tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74583431719416970722024-03-12T18:17:40.738-07:00Global Military EquipmentMoch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-15961604515593497342012-01-22T02:31:00.000-08:002012-01-22T02:31:14.689-08:00PP-19 Bizon (Gun)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading"><br />
</h1><div id="siteSub"><br />
</div><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr class="hproduct"> <th class="fn" colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">PP-19 Bizon</th> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PP-19_Bizon_right_view.jpg"><img alt="PP-19 Bizon right view.jpg" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/PP-19_Bizon_right_view.jpg/300px-PP-19_Bizon_right_view.jpg" width="300" /></a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Type</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submachine_gun" title="Submachine gun">Submachine gun</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Place of origin</th> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f3/Flag_of_Russia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Russia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia" title="Russia">Russia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Service history</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">In service</th> <td>1996–present</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Used by</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Security_Service_%28Russia%29" title="Federal Security Service (Russia)">FSB</a>, Ministry of Justice</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Wars</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Dagestan_%281999%29" title="Invasion of Dagestan (1999)">Dagestan conflict</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Chechen_War" title="Second Chechen War">Second Chechen War</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_South_Ossetia_war" title="2008 South Ossetia war">2008 South Ossetia war</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Production history</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Designer</th> <td>Viktor Kalashnikov, Alexi Dragunov</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Designed</th> <td>1993–1995</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Manufacturer</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izhmash" title="Izhmash">Izhmash</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Variants</th> <td>See <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#Variants" title="PP-19 Bizon">Variants</a></i></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Specifications</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Weight</th> <td>2.1 kg (4.63 lb)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Length</th> <td>660 mm (26.0 in) stock extended / 425 mm (16.7 in) stock folded (Bizon)<br />
690 mm (27.2 in) stock extended / 460 mm (18.1 in) stock folded (Bizon-2)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_barrel" title="Gun barrel">Barrel</a> length</th> <td>195 mm (7.7 in) (Bizon)<br />
230 mm (9.1 in) (Bizon-2 9x18mm Makarov)<br />
225 mm (8.9 in) (Bizon-2-01 9x19mm Parabellum)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2"> <hr /></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartridge_%28firearms%29" title="Cartridge (firearms)">Cartridge</a></th> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x18mm_Makarov" title="9x18mm Makarov">9x18mm Makarov</a><br />
<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x19mm_Parabellum" title="9x19mm Parabellum">9x19mm Parabellum</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.380_ACP" title=".380 ACP">.380 ACP (9x17mm Short)</a><br />
<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62x25mm_Tokarev" title="7.62x25mm Tokarev">7.62x25mm Tokarev</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_action" title="Firearm action">Action</a></th> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowback_%28arms%29" title="Blowback (arms)">Blowback</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_bolt" title="Closed bolt">closed bolt</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rate_of_fire" title="Rate of fire">Rate of fire</a></th> <td>650–700 rounds/min</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_velocity" title="Muzzle velocity">Muzzle velocity</a></th> <td>320 m/s (1,050 ft/s) (9x18mm Makarov)<br />
380 m/s (1,246.7 ft/s) (9x19mm Parabellum)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Effective range</th> <td>100 m (9x18mm Makarov)<br />
200 m (9x19mm Parabellum)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Feed system</th> <td>64-round helical <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_%28firearms%29" title="Magazine (firearms)">magazine</a> (9x18mm Makarov)<br />
53-round helical magazine (9x19mm Parabellum) (Bizon-2-01)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Sights</th> <td>Hooded front post, rear flip-up notc</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>The <b>PP-19 Bizon</b> ("<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bison" title="Bison">Bison</a>") is a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x18mm_Makarov" title="9x18mm Makarov">9mm</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submachine_gun" title="Submachine gun">submachine gun</a> developed in the early 1990s at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izhmash" title="Izhmash">Izhmash</a> by a team of engineers headed by Victor Kalashnikov (son of famed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-47" title="AK-47">AK-47</a> designer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Kalashnikov" title="Mikhail Kalashnikov">Mikhail Kalashnikov</a>).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Miller_0-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Miller-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_1-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup> Alexi Dragunov, youngest son of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evgeny_Dragunov" title="Evgeny Dragunov">Evgeny Dragunov</a> (responsible for the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SVD_%28rifle%29" title="SVD (rifle)">SVD</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sniper_rifle" title="Sniper rifle">sniper rifle</a>), was also a member of the design team.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_1-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Cutshaw_2-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Cutshaw-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The Bizon was developed at the request of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Internal_Affairs_%28Russia%29" title="Ministry of Internal Affairs (Russia)">Ministry of Internal Affairs</a> (MVD)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Cutshaw_2-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Cutshaw-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup> and is primarily intended for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-terrorism" title="Counter-terrorism">counter-terrorist</a> and law enforcement units that usually need fast and accurate fire at <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_Quarters_Battle" title="Close Quarters Battle">close ranges</a>. Prototypes were trialled by the Special Equipment Research Institute in 1995 where they outperformed several competitors, and the weapon was accepted into service on December 28, 1996. The Bizon is issued to armed response units of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Security_Service_%28Russia%29" title="Federal Security Service (Russia)">Federal Security Service</a> (FSB) and Ministry of Justice. It was used in combat operations against separatists in the volatile <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Caucasus" title="North Caucasus">North Caucasus</a> region, namely <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chechnya" title="Chechnya">Chechnya</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagestan" title="Dagestan">Dagestan</a>.<br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Design_details">Design details</span></h2>The Bizon is a lightweight <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_fire" title="Selective fire">selective fire</a> weapon that fires from a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_bolt" title="Closed bolt">closed bolt</a>, a trait that enhances the gun's accuracy.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_1-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup> It is based on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-74#Variants" title="AK-74">AKS-74</a> and features a 60% part commonality with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_rifle" title="Assault rifle">assault rifle</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Miller_0-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Miller-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_1-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Cutshaw_2-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Cutshaw-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gmag_3-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-gmag-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup> Chambered for the standard Russian 9x18mm Makarov <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pistol" title="Pistol">pistol</a> cartridge, the gun will also fire a new high-impulse armor-piercing 57-N-181SM round.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Operating_mechanism">Operating mechanism</span></h3>The Bizon uses a simple <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowback_%28arms%29" title="Blowback (arms)">straight blowback</a> method of operation, an unlocked breech system reduces cost and build complexity.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_1-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup> The Bizon's operating cycle is characterized by a very short recoil stroke, standard <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x18mm_Makarov" title="9x18mm Makarov">9x18mm</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammunition" title="Ammunition">ammunition</a> will only drive the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolt_%28firearm%29" title="Bolt (firearm)">bolt</a> partially to the rear of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Receiver_%28firearms%29" title="Receiver (firearms)">receiver</a> and produces a cyclic rate of 700 rounds/min.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_176_4-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis_176-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup> High-impulse ammunition forces the bolt to travel all the way to the end of the receiver, barely striking the receiver wall. A rate of fire of 650–680 rounds/min is the result. This has the effect of reducing perceived recoil and increasing controllability and hit probability.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_176_4-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis_176-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Features">Features</span></h3>The Bizon has no gas system and the internal components have been modified accordingly. The bolt carrier with integral charging handle was recycled from the AK, however the piston rod and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotating_bolt" title="Rotating bolt">rotary bolt</a> were removed and the piston extension was plugged with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel" title="Steel">steel</a> insert.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_176_4-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis_176-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup> The return spring and guide rod are identical to those of the AK.<br />
The Bizon has a four-groove barrel with a 240 mm (1:9 in) right-hand <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifling" title="Rifling">rifling</a> pitch.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_176_4-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis_176-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup> The gun's <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_%28firearm%29" title="Muzzle (firearm)">muzzle device</a> has a large rectangular port on each side of dead center that serves to reduce muzzle jump, however the main purpose of this device is to protect the muzzle and magazine from damage.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_176_4-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis_176-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The pinned and riveted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheet_metal" title="Sheet metal">sheet metal</a> receiver of the Bizon is derived from the AKS-74 and has been modified at the front end, since the gas system was omitted.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_175_5-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis_175-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> The handguard is a sheet metal stamping with three rectangular ventilation slots on each side. The magazine serves as the lower handguard and the current models of the magazine are ribbed to enhance grip. The Bizon also shares the same <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigger_%28firearms%29" title="Trigger (firearms)">trigger</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_%28firearms%29" title="Safety (firearms)">safety</a> mechanisms of the AK-74 rifle.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Cutshaw_2-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Cutshaw-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_175_5-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis_175-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> The selector lever is placed on the right side of the receiver, above the trigger, and has three settings: the uppermost "safe" setting disables the trigger and in this position the lever physically blocks the bolt's integral retracting handle; the middle position (marked "АВ") enables fully automatic fire and the lowest position ("ОД") will activate the semi-automatic function of the trigger.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_175_5-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis_175-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> An original five-piece anti-bounce device is built into the trigger unit and this functions as a rate reducer, delaying firing until the bolt has settled entirely into battery.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_176_4-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis_176-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The Bizon also utilizes the AKS-74 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_%28firearm%29" title="Stock (firearm)">shoulder stock</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_176_4-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis_176-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup> It folds to the left side of the receiver but unlike the AKS-74 and AKS-74U, it is not held closed by a spring-loaded capture in the forward end of the receiver. Instead, it is held closed by the forward trunnion pin which is longer on the Bizon than on its AKS-74 predecessors. The extended length of the pin allows it to catch the folding skeleton stock. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pistol_grip" title="Pistol grip">pistol grip</a> is identical to the grip on the AK-100 series and is made of a black <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiberglass" title="Fiberglass">fiberglass</a>-reinforced polyamide.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_176_4-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis_176-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Feeding">Feeding</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PP-19_Bizon_with_detached_magazine_.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="147" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/PP-19_Bizon_with_detached_magazine_.jpg/220px-PP-19_Bizon_with_detached_magazine_.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PP-19_Bizon_with_detached_magazine_.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>9mm submachine gun PP-19 Bizon with detached magazine</div></div></div>One of the Bizon's more unusual features is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_%28firearms%29" title="Magazine (firearms)">magazine</a>, which is often confused for a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grenade_launcher" title="Grenade launcher">grenade launcher</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_1-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup> The cylinder below the barrel is in fact a 64-round <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helical_magazine" title="Helical magazine">helical-feed magazine</a>, similar to the type used in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">American</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calico_Light_Weapons_Systems" title="Calico Light Weapons Systems">Calico</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calico_M960" title="Calico M960">M960</a> submachine gun.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_1-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup> The magazine is made from a durable glass-reinforced <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyamide" title="Polyamide">polyamide</a> and mounts under the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handguard" title="Handguard">handguard</a> in line with the barrel. This layout makes the weapon more compact and concealable. All cartridges are aligned nose forward in the Bizon magazine and cannot be loaded incorrectly.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_1-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Cutshaw_2-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Cutshaw-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup> Early magazines were fabricated from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium" title="Aluminium">aluminium</a> tubing and had a capacity of 67 rounds.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_1-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup> The production magazine capacity of 64 was selected as 64 is a multiple of 16, and 9x18mm Makarov rounds are packaged in boxes of 16.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_1-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup> The magazine has hooks on top of the front end that engage a pair of pins under the front sight, and the rear end of the magazine interfaces with a Kalashnikov pattern spring-loaded paddle type magazine catch/release located in front of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigger_guard" title="Trigger guard">trigger guard</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_174_6-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis_174-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup> Some magazines were produced with indicator holes allowing the user to verify the amount of ammunition loaded; these are spaced at 4, 24, 44 and 64-round increments.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Cutshaw_2-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Cutshaw-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Sights">Sights</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PP-19_Bizon_front_view_of_the_magazine.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="147" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/PP-19_Bizon_front_view_of_the_magazine.jpg/220px-PP-19_Bizon_front_view_of_the_magazine.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PP-19_Bizon_front_view_of_the_magazine.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Front view of 9mm submachine gun PP-19 Bizon</div></div></div>The sighting arrangement resembles that used on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-74#Variants" title="AK-74">AKS-74U</a> and consists of a rear flip-up sight permanently attached to the receiver top cover with two open square notches with 50 and 100 m elevation settings and a round post front sight taken from the AK series of rifles, common to many Russian small arms. The front sight is contained in a protective hood with a hole in the top to insert an elevation adjustment tool, while the rear sight is shielded by two metal ears.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kokalis_176_4-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Kokalis_176-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Accessories">Accessories</span></h3>The gun is issued with one magazine, a sling, cleaning kit, oil can and magazine pouch.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Variants">Variants</span></h2>The original Bizon was retroactively designated <b>Bizon-1</b> after the design was improved with the introduction of the Bizon-2.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Cutshaw_2-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Cutshaw-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Bizon-2">Bizon-2</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PP-19_Bizon_left_view.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="147" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/PP-19_Bizon_left_view.jpg/220px-PP-19_Bizon_left_view.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PP-19_Bizon_left_view.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>9mm submachine gun PP-19 Bizon left side view with folded buttstock</div></div></div>The Bizon has been continuously modified over its production life and the current model is the <i>Bizon-2</i>, which has AK-style <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_sight" title="Iron sight">iron sights</a> (an open U-notch rear sight on a tangent with three settings: 50, 100 and 150 m and a semi-shrouded front post), a receiver-mounted side rail adapter for optics and a new slotted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_suppressor" title="Flash suppressor">flash hider</a> designed to accept a quick-detachable <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suppressor" title="Suppressor">sound suppressor</a>. The Bizon-2 is made in several variants to increase the product's commercial appeal and demonstrate its versatility; it is offered in 8 different configurations:<br />
<ul><li><b>Bizon-2-01</b>: Chambered for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO" title="NATO">NATO</a>-standard <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x19mm_Parabellum" title="9x19mm Parabellum">9x19mm Parabellum</a> cartridge using a modified magazine with a 53-round capacity.</li>
<li><b>Bizon-2-02</b>: Chambered in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.380_ACP" title=".380 ACP">.380 ACP (9x17mm Short)</a> pistol round (64-round magazine capacity).</li>
<li><b>Bizon-2-03</b>: 9x18mm Makarov variant with an integral sound suppressor.</li>
<li><b>Bizon-2-04</b>: 9x18mm Makarov <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-automatic_firearm" title="Semi-automatic firearm">semi-automatic</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbine" title="Carbine">carbine</a> model.</li>
<li><b>Bizon-2-05</b>: 9x19mm Parabellum semi-automatic only model.</li>
<li><b>Bizon-2-06</b>: Semi-automatic only carbine version in .380 ACP (9x17mm Short).</li>
<li><b>Bizon-2-07</b>: Select-fire model chambered in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62x25mm_Tokarev" title="7.62x25mm Tokarev">7.62x25mm Tokarev</a>. This model dispenses with the Bizon's helical magazine and uses a conventional staggered-column 35-round steel magazine.</li>
</ul><h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Bizon-3">Bizon-3</span></h3>A variant known as the <b>Bizon-3</b> was also developed, and features a flip-up rear peep sight moved further to the rear on the receiver cover and a stock that folds up and over the receiver to lock into a spring-loaded latch on the receiver top cover. The weapon's barrel has an adapter for several types of muzzle devices. These are selected by the operator depending on the weapon's tactical employment and include sound suppressors, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_brake" title="Muzzle brake">muzzle brakes</a>, compensators and flash hiders.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP-19_Bizon#cite_note-Cutshaw_93-7"><span></span></a>Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-67934419730975094542012-01-22T00:55:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:55:01.788-08:00Tupolev Tu-160 (Bomber)<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <br />
</h3><div class="postmeta-primary"> <span class="meta_date"></span><span class="meta_comments"><br />
</span> </div>The <b>Tupolev Tu-160</b> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language" title="Russian language">Russian</a>: <span lang="ru">Туполев Ту-160</span>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_reporting_name" title="NATO reporting name">NATO reporting name</a>: <b>Blackjack</b>) is a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersonic" title="Supersonic">supersonic</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swing-wing" title="Swing-wing">variable-sweep wing</a> heavy <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_bomber" title="Strategic bomber">strategic bomber</a> designed by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev" title="Tupolev">Tupolev Design Bureau</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union">Soviet Union</a>. Although several civil and military transport aircraft are larger in overall dimensions, the Tu-160 is currently the world's largest <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_aircraft" title="Combat aircraft">combat aircraft</a>, largest <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersonic_aircraft" title="Supersonic aircraft">supersonic aircraft</a>, and largest variable-sweep aircraft built. In addition, the Tu-160 has the heaviest takeoff weight of any combat aircraft.<br />
Entering service in 1987, the Tu-160 was the last <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_bomber" title="Strategic bomber">strategic bomber</a> designed for the Soviet Union. The aircraft remains in limited production, with at least 16 aircraft currently in service with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Air_Force" title="Russian Air Force">Russian Air Force</a>. <br />
<br />
<table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="font-size: large; padding-bottom: 0.3em; text-align: center;">Tu-160</th> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><div style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170);"><div class="center"><div class="floatnone"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tu-160_at_MAKS_2007.jpg"><img alt="" height="201" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Tu-160_at_MAKS_2007.jpg/300px-Tu-160_at_MAKS_2007.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); text-align: center;">Tupolev Tu-160</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Role</th> <td>Supersonic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_bomber" title="Strategic bomber">strategic bomber</a> and missile carrier</td> </tr>
<tr> <th><span style="white-space: nowrap;">National origin</span></th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union">Soviet Union</a>, now <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia" title="Russia">Russia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Design group</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev" title="Tupolev">Tupolev</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Built by</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazan_Aircraft_Production_Association" title="Kazan Aircraft Production Association">Kazan Aircraft Production Association</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th>First flight</th> <td>18 December 1981</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Introduction</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_in_aviation" title="1987 in aviation">1987</a> low rate initial production (LRIP); <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_in_aviation" title="2005 in aviation">2005</a> official</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Status</th> <td>In production</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Primary user</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Air_Force" title="Russian Air Force">Russian Air Force</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Number built</span></th> <td>35</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Development">Development</span></span></b><br />
The first competition for a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersonic" title="Supersonic">supersonic</a> strategic heavy bomber was launched in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union">Soviet Union</a> in 1967. The new bomber was to have a cruise speed of over <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mach_number" title="Mach number">Mach</a> 3, in response to the American <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XB-70_Valkyrie" title="XB-70 Valkyrie">B-70 Valkyrie</a>. It soon became apparent that such an aircraft would be too expensive and difficult to produce, so it was decided to reduce demands (in the US, the B-70 bomber project had already been cancelled).<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from June 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup><br />
In 1972, the Soviet Union launched a new multi-mission bomber competition to create a new supersonic, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swing-wing" title="Swing-wing">variable-geometry</a> ("swing-wing") heavy bomber with a maximum speed of Mach 2.3, in direct response to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force" title="United States Air Force">US Air Force</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockwell_B-1_Lancer" title="Rockwell B-1 Lancer">B-1</a> bomber project. The Tupolev design, dubbed <i>Aircraft 160M</i>, with a lengthened <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_wing" title="Flying wing">flying wing</a> layout and incorporating some elements of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-144" title="Tupolev Tu-144">Tu-144</a>, competed against the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myasishchev_M-18" title="Myasishchev M-18">Myasishchev M-18</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_T-4" title="Sukhoi T-4">Sukhoi T-4</a> designs.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myasishchev" title="Myasishchev">Myasishchev</a>'s version, a variable-geometry aircraft, was considered to be the most successful. However, the Tupolev organization was regarded as having the greatest potential for completing this complex project and was assigned in 1973 the development of a new aircraft based on the Myasishchev design.<br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kremlin_Tupolev_Tu-160.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="147" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Kremlin_Tupolev_Tu-160.jpg/220px-Kremlin_Tupolev_Tu-160.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kremlin_Tupolev_Tu-160.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Tu-160 in flight.</div></div></div>Work on the new Soviet bomber continued despite an end to the B-1A, and in the same year, the design was accepted by the government committee. The prototype was photographed by an airline passenger at a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhukovsky_Airfield" title="Zhukovsky Airfield">Zhukovsky Airfield</a> in November 1981, about a month before the aircraft's first flight on 18 December 1981. Production was authorized in 1984, beginning at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazan_Aircraft_Production_Association" title="Kazan Aircraft Production Association">Kazan Aircraft Production Association</a>. Production of the aircraft, designated <b>Tu-160</b> (factory designation "aircraft K" or "product 70"), was originally intended to total 100 aircraft, although only 35 have been produced, including three prototypes. The second prototype was lost in flight testing in 1987, the crew ejecting successfully.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Modernisation">Modernisation</span></h3>In 2006, the Russian Air Force was expected to receive five modernised and one new-built Tu-160.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-1">[2]</a></sup> The Russian Air Force will receive a further five modernized Tu-160s each year, which means that modernization of the fleet could be achieved within three years if the schedule is kept up.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-U1_2-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-U1-2">[3]</a></sup><br />
