USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)

USS Ronald Reagan

(CVN-76)

Nimitz-Class

Nuclear-Powered Supercarrier

USS Ronald Reagan is the biggest and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier in the world. Also know as (CVN-76), she is the ninth ship in the Nimitz class and the largest designation of flat top. She is the first nuclear powered warship of any kind to be named in honor of a former president still living at the time and the first ship in the Navy to bear the name. Powered by two nuclear reactors and driven by four bronzed propeller's weighing over 66,000 pounds each, the USS Ronald Reagan reaches speeds of over 30 knots. All the Nimitz class ships are almost identical. What makes this one the biggest is it's flight deck. The deck angle is increased from 9.05 degrees to 9.15 degrees from the center line. This allows unobstructed simultaneously launching and recovering of aircraft. (CVN-76) is practically a floating city, complete with it's own police department, "mayor" Commanding Officer, hospitals, laundry & dry cleaning services on-board, their own TV station, movie theater, legal department, fire department, and last but not least, it's own airport. With a projected service life into the 2050's, USS Ronald Reagan will be ready for anything for years to come, living up to her motto "Peace Through Strength".

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 2, 2011) An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Argonauts of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 launches from the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is conducting training operations before deploying to the western Pacific Ocean and the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Josh Cassatt/Released)

The USS Regan's home port is Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California as a member of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. NAS North Island resembles a small city in it's facility content and it's operations. It has it's own police and fire departments, as well as advanced military security stations. It has large factory-type buildings which comprise the Naval Aviation Depot, employing 3,300 civilians, and it's own commissary, Navy Exchange, and housing units. Recreation facilities include officer, chief petty officer and enlisted clubs, movie theater, golf course, tennis courts, bowling alley, parks and beaches. It's airfield has over 230 stationed aircraft, and it's quay wall is homeport to two aircraft carriers: USS Carl Vinson and USS Ronald Reagan. Additionally, the base is home to the Navy's only Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles, Mystic (DSRV-1) and Avalon (DSRV-2). The DSRV motor vessel support ships are also homeported here. With all the ships in port, the population of the station is nearly 35,000 active duty military, selected reserve military, and civilian personnel.

History:

Commissioning and Trials

On February 12, 1998, Reagan's keel was laid by Northrop Grumman Newport News and Drydock Company in Newsport, Va. The USS Ronald Reagan was christened by Nancy Reagan on March 4, 2001 at Newport News Shipbuilding where she gave the ship's crew the traditional first order as an active unit of the Navy: "Man the ship and bring her to life". She was commissioned on July 12, 2003 at Naval Station Norfolk, with Captain J.W. Goodwin in command. The Reagan made her maiden voyage on July 11, 2003 and after months of shakedown trials the Reagan began her transit from Naval Station Norfolk, Va. to her new homeport of Naval Air Station North Island, Ca.

2011 Japan Earthquake, Tsunami, and Nuclear Crisis

TAKIHANA, Japan (March 13, 2011) Sailors assigned to the Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4, embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), look out the starboard door as they prepare to deliver supplies during earthquake and tsunami relief efforts near Sendai, Japan. Ronald Reagan is off the coast of Japan rendering humanitarian assistance and disaster relief following an 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dylan McCord/ Released)

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan arrived off the coast of Japan March 13, 2011. Accompanying the Reagan were the guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville and the destroyer USS Preble to support Japanese forces in disaster relief operations.

Near Honshu, Japan, the USS Ronald Reagan supported the Japan Self-Defense Force by providing refueling operations for Japanese helicopters and transporting the island country's troops to disaster areas, according to a Pentagon statement. The Reagan's main objective was to provide aid in the widspread devastation caused by the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami.

The U.S. 7th Fleet operating in Japanese waters had to temporarily reposition it's ships and aircraft away from the quake-damaged Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant after detecting low-level contamination in the air and on its aircraft operating in the area.

Radiation contamination was found on 17 air crew members aboard the USS Ronald Reagan. The aircraft carrier was operating about 100 miles northeast of the power plant at the time. Low levels of radioactivity were found after three helicopter aircrews returned to the ship after conducting disaster relief missions near Sendai.

The source of this airborne radioactivity is a radioactive plume released from the power plant, Navy officials said.

In a statement announcing the decision, officials emphasized that the maximum potential radiation dose received by anyone aboard a ship that passed through the area was less than the radiation exposure received from about a month of exposure to natural background radiation from sources such as rocks, soil and the sun.

The low-level radioactivity was easily removed from affected personnel by washing with soap and water, officials said, and no further contamination was detected afterward.

She is a fine ship and serves her country well. NavyDads salutes the USS Ronald Reagan and all who have served aboard her!

USS Ronald Reagan Specifications

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