USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)

USS Ronald Reagan
Career (United States)
Name:	USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)
Namesake:	Ronald Reagan
Ordered:	8 December 1994
Builder:	Northrop Grumman Newport News
Laid down:	12 February 1998
Launched:	4 March 2001
Sponsored by:	Nancy Reagan[1]
Commissioned:	12 July 2003
Homeport:	NS North Island San Diego, California
Status:	in active service, as of 2011[update]
General characteristics
Class and type:	Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, Ronald Reagan subclass
Displacement:	101,400 long tons (113,600 short tons)[2]
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

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the service of the United States Navy. The ninth ship of her class,^[3] she is named in honor of former President Ronald Reagan, President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Upon her christening in 2001, she was the first ship to be named for a living former president.

Ship's seal

CVN 76 Seal.

The design of USS Ronald Reagan’s (CVN 76) seal was created entirely by her plankowner crew with historical assistance provided by staff members at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library foundation. The red border that rings the ship’s seal is much like the distinctive red rim that defines the White House china designed for the Reagans during their White House years. Four gold stars represent President Reagan’s 40th presidency and his four pillars of Freedom: individual liberty; economic opportunity; global democracy; and national pride. “Peace through Strength,” was a recurring theme of the President’s life in public service. The aircraft carrier is positioned by the West Coast, representing President Reagan’s two terms as Governor of California and the ship’s homeport in the Pacific Fleet. The three aircraft with their patriotic contrails symbolize the three major military operations the President directed during his tenure: Operation Urgent Fury (Grenada/1983); Operation El Dorado Canyon (Libya/1986); and Operation Praying Mantis (Iran/1988). The view of the globe signifies the President’s vision of global democracy, and the center is the United States representing the country's national pride. Colors of red, white and blue dominate the seal reflecting the American flag.^[4]

Naming

Ronald Reagan was the first nuclear powered warship of any kind to be named in honor of a living former president.^[5] 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.

Former First Lady Nancy Reagan christens USS Ronald Reagan with President George W. Bush and Newport News Shipbuilding CEO William Frick looking on, 4 March 2001

Design and construction

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.^[6] This included a redesigned ship island.^[7] Reagan was christened by Reagan's wife Nancy on 4 March 2001 at Newport News Shipbuilding, the crew moved aboard on 30 Oct 2002,^[8] 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.

Commissioning ceremony of USS Ronald Reagan, 2003

Ronald Reagan conducted her maiden port visit in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. from Nov. 11-14, 2003.

Service history

After a five-month post shakedown availability (PSA), Reagan received flight deck certification on May 8, 2004^[9] 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 (CVN-68) 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 June 20–21 and made port visits to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Valparaiso, Chile, and Callao, Peru before arriving in San Diego on 23 July 2004.

Gringo-Gaucho with the Argentine Navy during 2004 transit around South America

2006 Maiden deployment

USS Ronald Reagan departed San Diego Jan. 4, 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 Feb 22, 2006 and returned from deployment on July 6, 2006.^[10][11]

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^[12] to the Western Pacific, fulfilling the role of the forward deployed carrier Kitty Hawk while it underwent maintenance in Japan. On 20 April 2007, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) 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 USS 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.^[13] 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.^[14][15][16]

Reagan returned to Naval Air Station North Island on April 20, 2007 following the three-month deployment in support of operations in the Western Pacific.

USS Ronald Reagan conducts rudder checks in October 2007, as part of the ship's periodic inspection

On 15 December 2007, the carrier answered a distress call from a cruise ship off the coast of Baja California. An Illinois teenager whose appendix had ruptured while on a Mexican cruise was airlifted by an SH-60 helicopter to Ronald Reagan, where an emergency appendectomy was performed by the ship's surgeon.^[17]

2008 Deployment

USS Ronald Reagan, with CVW-14 embarked, departed San Diego May 19, 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.^[18] 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 Aug. 28, 2008, where she launched more than 1,150 sorties into Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Reagan returned to San Diego on Nov. 25, 2008.

Sailors and their families await a small arms demo during Tiger Cruise 2008.

USS Ronald Reagan received word in February 2009 that the ship had won its second Battle Efficiency Award.^[19]

2009 Deployment

On May 28, 2009, Reagan deployed with Carrier Air Wing 14 to the 7th and 5th Fleet Areas of Responsibility.^[20] Reagan relieved the Eisenhower CSG and launched its first sorties in support of OEF on 6 July. Reagan returned to homeport on Oct. 21 after a five-month deployment ^[21]

2010

Captain James A. Symonds, right, turns over command to Captain Terry B. Kraft (November 2005)

In early 2010, Reagan was awarded the 2009 Chief of Naval Operations Afloat Safety "S" Award.^[22] and the 2009 Pacific Fleet Battle "E" for combat efficiency. The Battle "E" award was Reagan's second consecutive and third in four years.^[23][24]

See also

• List of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy
• Modern United States Navy carrier air operations
• Carrier-based aircraft
• List of military aircraft of the United States (naval) / List of US Naval aircraft
• United States Naval Aviator

References

External links

• The official Ronald Reagan web site
• USS Ronald Reagan history at U.S. Carriers
• US Navy Aircraft Carrier Page