Changes announced include completely digital, multireserved, neutron and other nuclear emissions resistant <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avionics" title="Avionics">avionics</a>; full support of cruising and steering through <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLONASS" title="GLONASS">GLONASS</a> <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Global_satellite_positioning_system&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Global satellite positioning system (page does not exist)">global satellite positioning system</a>; and updated version of NK-32 engines with increased reliability.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-U1_2-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-U1-2">[3]</a></sup> Weapon upgrades will allow the use of new nuclear/non-nuclear GLONASS-navigated cruise missiles (<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kh-55" title="Kh-55">Kh-55</a>),<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-U2_3-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-U2-3">[4]</a></sup> and drop laser-guided bombs.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-4">[5]</a></sup> Planned upgrades are also to add the ability to handle missiles that launch military or civil satellites;<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-5">[6]</a></sup> and addition of advanced radar emissions absorbing coatings.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-6">[7]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Design">Design</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DD-ST-89-11765.JPEG"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="148" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/DD-ST-89-11765.JPEG/220px-DD-ST-89-11765.JPEG" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DD-ST-89-11765.JPEG" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Soviet officers in front of a Tu-160 in September 1989.</div></div></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vladimir_Putin_Cockpit_TU-160_Bomber.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="147" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Vladimir_Putin_Cockpit_TU-160_Bomber.jpg/220px-Vladimir_Putin_Cockpit_TU-160_Bomber.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vladimir_Putin_Cockpit_TU-160_Bomber.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin" title="Vladimir Putin">Vladimir Putin</a> inside the cabin of a Tupolev Tu-160 in August 2005.</div></div></div>The Tu-160 is a variable-geometry wing aircraft, with sweep selectable from 20° to 65°. The aircraft employs a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly-by-wire" title="Fly-by-wire">fly-by-wire</a> control system with a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blended_wing" title="Blended wing">blended wing</a> profile and full-span <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leading_edge_slats" title="Leading edge slats">slats</a> are used on the leading edges, with double-slotted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flap_%28aircraft%29" title="Flap (aircraft)">flaps</a> on the trailing edges. The variable geometry gives conventional takeoff, and efficient subsonic cruise, while also permitting Mach 2 flight.<br />
The Tu-160 is powered by four <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuznetsov_NK-321" title="Kuznetsov NK-321">Kuznetsov NK-321</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afterburner_%28engine%29" title="Afterburner (engine)">afterburning</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbofan" title="Turbofan">turbofan</a> engines, the most powerful ever fitted to a combat aircraft. Unlike the American <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockwell_B-1_Lancer" title="Rockwell B-1 Lancer">B-1B Lancer</a>, which reduced the original Mach 2+ requirement for the B-1A to achieve a smaller radar profile, the Tu-160 retains variable intakes, and is capable of reaching Mach 2 speed at altitude. The NK-321 turbofans are efficient for subsonic cruise, but suboptimal for supersonic flight due to inlet drag.<br />
The Tu-160 is equipped with a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probe_and_drogue" title="Probe and drogue">probe-and-drogue</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-flight_refueling" title="In-flight refueling">in-flight refueling</a> system for extended-range missions, although it is rarely used. The Tu-160's internal fuel capacity of 130 tons gives the aircraft a roughly 15-hour flight endurance at a cruise speed of around 850 km/h (Mach 0.77, 530 mph) at 9,145 m (30,003 ft).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-7">[8]</a></sup> In February 2008, Tu-160 bombers and Il-78 refueling tankers practiced air refueling during air combat exercise, as well as Mig-31, A50 and other Russian combat aircrafts.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-8">[9]</a></sup><br />
Although the Tu-160 was designed for reduced detectability to both <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar" title="Radar">radar</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared" title="Infrared">infrared</a>, it is not a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stealth_aircraft" title="Stealth aircraft">stealth aircraft</a>. Nevertheless, on 25 April 2006 Lt. Gen. Igor Khvorov claimed that Tu-160s managed to penetrate the US sector of the Arctic undetected, leading to a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USAF" title="USAF">USAF</a> investigation according to a Russian source.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-9">[10]</a></sup><br />
The Tu-160 has an <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Obzor-K&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Obzor-K (page does not exist)">Obzor-K</a> attack radar in a slightly upturned <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dielectric" title="Dielectric">dielectric</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radome" title="Radome">radome</a>, and a separate "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sopka" title="Sopka">Sopka</a>" <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrain-following_radar" title="Terrain-following radar">terrain-following radar</a>, which provides fully automatic terrain-following flight at low altitude. The Tu-160 has an electro-optical <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombsight" title="Bombsight">bombsight</a>. Its electronic warfare suite includes comprehensive active and passive <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_countermeasures" title="Electronic countermeasures">ECM</a> systems.<br />
The Tu-160 has a crew of four (pilot, co-pilot, weapons systems officer and defensive systems operator) in <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=K-36DM_ejection_seat&action=edit&redlink=1" title="K-36DM ejection seat (page does not exist)">K-36DM</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ejection_seat" title="Ejection seat">ejection seats</a>. The pilot has a fighter-style <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_stick" title="Control stick">control stick</a>, but the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_instruments" title="Flight instruments">flight instruments</a> are traditional "steam gauge" dials. A crew rest area, a toilet, and a galley are provided for long flights. There is no <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head-Up_Display" title="Head-Up Display">HUD</a>, nor are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathode_ray_tube" title="Cathode ray tube">CRT</a> multi-function displays provided in the original aircraft; however, plans for modernization of all Tu-160s were announced in 2003. They include a new digital flight control system, and the ability to carry new weapon types, such as new non-nuclear long-range cruise missiles.<br />
Weapons are carried in two internal bays, each capable of holding 20,000 kg (44,400 lb) of free-fall weapons or a rotary launcher for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapon" title="Nuclear weapon">nuclear</a> missiles; additional missiles may also be carried externally. The aircraft's total weapons load capacity is 40,000 kg (88,185 lb).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-JAWA03_p425-6_10-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-JAWA03_p425-6-10">[11]</a></sup> However, no defensive weapons are provided; the Tu-160 is the first unarmed post-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a> Soviet bomber.<br />
A demilitarized, commercial version of the Tu-160, named <b>Tu-160SK</b>, was displayed at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Aerospace" title="Asian Aerospace">Asian Aerospace</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore" title="Singapore">Singapore</a> in 1994 with a model of a small space vehicle named <a class="external text" href="http://www.aerospaceguide.net/burlak.html" rel="nofollow">Burlak</a> attached underneath the fuselage. In 1995 Tupolev announced a partnership with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany" title="Germany">German</a> firm <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OHB-System" title="OHB-System">OHB-System</a> to produce the aircraft as a carrier for the launch vehicle; the German government subsequently withdrew funding in 1998.<br />
While similar in appearance to the American B-1 Lancer, the Tu-160 is an entirely different class of combat aircraft, its primary role being a standoff missile platform (strategic missile carrier). The Tu-160 is also larger and faster than the B-1B and has a slightly greater combat range, though the B-1B has a larger combined payload and more modern avionics.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-11">[12]</a></sup> Another significant difference is that the colour scheme on the B-1B Lancer is usually radar-absorbant Black, the Tu-160 is painted with anti-flash white, giving it the nick-name among Russian Airforce soldiers "White Swan".<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Operational_history">Operational history</span></h2>The Tu-160 began service with the 184 Guards Bomber Regiment, based at Priluki, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union">Soviet Union</a>, in 1987.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Deployment">Deployment</span></h3>Squadron deployments to Long Range Aviation began in April 1987 before the Tu-160 was first presented to the public in a parade in 1989. In 1989 and 1990 it set 44 world speed flight records in its weight class. Until 1991, 19 aircraft served in the 184th Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pryluky_%28air_base%29" title="Pryluky (air base)">Pryluky</a> in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_SSR" title="Ukrainian SSR">Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic</a>, replacing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-16" title="Tupolev Tu-16">Tu-16</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-22M" title="Tupolev Tu-22M">Tu-22M3</a> aircraft. In January 1992, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Yeltsin" title="Boris Yeltsin">Boris Yeltsin</a> decided to discontinue production of the Tu-160. By this time, 35 aircraft had been built. In the same year, Russia unilaterally suspended its flights of strategic aviation in remote regions. After the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_of_the_Soviet_Union" title="Fall of the Soviet Union">fall of the Soviet Union</a>, 19 of 35 aircraft became property of the newly-independent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine" title="Ukraine">Ukraine</a>, although in 1999 a deal between Russia and the Ukraine led to eight of those aircraft being turned over to Russia in exchange for a reduction in Ukraine's energy debts. Ukraine, which gave up nuclear weapons under the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunn%E2%80%93Lugar_Cooperative_Threat_Reduction" title="Nunn–Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction">Nunn–Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction</a> Agreement, destroyed its other Blackjacks, except for one airframe retained for static display.<br />
Russia's second Tu-160 unit, the 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment based in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engels,_Russia" title="Engels, Russia">Engels</a>, was organised in 1992, but by 1994 it had received only six aircraft. Between 1999 and 2000 the eight former Ukrainian aircraft were assigned to the regiment, and another newly-built aircraft was assigned in 2000. By early 2001, in accordance with the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/START-2" title="START-2">START-2</a> Treaty, Russia has had 15 new-built Tu-160s, of which six were formerly missile-armed strategic bombers. One aircraft was lost during a test flight after engine repairs, on 18 September 2003.<br />
There were 14 Tu-160s in service as of November 2005. Another two new-built aircraft are nearing completion at the Kazan Aircraft Plant, one of which was due to enter service in March 2006, with the other following later in the year. As of 2001, six additional Tu-160 have served as experimental aircraft at Zhukovski, four remaining airworthy.<br />
On 30 December 2005, under an order signed by Russian President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin" title="Vladimir Putin">Vladimir Putin</a>, the Tu-160 officially entered service in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Air_Force" title="Russian Air Force">Russian Air Force</a>.<br />
On 17 August 2007 Putin announced that Russia was resuming the strategic aviation flights stopped in 1991, sending its bomber aircraft on long-range patrols.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-12">[13]</a></sup> On 14 September 2007, British and Norwegian fighters intercepted two Tu-160s which breached NATO airspace near the UK and Finland.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-13">[14]</a></sup> On 25 December 2007, two Blackjacks came close to Danish airspace, and two Danish Air Force <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynamics_F-16_Fighting_Falcon" title="General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon">F-16 Fighting Falcons</a> scrambled to intercept and identify them.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-14">[15]</a></sup><br />
According to Russian government sources, on 11 September 2007, a Tu-160 was used to drop the massive fuel-air explosive device, the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_of_all_bombs" title="Father of all bombs">Father of all bombs</a>, for its first ever <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_fire_exercise" title="Live fire exercise">field test</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-15">[16]</a></sup> However, some military analysts expressed skepticism that the weapon was actually delivered by a Blackjack.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-16">[17]</a></sup><br />
On 28 December 2007, the first flight of a new Tu-160 was reported to have taken place following completion of the aircraft at the Kazan Aviation Plant.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-17">[18]</a></sup> After flight testing, the bomber joined the Russian Air Force on 29 April 2008, bringing the total number of aircraft in service to 16. One new Tu-160 is expected to be built every one to two years until the active inventory reaches 30 or more aircraft by 2025–30.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-18">[19]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-19">[20]</a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%AD%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81_%D0%A2%D1%83-160_02_%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE_3.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="56" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/%D0%AD%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81_%D0%A2%D1%83-160_02_%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE_3.jpg/220px-%D0%AD%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81_%D0%A2%D1%83-160_02_%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE_3.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%AD%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81_%D0%A2%D1%83-160_02_%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE_3.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>TU-160, No. 02 "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasily_Reshetnikov" title="Vasily Reshetnikov">Vasily Reshetnikov</a>" at the Engels airbase.</div></div></div>On 10 September 2008 two Russian Tu-160 landed in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuela" title="Venezuela">Venezuela</a> as part of military maneuvers, announcing an unprecedented deployment to Russia's ally at a time of increasingly tense relations between Russia and the United States. The <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Ministry_of_Defence" title="Russian Ministry of Defence">Russian Ministry of Defence</a> said the two Tu-160 bombers were on a training mission. It said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies that the aircraft would conduct training flights over neutral waters before returning to Russia. Its spokesman added that the aircraft were escorted by NATO fighters as they flew across the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Ocean" title="Atlantic Ocean">Atlantic Ocean</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-20">[21]</a></sup><br />
On 12 October 2008 a number of Tu-160 bombers were involved in the largest Russian strategic bomber exercise since 1984. A total of 12 bombers including Tu-160 Blackjack and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu-95_Bear" title="Tu-95 Bear">Tu-95 Bear</a> conducted a series of launches of their cruise missiles. Some bombers launched a full complement of their missiles. It was the first time that a Tu-160 had ever fired a full complement of missiles.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-21">[22]</a></sup><br />
Pilots of the Tu-160 call it the “White Swan”, due to its maneuverability and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-flash_white" title="Anti-flash white">anti-flash white</a> finish.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-22">[23]</a></sup><br />
On 10 June 2010, two Tu-160 bombers carried out a record-breaking 23-hour patrol with a planned flight range of 18,000 kilometers. The bombers flew along the Russian borders and over neutral waters in the Arctic and Pacific Oceans.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-23">[24]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Trainer_aircraft">Trainer aircraft</span></h3>No dedicated Tu-160 trainer version has yet appeared. Initially, pilot training was conducted using Tu-22M <i>Backfire</i> bombers, but these were soon replaced with a highly modified variant of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-134" title="Tupolev Tu-134">Tupolev Tu-134</a> airliner. Designated the Tu-134UBL, this unusual aircraft has had the nose and cockpit section of a Tu-160 grafted onto the aircraft's nose, giving students an unobstructed view from the simulated Tu-160 cockpit. In this arrangement the Tu-134UBL is reported to have flying characteristics similar to the Tu-160.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from November 2010">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Variants">Variants</span></h2><ul><li><b>Tu-160</b>: Production version.</li>
</ul>Several variants have been proposed, but not built, including:<br />
<ul><li><b>Tu-160S</b>: designation used for <i>serial</i> Tu-160s when needed to separate them from all the pre-production and experimental aircraft.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-A.26C_24-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-A.26C-24">[25]</a></sup></li>
<li><b>Tu-160V</b>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_hydrogen" title="Liquid hydrogen">liquid hydrogen</a> fueled version (see also <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-155" title="Tupolev Tu-155">Tu-155</a>).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-A.26C_24-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-A.26C-24">[25]</a></sup></li>
<li><b>Tu-160 NK-74</b>: upgraded (extended range) version with NK-74 engines.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-A.26C_24-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-A.26C-24">[25]</a></sup></li>
<li><b>Tu-160M</b>: a stretched bomber carrying two long-range, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypersonic" title="Hypersonic">hypersonic</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kh-90" title="Kh-90">Kh-90</a> (3M25 Meteorit-A) missiles.</li>
<li><b>Tu-160P</b> (Tu-161): a very long-range escort fighter/interceptor.</li>
<li><b>Tu-160PP</b>: an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_warfare" title="Electronic warfare">electronic warfare</a> aircraft carrying stand-off jamming and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_countermeasures" title="Electronic countermeasures">ECM</a> gear (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language" title="Russian language">Russian</a>: <span lang="ru">ПП - <b>п</b>остановщик <b>п</b>омех</span>).</li>
<li><b>Tu-160R</b>: a strategic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconnaissance" title="Reconnaissance">reconnaissance</a> platform.</li>
<li><b>Tu-160SK</b>: commercial version, designed to launch satellites within the "Burlak" (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language" title="Russian language">Russian</a>: <span lang="ru">Бурлак</span>, "hauler") system.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-A.26C_24-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-A.26C-24">[25]</a></sup></li>
<li><b>Tu-170</b>: a conventional bomber (conceived in order to avoid <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SALT-2" title="SALT-2">SALT-2</a> limits).</li>
</ul><h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Operators">Operators</span></h2><h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Current">Current</span></h3><dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f3/Flag_of_Russia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Russia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia" title="Russia">Russia</a></dt>
</dl><ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Air_Force" title="Russian Air Force">Russian Air Force</a>: As of April 2008, 16 were in service, with the 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment at Engels/Saratov.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-25">[26]</a></sup></li>
</ul><h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tupolev_Tu-160&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Former">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Former">Former</span></h3><dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Flag_of_Ukraine.svg/22px-Flag_of_Ukraine.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine" title="Ukraine">Ukraine</a></dt>
</dl><ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Air_Force" title="Ukrainian Air Force">Ukrainian Air Force</a> inherited 19 Tu-160s from the former Soviet Union, but subsequently handed over eight Tu-160s to Russia as exchange for debt relief in 1999; the remainder have been withdrawn from service.</li>
</ul><dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union">Soviet Union</a></dt>
</dl><ul><li><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Air_Force" title="Soviet Air Force">Soviet Air Force</a> (transferred to Russian and Ukrainian Air Forces in 1991)</li>
</ul><dl><dd>184th Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment (TBAP), Priluki, Ukrainian SSR</dd></dl><h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Specifications_.28Tu-160.29">Specifications (Tu-160)</span></h2><div class="floatright"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tupolew_Tu_160_8001.png" title="Orthographic projection of the Tupolev Tu-160."><img alt="Orthographic projection of the Tupolev Tu-160." height="201" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Tupolew_Tu_160_8001.png/300px-Tupolew_Tu_160_8001.png" width="300" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 90%; margin: 0pt; padding: 0.2em;"><i>Data from</i> Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-JAWA03_p425-6_10-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-JAWA03_p425-6-10">[11]</a></sup></div><big><b>General characteristics</b></big><br />
<ul><li><b>Crew:</b> 4 (pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, defensive systems operator)</li>
<li><b>Length:</b> 54.10 m (177 ft 6 in)</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wingspan" title="Wingspan">Wingspan</a>:</b><br />
<ul><li><b>Spread (20° sweep):</b> 55.70 m (189 ft 9 in)</li>
<li><b>Swept (65° sweep):</b> 35.60 m (116 ft 9¾ in)</li>
</ul></li>
<li><b>Height:</b> 13.10 m (43 ft 0 in)</li>
<li><b>Wing area:</b><br />
<ul><li><b>Spread:</b> 400 m² (4,306 ft²)</li>
<li><b>Swept:</b> 360 m² (3,875 ft²)</li>
</ul></li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufacturer%27s_Weight_Empty" title="Manufacturer's Weight Empty">Empty weight</a>:</b> 110,000 kg (242,505 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound_%28mass%29" title="Pound (mass)">lb</a>)</li>
<li><b>Loaded weight:</b> 267,600 kg (589,950 lb)</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_Takeoff_Weight" title="Maximum Takeoff Weight">Max takeoff weight</a>:</b> 275,000 kg (606,260 lb)</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_engine" title="Aircraft engine">Powerplant</a>:</b> 4 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuznetsov_NK-32" title="Kuznetsov NK-32">Samara NK-321</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbofan" title="Turbofan">turbofans</a> <ul><li><b>Dry thrust:</b> 137.3 kN (30,865 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound-force" title="Pound-force">lbf</a>) each</li>
<li><b>Thrust with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afterburner" title="Afterburner">afterburner</a>:</b> 245 kN (55,115 lbf) each</li>
</ul></li>
</ul><big><b>Performance</b></big><br />
<ul><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_speeds#Vno" title="V speeds">Maximum speed</a>:</b> Mach 2.05 (2,220 km/h, 1,200 knots, 1,380 mph) at 12,200 m (40,000 ft)</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_speeds#Vc" title="V speeds">Cruise speed</a>:</b> Mach 0.9 (960 km/h, 518 knots, 596 mph)</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range_%28aircraft%29" title="Range (aircraft)">Range</a>:</b> 12,300 km (7,643 mi) practical range without in-flight refuelling, Mach 0.77 and carrying 6 × Kh-55SM dropped at mid range and 5% fuel reserves<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Brassey_26-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-Brassey-26">[27]</a></sup></li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_radius" title="Combat radius">Combat radius</a>:</b> 7,300 km<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-spec_27-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-spec-27">[28]</a></sup> (3,994 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nautical_mile" title="Nautical mile">nmi</a>, 4,536 mi) , 2,000 km (1,080 nmi, 1,240 mi) at Mach 1.5<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-JAWA03_p425-6_10-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160#cite_note-JAWA03_p425-6-10">[11]</a></sup></li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceiling_%28aeronautics%29" title="Ceiling (aeronautics)">Service ceiling</a>:</b> 15,000 m (49,200 ft)</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rate_of_climb" title="Rate of climb">Rate of climb</a>:</b> 70 m/s (13,860 ft/min)</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wing_loading" title="Wing loading">Wing loading</a>:</b> 742 kg/m² with wings fully swept (152 lb/ft²)</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lift-to-drag_ratio" title="Lift-to-drag ratio">lift-to-drag</a>:</b> 18.5-19, while supersonic it is above 6.</li>
</ul>Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-63748267849323686302012-01-22T00:50:00.001-08:002012-01-22T00:50:55.057-08:00Grumman B-2 Spirit (Bomber)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading"> Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit</h1><div id="siteSub"> </div><div class="dablink"> "B-2" redirects here. For other uses, see <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B2_%28disambiguation%29" title="B2 (disambiguation)">B2 (disambiguation)</a>.</div><div class="dablink"> "Stealth Bomber" redirects here. For stealth aircraft in general, see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stealth_aircraft" title="Stealth aircraft">Stealth aircraft</a>.</div><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="font-size: large; padding-bottom: 0.3em; text-align: center;">B-2 Spirit</th> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> <div style="border: 1px solid #AAAAAA;"> <div class="center"> <div class="floatnone"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B-2_Spirit_original.jpg"><img alt="" height="188" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/B-2_Spirit_original.jpg/300px-B-2_Spirit_original.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa; text-align: center;">A USAF B-2 Spirit in flight</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Role</th> <td>Stealth bomber</td> </tr>
<tr> <th><span style="white-space: nowrap;">National origin</span></th> <td>United States</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Manufacturer</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Corporation" title="Northrop Corporation">Northrop Corporation</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman" title="Northrop Grumman">Northrop Grumman</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th>First flight</th> <td>17 July 1989</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Introduction</th> <td>April 1997</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Status</th> <td>Active service: 20 aircraft</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Primary user</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force" title="United States Air Force">United States Air Force</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Number built</span></th> <td>21<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nat_Museum_B-2_factsheet1_0-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Nat_Museum_B-2_factsheet1-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-USAF_Almanac_1-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-USAF_Almanac-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Program cost</span></th> <td>US$44.75 billion (through 2004)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gao_2-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Gao-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Unit cost</span></th> <td>$737 million (1997 cost for each aircraft, $1.01 billion today)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gao_2-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Gao-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-inflation-US_3-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-inflation-US-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>The <b>Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit</b> (also known as the <i>Stealth Bomber</i>) is an American <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_bomber" title="Heavy bomber">heavy bomber</a> with low observable <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stealth_aircraft" title="Stealth aircraft">stealth</a> technology designed to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penetration_%28warfare%29" title="Penetration (warfare)">penetrate</a> dense <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-aircraft_warfare" title="Anti-aircraft warfare">anti-aircraft defenses</a> and deploy both <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conventional_weapons" title="Conventional weapons">conventional</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapon" title="Nuclear weapon">nuclear weapons</a>. The bomber has a crew of two and can drop up to 80 500 lb (230 kg)-class <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Direct_Attack_Munition" title="Joint Direct Attack Munition">JDAM</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPS" title="GPS">GPS</a>-guided bombs, or 16 2,400 lb (1,100 kg) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B83_nuclear_bomb" title="B83 nuclear bomb">B83 nuclear bombs</a>. The B-2 is the only aircraft that can carry large air to surface <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standoff_missile" title="Standoff missile">standoff</a> weapons in a stealth configuration.<br />
