USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), the ninth Nimitz-class supercarrier, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the late President Ronald Reagan.
Building, christening, and commissioning
Traditionally, very few ships of the United States Navy were named after a person who was alive at the time of the christening, but recently the number began increasing rapidly; the list includes Carl Vinson (CVN-70), Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-709), Arleigh Burke (DDG-51), John C. Stennis (CVN-74), Bob Hope (T-AKR-300), Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), Nitze (DDG-94), Jimmy Carter (SSN-23), and George H. W. Bush (CVN-77). 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.
The contract to build the Ronald Reagan was awarded to Northrop Grumman Newport News and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on December 8, 1994, and her keel was laid down on February 12, 1998. She was launched on March 4, 2001, christened by Reagan's wife Nancy the same day, and commissioned on July 12, 2003, 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." The Ronald Reagan made her maiden voyage on July 21, 2003.
President Reagan, who did not attend either the launch or the commissioning because of Alzheimer's Disease, died eleven months later. At the end of the graveside services, the ship's commanding officer at that time, Navy 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 January 20, 1981, when the president was inaugurated. Captain Symonds also presented Mrs. Reagan the flag that had been flying over the Ronald Reagan when the former president died.
Specifications
Ronald Reagan displaces approximately 95,000 tons of water fully loaded, has a top speed of over 30 knots, powered by two nuclear reactors driving four screws, and can sail for over 20 years before needing to refuel. She is nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall at 1,092 feet (333 m) and is 134 feet (41 m) wide at the beam and has a flight deck 252 feet (77 m) wide. The flight deck covers over 4.5 acres (18,000 m²). She carries more than 5,500 sailors and over 80 aircraft. The ship is the winner of the 2006 Battle "E" for West Coast carriers.
In the news
During her transfer from the Atlantic to the Pacific, she transited the Straits of Magellan. Her home port is Coronado, California.
On January 29, 2006, a F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter attempting a night landing on the Ronald Reagan, crashed into the ocean about 200 km (120 miles) southeast of Brisbane, Australia. There was no damage to the ship and the pilot ejected safely, but U.S. officials declared the aircraft lost and unrecoverable.
On July 6, 2006, the Ronald Reagan returned to Coronado from her maiden deployment where she conducted operations in support of the continuing war on terror. USS Ronald Reagan and the Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) departed North Island, Coronado in San Diego County on January 27, 2007 on an unscheduled surge deployment to the Western Pacific, fulfilling the role of the forward deployed carrier Kitty Hawk while it undergoes $28.5 million of maintenance in Japan. On April 20, 2007, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and her CSG returned to Coronado.
A sailor from the Ronald Reagan, Jarrod Fowler, appeared on the popular television contest American Idol, but was eliminated in the second round. The Reagan had held a "Reagan Idol" Contest, which Fowler won, and his name was submitted to the show. Fowler received a letter from Nancy Reagan congratulating him on his performance.
On November 7, 2005 Captain James A. Symonds completed his tour of duty as Commanding Officer of CVN 76. The new and current Commanding Officer is Captain Terry B. Kraft. The current Executive Officer is Captain Kevin J. Couch. The Command Master Chief is James E. DeLozier. The current Commander, Carrier Air Wing Fourteen is Captain Richard W. Butler.
The San Diego Chargers held a practice aboard the Reagan.
The USS Reagan forms part of Carrier Strike Group Seven (CSG-7) and has Carrier Air Wing 14 embarked.
- VFA-115 Eagles — F/A-18E Super Hornet
- VFA-22 Redcocks - F/A-18E Super Hornet
- VFA-113 Stingers — F/A-18C Hornet
- VFA-25 Fist of the Fleet — F/A-18C Hornet
- VAQ-139 Cougars — EA-6B Prowler
- VAW-113 Black Eagles — E-2C Hawkeye 2000
- HS-4 Black Knights — SH-60F / HH-60H Seahawk
- VRC-30 (Det 1) Providers — C-2A Greyhound
CSG-7 comprises CVN-76 and DESRON-7. DEStroyer squadRON 7 consists of:
- USS Lake Champlain (CG-57) — Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser
- USS Decatur (DDG-73) — Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer
- USS McCampbell (DDG-85) — Arleigh Burke (Flight IIA)-class guided missile destroyer
- USNS Rainier (T-AOE-7) — fast combat support ship. Formerly USS Rainier (AOE-7).
- EOD-11 Det 15 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit)
