 USS Dwight D. Eisenhower with the USS George Washington in the Indian Ocean | |
| Career (United States) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | USS Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Namesake: | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Builder: | Newport News Shipbuilding |
| Cost: | $679 million |
| Laid down: | 15 August 1970 |
| Launched: | 11 October 1975 |
| Sponsored by: | Mamie Doud-Eisenhower[1] |
| Commissioned: | 18 October 1977 |
| Homeport: | NS Norfolk, Virginia |
| Motto: | I Like Ike |
| Nickname: | Mighty Ike |
| Status: | in active service, as of 2012 |
| Badge: |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Nimitz-class aircraft carrier |
| Displacement: | 101,600 long tons (113,800 short tons)[2] |
| Length: | Overall: 1,092 feet (332.8 m) Waterline: 1,040 feet (317.0 m) Overall Length: 1,115 feet (340 m) |
| Beam: | Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m) Waterline: 134 ft (40.8 m) |
| Draught: | Maximum navigational: 37 ft (11.3 m) Limit: 41 ft (12.5 m) |
| Draft: | 37.7 feet (11.3 meters) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors 4 × steam turbines 4 × shafts 260,000 shp (194 MW) |
| Speed: | 30+ knots (56+ km/h; 35+ mph) |
| Range: | Unlimited distance; 20-25 years |
| Complement: | Ship's company: 3,200 Air wing: 2,480 |
| Sensors and processing systems: | 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 |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: | SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures |
| Armament: | 2 × Sea Sparrow 2 × RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile |
| Armor: | Classified |
| Aircraft carried: | 90 fixed wing and helicopters |
Since commissioning, Eisenhower has participated in deployments including Operation Eagle Claw during the Iran hostage crisis in 1980, as well as the Gulf War in the 1990s, and more recently in support of US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Design and construction
Main article: Nimitz class aircraft carrier
On 29 June 1970, Newport News Shipbuilding of Newport News, Virginia was awarded the contract for construction. On 30 June 1975, her designation was changed from CVAN-69 to CVN-69.She was laid down as hull number 599 on 15 August 1970 at Newport News shipyard at a cost of $679 million ($4.5 billion in 2007 dollars), launched 11 October 1975 after christening by Mamie Doud-Eisenhower, and commissioned 18 October 1977, Captain William E. Ramsey in command.[1] Since her commissioning, Eisenhower has had 13 Commanding Officers.
On commissioning, she replaced the aging World War II–era carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt in the fleet.
Service history
Early deployments
Eisenhower was initially assigned to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and after receiving over a year of training, in Spring of 1978 the ship was visited by President Jimmy Carter who hit a golf ball off the flight deck into the Atlantic Ocean. In January 1979 she sailed for her first deployment to the Mediterranean Sea . During this deployment, while off the coast of Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin visited Eisenhower. The carrier returned to Norfolk Naval Station in July of the same year. Under the command of her second Commanding Officer, Captain James H. Mauldin, her second deployment occurred in 1980, when she was dispatched by President Carter to the Indian Ocean, in response to the Iran hostage crisis. She relieved the USS Nimitz 3 days after the Iranian hostage rescue attempt.As a result of the tensions in the area, Eisenhower stayed on station off the coast of Iran for over eight months, and was at sea for a total of 254 days. During that period, sailors and Marines enjoyed two beers (once) after 45 days without a port call. As a result of being at sea for 154 days, they subsequently enjoyed this on two more occasions. After the first six months at sea, Ike had one three-day port visit to Singapore.
She was relieved by the USS Independence. She returned home to Norfolk on 22 December 1980, just in time for her airwing and crew to celebrate Christmas with their families.
For over 20 years, she held the record for the longest peacetime deployment for an aircraft carrier in history. Prior to this, her sister ship, the USS Nimitz, was the previous record holder. Eisenhower's record was broken by another of her "sister ships," the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
On her third deployment in 1982, she returned to the Mediterranean Sea, and spent a number of days at sea once again. Her new Commanding Officer was Captain E.W. Clexton, who was formerly her Executive Officer several years earlier under Captain W.E. Ramsey.
Overhaul and subsequent deployments
After her fifth deployment Eisenhower went into Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock in October 1985 for a major overhaul. The 18-month yard period included the addition of the Close-in Weapons System, NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System, Naval Tactical Data System, anti-submarine warfare module, communications upgrades and rehabilitation of 1,831 berths in 25 compartments. She re-entered the fleet in April 1987.On 29 February 1988, the ship started her sixth deployment to the Mediterranean. While returning to Norfolk, on 29 August 1988, she collided with an anchored Spanish coal ship while entering the harbor to dock at Norfolk Naval Station when wind and currents pushed the carrier off course, although damage was minor to both ships.[3][4]
Eisenhower entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard (Portsmouth, Virginia) in September 1988; she returned to the fleet in April 1989.