Development originally started under the "Advanced Technology Bomber" (ATB) project during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Jimmy_Carter" title="Presidency of Jimmy Carter">Carter administration</a>, and its performance was one of the reasons for his cancellation of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-1_Lancer" title="B-1 Lancer">B-1 Lancer</a>. ATB continued during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Ronald_Reagan" title="Presidency of Ronald Reagan">Reagan administration</a>, but worries about delays in its introduction led to the reinstatement of the B-1 program as well. Program costs rose throughout development. Designed and manufactured by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman" title="Northrop Grumman">Northrop Grumman</a> with assistance from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing" title="Boeing">Boeing</a>, the cost of each aircraft averaged US$737 million in 1997 dollars).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gao_2-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Gao-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup> Total <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procurement" title="Procurement">procurement</a> costs averaged $929 million per aircraft, which includes spare parts, equipment, retrofitting, and software support.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gao_2-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Gao-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup> The total program cost, which includes development, engineering and testing, averaged $2.1 billion per aircraft in 1997.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gao_2-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Gao-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Because of its considerable <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_costs" title="Capital costs">capital</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_costs" title="Operating costs">operational costs</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megaproject" title="Megaproject">project</a> was controversial in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Congress" title="United States Congress">U.S. Congress</a> and among the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Chiefs_of_Staff" title="Joint Chiefs of Staff">Joint Chiefs of Staff</a>. The winding-down of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War" title="Cold War">Cold War</a> in the later portion of the 1980s dramatically reduced the need for the aircraft, which was designed with the intention of penetrating Soviet airspace and attacking high-value targets. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Congress slashed initial plans to purchase 132 bombers to 21. In 2008 one bomber <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersen_Air_Force_Base_B-2_accident" title="Andersen Air Force Base B-2 accident">crashed</a> just after takeoff and was destroyed as the crew ejected safely.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup> A total of 20 B-2s remain in service with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force" title="United States Air Force">United States Air Force</a>.<br />
Though originally designed primarily as a nuclear bomber, the B-2 was first used in combat to drop conventional <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bomb" title="Bomb">bombs</a> on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbia" title="Serbia">Serbia</a> during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosovo_War" title="Kosovo War">Kosovo War</a> in 1999, and saw continued use during the wars in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War" title="Iraq War">Iraq</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_%282001-present%29" title="War in Afghanistan (2001-present)">Afghanistan</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-B-2_AF_fact_sheet_5-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-B-2_AF_fact_sheet-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> B-2s were also used during the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Libyan_uprising" title="2011 Libyan uprising">2011 Libyan uprising</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2> <span class="mw-headline" id="Development">Development</span></h2><h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Origins">Origins</span></h3>In the mid-1970s the search for a new US <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_bomber" title="Strategic bomber">strategic bomber</a> to replace the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_B-52_Stratofortress" title="Boeing B-52 Stratofortress">Boeing B-52 Stratofortress</a> was underway, with nothing to show for it. First the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_XB-70_Valkyrie" title="North American XB-70 Valkyrie">North American XB-70 Valkyrie</a> and then the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockwell_B-1_Lancer" title="Rockwell B-1 Lancer">Rockwell B-1 Lancer</a> both became obsolete before entering service, and were canceled after only small numbers had been built. The B-70 was intended to fly above and beyond defensive <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interceptor_aircraft" title="Interceptor aircraft">interceptor aircraft</a>, only to find these same attributes made it especially vulnerable to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface-to-air_missile" title="Surface-to-air missile">surface-to-air missiles</a> (SAMs). The B-1 attempted to avoid SAMs by flying close to the ground to mask their radars behind terrain, only to face a new generation of interceptors with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Look-down/shoot-down" title="Look-down/shoot-down">look-down/shoot-down</a> capabilities that could attack them from above.<br />
However, technology continued to progress throughout. By the mid-1970s it was becoming clear that there was an entirely different way to avoid missiles <i>and</i> intercepts. Known today as "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stealth_aircraft" title="Stealth aircraft">stealth</a>", the idea was to build an aircraft with an airframe that deflected or absorbed radar signals so that too little was reflected back to the radar unit. An aircraft that was stealthy enough would be able to fly wherever it pleased, and could be attacked only by weapons and systems that did not rely on radar. Although such possibilities exist, notably human observers, ranges were so short that most aircraft could fly right by the defence with impunity, especially at night.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
In 1974 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DARPA" title="DARPA">DARPA</a> requested information from US aviation firms about the largest <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_cross_section" title="Radar cross section">radar cross section</a> of an aircraft where it would remain effectively invisible to radars.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup> Initially, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop" title="Northrop">Northrop</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas" title="McDonnell Douglas">McDonnell Douglas</a> were selected for further work. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed" title="Lockheed">Lockheed</a> had experience in this field due to their work on the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_SR-71" title="Lockheed SR-71">Lockheed SR-71</a>, which included a number of stealthy features, notably its canted vertical stabilizers, the use of composite materials in key locations, and the overall finish in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar-absorbent_material" title="Radar-absorbent material">radar absorbing paint</a>. A key improvement was the introduction of computer models that could be used to predict the reflections from flat surfaces and could be used to design a "faceted" aircraft. Work on the first such designs had started in 1975 with "the hopeless diamond", a model built at Lockheed to test the concepts.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-9"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup> Improvements quickly followed that allowed designs with more traditional layouts and construction techniques.<br />
These plans were well advanced by the summer of 1975, when DARPA started the Experimental Survivability Testbed (XST) project. Northrop and Lockheed won the first round of testing, and Lockheed was the sole winner of the second round in April 1976. This led to the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Have_Blue" title="Have Blue">Have Blue</a> program.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="ATB_program">ATB program</span></h3>By 1976 these programs had advanced to the point where the concept of a long-range strategic stealth bomber appeared to be a safe bet. Whereas the B-1 relied on flying around known defense sites and could only change its mission within a limited selection of pre-selected routes, a stealth bomber would be able to overfly the Soviet Union with impunity, allowing it to loiter and hunt for targets instead of simply running in and out as fast as possible. In a nuclear exchange, this would allow it to wait out the initial attacks and find targets that escape destruction, eliminating the "overkill" that was built into existing war planning. Better yet, as the need for high speed was reduced or eliminated, and all of the extremely expensive <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_warfare" title="Electronic warfare">electronic warfare</a> equipment removed, the aircraft would be much simpler and less expensive.<br />
Carter was aware of these developments during 1977, and it appears to have been one of the major reasons the B-1 was canceled.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-11"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup> Further studies were ordered in early 1978, by which point the Have Blue platform had flown and proven the concepts. During the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_presidential_election" title="1980 presidential election">1980 presidential election</a> in 1979, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan" title="Ronald Reagan">Ronald Reagan</a> repeatedly complained that Carter was weak on defence, and used the B-1 as a prime example. In return, on 22 August 1980, the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_administration" title="Carter administration">Carter administration</a> publicly disclosed that the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Defense" title="United States Department of Defense">United States Department of Defense</a> (DoD) was working to develop stealth aircraft, including a bomber.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-goodall_12-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-goodall-12"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The Advanced Technology Bomber (ATB) began in 1979.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Pace_p20-27_13-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Pace_p20-27-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup> Full development of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_project" title="Black project">black project</a> followed. The black program was funded under the code name "Aurora".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Rich_14-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Rich-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup> After the evaluations of the companies' proposals, the ATB competition was reduced to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Corporation" title="Northrop Corporation">Northrop</a>/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing" title="Boeing">Boeing</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Corporation" title="Lockheed Corporation">Lockheed</a>/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockwell_International" title="Rockwell International">Rockwell</a> teams with each receiving a study contract for further work.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Pace_p20-27_13-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Pace_p20-27-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup> Both teams used flying wing designs.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Rich_14-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Rich-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup> Northrop had previous experience from the development of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_YB-35" title="Northrop YB-35">YB-35</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_YB-49" title="Northrop YB-49">YB-49</a> flying wing aircraft.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> The Northrop design was larger while the Lockheed design included a small tail.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Rich_14-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Rich-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B2_bomber_initial_rollout_ceremony_1988.jpg"><img alt="Front view of tailless aircraft parked in front of building. On the building face is a blue and red rectangular flag. In the foreground is a star shape on the ground" class="thumbimage" height="137" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/B2_bomber_initial_rollout_ceremony_1988.jpg/220px-B2_bomber_initial_rollout_ceremony_1988.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B2_bomber_initial_rollout_ceremony_1988.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The B-2's first public display in 1988</div></div></div>The Northrop/Boeing team's ATB design was selected over the Lockheed/Rockwell design on 20 October 1981.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Pace_p20-27_13-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Pace_p20-27-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Spick_p339_16-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Spick_p339-16"><span>[</span>17<span>]</span></a></sup> The Northrop design received the designation B-2 and the name "Spirit". The bomber's design was changed in the mid-1980s when the mission profile was changed from high-altitude to low-altitude, terrain-following. The redesign delayed the B-2's first flight by two years and added about US$1 billion to the program's cost.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-goodall_12-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-goodall-12"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup> An estimated US$23 billion was secretly spent for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_and_development" title="Research and development">research and development</a> on the B-2 by 1989.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-17"><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The B-2 was first publicly displayed on 22 November 1988, at Air Force <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_42" title="Plant 42">Plant 42</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmdale,_California" title="Palmdale, California">Palmdale</a>, California, where it was assembled. This initial viewing was heavily guarded and guests were not allowed to see the rear of the B-2. However, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation_Week_%26_Space_Technology" title="Aviation Week & Space Technology">Aviation Week</a></i> editors found that there was no ban on overflying the airfield apron/presentation area and, to the chagrin of the USAF, took pictures from above of the aircraft's then-secret <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planform" title="Planform">planform</a> and suppressed engine exhausts. The B-2's first public flight was on 17 July 1989 from Palmdale.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Pace_p29-36_18-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Pace_p29-36-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup> At the program's peak, approximately 13,000 people were employed at a dedicated plant in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pico_Rivera,_California" title="Pico Rivera, California">Pico Rivera, California</a> for the aircraft's engineering and portions of its manufacturing.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GlobSec_PicoPlant_19-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-GlobSec_PicoPlant-19"><span>[</span>20<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B-2_first_flight_071201-F-9999J-034.jpg"><img alt="Top view of triangular aircraft, with sawtooth trailing edge, in flight over desert" class="thumbimage" height="178" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/B-2_first_flight_071201-F-9999J-034.jpg/220px-B-2_first_flight_071201-F-9999J-034.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B-2_first_flight_071201-F-9999J-034.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The B-2's first public flight in 1989</div></div></div><h3> <span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Espionage">Espionage</span></h3>In 1984, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Corporation" title="Northrop Corporation">Northrop</a> employee, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Patrick_Cavanaugh" title="Thomas Patrick Cavanaugh">Thomas Cavanaugh</a>, was arrested for attempting to sell <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classified_information" title="Classified information">classified information</a> to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union">Soviet Union</a>, which apparently was smuggled out of the Pico Rivera, California factory.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-20"><span>[</span>21<span>]</span></a></sup> Cavanaugh was eventually sentenced to life in prison and released on parole in 2001.<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noshir_Gowadia" title="Noshir Gowadia">Noshir Gowadia</a>, a design engineer who worked on the B-2's propulsion system, was arrested in October 2005 for selling B-2 related classified information to foreign countries.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-21"><span>[</span>22<span>]</span></a></sup> On 9 August 2010, Gowadia was convicted in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_district_court" title="United States district court">United States District Court</a> for the District of Hawaii on 14 of 17 charges against him.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-22"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></a></sup> On 24 January 2011, Gowadia was sentenced to 32 years in prison.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-23"><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Program_costs_and_procurement">Program costs and procurement</span></h3>A procurement of 132 aircraft was planned in the mid-1980s, but was later reduced to 75.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Pace_p75-76_24-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Pace_p75-76-24"><span>[</span>25<span>]</span></a></sup> By the early 1990s, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union">Soviet Union</a> had disintegrated, which effectively eliminated the Spirit's primary Cold War mission. Under budgetary pressures and congressional opposition, in his 1992 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_the_Union_Address" title="State of the Union Address">State of the Union Address</a>, President <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_H.W._Bush" title="George H.W. Bush">George H.W. Bush</a> announced B-2 production would be limited to 20 aircraft.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-25"><span>[</span>26<span>]</span></a></sup> In 1996, however, the Clinton administration, though originally committed to ending production of the bombers at 20 aircraft, authorized the conversion of a 21st bomber, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prototype" title="Prototype">prototype</a> test model, to Block 30 fully operational status at a cost of nearly $500 million.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-26"><span>[</span>27<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
In 1995, Northrop made a proposal to the USAF to build 20 additional aircraft with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyaway_cost" title="Flyaway cost">flyaway cost</a> of $566 million each.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ency_Mod_Mil_27-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Ency_Mod_Mil-27"><span>[</span>28<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The program was the subject of public controversy for its costs to American taxpayers. In 1996, the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Accounting_Office" title="General Accounting Office">General Accounting Office</a> disclosed that the USAF's B-2 bombers "will be, by far, the most costly bombers to operate on a per aircraft basis", costing over three times as much as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockwell_B-1_Lancer" title="Rockwell B-1 Lancer">B-1B</a> (US$9.6 million annually) and over four times as much as the B-52H ($US6.8 million annually). In September 1997, each hour of B-2 flight necessitated 119 hours of maintenance in turn. Comparable maintenance needs for the B-52 and the B-1B are 53 and 60 hours respectively for each hour of flight. A key reason for this cost is the provision of air-conditioned hangars large enough for the bomber's 172 ft (52.4 m) wingspan, which are needed to maintain the aircraft's stealthy properties, especially its "low-observable" stealthy skins.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-28"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-29"><span>[</span>30<span>]</span></a></sup> Maintenance costs are about $3.4 million a month for each aircraft.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-30"><span>[</span>31<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B-2_spirit_bombing.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="275" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/B-2_spirit_bombing.jpg/220px-B-2_spirit_bombing.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B-2_spirit_bombing.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>In a 1994 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_fire_exercise" title="Live fire exercise">live fire exercise</a> near <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Mugu,_California" title="Point Mugu, California">Point Mugu</a>, California, a B-2 drops forty-seven 500 lb (230 kg) class <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_82_bomb" title="Mark 82 bomb">Mark 82</a> bombs, which is more than half of a B-2's total ordnance payload</div></div></div>The total "military construction" cost related to the program was projected to be US$553.6 million in 1997 dollars. The cost to procure each B-2 was US$737 million in 1997 dollars, based only on a fleet cost of US$15.48 billion.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gao_2-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Gao-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup> The procurement cost per aircraft as detailed in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Accountability_Office" title="Government Accountability Office">General Accounting Office</a> (GAO) reports, which include spare parts and software support, was $929 million per aircraft in 1997 dollars.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gao_2-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Gao-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The total program cost projected through 2004 was US$44.75 billion in 1997 dollars. This includes development, procurement, facilities, construction, and spare parts. The total program cost averaged US$2.13 billion per aircraft.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gao_2-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Gao-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Opposition">Opposition</span></h3>In its consideration of the fiscal year 1990 defense budget, the House Armed Services Committee trimmed $800 million from the B-2 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_and_development" title="Research and development">research and development</a> budget, while at the same time staving off a motion to kill the bomber. Opposition in committee and in Congress as mostly broad and bipartisan, with Congressmen <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Dellums" title="Ron Dellums">Ron Dellums</a> (D-CA), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kasich" title="John Kasich">John Kasich</a> (R-OH), and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_G._Rowland" title="John G. Rowland">John G. Rowland</a> (R-CT) authorizing the motion to kill the bomber and others in the Senate such as <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Exon" title="Jim Exon">Jim Exon</a> (D-NE) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain" title="John McCain">John McCain</a> (R-AZ) also opposing the project.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Schmitt_31-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Schmitt-31"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The growing cost of the B-2 program, and evidence of flaws in the aircraft's ability to elude detection by radar,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Schmitt_31-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Schmitt-31"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a></sup> were among factors that drove opposition. At the peak production period specified in 1989, the schedule called for spending US$7 billion to $8 billion per year in 1989 dollars, something Committee Chair <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Aspin" title="Les Aspin">Les Aspin</a> (D-WI) said "won't fly financially."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Sorenson_p168_32-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Sorenson_p168-32"><span>[</span>33<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
In 1990, the Department of Defense accused Northrop of using faulty components in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_flight_control_system" title="Aircraft flight control system">flight control system</a>. Efforts have also been made to reduce the probability of bird ingestion, which could damage engine fan blades.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-33"><span>[</span>34<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
In time, a number of prominent members of Congress began to oppose the program's expansion, including former Democratic presidential nominee <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kerry" title="John Kerry">John Kerry</a>, who cast votes against the B-2 in 1989, 1991 and 1992 while a US Senator representing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts" title="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a>. By 1992, Republican President <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_H.W._Bush" title="George H.W. Bush">George H.W. Bush</a> called for the cancellation of the B-2 and promised to cut military spending by 30% in the wake of the collapse of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union">Soviet Union</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-34"><span>[</span>35<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
In May 1995, on the basis of its 1995 Heavy Bomber Force Study, the DOD determined that additional B-2 procurements would exacerbate efforts to develop and implement long term recapitalization plans for the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Air_Force" title="U.S. Air Force">U.S. Air Force</a> bomber force.<br />
In October 1995, former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_Staff_of_the_United_States_Air_Force" title="Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force">Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_E._Ryan" title="Michael E. Ryan">General Mike Ryan</a>, and Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Shalikashvili" title="John Shalikashvili">John Shalikashvili</a>, strongly recommended against Congressional action to fund the purchase of any additional B-2s, arguing that to do so would require unacceptable cuts in existing conventional and nuclear-capable aircraft to pay for the new bombers,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-35"><span>[</span>36<span>]</span></a></sup> and because the military had much higher priorities on which to spend its limited procurement dollars.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-36"><span>[</span>37<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Some B-2 advocates argued that procuring twenty additional aircraft would save money because B-2s would be able to deeply penetrate anti-aircraft defenses and use low-cost, short-range attack weapons rather than expensive standoff weapons. However, in 1995, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Budget_Office" title="Congressional Budget Office">Congressional Budget Office</a> (CBO), and its Director of National Security Analysis, found that additional B-2s would reduce the cost of weapons expended by the bomber force by less than US$2 billion in 1995 dollars during the first two weeks of a conflict, which is when the Air Force envisions bombers would make their greatest contribution. This is a small fraction of the US$26.8 billion (in 1995 dollars) life cycle cost that the CBO projected an additional 20 B-2s would cost.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-37"><span>[</span>38<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
In 1997, as <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranking_Member" title="Ranking Member">Ranking Member</a> of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._House_Committee_on_Armed_Services" title="U.S. House Committee on Armed Services">House Armed Services Committee</a> and National Security Committee, Congressman <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Dellums" title="Ron Dellums">Ron Dellums</a> (D-CA), a long-time opponent of the bomber, cited five independent studies and offered an amendment to that year's defense authorization bill to cap production of the bombers to the existing 21 aircraft. The amendment was narrowly defeated.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Amendment_38-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Amendment-38"><span>[</span>39<span>]</span></a></sup> Nonetheless, Congress did not approve funding for the purchase of any additional B-2 bombers.<br />
<h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Upgrades">Upgrades</span></h3>A number of upgrade packages were applied to the B-2 during the 21st century. In 2004, Northrop Grumman tested a new alternate high-frequency material (AHFM) for use as a RAM coating for the B-2.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-39"><span>[</span>40<span>]</span></a></sup> The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_Research_Laboratory" title="Air Force Research Laboratory">Air Force Research Laboratory</a> has developed a new material to be used on the part of the wing trailing edge that is subject to engine exhaust to replace the current material that degrades.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-40"><span>[</span>41<span>]</span></a></sup> In 2008, the US Congress funded upgrades to the B-2's weapon control systems for hitting moving targets.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-41"><span>[</span>42<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
In July 2008, the B-2's computing architecture was redesigned with a new integrated processing unit (IPU) that communicates via a fiber optic network and a smaller, faster single-board processor that runs a new version of the operational flight program (OFP) software converted from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JOVIAL" title="JOVIAL">JOVIAL</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_%28programming_language%29" title="C (programming language)">C</a> by automated tools.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-42"><span>[</span>43<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-43"><span>[</span>44<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
On 29 December 2008, Air Force officials awarded a production contract to Northrop Grumman to modernize the B-2 fleet's radars. The contract provides advanced radar components, with the aim of sustained operational viability of the B-2 fleet into the future. The contract has a target value of some US$468 million.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-44"><span>[</span>45<span>]</span></a></sup> The award follows successful flight testing with the upgraded equipment. A modification to the radar was needed since the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Commerce" title="United States Department of Commerce">US Department of Commerce</a> required the B-2 to use a different radar frequency.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-45"><span>[</span>46<span>]</span></a></sup> It was reported on 22 July 2009 that the B-2 had passed the second of the two USAF audit milestones associated with this upgraded <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AESA" title="AESA">AESA</a> radar capability.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-46"><span>[</span>47<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
