USS John C. Stennis CVN 74

Fact Sheet

Mission & Capabilities

.....The mission of USS John C. Stennis CVN 74 and her embarked Air Wing is to conduct sustained combat air operations while forward deployed in the global arena. The embarked Air Wing consists of eight to nine squadrons. Attached aircraft are the F/A-18 Hornet, F/A-18E Super Hornet, F-14 Tomcat, EA-6B Prowler, S-3 Viking, E-2C Hawkeye, and SH-60 Seahawk.

.....The Air Wing can destroy enemy aircraft, ships, submarines, and land targets, or lay mines hundreds of miles from the ship. USS John C. Stennis' aircraft are used to conduct strikes, support land battles, protect the Strike 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 Strike Group commanded by a flag officer embarked in USS John C. Stennis and consisting of four to six other ships.

.....USS John C. Stennis' two nuclear reactors give her virtually unlimited range and endurance and a top speed in excess of 30 knots. The ship’s four catapults and four arresting gear engines enable her to launch and recover aircraft rapidly and simultaneously. The ship carries approximately three million gallons of fuel for her aircraft and escorts, and enough weapons and stores for extended operations without replenishment. USS 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, USS John C. Stennis has NATO Sea Sparrow short-range, surface-to-air missile systems, the Phalanx Close-in Weapons System (an extremely rapid firing 20mm gun) for cruise missile defense, and the SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare System.

Dimensions

Length of flight deck: 1,092 ft

Width of flight deck: 257 ft

Height keel to mast: 244 ft (equal to 24-story building)

Area of flight deck: 4.5 acres

Weight of carrier: 97,000 tons

Propulsion System

Type: Nuclear reactor

Number of reactors: 2

Maximum speed: More than 30 knots

Number of screws: 4 (5 blades each)

Weight of screws: 66,200 lbs each

Flight Deck/Air Wing

Number of catapults: 4

Number of aircraft elevators: 4

Size of Air Wing: 80+ tactical aircraft

Miscellaneous

Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Co.

Sponsor: Mrs. Margaret Stennis Womble

Contract Date: March 29, 1988

Keel laid: March 13, 1991

Christened: November 11, 1993

Commissioned: December 9, 1995

Armament: Two NATO Sea Sparrow launchers; four 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts

Crew size: 5,000 (including air wing)

Meals served daily: 16,600

Number of compartments: 2,700

Number of anchors: 2 (From USS FORRESTAL (CV-59)

Weight of anchors: 30 tons each

A/C plant capacity: 2,900 tons (enough to service 950 homes)

Distillation plant capacity: 400,000 gals (enough to serve 2000 homes)

Number of telephones: 2,000

Tons of structural steel: More than 60,000 tons

Miles of cable and wiring: over 900

Number of light fixtures: more than 30,000

Required technical manuals: A stack as high as the Washington Monument (555 feet)

Bed mattresses: If lined up end-to-end, they would stretch more than nine miles.

Sheets: 28,000

Pillow Cases: 14,000

Cost: $3.5 billion; projected service life: 50 years

JOHN C. STENNIS History

.....On 29 March 1988, a contract was signed with Newport News Shipbuilding Co., in Newport News, Virginia to construct the seventh Nimitz class aircraft carrier, and the eigth nuclear powered aircraft carrier.  The keel was laid two years later on 13 March 1991, at the company’s site in Newport News, Virginia .   Five and a half years later, on 11 November 1993 the ship was launched and began its workups for certification.  On 9 December 1995 it was commissioned CVN 74, USS John C. Stennis.  On 18 January 1996, almost eight years after the initial contract was signed, USS John C. Stennis made its first arrested landing; an F-14b had that honor.  On 18 January 1997 the carrier made the history books by having the first arrested landing of an F/A-18 E/F in naval history.

.....Even before its first deployment, the crew was busy.  On 11 July 1997, a helicopter crew assigned to the Stennis rescued three Canadian sailors off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, after their boat had capsized in a heavy storm.  And on 19 August 1997 off the  Virginia Capes The pilot of a Naval Air Station Ocean, Virginia -based F-14 Tomcat aircraft was saved after he was accidentally ejected from his aircraft during a landing aboard the John C. Stennis. Stennis personnel rescued the radar intercept officer from the pilot less Tomcat as it sat on the flight deck with engines still running.

.....The officers, both of Virginia Beach, Virginia, were assigned to Fighter Squadron 143, and both were treated for minor injuries by Stennis medical personnel. The pilot was recovered immediately astern of the carrier and rescued by a helicopter from Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 5 based at NAS Jacksonville, Florida.

.....On 14 March 1998, the Stennis left her homeport of San Diego, California beginning the first deployment for the Nimitz class carrier.  Orders were to relieve the USS George Washington Battle Group in Operation Southern Watch.

.....President George Bush announced on August 26, 1992, a decision by a coalition of U.N. forces to begin surveillance operations in Iraq below the 32nd parallel. The goal was to ensure Iraq ’s compliance with UNSCR 688. To facilitate the monitoring, the coalition barred all Iraqi fixed and rotary wing aircraft from flying over the surveillance area. With the president’s announcement, U.S. Central Command activated Joint Task Force Southwest Asia, a command and control unit for coalition forces monitoring the no-fly zone. The mission was dubbed ‘Operation Southern Watch.’ The first Southern Watch sortie was flown August 27, 1992 - less than 24 hours after the announcement.

