The U.S. Navy's Last Nimitz-Class Aircraft Carrier 'Sailed Nowhere' For 1 Year
What You Need to Know: The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), the final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, has returned to the fleet after completing its Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Alongside modernization of safety, communication, and combat systems, the carrier received Quality of Service improvements, such as upgraded crew spaces, new ovens, and Wi-Fi.
-The George H.W. Bush, named after the 41st U.S. president and naval aviator, features design upgrades like a bulbous bow and curved flight deck edges to enhance hull efficiency and reduce radar signature.
-Its timely return strengthens the Navy’s deterrence capabilities amid growing global threats.
Aircraft Carrier USS George H.W. Bush Reenters Fleet
Following a nearly year-long hiatus, USS George H.W. Bush has officially returned to the fleet on time. The country’s tenth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier recently completed its Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY). During her maintenance period, the nuclear-powered warship underwent a range of modernization efforts, including but not limited to structural repair and system upgrades.
In addition to the enhancements made onboard, Quality of Service improvements were also implemented for sailors. From upgraded crew living spaces and new ovens to Wi-Fi capability and computer network upgrades, sailors will be returning to a much more comfortable USS George H.W. Bush.
“In returning George H.W. Bush to the fleet on schedule, NNSY applied a series of innovative strategies and engineering solutions to modernize the ship’s safety, communications, and combat systems—scheduling a significant volume of advance work at nearby Naval Station Norfolk (NAVSTA Norfolk) before the carrier arrived at NNSY,” according to NAVSEA.
Introducing USS George H.W. Bush
Named to honor the 41st President of the United States and former Director of the CIA, George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) will be the final Nimitz-class carrier to sail for the Navy. Notably, the ship is only the second of its kind named to honor any naval aviator- in addition to the USS Forrestal (CVN-69). At just nineteen years old, Bush became one of the service’s youngest aviators in 1943 when he earned his wings. During his time in the Navy, Bush would fly the TBM Avenger, which would become CVN-77’s call sign.
USS George H.W. Bush was constructed by manufacturing giant Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding Newport News in the early 2000’s.
When the mighty warship was introduced to service, it joined the Navy’s nine existing Nimitz carriers: USS Nimitz (CVN 68), USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), USS George Washington (CVN 73), USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).
The Nimitz carriers Play a Key Role in the Navy’s Deterrent Strategy
Like her sister ships, CVN-77 measures just over 1,000 feet and displaces more than 100,000 tons, making her one of the largest vessels to sail the seas across the globe. Unlike previous Nimitz-carriers, USS George H.W. Bush features a bulbous bow design and a flight deck with curved edges. These alterations were designed respectively to improve the vessel’s hull efficiency and minimize its radar signature. In terms of air power, the Nimitz-class is nearly unmatched in capability.
These supercarriers can support some of the U.S. military’s finest airframes, including the Navy’s F-35 Lightening II, F/A-18 Growler, and F-18 Super Hornet fighter jets. Additionally, USS George H.W. Bush and her sister ships carry defensive equipment for countering hostile aircraft and missiles, including three RIM-7 Sea Sparrow or RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile Mk 29 missile launchers.
Considering her top-notch specs and capabilities, the timely re-introduction of CVN-77 bodes well for the Navy amidst a rising threat climate.
About the Author
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image Credit: Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock
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