On 28 April 2009, an Air Force/contractor team verified that the 30,000 lb (14,000 kg) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massive_Ordnance_Penetrator" title="Massive Ordnance Penetrator">Massive Ordnance Penetrator</a> (MOP) would fit in the B-2's bomb bay.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-47"><span>[</span>48<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Future_developments">Future developments</span></h3>The Pentagon is currently (as of 2011) evaluating a radically different unmanned stealth bomber, characterized as a "mini-B2", to come into operational service by 2020.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-48"><span>[</span>49<span>]</span></a></sup> During a transition period, US political expert <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_Grant_%28political_expert%29" title="Rebecca Grant (political expert)">Rebecca Grant</a> has posited when the B-2 is no longer able to penetrate enemy defenses, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-35_Lightning_II" title="Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II">Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II</a> may take on its strike/interdiction role. The F-35 also carries the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B61_nuclear_bomb" title="B61 nuclear bomb">B61 nuclear bomb</a> as a tactical bomber and is not covered by strategic arms limitation treaties such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_START" title="New START">New START</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-49"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-49"><span>[</span>50<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h2> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Design">Design</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B2_Spirit_closeup.JPEG"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="144" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/B2_Spirit_closeup.JPEG/220px-B2_Spirit_closeup.JPEG" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B2_Spirit_closeup.JPEG" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The B-2's engines are buried within its wing to conceal the induction fans and minimize their exhaust signature. The crew of two sit side-by-side in the cockpit.</div></div></div>The B-2's low-observable, or "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stealth_aircraft" title="Stealth aircraft">stealth</a>", characteristics give it the ability to penetrate an enemy's most sophisticated anti-aircraft defenses to attack its most heavily defended targets. The bomber's stealth comes from a combination of reduced acoustic, infrared, visual and radar signatures, making it difficult for opposition defenses to detect, track and engage the aircraft. Many specific aspects of the low-observability process remain classified. The B-2's composite materials, special coatings and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_wing" title="Flying wing">flying wing</a> design, which reduces the number of leading edges, contribute to its stealth characteristics.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-50"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-50"><span>[</span>51<span>]</span></a></sup> The Spirit has a radar signature of about 0.1 m<sup>2</sup>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-51"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-51"><span>[</span>52<span>]</span></a></sup> Each B-2 requires a climate-controlled hangar large enough for its 172-foot (52 m) wingspan to protect the operational integrity of its sophisticated radar absorbent material and coatings.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AW_20070107_Away_52-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-AW_20070107_Away-52"><span>[</span>53<span>]</span></a></sup> The engines are buried within the wing to conceal the induction fans and hide their exhaust.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-53"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-53"><span>[</span>54<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The blending of low-observable technologies with high aerodynamic efficiency and large payload gives the B-2 significant advantages over previous bombers. The U.S. Air Force reports its range as approximately 6,000 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nautical_mile" title="Nautical mile">nautical miles</a> (6,900 mi; 11,000 km).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-B-2_AF_fact_sheet_5-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-B-2_AF_fact_sheet-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Spick_p340-1_54-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Spick_p340-1-54"><span>[</span>55<span>]</span></a></sup> Also, its low-observation ability provides the B-2 greater freedom of action at high altitudes, thus increasing its range and providing a better field of view for the aircraft's sensors. It combines GPS Aided Targeting System (GATS) with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System" title="Global Positioning System">GPS</a>-aided bombs such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Direct_Attack_Munition" title="Joint Direct Attack Munition">Joint Direct Attack Munition</a> (JDAM). This uses its <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_electronically_scanned_array" title="Passive electronically scanned array">passive electronically scanned array</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/APQ-181_radar" title="APQ-181 radar">APQ-181 radar</a> to correct GPS errors of targets and gain much better than laser-guided weapon accuracy when "unguided" gravity bombs are equipped with a GPS-aided "smart" guidance tail kit. It can bomb 16 targets in a single pass when equipped with 1,000 or 2,000-pound (450 kg or 900 kg) bombs, or as many as 80 when carrying 500 lb (230 kg) bombs.<br />
<div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:20061027-6_b2cockpit-1-515h.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="144" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/20061027-6_b2cockpit-1-515h.jpg/220px-20061027-6_b2cockpit-1-515h.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:20061027-6_b2cockpit-1-515h.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Former Vice President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Cheney" title="Dick Cheney">Dick Cheney</a> sits inside the cockpit of a B-2 with pilot Capt. Luke Jayne during a visit to Whiteman AFB in 2006.</div></div></div>The B-2 has a crew of two: a pilot in the left seat, and mission commander in the right.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-B-2_AF_fact_sheet_5-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-B-2_AF_fact_sheet-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> The B-2 has provisions for a third crew member if needed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-55"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-55"><span>[</span>56<span>]</span></a></sup> For comparison, the B-1B has a crew of four and the B-52 has a crew of five.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-B-2_AF_fact_sheet_5-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-B-2_AF_fact_sheet-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> B-2 crews have been used to pioneer <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sleep_cycle_research&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Sleep cycle research (page does not exist)">sleep cycle research</a> to improve crew performance on long <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorties" title="Sorties">sorties</a>. The B-2 is highly automated, and, unlike two-seat fighters, one crew member can sleep, use a toilet or prepare a hot meal while the other monitors the aircraft.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-56"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-56"><span>[</span>57<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
As with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_B-52_Stratofortress" title="Boeing B-52 Stratofortress">Boeing B-52 Stratofortress</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockwell_B-1_Lancer" title="Rockwell B-1 Lancer">Rockwell B-1 Lancer</a>, the B-2 provides the versatility inherent in manned bombers. Like other bombers, its assigned targets can be canceled or changed while in flight, the particular weapon assigned to a target can be changed, and the timing of attack, or the route to the target can be changed while in flight.<br />
<div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B-2_Spirit_050404-F-1740G-001.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="146" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/B-2_Spirit_050404-F-1740G-001.jpg/220px-B-2_Spirit_050404-F-1740G-001.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B-2_Spirit_050404-F-1740G-001.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>A B-2 during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_refueling" title="Aerial refueling">aerial refueling</a> which extends its range past 6,000 miles (9,700 km) to support intercontinental sorties.</div></div></div>The prime contractor, responsible for overall system design, integration and support, is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman" title="Northrop Grumman">Northrop Grumman</a>. <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_Integrated_Defense_Systems" title="Boeing Integrated Defense Systems">Boeing</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raytheon" title="Raytheon">Raytheon</a> (formerly <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hughes_Aircraft" title="Hughes Aircraft">Hughes Aircraft</a>), <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Electric_Aircraft_Engines" title="General Electric Aircraft Engines">G.E.</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vought_Aircraft_Industries" title="Vought Aircraft Industries">Vought Aircraft Industries</a>, are <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subcontractors" title="Subcontractors">subcontractors</a>.<br />
The original B-2 design had tanks for a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrail" title="Contrail">contrail</a>-inhibiting chemical, but this was replaced in the final design with a contrail sensor from Ophir that alerts the pilot when he should change altitude.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-57"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-57"><span>[</span>58<span>]</span></a></sup> Mission planning also considers altitudes where the probability of contrail formation is minimized.<br />
<h2> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Operational_history">Operational history</span></h2>The first operational aircraft, christened <i>Spirit of Missouri</i>, was delivered to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiteman_Air_Force_Base" title="Whiteman Air Force Base">Whiteman Air Force Base</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri" title="Missouri">Missouri</a>, where the fleet is based, on 17 December 1993.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Pace_p66_58-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Pace_p66-58"><span>[</span>59<span>]</span></a></sup> The B-2 reached initial operational capability (IOC) on 1 January 1997.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Pace_p73_59-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Pace_p73-59"><span>[</span>60<span>]</span></a></sup> Depot maintenance for the B-2 is accomplished by U.S. Air Force contractor support and managed at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_City_Air_Logistics_Center" title="Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center">Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center</a> at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinker_Air_Force_Base" title="Tinker Air Force Base">Tinker Air Force Base</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-B-2_AF_fact_sheet_5-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-B-2_AF_fact_sheet-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> Originally designed to deliver nuclear weapons, modern usage has shifted towards a flexible role with conventional and nuclear capability.<br />
<h3> <span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Into_combat">Into combat</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B-2_Spirit_050413-F-1740G-001a.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="86" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/B-2_Spirit_050413-F-1740G-001a.jpg/220px-B-2_Spirit_050413-F-1740G-001a.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B-2_Spirit_050413-F-1740G-001a.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>An Air Force maintenance crew services a B-2 at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersen_Air_Force_Base" title="Andersen Air Force Base">Andersen AFB</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guam" title="Guam">Guam</a>, 2004</div></div></div>The B-2 has seen service in four campaigns. Its combat debut was during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosovo_War" title="Kosovo War">Kosovo War</a> in 1999. It was responsible for destroying 33% of selected Serbian bombing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullseye_%28target%29" title="Bullseye (target)">targets</a> in the first eight weeks of U.S. involvement in the War.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-B-2_AF_fact_sheet_5-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-B-2_AF_fact_sheet-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> During this war, B-2s flew non-stop to Kosovo from their home base in Missouri and back.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-B-2_AF_fact_sheet_5-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-B-2_AF_fact_sheet-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> The B-2 was the first aircraft to deploy GPS satellite guided <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Direct_Attack_Munition" title="Joint Direct Attack Munition">JDAM "smart bombs"</a> in combat use in Kosovo.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-60"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-60"><span>[</span>61<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <div id="ogg_player_1"> <div> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B-2_Spirit.ogv" title="B-2 Spirit.ogv"><img alt="B-2 Spirit.ogv" height="165" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/B-2_Spirit.ogv/seek%3D2-B-2_Spirit.ogv.jpg" width="220" /></a></div></div><div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B-2_Spirit.ogv" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>B-2 Spirit U.S. Air Force video</div></div></div>The B-2 has been used to drop bombs on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan" title="Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a> in support of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_%282001%E2%80%93present%29" title="War in Afghanistan (2001–present)">Operation Enduring Freedom</a>. With the support of aerial refueling, the B-2 flew one of its longest missions to date from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri to Afghanistan and back.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-B-2_AF_fact_sheet_5-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-B-2_AF_fact_sheet-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The B-2's combat use preceded a U.S. Air Force declaration of "full operational capability" in December 2003.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-B-2_AF_fact_sheet_5-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-B-2_AF_fact_sheet-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> The Pentagon's Operational Test and Evaluation 2003 Annual Report noted that the B-2's serviceability for Fiscal Year 2003 was still inadequate, mainly due to the maintainability of the B-2's low observable coatings. The evaluation also noted that the Defensive Avionics suite also had shortcomings with "pop-up threats".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-B-2_AF_fact_sheet_5-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-B-2_AF_fact_sheet-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
During the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War" title="Iraq War">Iraq War</a> (Operation Iraqi Freedom), B-2s operated from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diego_Garcia" title="Diego Garcia">Diego Garcia</a> and an undisclosed "forward operating location". Other <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sortie" title="Sortie">sorties</a> in Iraq have launched from Whiteman AFB.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-B-2_AF_fact_sheet_5-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-B-2_AF_fact_sheet-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> This resulted in missions lasting over 30 hours and one mission of over 50 hours. "Forward operating locations" have been previously designated as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersen_Air_Force_Base" title="Andersen Air Force Base">Andersen Air Force Base</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guam" title="Guam">Guam</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Fairford" title="RAF Fairford">RAF Fairford</a> in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK" title="UK">UK</a>, where new climate controlled hangars have been constructed. B-2s have conducted 27 sorties from Whiteman AFB and 22 sorties from a forward operating location, releasing more than 1.5 million pounds of munitions,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-B-2_AF_fact_sheet_5-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-B-2_AF_fact_sheet-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> including 583 JDAM "smart bombs" in 2003.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-61"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-61"><span>[</span>62<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
All B-2s, nuclear-capable B-52s, and nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles have shifted to the nuclear-focused <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_Global_Strike_Command" title="Air Force Global Strike Command">Air Force Global Strike Command</a> set up on September 2009.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-62"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-62"><span>[</span>63<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-63"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-63"><span>[</span>64<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
In March 2011, B-2s were the first US aircraft into action in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Odyssey_Dawn" title="Operation Odyssey Dawn">Operation Odyssey Dawn</a>, the UN mandated enforcement of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libyan_no-fly_zone" title="Libyan no-fly zone">Libyan no-fly zone</a>. Three B-2s dropped 40 bombs on a Libyan airfield in support of the UN no-fly zone.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Crisis_64-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Crisis-64"><span>[</span>65<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<br />
<h2> <span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Operators">Operators</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B2PlanView.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="88" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/B2PlanView.jpg/220px-B2PlanView.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B2PlanView.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The "Spirit of Indiana" sits on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_ramp" title="Airport ramp">ramp</a> at <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersen_AFB" title="Andersen AFB">Andersen AFB</a> in Guam on 23 June 2006</div></div></div>B-2s are operated exclusively by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force" title="United States Air Force">United States Air Force</a> active units.<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force" title="United States Air Force">United States Air Force</a> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/509th_Bomb_Wing" title="509th Bomb Wing">509th Bomb Wing</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiteman_Air_Force_Base" title="Whiteman Air Force Base">Whiteman Air Force Base</a> (currently has 19 B-2s) <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_Bomb_Squadron" title="13th Bomb Squadron">13th Bomb Squadron</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/393d_Bomb_Squadron" title="393d Bomb Squadron">393d Bomb Squadron</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/394th_Combat_Training_Squadron" title="394th Combat Training Squadron">394th Combat Training Squadron</a></li>
</ul></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/131st_Bomb_Wing" title="131st Bomb Wing">131st Bomb Wing</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiteman_Air_Force_Base" title="Whiteman Air Force Base">Whiteman Air Force Base</a> (Missouri Air National Guard)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-65"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-65"><span>[</span>66<span>]</span></a></sup> <ul><li><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/110th_Fighter_Squadron" title="110th Fighter Squadron">110th Bomb Squadron</a></li>
</ul></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/412th_Test_Wing" title="412th Test Wing">412th Test Wing</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwards_Air_Force_Base" title="Edwards Air Force Base">Edwards Air Force Base</a> (currently has one B-2) <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/419th_Flight_Test_Squadron" title="419th Flight Test Squadron">419th Flight Test Squadron</a></li>
</ul></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/53d_Wing" title="53d Wing">53d Wing</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eglin_Air_Force_Base" title="Eglin Air Force Base">Eglin Air Force Base</a> (former) <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/72d_Test_and_Evaluation_Squadron" title="72d Test and Evaluation Squadron">72d Test and Evaluation Squadron</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiteman_Air_Force_Base" title="Whiteman Air Force Base">Whiteman Air Force Base</a></li>
</ul></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/57th_Wing" title="57th Wing">57th Wing</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nellis_Air_Force_Base" title="Nellis Air Force Base">Nellis Air Force Base</a> (former) <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/325th_Weapons_Squadron" title="325th Weapons Squadron">325th Weapons Squadron</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiteman_Air_Force_Base" title="Whiteman Air Force Base">Whiteman Air Force Base</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/715th_Weapons_Squadron" title="715th Weapons Squadron">715th Weapons Squadron</a> (inactivated)</li>
</ul></li>
</ul></li>
</ul><h2> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Accident">Accident</span></h2><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle"> Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersen_Air_Force_Base_B-2_accident" title="Andersen Air Force Base B-2 accident">Andersen Air Force Base B-2 accident</a></div><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Crashed_B-2.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="165" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Crashed_B-2.jpg/220px-Crashed_B-2.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Crashed_B-2.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The crashed B-2</div></div></div>On 23 February 2008, the B-2 <i>Spirit of Kansas</i>, <i>89-0127</i> crashed on the runway shortly after takeoff from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersen_Air_Force_Base" title="Andersen Air Force Base">Andersen Air Force Base</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guam" title="Guam">Guam</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Av_Week_crash_66-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Av_Week_crash-66"><span>[</span>67<span>]</span></a></sup> B-2 <i>89-0127</i> had been operated by the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/393rd_Bomb_Squadron" title="393rd Bomb Squadron">393rd Bomb Squadron</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/509th_Bomb_Wing" title="509th Bomb Wing">509th Bomb Wing</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiteman_Air_Force_Base" title="Whiteman Air Force Base">Whiteman Air Force Base</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri" title="Missouri">Missouri</a>, and had logged 5,176 flight hours. It was the first crash of a B-2. The two person crew ejected safely from the aircraft and survived the crash. The aircraft was completely destroyed, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation_accidents_and_incidents" title="Aviation accidents and incidents">hull loss</a> valued at US$1.4 billion.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-67"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-67"><span>[</span>68<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-68"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-68"><span>[</span>69<span>]</span></a></sup> After the accident, the Air Force took the B-2 fleet off operational status until clearing the fleet for flight status 53 days later on 15 April 2008.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-69"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-69"><span>[</span>70<span>]</span></a></sup> The cause of the crash was later determined to be moisture in the aircraft's Port Transducer Units during air data calibration, which distorted the information being sent to the bomber's air data system. As a result, the flight control computers calculated an inaccurate airspeed, and a negative angle of attack, causing the aircraft to pitch upward 30 degrees during takeoff.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-70"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-70"><span>[</span>71<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h2> <span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Aircraft_on_display">Aircraft on display</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B-2.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="165" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/B-2.jpg/220px-B-2.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B-2.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mockup" title="Mockup">Mockup</a> of a B-2 Spirit on display at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_the_United_States_Air_Force" title="National Museum of the United States Air Force">National Museum of the United States Air Force</a></div></div></div>Because of its high cost, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_bombing" title="Strategic bombing">strategic bombing</a> role, and the still-classified aspects of its low observable coatings, no production B-2 has been placed on permanent display. However, B-2s have made periodic appearances on ground display at various <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_show" title="Air show">air shows</a>.<br />
<ul><li>B-2 test article (s/n AT-1000), the second of two built without engines or instruments for static testing, was placed on display in 2004 at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_the_United_States_Air_Force" title="National Museum of the United States Air Force">National Museum of the United States Air Force</a> near <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayton,_Ohio" title="Dayton, Ohio">Dayton</a>, Ohio.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-nationalmuseum.af.mil_71-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-nationalmuseum.af.mil-71"><span>[</span>72<span>]</span></a></sup> The test article passed all structural testing requirements before the airframe failed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nat_Museum_B-2_factsheet2_72-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Nat_Museum_B-2_factsheet2-72"><span>[</span>73<span>]</span></a></sup> The Museum's restoration team spent over a year reassembling the fractured airframe. The display airframe is marked to resemble <i>The Spirit of Ohio</i> (S/N 82-1070), the B-2 used to test the design's ability to withstand extreme heat and cold.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-nationalmuseum.af.mil_71-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-nationalmuseum.af.mil-71"><span>[</span>72<span>]</span></a></sup> The exhibit features the actual <i>Spirit of Ohio</i> nose wheel door, with its distinctive <i>Fire and Ice</i> artwork, which was painted and signed by the technicians who performed the temperature testing.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-nationalmuseum.af.mil_71-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-nationalmuseum.af.mil-71"><span>[</span>72<span>]</span></a></sup> The restored test aircraft is on display in the museum's "Cold War Gallery".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-73"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-73"><span>[</span>74<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
</ul><ul><li>From 1989 to 2004, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Dakota_Air_and_Space_Museum" title="South Dakota Air and Space Museum">South Dakota Air and Space Museum</a> located on the grounds of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellsworth_Air_Force_Base" title="Ellsworth Air Force Base">Ellsworth Air Force Base</a> displayed the 10-short-ton (9-<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metric_ton" title="Metric ton">metric-ton</a>) "Honda- Stealth", a 60% scale <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mock-up" title="Mock-up">mock-up</a> of a stealthy bomber which had been built by North American <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda" title="Honda">Honda</a> in 1988 for an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising_campaign" title="Advertising campaign">advertising campaign</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-74"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-74"><span>[</span>75<span>]</span></a></sup> Although not an actual replica of a B-2, the mock-up was close enough to the B-2's design to arouse suspicion that Honda had intercepted classified, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_secret" title="Top secret">top secret</a> information, as the B-2 project was still officially classified in 1988. Honda donated the model to the museum in 1989, on condition that the model be destroyed if it was ever replaced with a different example. In 2005, when the museum received a B-1 Lancer for display (Ellsworth being a B-1 base), the museum destroyed the mock-up.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-75"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-75"><span>[</span>76<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-76"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-76"><span>[</span>77<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
</ul><h2> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Specifications_.28B-2A_Block_30.29">Specifications (B-2A Block 30)</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 352px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NORTHROP_B-2.png"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="247" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/NORTHROP_B-2.png/350px-NORTHROP_B-2.png" width="350" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NORTHROP_B-2.png" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Orthographically projected diagram of the B-2 <i>Spirit</i></div></div></div><div style="font-size: 90%; margin: 0; padding: .2em;"> <i>Data from</i> USAF Fact Sheet,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-B-2_AF_fact_sheet_5-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-B-2_AF_fact_sheet-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> Pace,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Pace_appA_77-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Pace_appA-77"><span>[</span>78<span>]</span></a></sup> Spick,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Spick_p340-1_54-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Spick_p340-1-54"><span>[</span>55<span>]</span></a></sup> Globalsecurity<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-78"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-78"><span>[</span>79<span>]</span></a></sup></div><big><b>General characteristics</b></big><br />
<ul><li><b>Crew:</b> 2</li>
<li><b>Length:</b> 69 ft (21.0 m)</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wingspan" title="Wingspan">Wingspan</a>:</b> 172 ft (52.4 m)</li>
<li><b>Height:</b> 17 ft (5.18 m)</li>
<li><b>Wing area:</b> 5,140 ft² (478 m²)</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufacturer%27s_Weight_Empty" title="Manufacturer's Weight Empty">Empty weight</a>:</b> 158,000 lb (71,700 kg)</li>
<li><b>Loaded weight:</b> 336,500 lb (152,200 kg)</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_Takeoff_Weight" title="Maximum Takeoff Weight">Max takeoff weight</a>:</b> 376,000 lb (170,600 kg)</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_engine" title="Aircraft engine">Powerplant</a>:</b> 4 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Electric_F118" title="General Electric F118">General Electric F118-GE-100</a> non-afterburning <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbofan" title="Turbofan">turbofans</a>, 17,300 lbf (77 kN) each</li>
