New Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R Ford Set For First Full Deployment

The Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 77) has successfully completed its Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPUTEX) off the East Coast and is to be deployed on its first full-length deployment (at least six months) in the first week of May.Accompanied by Carrier Strike Group 12 and embarking Carrier Air Wing 8,it will depart its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk,Virginia.The Ford had been deployed to Europe in September 2022 on its first mission,integrating with other NATO warships for a bit less than two months.Rear Admiral Gregory Huffman commands CSG 12 and Captain Paul Lanzilotta is commanding the Ford.* CSG 12 includes the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normany (CG 60) and Destroyer Squadron 2 (DESRON 2).DESRON 2 consists of Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61);USS McFaul (DDG 74);and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).An undisclosed nuclear-powered attack submarine customarily accompanies a CSG.The next member of the Ford-class is currently in testing,the Pre-Commissioning Unit John F Kennedy (CVN 79).She was christened by the ship's sponsor,the late president's daughter Caroline,and delivery is expected in 2025.The Ford-class features 23 new technologies,some of them with a view to increasing sortie rates by 30%.These innovations include a dual-band radar custom-designed for the class,providing unprecedented ability to find and track targets and to compress combat data into a single stream;a faster aircraft elevator;the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS);and the Advanced Arresting Gear.The deployment will mark the first time the full Carrier Air Wing 8 will deploy with the Ford.In 2022,only 80% of the CAW deployed to Europe with the Ford.So one of the missions this time will be comprehensively testing the limits of the sortie-generation capability of the Ford-class.* In a previous iteration,CSG 12 had supported both the Afghan War and the Iraq War,flying more than 13,000 combat missions.Having completed the COMPUTEX,the Ford is now certified for integration with CSG 12 and conducting combat operations.Said Rear Admiral Huffman:COMPUTEX serves as a doctorate-level test of the strike group's ability to operate collectively across the spectrum of warfare,while incorporating the Gerald R Ford into the strike group.* The carrier will be ready to provide maritime security,power projection or strike operations.Captain Brian Metcalf,program manager for the Ford-class,said that he fully believes the aircraft carrier,her air wing,and her battle group are capable of defending themselves.* No one has revealed the Ford's destination,but,as a member of US 2nd Fleet,the Atlantic Fleet,it would be logical to deploy her back to Europe,as there is currently no US Navy CSG in theatre to anchor NATO's response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine,bolstering deterrence alongside NATO Allies and Partners.

President Ford's Daughter Christens Aircraft Carrier

The Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R Ford,first of a new class of nuclear aircraft carrier,was christened on Saturday,November 9 at Huntington Ingalls Industries' shipyard in Newport News,Virginia.The late President Gerald R Ford's daughter and Ship's Sponsor,Susan Ford Bales,broke a bottle of champagne on the bow of the ship and named it in honour of her father,the nation's 38th president and a US Navy veteran of World War II.Mr.Ford was aware of plans for the carrier at the time of his death in December,2006 at age 93,and expressed both pride and humility that it would be named for him.
The new warship is expected to enter service in 2016.It will be followed by PCU John F Kennedy,already under construction.Carriers are intended to serve for 50 years.The Ford class features a new and repositioned island,or control tower,;a redesigned and more efficient flight deck;and three flight deck elevators instead of four.These improvements will allow a 25% increase in sorties,or missions.
The new class also has two advanced nuclear reactors and 250% more electrical capacity,as well as dual-band radar and electronic catapults for launching aircraft.The cumulative effect of the latest engineering will save the Navy a projected 4 billion dollars over the carrier's lifespan,according to Newport News Shipbuilding,the HII unit that designs and builds the Ford class.The number of valves has been reduced by over a third,for example.The greater electrical capacity ensures the ship can handle new weapons systems that come along over the next several decades.
Gerald R Ford was president from 1974-77,following his 9 months as Richard Nixon's Vice President and a long career in the House of Representatives from 1949-73,where he became known for his integrity and bipartisanship.A football player during his student days at the University of Michigan,Mr.Ford was a gunnery and training officer in the Navy from 1942-46,seeing extensive action in the Pacific theatre aboard the light carrier USS Monterey(CVL 26) and rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.He was decorated with the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 9 Battle Stars;the Phillipine Liberation Medal with 2 Bronze Stars;the American Campaign and World War II Victory Medals.After the war,he was a member of the American Legion;AMVETS;and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Susan Ford Bales,born in 1957,is the youngest of Mr.Ford's 4 children and has been deeply involved in preserving her father's legacy as a Trustee of the Gerald R Ford Presidential Foundation.As Ship's Sponsor,she participates in all the ship's milestone events.
Huntington Ingalls Industries(HII)

Twilight of the USS Enterprise

In a few years,the world's first nuclear aircraft carrier,the USS Enterprise(CVN 65)will be decommissioned.From that date until 2015,the U.S. Navy will be short an aircraft carrier.In 2015,the USS Gerald R Ford will join the fleet,bringing the number of carriers back to 11.
The Enterprise was commissioned on 25 November,1961.Since then,she has served in every major combat operation.Originally built to last 25 years,through excellent maintenance the ship will soon surpass 50 years of service life.So far,more than 100,000 Sailors and Marines have served on her.The Big E is the second oldest ship in the fleet after the wooden-hulled USS Constitution.
The Big E was last deployed on 13 January,2011 in the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean.On that cruise with her strike group of a Carrier Air Wing,guided missile cruiser and three guided missile destroyers,she participated in operations which captured 75 Somali pirates and launched missile strikes against the repressive Gaddafi regime in Libya.
The Enterprise has one or two more deployments ahead of her.A deployment typically lasts about six months.In 2013,the ship will be decommissioned,then deactivated and defueled at Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News,Virginia.It is uncertain whether the Enterprise can become a museum following this massive and unprecedented safing process,which will involve dismantling much of the warship.
Huntington Ingalls Industries(HII)