1990s
In 1990, Eisenhower completed her seventh Mediterranean deployment. The deployment became a commemorative event in the worldwide 'Dwight D. Eisenhower Centennial,' celebrating the 100th anniversary of the late president's birth. During D-Day anniversary ceremonies off the coast of Normandy, President Eisenhower's son John Eisenhower and D-Day veterans embarked in the ship, while Carrier Air Wing Seven conducted a memorial flyover of the American cemetery at Omaha Beach.Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm
In response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Eisenhower became the first carrier to conduct sustained operations in the Red Sea, and only the second nuclear-powered aircraft carrier ever to transit the Suez Canal. Ike served as a ready striking force in the event Iraq invaded Saudi Arabia, and participated in maritime interception operations in support of a United Nations embargo against Iraq.After completion of an extensive shipyard period and work ups, the carrier deployed 26 September 1991 to the Persian Gulf to continue multi-national operations with coalition forces in support of Operation Desert Storm. Ike returned to Norfolk 2 April 1992, and on 12 January 1993, entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for overhaul and conversion, returning to the fleet 12 November 1993.
Post–Gulf War
One month later, in October 1994, Eisenhower departed for a six-month deployment which included flying missions in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Deny Flight. This deployment marked the first time that women had deployed as crew members of a U.S. Navy combatant. Eisenhower, Carrier Air Wing Three, and the Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Eight staff team included more than 400 women. The integration of women caused some negative headlines for the Navy. During the deployment, 15 women serving aboard had to be reassigned ashore due to pregnancy, earning the ship the nickname The Love Boat.[5] There was also a case of a sailor who filmed himself having sex with a female.[5]
In April 1995, the game show Wheel of Fortune taped two weeks of episodes on the ship's hangar deck.[6]
Eisenhower returned to Newport News Shipbuilding on 17 July 1995 for an 18-month complex overhaul which was completed on 27 January 1997. The ship departed on her 10th deployment on 10 June 1998 and returned in December. In February 1999, she returned to the Norfolk Navy Shipyard for a six-month refitting and returned to the fleet in June. Upon completion in June 1999, she returned to full duty in the fleet.
2000s
Deploying in February 2000 and returning that August on the "Millennium Cruise", for the first time Ike's embarked aircraft dropped ordnance in combat while supporting Operation Southern Watch's No-Fly Zone over Iraq.On 21 May 2001, the ship returned to Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company (NNS&DDC) to begin a 4 year, $2.5 billion refueling and complex overhaul. In addition to replacing the cores in the two nuclear reactors, Eisenhower underwent complex renovations and major technological upgrades during this scheduled half-life overhaul. On 25 January 2005, Ike left NNS&DDC under tow, and returned to Norfolk Naval Station, and the fleet. The modernizations are expected to extend the ship's service life well beyond 2025.
Persian Gulf/Indian Ocean deployment
On 8 January 2007, a US AC-130 gunship based out of Djibouti was dispatched to target Al-Qaeda operatives located in Somalia. Eisenhower "was deployed in the Indian Ocean to provide air cover for the operation and, if needed, to evacuate downed airmen and other casualties."[9] It joined other US and allied vessels from Bahrain-based Combined Task Force 150[10] The US spokesperson did not say what particular ships comprised the cordon, but the task force includes vessels from Canada, France, Germany, Pakistan, the UK and the US. US ships of Combined Task Force 150 include the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Ramage (DDG-61) and the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG-52).[11] The aim of the patrols is to "... stop SICC leaders or foreign militant supporters escaping" Somalia.[12]
In March 2007, following the Iranian seizure of Royal Navy personnel, Eisenhower began battle group exercises off the Iranian coastline. In April 2007, the ship was relieved by the USS Nimitz.[13]
2008–2009
On 21 February 2009, Eisenhower deployed for the Arabian Sea and environs rotating into the forward-deployed forces there. She served as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 8 commanded by Rear Admiral Kurt W. Tidd. Also embarked were Carrier Air Wing 7 and the staff of Commander, Destroyer Squadron 28. Other ships of Strike Group 8 were USS Bainbridge (DDG-96), USS Halyburton (FFG-40), USS Scranton (SSN-756), USS Vicksburg (CG-69), and USS Gettysburg (CG-64). In addition to supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, the strike group conducted maritime security operations including anti-piracy operations. On 16 May, Eisenhower became the first Nimitz-class carrier to dock pierside in Manama, Bahrain. The last carrier to moor pierside in Bahrain was USS Rendova (CVE-114) in 1948. On 30 July 2009, the Eisenhower returned to Naval Station Norfolk after almost a six month deployment.[15]
2010–2011
The ship was placed in a planned incremental availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard through June 2011. During that time, the ship's executive officer, Captain Robert Gamberg, was relieved and removed after an investigation concluded that he had engaged in an "improper relationship".[18][19][20]
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