Aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)

Aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) 0Aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) 1Aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) 2Aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) 3Aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) 4Aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) 5Aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) 6Aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) 7

Classification

Basic information

Namesake:
John Cornelius Stennis (August 3, 1901 – April 23, 1995) was a U.S. Senator from the state of Mississippi. He was a Democrat who served in the Senate for over 41 years, becoming its most senior member for his last eight years. He retired from the Senate in 1989.
Operator:
Country of build:
Ordered:
Laid down:
Launched:
Commissioned (service):
Status:
MMSI number:
110060487

Ship measurements

Displacement:
104,955 t
Length:
332.8 m
Length (waterline):
317 m
Beam:
76.8 m
Beam (waterline):
40.8 m
Draft:
11.3 m

Machine

Propulsion:
  • 2 * Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors
  • 4 * steam turbines
  • 4 * shafts
  • 260,000 shp (194 MW)
Speed:
31 knots
Range:
Unlimited distance; 20–25 years

Personnel

Complement:
6,060
Ship's company:
3,200
Air wing:
2,480
Total capacity:
6,500

Combat assets

Electronics:
  • AN/SPS-48E 3-D air search radar
  • AN/SPS-49(V)5 2-D air search radar
  • AN/SPQ-9B target acquisition radar
  • AN/SPN-46 air traffic control radars
  • AN/SPN-43C air traffic control radar
  • AN/SPN-41 landing aid radars
  • 4 * Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems
  • 4 * Mk 95 radars
  • AN/SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite
  • SLQ-25A Nixie Torpedo Countermeasures
Armament:
  • 2 * Sea Sparrow
  • 2 * RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile
  • 3 * PHALANX CIWS (Close-In Weapons System) Gatling guns
  • 10 * .50 cal turret emplacements
Aircraft:

90 fixed wing and helicopters

USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) is the seventh Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the United States Navy, named for Senator John C. Stennis of Mississippi. She was commissioned on 9 December 1995. Her home port is Bremerton, Washington.

The mission of John C. Stennis and her air wing (CVW-9) is to conduct sustained combat air operations while forward-deployed. The embarked air wing consists of eight to nine squadrons. Attached aircraft are Navy and Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet, EA-18G Growler, MH-60R, MH-60S, and E-2C Hawkeye.

The air wing can engage enemy aircraft, submarines, and land targets, or lay mines hundreds of miles from the ship. John C. Stennis's aircraft are used to conduct strikes, support land battles, protect the battle group or other friendly shipping, and implement a sea or air blockade. The air wing provides a visible presence to demonstrate American power and resolve in a crisis. The ship normally operates as the centerpiece of a carrier battle group commanded by a flag officer embarked upon John C. Stennis and consisting of four to six other ships.

John C. Stennis's two nuclear reactors give her virtually unlimited range and endurance and a top speed in excess of 30 knots (56 km/h, 34.5 mph). The ship's four catapults and four arresting gear engines enable her to launch and recover aircraft rapidly and simultaneously. The ship carries approximately 3 million US gallons (11,000 m3) of fuel for her aircraft and escorts, and enough weapons and stores for extended operations without replenishment. John C. Stennis also has extensive repair capabilities, including a fully equipped Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department, a micro-miniature electronics repair shop, and numerous ship repair shops.

For defense, in addition to her air wing and accompanying vessels, John C. Stennis has NATO RIM-7 Sea Sparrow and Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) surface-to-air missile systems, the Phalanx Close-in Weapons System for cruise missile defense, and the AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare System.

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