
- Size of Air Wing: 80+ tactical aircraft
The USS John C. Stennis at anchor
Miscellaneous
- Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Co.
- Sponsor: Mrs. Margaret Stennis Womble
- Contract Date: March 29, 1988
- Keel laid: March 13, 1991
- Christened: November 11, 1993
- Commissioned: December 9, 1995
- Crew size: 5,000 (including air wing)
- Meals served daily: 16,600
- Number of compartments: 2,700
- Number of anchors: 2 (From USS Forrestal (CV-59))
- Weight of anchors: 30 tons each
- A/C plant capacity: 2,900 tons (enough to service 950 homes)
- Distillation plant capacity: 400,000 gallons (1,500 m³) (enough to serve 2000 homes)
- Number of telephones: 2,000
- Tons of structural steel: More than 60,000 tons
- Length of cable and wiring: over 900 miles (1,500 km)
- Number of light fixtures: more than 30,000
- Required technical manuals: A stack as high as the Washington Monument at 555 feet (170 m)
- Bed mattresses: If lined up end-to-end, they would stretch more than 9 miles (14 km).
- Sheets: 28,000
- Pillow Cases: 14,000
- Cost: $3.5 billion; projected service life: 50 years