.....The first deployment was part of CVW 7, and was accompanied by USS San Jacinto (CG 56), USS Monterey (CG 61), and USS Caron (DD 970).  The Stennis had nine squadrons of aircraft aboard with a tail code of ‘AG.’  During this deployment, the areas of operations were in the Mediterranean, Arabian Gulf, Western Pacific, and the West Coast.  Ports of calls were Jebel Ali; U.A.E.; Perth, Australia; Fremantle, Australia; and Pearl Harbor, HI .   The Stennis returned to its home port in San Diego on 26 August 1998.

.....On 13 October 1998, the Stennis entered a 6 month Phased Incremental Availability at Naval Sir Station, North Island, California. And on 16 April 1999 began sea trials in the Pacific.

.....On 30 November 1999, the Stennis ran aground in a shallow area adjacent to its turning basin as it attempted to maneuver near Naval Air Station, North Island (NASNI). Silt clogged the intake pipes to the cooling systems of the nuclear reactors, causing the carrier’s two nuclear reactors to be shut down (one reactor by crew, the other automatically) for a period of 45 minutes. The Stennis was towed back to its pier for maintenance and observation for the next two days. The cleanup cost was about $2 million.

.....On 7 January 2000 USS John C. Stennis began its second deployment, and was part of CVW 9 which was to be assigned to the WESTPAC cruise.  The Stennis had eight aircraft squadrons which bore the tail code of  ‘NG’ and was accompanied by eight additional ships, USS Lake Champlain (CG 57), USS Port Royal (CG 73), USS Russel (DDG 59), USS Elliot (DD 967), USS Rentz (FFG 46), USS Bridge (AOE 10), USS Asheville (SSN 758), USS Jefferson City (SSN 759).  Areas of operations were, Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Arabian Gulf.   During this deployment it would be taking part in ‘Operation Southern Watch,’ and would make port of calls in Hong Kong; Pusan, South Korea; Kelang, Malaysia; Jebel Ali, U.A.E.; Fremantle, Australia; Bahrain; Pearl Harbor, HI.

.....On 25 June 2000, 1,400 miles south-west of Hawaii, an F-14 of VF-211 stationed aboard JOHN C. STENNIS crashed into the Pacific. Both aviators ejected and were recovered half an hour later.

.....On 3 July 2000 USS John C. Stennis returned to its home port of San Diego, California, completing its second deployment.

.....In September 2001, USS John C. Stennis was designated the “Responsible” aircraft carrier for west coast defense following the terrorist attacks in NYC and Washington, D.C., on September 11.

.....The military response to the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States was assigned the name ‘Operation Enduring Freedom.’  On November 12, 2001 John C. Stennis left San Diego, California, on its third deployment. The carrier departed two months earlier than scheduled to provide support for this operational effort.

.....Again it had eight aircraft squadrons, bearing the tail code of ‘NG.’  It was still part of CVW 9, and just like its second deployment it was accompanied by eight ships.  The USS Lake Champlain (CG 57), USS Port Royal (CG 73), USS Decatur (DDG 73), USS Elliot (DD 967), USS Jarrett (FFG 33), USS Bridge (AOE 10), USS Jefferson City (SSN 759), USS Salt Lake City (SSN 716), HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331).

.....On this her third deployment, area of operations were Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Arabian Gulf.   With port of calls in Hong Kong; Singapore; Bahrain; Hobart, Australia; Pearl Harbor, HI.   Deployment was in support of ‘Operation Enduring Freedom,’ and ‘Operation Southern Watch.’

.....It was during this deployment that on 8 March, 2002, an F-14 of VF-211 crashed into the North Arabian Sea as it was attempting to land aboard USS STENNIS. Both aviators were recovered and did not suffer serious injuries. The F-14 was operating in support of ‘Operation Enduring Freedom.’

.....On 28 May, 2002 USS John C. Stennis returned to San Diego, California.   And completion of her third deployment.

.....June 2002 - January 2003, CVN 74 underwent a seven-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA).  And the period between February 11, 2003 thru February 19, 2003 she conducted ‘Carrier Qualifications’ off southern California.

.....On 24 May 2004, CVN 74 departed her home port on her fourth major overseas deployment.  This time she would be part of CVW 14, and would have a complement of eight aircraft squadrons bearing the tail code of ‘NK.’  Her escort would be composed of five ships, USS Lake Champlain (CG 57), USS Howard (DDG 83), USS Ford (FFG 54), USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7), and USS Salt Lake City (SSN 716).  Areas of operations were, Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Gulf.   Deployment was in support of ‘Operation Enduring Freedom,’ and ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom.’

.....The military objectives of Operation Iraqi Freedom consist of first (1), ending the regime of Saddam Hussein.  Second (2), to identify, isolate and eliminate Iraq 's weapons of mass destruction.  Third (3), to search for, capture, and to drive out terrorists from the country.  Fourth (4), to collect intelligence related to terrorist networks.  Fifth (5), to collect such intelligence as is related to the global network of illicit weapons of mass destruction. Sixth (6), to end sanctions and to immediately deliver humanitarian support to the displaced and to many needed citizens. Seventh (7), to secure Iraq 's oil fields and resources, which belong to the Iraqi people. Finally (8), to help the Iraqi people create conditions for a transition to a representative self-government.

.....Ports of calls were made only in Pearl Harbor, HI. She returned to her home port in San Diego, California on 1 November 2004.

.....On 5 January, 2005 USS John C. Stennis changed her homeport to Bremerton, Washington.

Retrun to USS John C. Stennis.