<li>Fuel Capacity: 167,000 pounds (75,750 kilograms)</li>
</ul><big><b>Performance</b></big><br />
<ul><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_speeds#Vno" title="V speeds">Maximum speed</a>:</b> Mach 0.95 (550 knots, 630 mph, 1,010 km/h) at 40,000 ft altitude / Mach 0.95 at sea level<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Pace_appA_77-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Pace_appA-77"><span>[</span>78<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_speeds#Vc" title="V speeds">Cruise speed</a>:</b> Mach 0.85<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Spick_p340-1_54-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Spick_p340-1-54"><span>[</span>55<span>]</span></a></sup> (487 knots, 560 mph, 900 km/h) at 40,000 ft altitude</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range_%28aircraft%29" title="Range (aircraft)">Range</a>:</b> 6,000 nmi (11,100 km (6,900 mi))</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceiling_%28aeronautics%29" title="Ceiling (aeronautics)">Service ceiling</a>:</b> 50,000 ft (15,200 m)</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wing_loading" title="Wing loading">Wing loading</a>:</b> 67.3 lb/ft² (329 kg/m²)</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrust-to-weight_ratio" title="Thrust-to-weight ratio">Thrust/weight</a>:</b> 0.205</li>
</ul><big><b>Armament</b></big><br />
<ul><li>2 internal bays for 50,000 lb (23,000 kg) of ordnance.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Spick_p340-1_54-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#cite_note-Spick_p340-1-54"><span>[</span>55<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
</ul><ul><li>80× 500 lb class bombs (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_82_bomb" title="Mark 82 bomb">Mk-82</a>) mounted on Bomb Rack Assembly (BRA)</li>
<li>36× 750 lb CBU class bombs on BRA</li>
<li>16× 2000 lb class weapons (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_84_bomb" title="Mark 84 bomb">Mk-84</a>, JDAM-84, JDAM-102) mounted on Rotary Launcher Assembly (RLA)</li>
<li>16× <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B61_nuclear_bomb" title="B61 nuclear bomb">B61</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B83_nuclear_bomb" title="B83 nuclear bomb">B83</a> nuclear weapons on RLA</li>
</ul>Later avionics and equipment improvements allow B-2A to carry <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JSOW" title="JSOW">JSOW</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-28" title="GBU-28">GBU-28</a>, and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-57A/B" title="GBU-57A/B">GBU-57A/Bs</a> as well. The Spirit is also designated as a delivery aircraft for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGM-158_JASSM" title="AGM-158 JASSM">AGM-158 JASSM</a> when the missile enters service.Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-60275295358785913182012-01-22T00:47:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:47:10.922-08:00Mirage F1 (Fighter)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading"> Dassault Mirage F1</h1><div id="siteSub"> </div><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="font-size: large; padding-bottom: 0.3em; text-align: center;">Mirage F1</th> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><div style="border: 1px solid #AAAAAA;"> <div class="center"> <div class="floatnone"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mirage_F1B_-_EC-3-33.jpg"><img alt="" height="193" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Mirage_F1B_-_EC-3-33.jpg/300px-Mirage_F1B_-_EC-3-33.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa; text-align: center;">A Mirage F1B</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Role</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighter_aircraft" title="Fighter aircraft">Fighter aircraft</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Manufacturer</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Aviation" title="Dassault Aviation">Dassault Aviation</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th>First flight</th> <td>23 December 1966</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Introduction</th> <td>1973</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Primary users</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Air_Force" title="French Air Force">French Air Force</a><br />
<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Air_Force" title="Iran Air Force">Iran Air Force</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Air_Force" title="Spanish Air Force">Spanish Air Force</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Moroccan_Air_Force" title="Royal Moroccan Air Force">Royal Moroccan Air Force</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Number built</span></th> <td>>720</td> </tr>
<tr> <th><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Developed from</span></th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_III" title="Dassault Mirage III">Dassault Mirage III</a></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>The <b>Dassault Mirage F1</b> is a French air-superiority fighter and attack aircraft designed and built by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Aviation" title="Dassault Aviation">Dassault Aviation</a> as a successor of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_III" title="Dassault Mirage III">Mirage III</a> family. The Mirage F1 entered service in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Air_Force" title="French Air Force">French Air Force</a> (<i>Armée de l'Air</i>) in the early seventies. Powered by a single <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SNECMA_Atar" title="SNECMA Atar">SNECMA Atar</a> turbojet providing about 7 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilogram-force" title="Kilogram-force">tonnes-force</a> (69 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton_%28unit%29" title="Newton (unit)">kN</a>; 15,000 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound-force" title="Pound-force">lbf</a>) of thrust, the F1 has been used as a light multipurpose fighter and has been exported to about a dozen nations. More than 700 F1s have been produced.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup> Among the third generation European supersonic fighter (i.e., among those built in the sixties and early seventies) the F1 was the most successful, most significantly because almost all of its users have used it in wars and regional conflicts.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2> <span class="mw-headline" id="Design_and_development">Design and development</span></h2>Dassault designed the Mirage F1 as a private venture, using its own funds, as a successor to its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_III" title="Dassault Mirage III">Mirage III</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_5" title="Dassault Mirage 5">Mirage 5</a> fighters, with the F1 being a smaller version of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F2" title="Dassault Mirage F2">Mirage F2</a> being developed for the French Air Force. It was of similar size to the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta-wing" title="Delta-wing">delta-winged</a> Mirage III and V, and was powered by a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SNECMA_Atar" title="SNECMA Atar">SNECMA Atar</a> 9K <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbojet" title="Turbojet">turbojet</a> as used in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_IV" title="Dassault Mirage IV">Dassault Mirage IV</a>, but unlike its predecessors, it shared the layout of a swept wing mounted high on the fuselage and a conventional tail surface as used by the F2.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p50-1_1-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p50-1-1">[2]</a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mirage_F1_France.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="148" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Mirage_F1_France.jpg/220px-Mirage_F1_France.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mirage_F1_France.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>French Air Force Mirage F1</div></div></div>The first prototype made its maiden flight on 23 December 1966. Despite the prototype crashing on 18 May 1967 due to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroelasticity" title="Aeroelasticity">flutter</a>, killing its pilot, an order for three prototypes was placed on 26 May 1967, the larger and more expensive F2 being abandoned.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p50-1_1-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p50-1-1">[2]</a></sup><br />
Although it has a smaller wingspan than the Mirage III, the F1 nevertheless proved to be clearly superior to its predecessor. It can carry up to 43% more fuel, has a shorter take-off run and better maneuverability.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p53-4_2-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p53-4-2">[3]</a></sup><br />
In order to comply with the French Air Force's requirement for an all-weather interceptor, the first production <b>Mirage F1C</b> was equipped with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomson-CSF" title="Thomson-CSF">Thomson-CSF</a> Cyrano IV monopulse <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar" title="Radar">radar</a>. The later Cyrano IV-1 version added a limited look-down capability.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p56_3-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p56-3">[4]</a></sup> However Mirage F1 pilots reported that the radar can easily overheat, reducing its efficiency.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from October 2010">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> First deliveries to the French Air Force took place in May 1973, entering squadron service with EC 2/30 <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandie-Niemen" title="Normandie-Niemen">Normandie-Niemen</a></i> in December that year.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jack_Mirage_p85_4-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-Jack_Mirage_p85-4">[5]</a></sup> Initially, the aircraft was armed with two internal 30 mm cannons, and a single <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matra_R530" title="Matra R530">Matra R530</a> medium-range <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air-to-air_missile" title="Air-to-air missile">air-to-air missiles</a> carried under the fuselage.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jack_Mirage_p89_5-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-Jack_Mirage_p89-5">[6]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p72_6-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p72-6">[7]</a></sup> It was replaced after 1979, when the improved <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_530" title="Super 530">Matra Super 530 F</a> entered into service with the French Air Force.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-7">[8]</a></sup> In 1977, the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R550_Magic" title="R550 Magic">R550 Magic</a> was released. The F1 has these missiles mounted on rails on the wingtips. Around the same time, the American <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM-9_Sidewinder" title="AIM-9 Sidewinder">AIM-9 Sidewinder</a> became part of the Mirage F1's armament, after the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Air_Force" title="Spanish Air Force">Spanish</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenic_Air_Force" title="Hellenic Air Force">Hellenic Air Forces</a> requested integration of the Sidewinder on their own <b>Mirage F1CE and CG</b> fighters.<br />
The 79 aircraft of the next production run were delivered during the period March 1977 to December 1983. These were of the <b>Mirage F1C-200</b> version with a fixed refuelling probe, which required an extension of the fuselage by 7 cm.<br />
The Mirage F1 served as the main interceptor of the French Air Force until the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_2000" title="Dassault Mirage 2000">Dassault Mirage 2000</a> entered service.<br />
<h2> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Variants">Variants</span></h2><h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Mirage_F1A">Mirage F1A</span></h3>Single-seat ground-attack fighter aircraft, with limited daylight-only air-to-air capability. Fitted with lightweight EMD AIDA 2 ranging radar instead of Cyrano IV of other variants, with laser rangefinder under nose, retractible refuelling probe and more fuel.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p70_8-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p70-8">[9]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jack_Mirage_p82_9-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-Jack_Mirage_p82-9">[10]</a></sup> Developed in concert between the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Air_Force" title="South African Air Force">SAAF</a> and Dassault.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from June 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup><br />
<ul><li>Mirage F1AD : Mirage F1A for Libya. 16 delivered 1978–1979.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p91_10-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p91-10">[11]</a></sup></li>
<li>Mirage F1AZ : F1A for South Africa. 32 delivered 1975–1976.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p93_11-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p93-11">[12]</a></sup></li>
</ul><h3> <span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Mirage_F1B">Mirage F1B</span></h3>The French Air Force also ordered 20 Mirage F1B, a two-seat operational conversion trainer; these were delivered between October 1980 and March 1983.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p78_12-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p78-12">[13]</a></sup> The extra seat and controls added only 30 cm (12 in) to the length of the fuselage, but at the cost of less internal fuel capacity and the loss of the internal cannon.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p72_6-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p72-6">[7]</a></sup><br />
The empty weight increased by 200 kg (440 lb),<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p72_6-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p72-6">[7]</a></sup> partly due to the addition of two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin-Baker" title="Martin-Baker">Martin-Baker</a> Mk 10 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-zero_ejection_seat" title="Zero-zero ejection seat">zero-zero ejection seats</a>, in place of the Mk 4 used in the F1C, which had a forward speed limitation.<br />
In all other aspects the F1B is a combat-capable aircraft and it can compensate for the lack of internal space by carrying external cannon pods and fuel tanks.<br />
<ul><li>Mirage F1BD : Export version of the Mirage F1D for Libya. Six delivered 1978–1979.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p91_10-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p91-10">[11]</a></sup></li>
<li>Mirage F1BE : Mirage F1B for Spain, local designation CE.14A. Six delivered 1980–1981.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p94_13-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p94-13">[14]</a></sup></li>
<li>Mirage F1BJ : Mirage F1B for Jordan. Two built.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p90_14-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p90-14">[15]</a></sup></li>
<li>Mirage F1BK : Export version of the Mirage F1B for Kuwait. Two built.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p91_10-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p91-10">[11]</a></sup></li>
<li>Mirage F1BK-2 : Multi-role two-seater for Kuwait, equivalent to F1Dl. Four built.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p91_10-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p91-10">[11]</a></sup></li>
<li>Mirage F1BQ : Two-seat trainer for Iraq, some of which fitted with dummy flight refuelling probe. 18 ordered of which 15 were delivered between 1980 and 1989.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_717_p89_15-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_717_p89-15">[16]</a></sup></li>
</ul><h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Mirage_F1C">Mirage F1C</span></h3><ul><li>Mirage F1CE : Export version of the Mirage F1C for Spain, with local designation C.14A. 45 purchased in three batches, delivered between 1975 and 1981.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p94_13-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p94-13">[14]</a></sup></li>
<li>Mirage F1CG : Export version of the Mirage F1C for Greece. 40 built, which were delivered between 1975 and 1978.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p88_16-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p88-16">[17]</a></sup></li>
<li>Mirage F1CH : Export version of the Mirage F1C for Morocco. 30 built, delivered 1978–1979.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p92_17-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p92-17">[18]</a></sup></li>
<li>Mirage F1CJ : Export version of the Mirage F1C for Jordan. 17 built.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p90_14-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p90-14">[15]</a></sup></li>
<li>Mirage F1CK : Export version of the Mirage F1C for Kuwait. 18 built and delivered 1976–1977. Later upgraded to CK-2 standard.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p91_10-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p91-10">[11]</a></sup></li>
<li>Mirage F1CK-2 : Nine multi-role aircraft, equivalent to F-1E, were sold to Kuwait as part of a follow up order.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p91_10-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p91-10">[11]</a></sup></li>
<li>Mirage F1CZ : Export version of the Mirage F1C for South Africa. 16 delivered 1974–1975, with two further aircraft received to replace aircraft lost in a February 1979 collision.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p93-4_18-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p93-4-18">[19]</a></sup></li>
</ul><h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Mirage_F1D">Mirage F1D</span></h3>Two-seat training version, based on the Mirage F1E multi-role fighter, ground-attack aircraft.<br />
<ul><li>Mirage F1JE : Export version of the Mirage F1D for Ecuador. Two built.</li>
<li>Mirage F1DDA : Export version of the Mirage F1D for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar" title="Qatar">Qatar</a>. Two built.</li>
</ul><h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Mirage_F1E">Mirage F1E</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MirageF1_Libya.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="72" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/MirageF1_Libya.jpg/220px-MirageF1_Libya.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MirageF1_Libya.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Mirage F1ED of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libyan_Air_Force" title="Libyan Air Force">Libyan Air Force</a></div></div></div>Single-seat all-weather multi-role fighter and ground-attack aircraft.<br />
<ul><li>Mirage F1JA : Export version of the Mirage F1E for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuador" title="Ecuador">Ecuador</a>. 16 built.</li>
<li>Mirage F1ED : Export version of the Mirage F1E for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libya" title="Libya">Libya</a>. 16 built.</li>
<li>Mirage F1EE : Export version of the Mirage F1E for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain" title="Spain">Spain</a>. 22 built.</li>
<li>Mirage F1EH : Export version of the Mirage F1E for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morocco" title="Morocco">Morocco</a>. 14 built.</li>
<li>Mirage F1EH-200 : <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morocco" title="Morocco">Morocco</a> aircraft fitted with a flight refuelling probe. Six built.</li>
<li>Mirage F1EJ : Export version of the Mirage F1E for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan" title="Jordan">Jordan</a>. 17 built.</li>
<li>Mirage F1EQ : Export version of the Mirage F1E for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a>. 16 built.</li>
<li>Mirage F1EQ-2 : Single-seat air defence fighter version for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a>. 16 built.</li>
<li>Mirage F1EQ-4 : Single-seat multi-role fighter, ground-attack, reconnaissance version for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a>. 28 built.</li>
<li>Mirage F1EQ-5 : Single-seat anti-shipping version for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a>. 20 built.</li>
<li>Mirage F1EQ-6 : Single-seat anti-shipping version for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a>. 30 built.</li>
<li>Mirage F1EDA : Export version of the Mirage F1E for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar" title="Qatar">Qatar</a>. 12 built.</li>
</ul><h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Mirage_F1CG">Mirage F1CG</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:20081109-LGTG-MirageF1CG-124.JPG"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="165" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/20081109-LGTG-MirageF1CG-124.JPG/220px-20081109-LGTG-MirageF1CG-124.JPG" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:20081109-LGTG-MirageF1CG-124.JPG" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Hellenic Air Force Mirage F1CG</div></div></div>Greece operated 40 Dassault Mirage F1CG single seat aircraft. F1CG was first ordered in 1974 and entered service with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenic_Air_Force" title="Hellenic Air Force">Hellenic Air Force</a> in 1975<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-greekf175_19-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-greekf175-19">[20]</a></sup> The aircraft were used by 334 Squadron and 342 Squadron.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-f1cg342mira_20-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-f1cg342mira-20">[21]</a></sup> Mirage F1CG was armed with the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidewinder_AIM-9" title="Sidewinder AIM-9">Sidewinder AIM-9</a>P missile, rather than the most commonly used <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matra_Magic_II" title="Matra Magic II">Matra Magic II</a>, and it could carry four AIM-9Ps, rather than just two.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-greekf175_19-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-greekf175-19">[20]</a></sup><br />
The Hellenic Air Force retired the remaining 27 Mirage F1CGs on 30 June 2003 after 28 years of service and 160 000 flying hours.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-greekf175_19-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-greekf175-19">[20]</a></sup> A number of F1CG aircraft have been preserved in non-flying condition for display. At least four are preserved in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanagra" title="Tanagra">Tanagra</a> (LGTG), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece" title="Greece">Greece</a> (115, 124, 129 and 140).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tanagraf1cg_21-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-tanagraf1cg-21">[22]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-f1cg140_22-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-f1cg140-22">[23]</a></sup> One more (134) is preserved at HAF History Department, Delta Falirou.<br />
<h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Mirage_F1CR">Mirage F1CR</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MirageF1CR-647.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="124" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/MirageF1CR-647.jpg/220px-MirageF1CR-647.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MirageF1CR-647.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>French Air Force F1CR in 2009</div></div></div><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Frenchairforce_dassault_mirage_f1_arp.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="148" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Frenchairforce_dassault_mirage_f1_arp.jpg/220px-Frenchairforce_dassault_mirage_f1_arp.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Frenchairforce_dassault_mirage_f1_arp.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>French Air Force Mirage F1 at <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAT" title="RIAT">RIAT</a> 2009</div></div></div>When it became clear that the Mirage F1 was becoming a successful production aircraft, Dassault began investigating the possibility of a dedicated reconnaissance version for its most important client, the French Air Force. However, the escalating cost of fighter aircraft meant that add-on pods for this purpose were a more economical alternative.<br />
Many French Air Force aircraft, as well as those of some export clients (such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a>'s <b>Mirage F1EQ</b>), did indeed have a variety of reconnaissance pods available, which were attached to the underside of the main fuselage.<br />
However, the development of a tactical reconnaissance aircraft for the French Air Force continued, and the first <b>Mirage F1CR-200</b> flew on 20 November 1981.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jackson_AI_p129_23-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-Jackson_AI_p129-23">[24]</a></sup><br />
The Mirage F1CR carries reconnaissance equipment, internally and externally:<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AI_Jun98_p378_24-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-AI_Jun98_p378-24">[25]</a></sup><br />
<ul><li>A SAT SCM2400 Super Cyclone <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared" title="Infrared">infrared</a> linescan unit is installed in the space previously occupied by the port cannon.</li>
<li>A space under the nose can be used for a Thomson-TRT 40 panoramic camera or a Thomson-TRT 33 vertical camera.</li>
<li>The Cyrano IVM-R radar has extra ground- and contour-mapping modules.</li>
<li>A variety of sensors can be carried in external pods carried under the fuselage centreline. These include the <i>Raphaël TH</i> Side-Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR), the <i>ASTAC</i> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELINT" title="ELINT">ELINT</a> pod and the RP35P optical reconnaissance pod.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AI_Jun98_p379-0_25-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-AI_Jun98_p379-0-25">[26]</a></sup></li>
</ul>A total of 64 Mirage F1CRs were ordered by the French Air Force.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p78_12-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p78-12">[13]</a></sup> The first air force unit equipped with the CR was <i>Escadron de Reconnaissance</i> 2/33 which became operational in September 1983.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p86_26-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p86-26">[27]</a></sup><br />
<h3> <span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Mirage_F1CT">Mirage F1CT</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mirage_F1CT_2-30_Normandie-Niemen.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="159" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Mirage_F1CT_2-30_Normandie-Niemen.jpg/220px-Mirage_F1CT_2-30_Normandie-Niemen.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mirage_F1CT_2-30_Normandie-Niemen.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Mirage F1CT "30-QS" from 2/30</div></div></div>The <b>Mirage F1CT</b> is a ground attack version of the Mirage F1C-200. Following their replacement in the air defence role by the Mirage 2000, the French Air Force had a number of surplus Mirage F1C-200s, and in 1988 it launched a conversion programme to turn these aircraft into interim ground attack aircraft to replace elderly Mirage IIIEs and Mirage Vs.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p71_27-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p71-27">[28]</a></sup> The Mirage F1CT program brought the avionics of the F1C up to the standard of the F1CR, with the radar upgraded with the additional air-to-ground modes of the Cyrano IVM-R, an improved navigation/attack system fitted, with a laser rangefinder fitted under the nose. It was fitted with new Mk 10 ejection seats, while improved radar detection and warning devices, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaff_%28countermeasure%29" title="Chaff (countermeasure)">chaff</a>/flare dispensers, and secure radios were also added.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p64-7.2C1_28-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p64-7.2C1-28">[29]</a></sup> It gained the ability to carry a variety of air-to-ground weapons, including rockets, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_bomb" title="Cluster bomb">cluster bombs</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser-guided_bomb" title="Laser-guided bomb">laser-guided bombs</a>, while retaining the F1Cs air-to-air armament.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-IAPR1_p23-4_29-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-IAPR1_p23-4-29">[30]</a></sup><br />
Two prototypes were converted by Dassault, the first flying on 3 May 1991, with a further 55 converted by the workshops of the French Air Force at <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clermont_Ferrand" title="Clermont Ferrand">Clermont Ferrand</a> by 1995.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p71_27-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p71-27">[28]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-IAPR1_p24_30-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-IAPR1_p24-30">[31]</a></sup><br />
<h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Mirage_F1AZ_and_F1CZ">Mirage F1AZ and F1CZ</span></h3><table class="metadata plainlinks ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove"><tbody>
<tr> <td class="mbox-image"><div style="width: 52px;"> <img alt="" height="39" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png" width="50" /></div></td> <td class="mbox-text">This section <b>needs additional <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#Inline_citations" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">citations</a> for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">verification</a></b>. Please help <a class="external text" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dassault_Mirage_F1&action=edit" rel="nofollow">improve this article</a> by adding citations to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Identifying_reliable_sources" title="Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources">reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Citation_needed" title="Template:Citation needed">challenged</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Burden_of_evidence" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">removed</a>. <small><i>(August 2009)</i></small></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Air_Force" title="South African Air Force">South African Air Force</a> (SAAF) flew both the Mirage F1AZ ground-attack version as well as the radar-equipped <b>Mirage F1CZ</b> fighter.<br />
The first two examples of the first order (48 aircraft, comprising 32 F1AZ and 16 F1CZ) were delivered on 5 April 1975. Both of these F1CZs were transported under a blanket of secrecy by a SAAF <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-130_Hercules" title="C-130 Hercules">C-130 Hercules</a>. In July of the same year, the remainder of the F1CZs were delivered, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_Squadron_SAAF" title="3 Squadron SAAF">3 Squadron</a> was re-commissioned to operate the aircraft from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFB_Waterkloof" title="AFB Waterkloof">AFB Waterkloof</a>. In 1975 the F1CZs also appeared at a South African airshow, but the public wasn't informed that the aircraft were already operational in the SAAF.<br />
The F1AZ was developed in conjunction with <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault" title="Dassault">Dassault</a> and the SAAF as a dedicated ground attack variant. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramount_Group" title="Paramount Group">Paramount Group</a>, a South African based company owns the intellectual property for the Mirage F1AZ. The AZ variant has a laser-based rangefinder, permitting extremely accurate fusing and aiming of unguided munitions, which consist of bombs and rockets. Optical design was by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armscor_%28South_Africa%29" title="Armscor (South Africa)">Armscor</a> in South Africa, by the Optics (later ELOPTRO) division of that company. Despite their retirement in 1997, the accuracy of the F1AZ's armament delivery is still considered classified information by the SAAF, but observer analysis by informed news services (e.g., <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane%27s_Defence_Weekly" title="Jane's Defence Weekly">Jane's Defence Weekly</a></i>) and pilot reports (e.g., Commandant Dick Lord, 'Vlamgat', 1999) conclude that the AZ variant has accuracies within the order disclosed by the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USAF" title="USAF">USAF</a> for their <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-15E_Strike_Eagle" title="F-15E Strike Eagle">F-15E Strike Eagle</a> in unguided ballistic mode.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-31">[32]</a></sup><br />
