U.S. Navy's Newest Carrier Successfully Completes Acceptance Sea Trials

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9 April 2009

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) successfully completed acceptance sea trials April 7-9 off the Virginia Capes and is in final preparation for delivery. Acceptance sea trials are the final test of the ship's readiness to begin fleet service.

Navy representatives from the U.S. Navy Board of Inspection and Survey tested and evaluated the ship's systems and performance. Acceptance trials will formally conclude April 10.

George H.W. Bush is the nation's 10th, and final, Nimitz-class carrier. The ship is designed to carry all current and future aircraft in its embarked air wing until the completion of her service life in approximately 2,059.

George H. W. Bush incorporates numerous design improvements to reduce operating cost, enhance operational effectiveness and protect the environment. These include newly designed propellers, a new underwater hull-coating system, advanced waste disposal systems, a new JP-5 (jet propellant) distribution system, and modernized aircraft launch and recovery equipment. Improved medical and dental facilities have been included in the ship to enhance quality of life. George H.W. Bush also has a new composite mast that reduces topside weight and maintenance.

George H.W. Bush incorporates a modernized island, bulbous bow design and three-wire arresting gear configuration, first introduced on USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).

The ship's keel was laid Sept. 6, 2003, at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Newport News. Ms. Dorothy Bush Koch, daughter of former President George H.W. Bush, served as the ship's sponsor during its christening on Oct. 7, 2006. The ship was commissioned Jan. 10, 2009, at Norfolk Naval Base. USS George H.W. Bush is commanded by Capt. DeWolfe H. Miller III, USN. Upon delivery to the Navy, the ship will conduct post delivery maintenance before commencing training for operational deployment in 2010.

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) General characteristics:

Class and type: Nimitz-class Super Aircraft Carrier

Displacement: Approximately 97,000 short tons (88,000 t) full load

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

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
Mk 23 target acquisition radar
2 × SPN-46 air traffic control radars
SPN-43B air traffic control radar
SPN-44 landing aid radars
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 ESSM launcher
2 × RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile

Armor: Classified

Aircraft carried: 90 fixed wing and helicopters

 

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USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), The Final Nimitz-Class Aircraft Carrier, is Delivered to the U.S. Navy
UNITED STATES - 11 May 2009

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., May 11, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) delivered the nation's newest and most advanced nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77), today. It is the 10th and final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and was constructed by the company's Shipbuilding sector in Newport News, Va.

"We are proud to be part of history by delivering the final Nimitz-class carrier to the Navy today," said Ken Mahler, vice president of Navy programs at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Newport News. "It represents the culmination of years of hard work, craftsmanship and dedication by thousands of shipbuilders, whose work will remain with the fleet for the next 50 years."

USS George H.W. Bush is the nation's 10th and final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier constructed by shipbuilders at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's shipyard in Newport News, Va. At 1,092 feet in length, USS George H. W. Bush is nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall. It weighs 97,000 tons, can carry more than 80 combat aircraft and its top speed exceeds 30 knots. Powered with two nuclear reactors, it will operate for more than 20 years without refueling.

New design features for the USS George H. W. Bush include new propellers, a new underwater hull-coating system, an updated aviation-fuel distribution system, and modernized aircraft launch and recovery equipment. Environmental upgrades have also been designed into the ship, including a new marine sewage system. It is the second carrier to have a modernized island and a new bulbous bow design that provides more buoyancy to the forward end of the ship and improves hull efficiency. The ship's keel was laid Sept. 6, 2003, it was christened Oct. 7, 2006 and was commissioned Jan. 10, 2009.

Northrop Grumman delivered the nation's newest and most advanced nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77), on May 11, 2009.






Source: Northrop Grumman

 

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U.S. Navy's Newest Aircraft Carrier Lands First Aircraft
UNITED STATES - 19 MAY 2009

USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH, At Sea (NNS) -- USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) made history May 19 after safely landing the first fixed-wing aircraft, an F/A-18F Super Hornet.

Lt. Patrick McKenna and Cmdr. Beau Duarte, from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., piloted the Hornet and made the first arrested landing, known as a "trap," at 2:07 p.m. local time.

The aircraft carrier is underway performing flight deck certifications in the Atlantic Ocean. The ship is equipped with arresting wires which are capable of safely landing aircraft traveling at speeds of more than 200 miles per hour in about 300 feet.

"It takes a team of professionals to safely land an aircraft aboard a carrier at sea. The crew of USS George H.W. Bush has been working and training for this event for more than two years," said Capt. "Chip" Miller, Bush H.W. Bush commanding officer. "This is a tremendous moment for the crew."

Bush is the 10th and final Nimitz-class carrier. It was commissioned Jan. 10 at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

 

[S-2]

Simply gorgeous. Stately even.

Navy have the coolest rides.

Me? M577 Command Vehicle

This is the way my ride usually looked-

 

[arslan_treen]

Simply gorgeous. Stately even.

Navy have the coolest rides.

Me? M577 Command Vehicle

This is the way my ride usually looked-

AND WE HAVE COPIED IT ASWL ITS CALLED AL SAKAB COMMAND AND CONTROL VEHICLE AND BECAUSE WE USE GOOD ENGINES OUR ONE DOSENOT LOOK LIKE THAT ALL THE TIME LOL!

 

[S-2]

"BECAUSE WE USE GOOD ENGINES OUR ONE DOSENOT LOOK LIKE THAT ALL THE TIME LOL!"

You da man!!!

All I cared about was that the heater worked and the track extension didn't have any holes in it.

All good beyond that...