USS Ronald Reagan 19"

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, she was named in honor of former President Ronald Reagan.

Building, christening, and commissioning

Traditionally, 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 has increased; the list includes Carl Vinson, Hyman G. Rickover, Arleigh Burke, John C. Stennis, Bob Hope, Ronald Reagan, Nitze, Jimmy Carter, and George H. W. Bush. The Ronald Reagan was the first aircraft carrier to be named in honor of a living former president. 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 Reagan was awarded to Northrop Grumman Newport News and Dry Dock Company in The contract to build the Reagan was awarded to Northrop Grumman Newport NewsNewport News, Virginia on December 8, 1994, and her keel was laid down on February 12, 1998. The budget for the ship had to be increased several times and ultimately $4.5 billion was spent on its construction. 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." Ronald Reagan made her maiden voyage on July 21, 2003. Mementoes were released on the occassion, including Ty Inc.'s commemorative beanie baby named the "USS Ronnie Ty" in honor of the commissioning.

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, Rear Admiral 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. At a later date, Captain Symonds also presented Mrs. Reagan the flag that had been flying over 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 was relieved as Commanding Officer of CVN 76 by Captain Terry B. Kraft. Captain Kenneth J. Norton became the fourth commanding officer of the Nimitz-class nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) May 2, relieving Captain Terry B. Kraft in a ceremony aboard the ship, moored pier side at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, Calif. 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.

On December 15, 2007, the carrier answered a distress call from a cruise ship off the coast of Baja California. A teenager whose appendix had ruptured while on a Mexican cruise was airlifted by an SH-60 helicopter to the Ronald Reagan, where an emergency appendectomy was performed by Navy medical personnel.

On May 19, 2008, the carrier and its strike group departed Naval Base San Diego for a scheduled deployment to an undisclosed location.

Designation and details

The USS Ronald 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-18F 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 Chancellorsville (CG 62) - Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser
• USS Decatur (DDG-73) — Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer
• USS Howard (DDG-83) - Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer
• USS Gridley (DDG-101) — Arleigh Burke (Flight IIA)-class guided missile destroyer
• USS Thach (FFG 43) - Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate
• USNS Rainier (T-AOE-7) — fast combat support ship. Formerly USS Rainier (AOE-7).
• EOD-11 Det 15 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit)

In Fiction

CBS' Hit TV Series, NCIS, One of the main characters, Anthony Dinozzo, gets reassigned as Agent Afloat on the USS Ronald Reagan at the end of Season 5.

In Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour, the Carrier is the head of a U.S. Fleet sent to Europe. First, it provides support for European Relief Operations (A fictional terrorist organization took over the Baykonur Cosmodrome and launched a nuclear missile towards Europe). Then, the terrorist organization infiltrates the docks where the carrier is held and uses a Particle Cannon to destroy the carrier, cutting lengthwise through the carrier. (Note that this is pictured on the games front cover.)