The F1AZs were delivered between November 1975 and October 1976. They were assigned to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_Squadron_SAAF" title="1 Squadron SAAF">1 Squadron</a>, stationed at AFB Waterkloof.<br />
The SAAF retired the F1CZs in 1992, followed by the F1AZs in 1997. In 1998, the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Stellenbosch" title="University of Stellenbosch">University of Stellenbosch</a> acquired and retains F1CZ for its Mechanical (Aeronautical) Engineering department, for the education of engineering students in supersonic alloy structures.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from March 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup><br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_the_Witwatersrand" title="University of the Witwatersrand">University of the Witwatersrand</a> acquired a Mirage F1 CZ in March 1999. This Mirage was special as it was the combination of two Mirage CZ's, numbers 205 and 206. 206 was damaged after action with a Mig-23 in Angola, and 205 caught fire during landing. The rear half of 206 was mated with the front half of 205 to create a new aircraft, affectionately known as CZ 205 and a half. It now lives at the Engineering Department at Wits University, for use by its Aeronautical Engineering students.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from March 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup><br />
<div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Miragef1aerosud.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="75" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e9/Miragef1aerosud.jpg/220px-Miragef1aerosud.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Miragef1aerosud.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Aerosud Mirage F1 AAD2006</div></div></div>As an upgrade program for the SAAF, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerosud" title="Aerosud">Aerosud</a>, a South African aero-engineering concern, equipped a Mirage F1 with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klimov_RD-33" title="Klimov RD-33">Klimov RD-33</a> engine, the same engine used in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan_MiG-29" title="Mikoyan MiG-29">MiG-29</a>. This development was dubbed the "SuperMirage" F1, and held the distinction of being the first Western aircraft to perform a display at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAKS_Airshow" title="MAKS Airshow">MAKS Airshow</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow" title="Moscow">Moscow</a>.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from March 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup><br />
In 2004 up to 21 F1AZs were reported in storage at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFB_Hoedspruit" title="AFB Hoedspruit">AFB Hoedspruit</a>, awaiting a possible buyer. In April 2006, it was reported that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerosud" title="Aerosud">Aerosud</a> had purchased the surviving Mirage F1AZs and spares. On 17 August 2006, French news agency <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agence_France-Presse" title="Agence France-Presse">Agence France-Presse</a></i> (AFP) reported that two upgraded ex-South African F1AZs had taken part in a fly-past over Libreville earlier that day in celebration of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabon" title="Gabon">Gabon's</a> independence day. The refurbishment and upgrade of the aircraft was carried out by Aerosud. Aerosud Group managing director Dr. Paul Potgieter confirmed his company's involvement, but declined to give numbers or cite figures. It was also reported at that time that Gabon had only bought 3 Mirage F1's from South Africa. However it was later noted that the Gabonese government bought 4 Mirage F1AZ's in total.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from March 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup><br />
The F1AZ features an integrated ground-attack system, comprising two on-board computers that enable the pilot to identify targets at a distance of 5 km. These computers are connected to a laser range finder, situated below its conical nose. This device provides the computers – and the pilot - with target info without the emission of radar signals. After identifying the target and obtaining the necessary information, bombs are automatically released at the right moment.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from March 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup><br />
While the range-finding ability of the aircraft’s EMD AIDA 2 radar unit permits it to operate combat and visual interception missiles, the helmet-mounted sight element enables the pilot to make bore attacks, without having to wait until he has reached the best firing position.<br />
The F1AZ is equipped with two internal DEFA 30mm cannons with 125 rounds each, and carries a wide variety of external ordnance, which includes various types of bombs, cluster munitions, missiles, and rocket launchers. The most common configuration is however six MK81 or MK82 bombs, together with two Kentron Kukri V3b or V3c missiles on the wingtip rails.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from March 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup><br />
<h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Mirage_F1M-53">Mirage F1M-53</span></h3>Developed for the participation in the "European" NATO fighter competition of early seventies, seeking to replace the F-104G. It was equipped with a more powerful engine, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snecma_M53" title="Snecma M53">SNECMA M-53</a>, and other improvements. Failed to succeed, the contest was eventually won by the General Dynamics F-16. The Mirage F.1 came in second place<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-32">[33]</a></sup><br />
<h2> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Operational_history">Operational history</span></h2>Due to the success of the Mirage F1 in the export market, the airplane has seen combat with a number of air forces in various places around the world.<br />
<h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="France">France</span></h3>French Air Force Mirage F1s saw their first operational deployment in 1984 during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Manta" title="Operation Manta">Operation Manta</a>, the French intervention in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad" title="Chad">Chad</a>, to counter growing <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chadian-Libyan_conflict" title="Chadian-Libyan conflict">Libyan encroachment</a>. Four Mirage F1C-200s provided air cover for a force of four <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEPECAT_Jaguar" title="SEPECAT Jaguar">Jaguars</a>, and took part in skirmishes against the pro-Libyan <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transitional_Government_of_National_Unity" title="Transitional Government of National Unity">GUNT</a> rebels.<br />
In 1986, French Mirage F1s returned to Chad, as part of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Epervier" title="Operation Epervier">Operation Epervier</a>, with four F1C-200s providing fighter cover for a strike package of eight Jaguars during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouadi_Doum_air_raid" title="Ouadi Doum air raid">air raid</a> against the Libyan airbase at Ouadi Doum, on 16 February. Two F1CRs also flew pre and post-strike <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconnaissance" title="Reconnaissance">reconnaissance</a> missions.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Goebel_33-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-Goebel-33">[34]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-34">[35]</a></sup><br />
In response the Iraqi <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Kuwait" title="Invasion of Kuwait">invasion of Kuwait</a>, France made two deployments of Mirage F1s to the Gulf, with 12 Mirage F1Cs being deployed to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doha" title="Doha">Doha</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar" title="Qatar">Qatar</a> in October 1991 to boost air defences, while four Mirage F1CRs of ER 33 deployed to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" title="Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a> as part of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Daguet" title="Operation Daguet">Operation Daguet</a> in September 1991.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p79_35-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p79-35">[36]</a></sup> To avoid the risk of being mistaken for Iraqi Mirage F1s, the French F1CRs were grounded during the first few days of the Allied air attacks, flying their first combat mission on 26 January 1991. They were used as fighter bombers, using their more capable navigation systems to lead formations of French <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEPECAT_Jaguar" title="SEPECAT Jaguar">Jaguar</a> fighter bombers, as well as to fly reconnaissance missions, flying 114 sorties by the end of hostilities.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p79_35-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p79-35">[36]</a></sup> Following the end of the Gulf war, France deployed Mirage F1CRs to Turkey as part of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Provide_Comfort" title="Operation Provide Comfort">Operation Provide Comfort</a> to protect Kurds from Iraqi aggression.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p79_35-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p79-35">[36]</a></sup><br />
In November 2004 and in response to an Ivorian air attack in French peacekeepers three Mirage F.1 jets attack Yamoussoukro airport and destroy two Su-25 aircrafts and three attack helicopters.<br />
In October 2007, three Mirage 2000s and three Mirage F1s were deployed at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandahar_International_Airport" title="Kandahar International Airport">Kandahar Air Force Base</a>, where they fly <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_air_support" title="Close air support">close air support</a> and tactical reconnaissance missions in support of international forces in Southern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan" title="Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-36">[37]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-37">[38]</a></sup><br />
In March 2011, Mirage F1CRs were deployed to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solenzara_Air_Base" title="Solenzara Air Base">Solenzara Air Base</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsica" title="Corsica">Corsica</a> and conducted reconnaissance missions over <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libya" title="Libya">Libya</a> (also a Mirage F1 operator) as part of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Op%C3%A9ration_Harmattan" title="Opération Harmattan">Opération Harmattan</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-MinDef11_38-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-MinDef11-38">[39]</a></sup><br />
<ul class="gallery"><li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px;"> <div style="margin: 15px auto;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F1Cweb.jpg"><img alt="" height="120" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/F1Cweb.jpg/84px-F1Cweb.jpg" width="84" /></a></div></div><div class="gallerytext"> Mirage F1C Armée de l'Air</div></div></li>
<li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px;"> <div style="margin: 15px auto;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F1Bweb.jpg"><img alt="" height="120" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/F1Bweb.jpg/84px-F1Bweb.jpg" width="84" /></a></div></div><div class="gallerytext"> Mirage F1B Armée de l'Air</div></div></li>
<li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px;"> <div style="margin: 15px auto;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F1CTweb.jpg"><img alt="" height="120" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/F1CTweb.jpg/84px-F1CTweb.jpg" width="84" /></a></div></div><div class="gallerytext"> Mirage F1CT Armée de l'Air</div></div></li>
<li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px;"> <div style="margin: 15px auto;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F1CRweb.jpg"><img alt="" height="120" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/F1CRweb.jpg/84px-F1CRweb.jpg" width="84" /></a></div></div><div class="gallerytext"> Mirage F1CR Armée de l'Air</div></div></li>
</ul><h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Ecuador">Ecuador</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mirage_F.1JA.JPG"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="91" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Mirage_F.1JA.JPG/220px-Mirage_F.1JA.JPG" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mirage_F.1JA.JPG" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Mirage F-1 registration Ecuadorian FAE-806</div></div></div>The Ecuadorian Air Force's (FAE) squadron of Mirage F1JAs (<i>Escuadrón de Caza 2112</i>) first entered combat in January–February 1981 during the brief <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paquisha_War" title="Paquisha War">Paquisha War</a> between <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuador" title="Ecuador">Ecuador</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peru" title="Peru">Peru</a>, less than two years after the aircraft had been delivered to the FAE. At that time, the Ecuadorians decided against directly challenging the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peruvian_Air_Force" title="Peruvian Air Force">Peruvian Air Force</a> (abbreviated FAP), whose <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_5" title="Dassault Mirage 5">Mirage 5Ps</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-17" title="Sukhoi Su-17">Sukhoi Su-22Ms</a> were providing air cover to the Peruvian heliborne operations in the combat zone. Instead, the Mirages were kept at a distance, performing combat air patrols (CAPs) on the fringes of the combat area, in case the border clashes gave way to open hostilities. Peruvian <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-22" title="Sukhoi Su-22">Sukhoi Su-22</a> were spotted once, and an air-to-air missile was launched, but failed to strike the Sukhoi.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAPJ_17_p88_16-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-WAPJ_17_p88-16">[17]</a></sup><br />
In 1995, during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenepa_War" title="Cenepa War">Cenepa War</a>, the Ecuadorian Mirages went back into action against Peru. This time, while the bulk of the squadron was kept back at Taura AFB, a small detachment of Mirage F1s and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAI_Kfir" title="IAI Kfir">Kfir C.2s</a> was deployed to a forward air base to dissuade Peruvian attack aircraft from entering the combat zone. On 10 February 1995, two Mirage F1JAs, piloted by Maj. R. Banderas and Capt. C. Uzcátegui and armed with Matra <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R550_Magic" title="R550 Magic">R550 Magic</a> AAMs, were directed over five targets approaching the disputed Cenepa valley. After making visual contact, the Mirages fired their missiles, claiming two Peruvian Su-22Ms shot down, while a Kfir claimed a further <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-37_Dragonfly" title="A-37 Dragonfly">A-37B Dragonfly</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-39">[40]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-40">[41]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-41">[42]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-42">[43]</a></sup> Peru, however, denied that the two Sukhois Su-22Ms were shot down by Mirages, stating that one was lost due to being struck by Ecuadorian <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-aircraft_artillery" title="Anti-aircraft artillery">anti-aircraft artillery</a> during a low flying ground-attack mission, with the second Sukhoi was lost because of an engine fire.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-43">[44]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-44">[45]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-45">[46]</a></sup><br />
<h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Iraq">Iraq</span></h3>During the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran-Iraq_war" title="Iran-Iraq war">Iran-Iraq war</a>, Iraq's Mirage F1EQs were used intensively for interception, ground attack and anti-shipping missions.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-46">[47]</a></sup> In November 1981, an Iraqi Mirage F1 accounted for the first Iranian F-14 to be shot down, followed by several more in the following months, giving the previously timid Iraqi Airforce new confidence in air-to-air combat engagements with the Iranians.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-47">[48]</a></sup><br />
On 17 May 1987, an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_Air_Force" title="Iraqi Air Force">Iraqi Air Force</a> pilot flying an F1EQ fired two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exocet" title="Exocet">Exocet</a> anti-ship missiles into the U.S. <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guided_missile_frigate" title="Guided missile frigate">guided missile frigate</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Stark_%28FFG-31%29" title="USS Stark (FFG-31)">USS <i>Stark</i> (FFG-31)</a> in the Persian Gulf.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-48">[49]</a></sup><br />
In the opening minutes of the Gulf War on 17 January 1991, an unarmed USAF <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EF-111" title="EF-111">EF-111</a>, crewed by Captain James A. Denton and Captain <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brent_Brandon" title="Brent Brandon">Brent D. Brandon</a> scored a kill against an Iraqi Dassault Mirage F1EQ, which they managed to maneuver into the ground, making it the only <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynamics_F-111" title="General Dynamics F-111">F-111</a> to achieve an aerial victory over another aircraft. According to Iraqi sources, Mirage F-1EQ piloted by Najim Abdullah Al-Jubouri didn't crash, but managed to hit the F-111 with Magic missile. Probably an early detonation of missile have confused pilots as both sides claim victory.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from May 2008">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup><br />
Coalition forces shot down several Iraq Mirages during the 1991 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War" title="Gulf War">Gulf War</a>. Two F1EQs preparing to carry out an Beluga cluster bomb attack on Saudi oil facilities were shot down by a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Saudi_Air_Force" title="Royal Saudi Air Force">Royal Saudi Air Force</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_F-15_Eagle" title="McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle">F-15C</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-49"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-49">[50]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-50"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-50">[51]</a></sup><br />
<h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Morocco">Morocco</span></h3>30 Mirage F1CHs and 20 Mirage F1EHs were ordered from Dassault by the Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) in 1975, with the first deliveries taking place in 1978. They were engaged in combat as soon as 1979 against the forces of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polisario_Front" title="Polisario Front">Polisario Front</a> operating in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Sahara" title="Western Sahara">Western Sahara</a>.<br />
<h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="South_Africa">South Africa</span></h3>Both the F1CZ and F1AZ variants of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Air_Force" title="South African Air Force">SAAF</a> saw action during operations in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Border_War" title="South African Border War">Border War</a>.<br />
F1CZs of 3 Squadron downed two Angolan <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiG-21" title="MiG-21">MiG-21s</a> in 1981 and 1982. On 6 November 1981, during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Daisy" title="Operation Daisy">Operation Daisy</a>, two F1CZs were vectored by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground-controlled_interception" title="Ground-controlled interception">GCI</a> to intercept two MiG-21s heading south. Major <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Johan_Rankin&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Johan Rankin (page does not exist)">Johan Rankin</a> shot down the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wingman" title="Wingman">wingman</a> using cannons. On 5 October 1982, while escorting a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Electric_Canberra" title="English Electric Canberra">Canberra</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12_Squadron_SAAF" title="12 Squadron SAAF">12 Squadron</a> on a photo-reconnaissance sortie, Major Rankin and his wingman engaged two MiG-21s on an intercept course. He fired two Magic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air-to-air_missile" title="Air-to-air missile">AAMs</a> at one of the MiGs, damaging the aircraft with the second missile. The MiG was able to recover back to base but sustained additional damage in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belly_landing" title="Belly landing">belly landing</a>. Rankin then attacked the second MiG and destroyed it with cannon fire.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-vlamgat_51-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-vlamgat-51">[52]</a></sup><br />
Two F1AZs of 1 Squadron were lost over Angola. On 20 February 1988, while flying an interdiction sortie against a road convoy during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Hooper" title="Operation Hooper">Operation Hooper</a>, Major Ed Every was shot down by a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9K35_Strela-10" title="9K35 Strela-10">SA-13 Gopher</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface-to-Air_Missile" title="Surface-to-Air Missile">SAM</a>. Almost a month later, on 19 March, Captain Willie van Coppenhagen flew into the ground when returning from a diversionary strike at night. The Board of Inquiry was unable to determine the causes of the crash.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-vlamgat_51-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-vlamgat-51">[52]</a></sup><br />
Two F1AZs and a single F1CZ were damaged by enemy action but were able to return to base.<br />
On 7 June 1980, while attacking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWAPO" title="SWAPO">SWAPO</a>'s Tobias Haneko Training Camp during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Sceptic" title="Operation Sceptic">Operation Sceptic (Smokeshell)</a>, Major Frans Pretorius and Captain IC du Plessis were both hit by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-125_Neva/Pechora" title="S-125 Neva/Pechora">SA-3 Goa</a> SAMs. Du Plessis' aircraft was hit in a fuel line and he had to perform a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadstick_landing" title="Deadstick landing">deadstick landing</a> at AFB Ondangwa. Pretorius's aircraft sustained heavier damage and had to divert to Ruacana forward airstrip, were he landed with only the main undercarriage extended. Both aircraft were repaired and returned to service.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-vlamgat_51-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-vlamgat-51">[52]</a></sup><br />
On 27 September 1987, during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Modular" title="Operation Modular">Operation Moduler</a>, an attempt was mounted to intercept two <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Air_Force#Air_and_Air_Defense_Force_.28DAAFAR.29" title="Cuban Air Force">Cuban FAR</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-23" title="Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23">MiG-23MLs</a>. Captain <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arthur_Piercy&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Arthur Piercy (page does not exist)">Arthur Piercy</a>'s F1CZ was damaged by either an <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vympel_R-23" title="Vympel R-23">AA-7 Apex</a> or <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molniya_R-60" title="Molniya R-60">AA-8 Aphid</a> AAM fired head-on by Major <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alberto_Ley_Rivas&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Alberto Ley Rivas (page does not exist)">Alberto Ley Rivas</a>. The explosion destroyed the aircraft's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drogue_parachute" title="Drogue parachute">drag chute</a> and damaged the hydraulics. Piercy was able to recover to AFB Rundu, but the aircraft overshot the runway. The impact with the rough terrain caused Piercy's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ejection_seat" title="Ejection seat">ejection seat</a> to fire; he failed to separate from the seat and suffered major spinal injuries.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-vlamgat_51-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-vlamgat-51">[52]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-52"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-52">[53]</a></sup><br />
The SAAF lost an additional six F1AZs and three F1CZs to various mishaps. F1CZ 205 caught fire after landing and was repaired using the tail section of F1CZ 206 (Piercy's aircraft).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-vlamgat_51-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-vlamgat-51">[52]</a></sup><br />
<h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Spain">Spain</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ejercito_del_Aire_Mirage_F.1M.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="124" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Ejercito_del_Aire_Mirage_F.1M.jpg/220px-Ejercito_del_Aire_Mirage_F.1M.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ejercito_del_Aire_Mirage_F.1M.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Spanish Air Force F.1M at <i>Kecskeméti Repülőnap 2010</i>.</div></div></div>With 33 years of first-line service since 1975 within the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Air_Force" title="Spanish Air Force">Spanish Air Force</a> and earning itself ever since the role of primary interceptor for Early Warning missions due to its great performance (reaching mach 2.2), the Mirage F1 is a seasoned but still perfectly capable and reliable veteran that has been updated to the newest available standards but is unavoidably coming closer to the end of its active duty lifespan, and will eventually be replaced by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurofighter_Typhoon" title="Eurofighter Typhoon">Eurofighter Typhoon</a> (C-16 in the Spanish Air Force code).<br />
The Mirage F1 is currently flown by the Ala 14 (14th Wing) based in Albacete, and has been flown in the past by the Ala 11 (11th Wing) based in Manises, Valencia and by the Ala 46 (46th Wing) based in Gando, Canary Islands.<br />
The Wing operating the type now, Ala 14, is (as of February 2009) composed by 38 aircraft of the F1M model divided in Escuadrón 141 (141st Squadron) "Patanes" and Escuadrón 142 (142nd Squadron) "Tigres". Ala 14 reached 180,000 flight hours with the F1 model in late 2007, which gives an idea of the unit's familiarization with the Abuela ("Grandma"), as it is dubbed by its pilots.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from October 2010">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> The features of the existing F1M's of the Ala 14 include intelligent 26" HUDs with integrated radar, HOTAS system, modernized Cyrano IVM radar for accurate ground-attack capability in four different modes, Night Vision Goggles compatibility, inertial navigator Sagem ULISS 47 and AIM-9 JULI Sidewinder compatibility among others.<br />
A total of 90 units of the Mirage F1's different versions have served with the Spanish Air Force over the years.<br />
These Mirage F1 have been deployed in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuania" title="Lithuania">Lithuania</a>, during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO" title="NATO">NATO</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Air_Policing" title="Baltic Air Policing">Baltic Air Policing</a> from July 2006 to November 2006, being scrambled twice to intercept undisclosed intruders.<br />
On 20 January 2009 two Spanish F1s from the 14th Wing crashed near their base, in Spain's south-eastern province of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albacete" title="Albacete">Albacete</a>, during a routine Spanish Air Force dogfight training mission, killing all three crew members. The wreckage of the two jets, including the remains of the aircrew, was found about 3 km (1.9 mi) apart.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-53"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-53">[54]</a></sup><br />
This accident has caused some sectors of the non-specialized media to broadcast allegedly misleading information about the Mirage F1's capabilities and claim for the substitution of the Mirage F1's based mostly on its age and in the existence of previous negotiations already initiated to sell the F1's to several foreign nations, ignoring the facts that the F1's will meet at 100% the NATO requirements for several more years and that collisions during mock dogfights/engagements are relatively common and inconsistent with the aircraft's age, as indicated by experts, who have also expressed to be reluctant to jump to conclusions before the accident investigation's findings by the JIAAC are finished and released to the public.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-54"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1#cite_note-54">[55]</a></sup><br />
<h3> <span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Libya">Libya</span></h3>One aircraft destroyed in fire. Two Libyan aircraft landed in Malta on the 21 February 2011 after they were ordered to bomb protesters in Benghazi. Both the pilots have claimed political asylum. Libya still maintains one operational aircraft but it is grounded due to the UN No-Fly zone.<br />
<br />
<h2> <span class="mw-headline" id="Operators">Operators</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 352px;"> <a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Current_and_former_operators_of_the_F1_no_legend.png"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="154" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Current_and_former_operators_of_the_F1_no_legend.png/350px-Current_and_former_operators_of_the_F1_no_legend.png" width="350" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"> <a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Current_and_former_operators_of_the_F1_no_legend.png" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>F1 operators, current (blue) and former (red)</div></div></div>Dassault Mirage F1 has been used by 13 air forces, with 8 of them still using it (including France). Out of these, 3 air forces have been European (2 still operating F1), 1 South American (still using it), 5 Middle Eastern (with 2 still flying the aircraft), and 4 African (3 still operating it).Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-77061587894475861152012-01-22T00:41:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:41:22.259-08:00Heckler & Koch UMP (Gun)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">Heckler & Koch UMP</h1><div id="siteSub"><br />
</div><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr class="hproduct"> <th class="fn" colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Heckler & Koch UMP</th> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HKUMP45.JPG"><img alt="HKUMP45.JPG" height="143" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/HKUMP45.JPG/300px-HKUMP45.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
