Kitty Hawk class aircraft carrier

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USS Kitty Hawk
Class overview
Builders: New York Shipbuilding
New York Navy Yard
Newport News Shipbuilding
Operators: Naval flag of United States United States Navy
Preceded by: Forrestal-class
Succeeded by: Enterprise-class
Nimitz-class
In commission: 21 April 1961
Completed: 4
Active: USS Kitty Hawk
Laid up: USS Constellation
USS John F. Kennedy
Lost: USS America (as a target)
General characteristics
Displacement: 60,933 tons light
81,780 tons full load
Length: 990 ft (300 m) waterline
1,069 ft (326 m) overall
Beam: 130 ft (40 m) waterline
282 ft (86 m) extreme
Draft: 38 ft (12 m)
Speed: 32
Range: 12,000 miles
Armament: 24 surface to air missiles
3-4 close-in weapons systems
Aircraft carried: Up to 90 aircraft

The Kitty Hawk-class supercarriers of the United States Navy were an incremental improvement on the Forrestal-class vessels. Four were built, all in the 1960s, Kitty Hawk (CV-63) (1961–2008), Constellation (CV-64) (1961–2003), America (CV-66) (1965–1996) and John F. Kennedy (CV-67) (1967–2007).

Contents

[edit] Improved Forrestal carriers

The biggest differences from the Forrestals are greater length, and a different placement of elevators; two are forward of the island, one is aft of the island and another on the portside stern. The movement of the #4 elevator from the forward to the after end of the angle made it useful for aircraft movement, since the forward-end elevator was useless as it was in both the landing path and in the launch path of the #3 and #4 catapults.

Three different shipyards were used to construct the ships. Kitty Hawk was built at New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Constellation at New York Naval Shipyard, America and John F. Kennedy at Newport News Shipbuilding. John F. Kennedy is similar to the earlier units in flightdeck arrangement and propulsion, but has enough differences that she is often placed in her own class. Propulsion consisted of four Westinghouse geared turbines, 280,000 shp, four shafts with eight 1,200 psi Foster Wheeler boilers.

[edit] Construction and design differences

The first three units were constructed with a Terrier surface to air missile system. The supporting missile launchers and AN/SPG-55 radars consumed a large amount of space and were later removed. John F. Kennedy did not have Terrier and was built with the shorter ranged Sea Sparrow, Basic Point Defense Missile System (BPDMS). All were eventually equipped with NATO Sea Sparrow (NSSM) and Phalanx CIWS for self defense.[1] In 2001, Kitty Hawk received two Rolling Airframe Missile launchers replacing the forward Sea Sparrow and Phalanx CIWS equipment.[2] The SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare Suite was added as part of the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) on Kitty Hawk and Constellation.[3]

America had several differences from the lead units of the class. Instead of two forward anchors, one on each side, America had no starboard anchor, having a bow anchor instead and an additional anchor astern, both changes were to accommodate the AN/SQS-23 sonar. America was the only post World War II US carrier to be built with sonar, though it was removed in the early 1980s. America also had a narrow smokestack compared to prior units.[1]

John F. Kennedy had similar design changes regarding the anchors to accommodate a sonar array, but the sonar was never installed. There were also plans to make the fourth unit nuclear powered, but since Congress would not authorize it, John F. Kennedy was constructed as a conventionally powered carrier.[1] John F. Kennedy's smokestack is also different and tilts outboard to send stack gas away from the flight deck.

[edit] Fate

From 1987 to 1991 Kitty Hawk was overhauled for $785 million under the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.[4] From 1990 to 1992, Constellation received her $800 million service life extension also in Philadelphia.[5] The program was intended to add 15 years to the life of the ships. John F. Kennedy was not overhauled as part of SLEP. Instead from 1993 to 1995, she received a $491 million overhaul. It was the final project of Philadelphia Naval Shipyard prior to its closing.[6] America had been scheduled to be overhauled under the service life extension program after Constellation, but she was decommissioned 9 August 1996 instead, during a time of budget cuts after the Cold War. America was in very poor condition when she was decommissioned, and therefore despite her historical significance was not held as a donation asset. She was expended as a live-fire target and sunk on 14 May 2005.

Constellation was decommissioned 7 August 2003. John F. Kennedy was decommissioned on 23 March 2007. Only Kitty Hawk remains in service as of early 2008 and will be replaced by USS George Washington (CVN-73) as forward-deployed carrier. Kitty Hawk is expected to return to the United States after the turnover.[7] A decommissioning date of January 31st 2009 has been set.[8]

[edit] Vessels

Name Builder Commissioned Decommissioned Fate Source
Kitty Hawk (CV-63) New York Shipbuilding Corporation April 29, 1961 Active In active service [1]
Constellation (CV-64) New York Naval Shipyard October 27, 1961 August 7, 2003 Stricken, to be disposed of [2]
America (CV-66) Newport News Shipbuilding January 23, 1965 August 9, 1996 Sunk as a target [3]
John F. Kennedy (CV-67) Newport News Shipbuilding September 7, 1968 August 1, 2007 Inactive, out of commission, to be disposed of [4]

[edit] Gallery

John F. Kennedy's smokestack tilts outboard to send stack gas away from the flight deck.

America's island in the mid 1970s, still equipped with AN/SPG-55 radar for Terrier.

Constellation's island in the early 1980s, note the different stack configuration from America and John F. Kennedy and alternate mounting of Terrier fire control radars

2007 bow view of Kitty Hawk. Note the position of forward anchors and Rolling Airframe Missile launchers on either side instead of CIWS and NSSM.

America showing bow anchor which previous units did not have.

Aerial view of Constellation showing flightdeck shape and arrangement.

Stern view of the port side of John F. Kennedy showing the elevator and self defense AAW equipment.

USS Independence (CV-62) (left) a Forrestal class carrier next to USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) (right)

USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) and USS Saratoga (CV-60), a Forrestal class carrier, showing length differences. Also note the aircraft elevator configuration.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Modern naval combat. / David Miller, Chris Miller. p. 116-117. London ; New York : Salamander Books, c1986. ISBN 0861012313
  2. ^ Doug Huddy. [http://www.stripes.com/01/jul01/ed072501f.html USS Kitty Hawk gets upgrade with Rolling Airframe Missile weapon system]. Stars and Stripes. Wednesday, July 25, 2001.
  3. ^ AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare (EW) system
  4. ^ A somber farewell to the Kitty Hawk; the job done, the carrier leaves. But clouds hang over the yard. Laurie Hollman. Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa.: July 31, 1991. pg. B.1
  5. ^ Revamped Aircraft Carrier Sails For 10-Day Sea Trial. Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Fla.: November 7, 1992. pg. A.14
  6. ^ Shipyard's Closing Uproots 4,400 Workers Philadelphia Naval Shipyard Scheduled To Close Sept. 15. Associated Press. The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, Ohio: May 2, 1995. pg. 12.C.
  7. ^ United States Navy. Kitty Hawk Command FAQ. Accessed January 12, 2008.
  8. ^ Fox News. Kitty Hawk decommissioning news. Accessed May 28, 2008.

[edit] External links

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Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carrier
List of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy
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Aircraft carrier classes in service