The Heckler & Koch UMP45 with a vertical foregrip</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Type</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submachine_gun" title="Submachine gun">Submachine gun</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Place of origin</th> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany" title="Germany">Germany</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Service history</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Used by</th> <td>See <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#Users" title="Heckler & Koch UMP">Users</a></i></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Production history</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Designed</th> <td>1990s</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Manufacturer</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch" title="Heckler & Koch">Heckler & Koch</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Produced</th> <td>1999-present</td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Specifications</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Weight</th> <td>Without <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_%28firearms%29" title="Magazine (firearms)">magazine</a>:<br />
<ul><li>2.3 kg (5.2 lb) (<i>UMP9/UMP40</i>)</li>
<li>2.5 kg (5.4 lb) (<i>UMP45</i>)</li>
</ul><br />
With unloaded <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_%28firearms%29" title="Magazine (firearms)">magazine</a>:<br />
<ul><li>2.5 kg (5.5 lb) (<i>UMP9</i>)</li>
<li>2.55 kg (5.6 lb) (<i>UMP40</i>)</li>
<li>2.65 kg (5.8 lb) (<i>UMP45</i>)</li>
</ul></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Length</th> <td> <ul><li>450 mm (17.7 in), <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_%28firearm%29" title="Stock (firearm)">stock</a> folded</li>
<li>690 mm (27.2 in), stock extended</li>
</ul></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_barrel" title="Gun barrel">Barrel</a> length</th> <td>200 mm (8 in)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2"> <hr /></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartridge_%28firearms%29" title="Cartridge (firearms)">Cartridge</a></th> <td> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.45_ACP" title=".45 ACP">.45 ACP</a> (<i>UMP45</i>)</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.40_S%26W" title=".40 S&W">.40 S&W</a> (<i>UMP40</i>)</li>
<li><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x19mm_Parabellum" title="9x19mm Parabellum">9x19mm Parabellum</a> (<i>UMP9</i>)</li>
</ul></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_action" title="Firearm action">Action</a></th> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowback_operation" title="Blowback operation">Blowback</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_bolt" title="Closed bolt">closed bolt</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rate_of_fire" title="Rate of fire">Rate of fire</a></th> <td> <ul><li>650 rounds/min (<i>UMP9/UMP40</i>)</li>
<li>600 rounds/min (<i>UMP45</i>)</li>
</ul></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Effective range</th> <td> <ul><li>100 m (<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x19mm_Parabellum" title="9x19mm Parabellum">9x19mm Parabellum</a>)</li>
<li>50 m (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.45_ACP" title=".45 ACP">.45 ACP</a>)</li>
</ul></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Feed system</th> <td> <ul><li>30-round detachable box magazine (<i>UMP9/UMP40</i>)</li>
<li>25-round detachable box <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_%28firearm%29" title="Magazine (firearm)">magazine</a> (<i>UMP45</i>)</li>
</ul></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>The <b>UMP</b> (<i>Universale Maschinenpistole</i>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_language" title="German language">German</a> for "Universal Machine Pistol") is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submachine_gun" title="Submachine gun">submachine gun</a> developed and manufactured by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch" title="Heckler & Koch">Heckler & Koch</a>. The UMP has been adopted by various agencies such as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Customs_and_Border_Protection" title="U.S. Customs and Border Protection">U.S. Customs and Border Protection</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-humanevents_0-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-humanevents-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> Heckler & Koch developed the UMP as a successor to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP5" title="Heckler & Koch MP5">MP5</a>, though both remain in production.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Design_details">Design details</span></h2><div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_080818-N-3392B-001_A_Royal_Thai_Navy_SEAL_heads_toward_the_bridge_of_the_Military_Sealift_Command_Marine_Corps_container_roll-on-roll-off_ship_USNS_Cpl._Louis_J._Hauge,_Jr._%28T-AK_3011%29.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="330" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/US_Navy_080818-N-3392B-001_A_Royal_Thai_Navy_SEAL_heads_toward_the_bridge_of_the_Military_Sealift_Command_Marine_Corps_container_roll-on-roll-off_ship_USNS_Cpl._Louis_J._Hauge%2C_Jr._%28T-AK_3011%29.jpg/220px-US_Navy_080818-N-3392B-001_A_Royal_Thai_Navy_SEAL_heads_toward_the_bridge_of_the_Military_Sealift_Command_Marine_Corps_container_roll-on-roll-off_ship_USNS_Cpl._Louis_J._Hauge%2C_Jr._%28T-AK_3011%29.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_080818-N-3392B-001_A_Royal_Thai_Navy_SEAL_heads_toward_the_bridge_of_the_Military_Sealift_Command_Marine_Corps_container_roll-on-roll-off_ship_USNS_Cpl._Louis_J._Hauge,_Jr._%28T-AK_3011%29.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Thai_Navy_SEALs" title="Royal Thai Navy SEALs">Royal Thai Navy SEAL</a> with the UMP9 during a boarding exercise, August 2008.</div></div></div>The UMP is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowback" title="Blowback">blowback</a> operated, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_%28firearm%29" title="Magazine (firearm)">magazine-fed</a> submachine gun firing from a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_bolt" title="Closed bolt">closed bolt</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup> As originally designed, the UMP is chambered for larger <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartridge_%28firearms%29" title="Cartridge (firearms)">cartridges</a> than other submachine guns like the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP5" title="Heckler & Koch MP5">MP5</a>, to provide more <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stopping_power" title="Stopping power">stopping power</a> against unarmored targets (with a slightly lower effective range) than the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x19mm_Parabellum" title="9x19mm Parabellum">9x19mm</a> MP5 provides. A larger cartridge produces more recoil, and makes control more difficult in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_firearm" title="Automatic firearm">fully automatic</a> firing. To mitigate this, the cyclic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rate_of_fire" title="Rate of fire">rate of fire</a> was reduced to 650 rounds/min (600 rounds/min for the UMP45), which makes it one of the slower firing submachine guns on the market.<br />
The UMP9 (the 9x19mm version of the UMP) is almost 0.2 kg (almost .5 lb) lighter than its MP5 counterpart. Its predominantly <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer" title="Polymer">polymer</a> construction reduces both its weight and the number of parts susceptible to corrosion.<br />
The UMP is available in four trigger group configurations, featuring different combinations of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-automatic_firearm" title="Semi-automatic firearm">semi-automatic</a>, 2-round burst, fully automatic, and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_%28firearm%29" title="Safety (firearm)">safe</a> settings. It features a side-folding <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_%28firearm%29" title="Stock (firearm)">buttstock</a> to reduce its length during transport. When the last round of the UMP is fired, the bolt locks open, and can be released via a catch on the left side. The standard viewing sights comprise an <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_sights#Aperture_sights" title="Iron sights">aperture</a> rear sight and a front ring with a vertical post. It can mount four <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picatinny_rail" title="Picatinny rail">Picatinny rails</a> (one on top of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Receiver_%28firearms%29" title="Receiver (firearms)">receiver</a>, and one on the right, left, and the bottom of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forearm_%28firearm_component%29" title="Forearm (firearm component)">handguard</a>) for the attachment of accessories such as optical sights, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashlight" title="Flashlight">flashlights</a>, or <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_applications#Laser_sight" title="Laser applications">laser sights</a>. Vertical foregrips can be attached to the bottom rail for increased controllability during burst and automatic fire.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Variants">Variants</span></h2>There are three versions of the UMP: the <b>UMP45</b>, firing a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.45_ACP" title=".45 ACP">.45 ACP</a> cartridge; the <b>UMP40</b>, firing a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.40_S%26W" title=".40 S&W">.40 S&W</a> cartridge; and the <b>UMP9</b>, firing a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x19mm_Parabellum" title="9x19mm Parabellum">9x19mm Parabellum</a> cartridge. Apart from the different chambering, all versions feature the same basic design, the most noticeable difference being the curved magazine used on the UMP9 (whereas the UMP40 and UMP45 use a straight magazine). All three versions of the weapon can be converted to any of the available chamberings via replacement of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolt_%28firearm%29" title="Bolt (firearm)">bolt</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_barrel" title="Gun barrel">barrel</a>, and magazine.<br />
The <b>USC</b> or <b>Universal Self-loading Carbine</b> is a semi-automatic version of the UMP that is available to private citizens for sporting purposes. It was designed following the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_assault_weapons_ban" title="Federal assault weapons ban">Assault Weapons Ban</a> of 1994 in the United States and conforms to those standards.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup> Changes from the original UMP include a "thumbhole" type stock and grip (versus the pistol grip of the UMP, though aesthetically there is little difference), longer barrel (no flash suppressor), limited 10-round magazine, and semi-automatic only <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigger_group" title="Trigger group">trigger group</a> and action. Originally available in gray, as of early 2007 the USC comes only in an all-black finish.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Users">Users</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Customs_and_Border_Protection_officers.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="162" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/US_Customs_and_Border_Protection_officers.jpg/220px-US_Customs_and_Border_Protection_officers.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Customs_and_Border_Protection_officers.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers carrying UMPs.</div></div></div><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:STAR_team_with_the_UMP9_and_SG-553.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="293" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/STAR_team_with_the_UMP9_and_SG-553.jpg/220px-STAR_team_with_the_UMP9_and_SG-553.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:STAR_team_with_the_UMP9_and_SG-553.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency officers carrying UMP9 and SG-553.</div></div></div><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="background: #f9f9f9; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px #aaa solid; font-size: 95%; margin: 1em 1em 1em 0;"><tbody>
<tr> <th>Country</th> <th>Organization name</th> <th>Model</th> <th>Quantity</th> <th>Date</th> <th>References</th> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="3"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b9/Flag_of_Australia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Australia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia" title="Australia">Australia</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_South_Wales_Police_Force" title="New South Wales Police Force">New South Wales Police Force</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactical_Operations_Unit" title="Tactical Operations Unit">Tactical Operations Unit</a></td> <td align="center">UMP40</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_South_Wales_Department_of_Corrective_Services" title="New South Wales Department of Corrective Services">New South Wales Department of Corrective Services</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostage_Response_Group" title="Hostage Response Group">Hostage Response Group</a></td> <td align="center">UMP40</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Victoria_Police_Force&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Victoria Police Force (page does not exist)">Victoria Police Force</a> <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quick_Response_Group&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Quick Response Group (page does not exist)">Quick Response Group</a></td> <td align="center">UMP40</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-9"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Flag_of_Georgia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Georgia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28country%29" title="Georgia (country)">Georgia</a></td> <td>Georgian Special Forces</td> <td align="center">UMP-45</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Flag_of_Jordan.svg/22px-Flag_of_Jordan.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan" title="Jordan">Jordan</a></td> <td>Jordanian Special Operations Forces</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-11"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Flag_of_Latvia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Latvia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvia" title="Latvia">Latvia</a></td> <td>Latvian Army</td> <td align="center">UMP9</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jones_12-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-Jones-12"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Flag_of_Malaysia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia" title="Malaysia">Malaysia</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Task_And_Rescue" title="Special Task And Rescue">Special Task And Rescue</a> counter-terrorism team of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_Maritime_Enforcement_Agency" title="Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency">Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency</a></td> <td align="center">UMP9</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Flag_of_Mexico.svg/22px-Flag_of_Mexico.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico" title="Mexico">Mexico</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Naval_Infantry" title="Mexican Naval Infantry">Mexican Marines</a></td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Montes_14-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-Montes-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Flag_of_Romania.svg/22px-Flag_of_Romania.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania" title="Romania">Romania</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_Land_Forces" title="Romanian Land Forces">Land Forces</a> special operations battalions</td> <td align="center">UMP9</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Flag_of_Serbia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Serbia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbia" title="Serbia">Serbia</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Brigade" title="Special Brigade">Special Brigade</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbian_Army" title="Serbian Army">Serbian Army</a></td> <td align="center">UMP9</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-16"><span>[</span>17<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Flag_of_Slovakia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Slovakia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovakia" title="Slovakia">Slovakia</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Special_Forces_Regiment_%28Slovakia%29" title="5th Special Forces Regiment (Slovakia)">5th Special Forces Regiment</a> of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_Army" title="Slovak Army">Armed Forces of Slovak Republic</a></td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-17"><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Flag_of_Thailand.svg/22px-Flag_of_Thailand.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand" title="Thailand">Thailand</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Thai_Navy_SEALs" title="Royal Thai Navy SEALs">Royal Thai Navy SEALs</a></td> <td align="center">UMP9</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="2"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="12" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Customs_and_Border_Protection" title="U.S. Customs and Border Protection">U.S. Customs and Border Protection</a></td> <td align="center">UMP40</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-humanevents_0-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-humanevents-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentagon_Force_Protection_Agency" title="Pentagon Force Protection Agency">Pentagon Force Protection Agency</a></td> <td align="center">UMP40</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Barry2010_19-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP#cite_note-Barry2010-19"><span>[</span>20<span>]</span></a></sup></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-71092316814009123582012-01-22T00:36:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:36:20.950-08:00Heckler and Koch MP7 (Gun)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading"><br />
</h1><div id="siteSub"><br />
</div><div class="dablink">"MP7" redirects here. For other uses, see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP7_%28disambiguation%29" title="MP7 (disambiguation)">MP7 (disambiguation)</a>.</div><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr class="hproduct"> <th class="fn" colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Heckler & Koch MP7</th> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:H%26K_MP7.jpg"><img alt="" height="262" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/H%26K_MP7.jpg/300px-H%26K_MP7.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
An MP7A1.</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Type</th> <td><ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_defense_weapon" title="Personal defense weapon">Personal defense weapon</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submachine_gun" title="Submachine gun">Submachine gun</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_pistol" title="Machine pistol">Machine pistol</a></li>
</ul></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Place of origin</th> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany" title="Germany">Germany</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Service history</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Used by</th> <td>10+ countries (see <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#Users" title="Heckler & Koch MP7">Users</a></i>)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Wars</th> <td><ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_%282001%E2%80%93present%29" title="War in Afghanistan (2001–present)">War in Afghanistan (2001–present)</a></li>
</ul></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Production history</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Manufacturer</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch" title="Heckler & Koch">Heckler & Koch</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Produced</th> <td>2001–present</td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Specifications</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Weight</th> <td><ul><li>1.2 kg (2.65 lb) with 20 round empty magazine (PDW)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup></li>
</ul><ul><li>1.9 kg (4.19 lb) without magazine (MP7A1)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-1">[2]</a></sup></li>
</ul></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Length</th> <td>638 mm (25.1 in) stock extended / 415 mm (16.3 in) stock collapsed</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_barrel" title="Gun barrel">Barrel</a> length</th> <td>180 mm (7.1 in)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Width</th> <td>51 mm (2.0 in)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Height</th> <td>169.5 mm (6.7 in)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartridge_%28firearms%29" title="Cartridge (firearms)">Cartridge</a></th> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4.6%C3%9730mm" title="4.6×30mm">4.6×30mm</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_action" title="Firearm action">Action</a></th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas-operated_reloading" title="Gas-operated reloading">Gas-operated</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas-operated_reloading#Gas_systems" title="Gas-operated reloading">short stroke piston</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotating_bolt" title="Rotating bolt">rotating bolt</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rate_of_fire" title="Rate of fire">Rate of fire</a></th> <td>950 rounds/min</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_velocity" title="Muzzle velocity">Muzzle velocity</a></th> <td>735 m/s (2,411 ft/s) (Fiocchi CPS Black Tip ammunation)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Effective range</th> <td>200 m<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-2">[3]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-3">[4]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Feed system</th> <td>20 or 40 round box <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_%28firearm%29" title="Magazine (firearm)">magazine</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Sights</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tritium_illumination" title="Tritium illumination">Tritium-illuminated</a> flip-up night sights; handgun and rifle sights</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>The <b>MP7</b> is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany" title="Germany">German</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submachine_gun" title="Submachine gun">submachine gun</a> manufactured by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch" title="Heckler & Koch">Heckler & Koch</a> (H&K) and chambered for the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4.6%C3%9730mm" title="4.6×30mm">4.6×30mm</a> cartridge. It was designed with the new cartridge to meet <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO" title="NATO">NATO</a> requirements published in 1989, as these requirements call for a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_defense_weapon" title="Personal defense weapon">personal defense weapon</a> (PDW) class firearm, with a greater ability to defeat <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_armor" title="Body armor">body armor</a> than current weapons limited to conventional pistol cartridges. The MP7 went into production in 2001. It is a direct rival to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90" title="FN P90">FN P90</a>, also developed in response to NATO's requirement. The weapon has been revised since its introduction and the current production version is the <b>MP7A1</b>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007_4-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007-4">[5]</a></sup><br />
The proliferation of high-quality <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulletproof_vest" title="Bulletproof vest">body armor</a> has begun to make guns that fire pistol ammunition (such as HK's earlier <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP5" title="Heckler & Koch MP5">MP5</a> submachine gun or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_USP" title="Heckler & Koch USP">USP</a> pistol) ineffective. In response to this trend, HK designed the MP7 (along with the now cancelled <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HK_UCP" title="HK UCP">UCP</a> pistol, which uses the same ammunition) to penetrate body armor, but small enough to be used in place of either a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pistol" title="Pistol">pistol</a> or a submachine gun.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-heckler-koch1926_5-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-heckler-koch1926-5">[6]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007_4-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007-4">[5]</a></sup><br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Design_details">Design details</span></h2>The MP7 essentially operates like a scaled-down <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_rifle" title="Assault rifle">assault rifle</a>, with the same <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_action" title="Firearm action">action</a> as HK's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_G36" title="Heckler & Koch G36">G36</a>, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas-operated_reloading#Gas_systems" title="Gas-operated reloading">short stroke piston</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-6">[7]</a></sup> It fires a specially designed, armor-piercing round with a muzzle velocity nearly as high as that of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.56%C3%9745mm_NATO" title="5.56×45mm NATO">5.56×45mm NATO</a> cartridge used by many modern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifle" title="Rifle">rifles</a>. This ammunition is unique among submachine guns in that the bullet is made almost entirely of a hardened steel penetrator instead of softer copper or lead. The ammunition is virtually exclusive to the gun (save for the now cancelled <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UCP" title="Heckler & Koch UCP">H&K UCP</a> and a planned variant of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br%C3%BCgger_%26_Thomet_MP9" title="Brügger & Thomet MP9">Brügger & Thomet MP9</a>) and also offers low <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recoil" title="Recoil">recoil</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HK_MP7A1_January_03.2C_2012_7-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-HK_MP7A1_January_03.2C_2012-7">[8]</a></sup> VBR of Belgium produces a 4.6x30mm 2-part controlled fragmenting projectile that is claimed to increase the content of the permanent wound cavity and double the chance to hit a vital organ.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-8">[9]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007_4-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007-4">[5]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch" title="Heckler & Koch">Heckler & Koch</a> claims that the CPS Black Tip ammunition made by Fiocchi has a muzzle energy of approximately 525 J, which would be comparable to <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x19mm_Parabellum" title="9x19mm Parabellum">9x19mm Parabellum</a> rounds.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-9">[10]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-10">[11]</a></sup><br />
The round also has a small diameter (it can almost be described as a scaled down <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.223_Remington" title=".223 Remington">.223 Remington</a>), allowing for high capacity in a very small magazine.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-World.guns.ru_11-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-World.guns.ru-11">[12]</a></sup> The weapon allows a conventional 20-round, 30-round, or 40-round box magazine to be fit within the pistol grip (the 20-round magazine being comparable in size to a 15-round <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x19mm_Parabellum" title="9x19mm Parabellum">9mm</a> magazine, while the 40-round magazine compares to a 30-round 9 mm magazine). The weapon features an ambidextrous fire-select lever and rear cocking grip. It has an extendable stock and a folding front grip; it can be fired either one-handed or two-handed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007_4-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007-4">[5]</a></sup> It is compact and light, due to the use of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer" title="Polymer">polymers</a> in its construction.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Variants">Variants</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MP7Sept2006.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="151" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/MP7Sept2006.jpg/220px-MP7Sept2006.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MP7Sept2006.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>A recent production MP7A1 (note the safety trigger) of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundeswehr" title="Bundeswehr">Bundeswehr</a> with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Zeiss_AG" title="Carl Zeiss AG">Zeiss</a> RSA reflex red dot sight<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-12">[13]</a></sup> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LLM01" title="LLM01">LLM01 laser light module</a>.</div></div></div><ul><li><b>PDW</b>: The first prototype shown in 1999 was designated the 'PDW' (Personal Defense Weapon). It had a short <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picatinny_rail" title="Picatinny rail">Picatinny rail</a> on the top and a smooth pistol grip surface.</li>
<li><b>MP7</b>: In 2001 it was named the 'MP7' and went into production. It included a full length Picatinny rail, a thick curved stock and an anti-slide surface on the pistol grip much like the HK <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HK_USP" title="HK USP">USP</a>. It also featured folding <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_sights" title="Iron sights">iron sights</a> mounted on the Picatinny rail and the button to fold the foregrip was made larger for easier operation.</li>
<li><b>MP7A1</b>: In 2003 its designation was changed to 'MP7A1' and featured a redesigned pistol grip with a different surface and curved shape, a smaller stock with a straight buttpad, side mounted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picatinny_rail" title="Picatinny rail">Picatinny rails</a> as standard and the folding iron sights were made more compact. The weapon was made slightly longer, but because the stock was shortened, the overall length did not change. The stock is also able to be locked into 3 positions. Recent MP7A1 models have a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_%28firearms%29#Integrated_trigger_safeties" title="Safety (firearms)">trigger safety</a> similar to a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glock_pistol" title="Glock pistol">Glock pistol</a>; the middle section of the trigger must be pulled first before the outer part will move. This helps to stop accidental discharges if the trigger is bumped.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007_4-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007-4">[5]</a></sup> In early 2011, US Naval Special Warfare units tested a 5.7x28mm version of the MP7A1.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from November 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></li>
<li><b>MP7-SF</b>: Semi-automatic only variant of MP7. Currently used by Ministry of Defence Police in United Kingdom.</li>
</ul><h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Accessories">Accessories</span></h2>The weapon features a full-length, top-mounted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picatinny_rail" title="Picatinny rail">Picatinny rail</a> that comes standard with folding fore and rear iron sights attached. When the sights are folded flat, they resemble simple <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_sights#Open_sights" title="Iron sights">open sights</a>. Folded up, they feature <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_sights#Aperture_sights" title="Iron sights">aperture sights</a>. The sights can easily be removed by loosening a single screw and lifting them off. It can fit additional rails on the sides of the barrel, which allow it to mount commercial optical sights (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telescopic_sight" title="Telescopic sight">telescopic</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_dot_sight" title="Red dot sight">red dot</a> sights), <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_aiming_module" title="Laser aiming module">laser aiming modules</a> (LAM), and tactical flashlights. The MP7 can also accept a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suppressor" title="Suppressor">suppressor</a>.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Users">Users</span></h2><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="background: #f9f9f9; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px #aaa solid; font-size: 95%; margin: 1em 1em 1em 0;"><tbody>
<tr> <th>Country</th> <th>Organization name</th> <th>Model</th> <th>Quantity</th> <th>Date</th> <th>Reference</th> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="16" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Flag_of_Albania.svg/22px-Flag_of_Albania.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albania" title="Albania">Albania</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RENEA" title="RENEA">Reparti i Neutralizimit të Elementit të Armatosur</a></i> (RENEA) of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albanian_Police" title="Albanian Police">Albanian Police</a></td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-13">[14]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b9/Flag_of_Australia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Australia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia" title="Australia">Australia</a></td> <td>Western Australia Department of Corrective Service's - <i>Emergency Support Group</i></td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-14">[15]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_Austria.svg/22px-Flag_of_Austria.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria" title="Austria">Austria</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EKO_Cobra" title="EKO Cobra">Einsatzkommando Cobra</a></i> (EKO Cobra) of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_Federal_Police" title="Austrian Federal Police">Austrian Federal Police</a></td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-15">[16]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="3"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany" title="Germany">Germany</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Army" title="German Army">German Army</a></td> <td align="center" rowspan="2">MP7A1</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_16-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-gourley2003-16">[17]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007_4-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007-4">[5]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSG_9" title="GSG 9">Grenzschutzgruppe 9</a></i> (GSG 9) counter-terrorism group of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Federal_Police" title="German Federal Police">German Federal Police</a></td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-17">[18]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spezialeinsatzkommando" title="Spezialeinsatzkommando">SEK</a></i> SWAT police unit (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landespolizei" title="Landespolizei">state police</a>) of the state of Lower Saxony</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-18">[19]</a></sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability"><span title="The material in the vicinity of this tag needs to be fact-checked with the cited source(s) from December 2011">verification needed</span></a></i>]</sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Flag_of_Ireland.svg/22px-Flag_of_Ireland.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Ireland" title="Republic of Ireland">Ireland</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garda_Regional_Support_Unit" title="Garda Regional Support Unit">Garda Regional Support Unit</a> specialised units of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garda_S%C3%ADoch%C3%A1na" title="Garda Síochána">Garda Síochána</a></td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-19">[20]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007_4-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007-4">[5]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Flag_of_Jordan.svg/22px-Flag_of_Jordan.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan" title="Jordan">Jordan</a></td> <td><br />
</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_20-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-jones2009-20">[21]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Flag_of_Malaysia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia" title="Malaysia">Malaysia</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasukan_Gerakan_Khas" title="Pasukan Gerakan Khas">Pasukan Gerakan Khas</a></i> (PGK) counter-terrorism divisions of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Malaysia_Police" title="Royal Malaysia Police">Royal Malaysia Police</a></td> <td align="center">MP7A1</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">2007</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007_4-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007-4">[5]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="16" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Flag_of_Norway.svg/22px-Flag_of_Norway.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway" title="Norway">Norway</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Armed_Forces" title="Norwegian Armed Forces">Norwegian Armed Forces</a></td> <td align="center">MP7</td> <td align="center">6,500</td> <td align="center">2007</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-21">[22]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007_4-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007-4">[5]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Flag_of_Oman.svg/22px-Flag_of_Oman.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oman" title="Oman">Oman</a></td> <td><br />
</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_20-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-jones2009-20">[21]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="2"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Flag_of_South_Korea.svg/22px-Flag_of_South_Korea.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea" title="South Korea">Republic of Korea</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Police_Agency_%28Republic_of_Korea%29" title="National Police Agency (Republic of Korea)">Republic of Korean National Police Agency</a></td> <td align="center" rowspan="2">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007_4-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007-4">[5]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Various <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_forces" title="Special forces">special forces</a></td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-World.guns.ru_11-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-World.guns.ru-11">[12]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom">United Kingdom</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Defence_Police" title="Ministry of Defence Police">Ministry of Defence Police</a></td> <td align="center">MP7-SF</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-22">[23]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007_4-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-HK_MP7A1_December_13.2C_2007-4">[5]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="2"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="12" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Naval_Special_Warfare_Development_Group" title="United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group">United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group</a></td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-23">[24]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Clara_County_Sheriff%27s_Office" title="Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office">Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> <td align="center">MP7A1</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center">_</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-24">[25]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7#cite_note-25">[26]</a></sup></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Heckler_%26_Koch_MP7&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Gallery">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Gallery">Gallery</span></h2><ul class="gallery"><li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div style="width: 155px;"><div class="thumb" style="width: 150px;"><div style="margin: 30px auto;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BundeswehrMP7.JPG"><img alt="" height="90" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/BundeswehrMP7.JPG/120px-BundeswehrMP7.JPG" width="120" /></a></div></div><div class="gallerytext"><br />
<br />
<center>An MP7A1 on display as part of Germany's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IdZ" title="IdZ">IdZ</a> program.</center> </div></div></li>
<li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div style="width: 155px;"><div class="thumb" style="width: 150px;"><div style="margin: 38.5px auto;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MP7A1_REMOV.jpg"><img alt="" height="73" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/MP7A1_REMOV.jpg/120px-MP7A1_REMOV.jpg" width="120" /></a></div></div><div class="gallerytext"><br />
<br />
<center>An MP7A1 with suppressor, optic and 40 round magazine.</center> </div></div></li>
<li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div style="width: 155px;"><div class="thumb" style="width: 150px;"><div style="margin: 16px auto;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mod_plod.jpg"><img alt="" height="118" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Mod_plod.jpg/120px-Mod_plod.jpg" width="120" /></a></div></div><div class="gallerytext">British <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Defence_Police" title="Ministry of Defence Police">MoD police</a> on patrol in London with a MP7-SF.</div></div></li>
</ul>Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-4249003786183369612012-01-22T00:31:00.001-08:002012-01-22T00:31:37.613-08:00USS Ronald Reagan CVN-76 (Ship)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading"><br />
</h1><div id="siteSub"><br />
</div><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USSRONALDREAGANgoodshot.jpg" title="The USS Ronald Reagan"><img alt="The USS Ronald Reagan" height="195" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/USSRONALDREAGANgoodshot.jpg/300px-USSRONALDREAGANgoodshot.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
USS <i>Ronald Reagan</i> in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straits_of_Magellan" title="Straits of Magellan">Straits of Magellan</a> in 2004.</td> </tr>
<tr> <th height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Career</th> <th style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" height="35" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/67px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" width="67" /></span></th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Name:</td> <td>USS <i>Ronald Reagan</i> (CVN-76)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Namesake:</td> <td>President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan" title="Ronald Reagan">Ronald Reagan</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Ordered:</td> <td>8 December 1994</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Builder:</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_Newport_News" title="Northrop Grumman Newport News">Northrop Grumman Newport News</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Laid down:</td> <td>12 February 1998</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Launched:</td> <td>4 March 2001</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Sponsored by:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Reagan" title="Nancy Reagan">Nancy Reagan</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Commissioned:</td> <td>12 July 2003</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Homeport:</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAS_North_Island" title="NAS North Island">NAS North Island Coronado, California</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Status:</td> <td>in active service, as of 2012</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Badge:</td> <td><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Ronald_Reagan_COA.png"><img alt="USS Ronald Reagan COA.png" height="113" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/USS_Ronald_Reagan_COA.png/153px-USS_Ronald_Reagan_COA.png" width="153" /></a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">General characteristics</th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Class and type:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier"><i>Nimitz</i>-class</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a>, <i>Ronald Reagan</i> subclass</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Displacement:</td> <td>101,400 long tons (113,600 short tons)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Length:</td> <td>Overall: 1,092 feet (332.8 m)<br />
Waterline: 1,040 feet (317.0 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Beam:</td> <td>Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m)<br />
Waterline: 134 ft (40.8 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Draft:</td> <td>Maximum navigational: 37 ft (11.3 m)<br />
Limit: 41 ft (12.5 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Propulsion:</td> <td>2 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westinghouse_Electric_Company" title="Westinghouse Electric Company">Westinghouse</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A4W_reactor" title="A4W reactor">A4W nuclear reactors</a><br />
4 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_turbine" title="Steam turbine">steam turbines</a><br />
4 × shafts<br />
260,000 shp (194 MW)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Speed:</td> <td>30+ knots (56+ km/h; 35+ mph)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Range:</td> <td>Unlimited distance; 20-25 years</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Complement:</td> <td>Ship's company: 3,200<br />
Air wing: 2,480</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Sensors and<br />
processing systems:</td> <td>SPS-48E 3-D air search radar<br />
SPS-49A(V)1 2-D air search radar<br />
SPQ-9B fire control radar<br />
2 × SPN-46 air traffic control radars<br />
SPN-43C air traffic control radar<br />
SPN-41 instrument landing system radar<br />
3 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems<br />
3 × Mk 95 radars</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Electronic warfare<br />
and decoys:</td> <td>SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite<br />
SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armament:</td> <td>2 × Mk 29 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Sparrow" title="Sea Sparrow">Sea Sparrow</a><br />
2 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIM-116_Rolling_Airframe_Missile" title="RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile">RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armor:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classified_information" title="Classified information">Classified</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Aircraft carried:</td> <td>90 fixed wing and helicopters</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Motto:</td> <td><i>Peace Through Strength</i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Nickname:</td> <td><i>Gipper</i></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><b>USS <i>Ronald Reagan</i> (CVN-76)</b> is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier"><i>Nimitz</i>-class</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_reactor_technology" title="Nuclear reactor technology">nuclear-powered</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercarrier" title="Supercarrier">supercarrier</a> in the service of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">United States Navy</a>. The ninth ship of her class,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup> she is named in honor of former President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan" title="Ronald Reagan">Ronald Reagan</a>, President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Upon her <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_naming_and_launching" title="Ship naming and launching">christening</a> in 2001, she was the first ship to be named for a former president still living at the time.<br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Ship.27s_seal">Ship's seal</span></h2>The design of <i>Ronald Reagan'</i>s seal was created entirely by her <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plank_owner" title="Plank owner">plankowner</a> crew with historical assistance provided by staff members at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan_Presidential_Library" title="Ronald Reagan Presidential Library">Ronald Reagan Presidential Library</a> foundation. The red border that rings the ship's seal is similar to the distinctive red rim that defines the White House <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_ceramics" title="Chinese ceramics">china</a> designed for the Reagans during their White House years. Four gold stars represent President Reagan's 40th presidency and his four pillars of freedom: individual liberty; economic opportunity; global democracy; and national pride. "Peace through Strength" was a recurring theme of the President's life in public service. The aircraft carrier is positioned by the West Coast, representing President Reagan's two terms as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_of_California" title="Governor of California">Governor of California</a> and the ship's homeport in the Pacific Fleet. The three aircraft with their patriotic contrails symbolize the three major military operations the President directed during his tenure: <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Urgent_Fury" title="Operation Urgent Fury">Operation Urgent Fury</a> (Grenada/1983); <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_El_Dorado_Canyon" title="Operation El Dorado Canyon">Operation El Dorado Canyon</a> (Libya/1986); and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Praying_Mantis" title="Operation Praying Mantis">Operation Praying Mantis</a> (Iran/1988). The view of the globe signifies the President's vision of global democracy, and the center is the United States representing the country's national pride. Colors of red, white and blue dominate the seal reflecting the American flag.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Naming">Naming</span></h2><i>Ronald Reagan</i> was the first nuclear powered warship of any kind to be named in honor of a living former president.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup> Unlike most of the other men honored by inclusion in this group, Reagan was not associated with the United States Navy, apart from his term as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commander-in-chief#United_States" title="Commander-in-chief">Commander-in-Chief</a>, though one of his key initiatives in office was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/600-ship_Navy" title="600-ship Navy">600-ship Navy</a> program.<br />
<div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NRCHRISTEN.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="180" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/NRCHRISTEN.jpg/220px-NRCHRISTEN.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NRCHRISTEN.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Lady_of_the_United_States" title="First Lady of the United States">First Lady</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Reagan" title="Nancy Reagan">Nancy Reagan</a> christens USS <i>Ronald Reagan</i> with President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush">George W. Bush</a> and Newport News Shipbuilding <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CEO" title="CEO">CEO</a> William Frick looking on, 4 March 2001</div></div></div><h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Design_and_construction">Design and construction</span></h2><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier">Nimitz class aircraft carrier</a></div>The contract to build <i>Reagan</i> was awarded to <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_Newport_News" title="Northrop Grumman Newport News">Northrop Grumman Newport News</a> and Dry Dock Company in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_News,_Virginia" title="Newport News, Virginia">Newport News, Virginia</a> on 8 December 1994, and her keel was laid down on 12 February 1998. The budget for the ship had to be increased several times and ultimately $4.5 billion was spent on her construction.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup> This included a redesigned ship island.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> <i>Reagan</i> was christened by Reagan's wife <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Reagan" title="Nancy Reagan">Nancy</a> on 4 March 2001 at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_News_Shipbuilding" title="Newport News Shipbuilding">Newport News Shipbuilding</a>, the crew moved aboard on 30 October 2002,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup> and the ship was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_commissioning" title="Ship commissioning">commissioned</a> on 12 July 2003 at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_Norfolk" title="Naval Station Norfolk">Naval Station Norfolk</a>, with Captain J. W. Goodwin in command. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vice_President_of_the_United_States" title="Vice President of the United States">Vice President</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Cheney" title="Dick Cheney">Dick Cheney</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynne_Cheney" title="Lynne Cheney">Lynne Cheney</a> were both present at the ceremony, as well as Nancy Reagan, who gave the ship's crew the traditional first order as an active unit of the Navy: "Man the ship and bring her to life." <i>Ronald Reagan</i> made her maiden voyage on 21 July 2003. President Reagan, who did not attend either the launch or the commissioning due to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease" title="Alzheimer's disease">Alzheimer's disease</a>, died eleven months later. At the end of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan" title="Death and state funeral of Ronald Reagan">graveside services</a>, the ship's commanding officer at that time, Captain <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Symonds" title="James Symonds">James Symonds</a>, presented the flag that draped the former president's casket to Mrs. Reagan at her request. This was also the flag that had flown over <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_Hill" title="Capitol Hill">Capitol Hill</a> on 20 January 1981, when the president was inaugurated. At a later date, Captain Symonds also presented Mrs. Reagan the flag that had been flying over <i>Ronald Reagan</i> when the former president died.<br />
<div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_030712-N-3128T-098_Hundreds_of_spectators_and_media_witness_the_commissioning_of_the_Navy%27s_newest_nuclear-powered_aircraft_carrier_USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN_76%29.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="143" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/US_Navy_030712-N-3128T-098_Hundreds_of_spectators_and_media_witness_the_commissioning_of_the_Navy%27s_newest_nuclear-powered_aircraft_carrier_USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN_76%29.jpg/220px-US_Navy_030712-N-3128T-098_Hundreds_of_spectators_and_media_witness_the_commissioning_of_the_Navy%27s_newest_nuclear-powered_aircraft_carrier_USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN_76%29.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_030712-N-3128T-098_Hundreds_of_spectators_and_media_witness_the_commissioning_of_the_Navy%27s_newest_nuclear-powered_aircraft_carrier_USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN_76%29.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Commissioning ceremony of USS <i>Ronald Reagan</i>, 2003</div></div></div><i>Ronald Reagan</i> conducted her maiden port visit in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Lauderdale,_Florida" title="Fort Lauderdale, Florida">Fort Lauderdale, Florida</a>, from 11–14 November 2003.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Service_history">Service history</span></h2>After a five-month post shakedown availability (PSA), <i>Reagan</i> received flight deck certification on 8 May 2004,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup> and then began her transit from Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, around <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Horn" title="Cape Horn">Cape Horn</a>, South America, to her new homeport of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_North_Island" title="Naval Air Station North Island">Naval Air Station North Island</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego,_California" title="San Diego, California">San Diego, California</a>. However, the official home port will be changed to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bremerton,_Washington" title="Bremerton, Washington">Bremerton, Washington</a> for a period of approximately 12 months to begin Jan. 10, 2012 while the ship undergoes scheduled repair and maintenance.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Air_Wing_Eleven" title="Carrier Air Wing Eleven">Carrier Air Wing Eleven</a>, which is normally assigned to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nimitz_%28CVN-68%29" title="USS Nimitz (CVN-68)">USS <i>Nimitz</i></a>, embarked only 25 percent of its total strength for the transit. The squadrons making the transit were <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VFA-14" title="VFA-14">VFA-14</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VFA-41" title="VFA-41">VFA-41</a> flying the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F/A-18E/F_Super_Hornet" title="F/A-18E/F Super Hornet">F/A-18E/F Super Hornet</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VAW-117" title="VAW-117">VAW-117</a> flying the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-2C_Hawkeye" title="E-2C Hawkeye">E-2C Hawkeye</a> 2000, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HS-6" title="HS-6">HS-6</a> flying the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SH-60F_Seahawk" title="SH-60F Seahawk">SH-60F Seahawk</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRC-30" title="VRC-30">VRC-30</a> flying the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-2A_Greyhound" title="C-2A Greyhound">C-2A Greyhound</a>. The ship transited the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Magellan" title="Strait of Magellan">Strait of Magellan</a> on 20–21 June and made port visits to <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_de_Janeiro,_Brazil" title="Rio de Janeiro, Brazil">Rio de Janeiro, Brazil</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valpara%C3%ADso,_Chile" title="Valparaíso, Chile">Valparaíso, Chile</a>, and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callao,_Peru" title="Callao, Peru">Callao, Peru</a> before arriving in San Diego on 23 July 2004.<br />
<div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:040617-N-8213G-154.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="157" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/040617-N-8213G-154.jpg/220px-040617-N-8213G-154.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:040617-N-8213G-154.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gringo-Gaucho" title="Gringo-Gaucho">Gringo-Gaucho</a> maneuvers with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine_Naval_Aviation" title="Argentine Naval Aviation">Argentine Navy</a> during 2004 transit around South America</div></div></div><h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="2006_maiden_deployment">2006 maiden deployment</span></h3>USS <i>Ronald Reagan</i> departed San Diego on 4 January 2006, on her <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiden_voyage" title="Maiden voyage">maiden deployment</a> to conduct naval operations in support of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Iraqi_Freedom" title="Operation Iraqi Freedom">Operation Iraqi Freedom</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Enduring_Freedom" title="Operation Enduring Freedom">Operation Enduring Freedom</a>, as well as to conduct maritime security operations (MSO) in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a>. The ship entered the Gulf on 22 February 2006, and returned from deployment on 6 July 2006.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-9"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="2007_surge_deployment">2007 surge deployment</span></h3>USS <i>Ronald Reagan</i> and the <i>Reagan</i> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Strike_Group" title="Carrier Strike Group">Carrier Strike Group</a> (CSG) departed North Island, Coronado in San Diego on 27 January 2007 on an unscheduled surge deployment<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-11"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup> to the Western Pacific, fulfilling the role of the forward deployed carrier <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Kitty_Hawk_%28CV-63%29" title="USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)">Kitty Hawk</a></i> while it underwent maintenance in Japan. On 20 April 2007, <i>Ronald Reagan</i> and her CSG returned to Coronado. The "surge deployment" was part of the Navy's Fleet Response Plan (FRP), which provides the U.S. with the ability to respond to any global commitment with flexible and sustainable forces and the ability to rapidly respond to a range of situations on short notice.<br />
In January 2007, it was announced that <i>Ronald Reagan</i> had earned the 2006 <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Commander_Naval_Air_Force,_Pacific&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Commander Naval Air Force, Pacific (page does not exist)">Commander Naval Air Force, Pacific</a> Carrier <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_E_Ribbon" title="Navy E Ribbon">Battle Efficiency</a> "E" award for the West Coast, the first Battle "E" ever for the carrier.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-12"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup> On 28 January 2006, an <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F/A-18_Hornet" title="F/A-18 Hornet">F/A-18 Hornet</a> strike fighter attempting a night landing aboard <i>Reagan</i> crashed into the ship's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_deck" title="Flight deck">flight deck</a> about 200 km (120 miles) southeast of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane" title="Brisbane">Brisbane</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland" title="Queensland">Queensland</a>. The aircraft struck the ramp at a low angle, caught fire and skidded overboard. The pilot ejected safely, but the aircraft was lost.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<i>Reagan</i> returned to Naval Air Station North Island on 20 April 2007, following the three-month deployment in support of operations in the Western Pacific.<br />
<div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Reagan;071030-N-6074Y-053.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="157" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/USS_Reagan%3B071030-N-6074Y-053.jpg/220px-USS_Reagan%3B071030-N-6074Y-053.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Reagan;071030-N-6074Y-053.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>USS <i>Ronald Reagan</i> conducts rudder checks in October 2007, as part of the ship's periodic inspection</div></div></div>On 15 December 2007, the carrier answered a distress call from a cruise ship off the coast of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baja_California" title="Baja California">Baja California</a>. An <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois" title="Illinois">Illinois</a> teenager whose <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermiform_appendix" title="Vermiform appendix">appendix</a> had ruptured while on a Mexican cruise was airlifted by an <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SH-60" title="SH-60">SH-60</a> helicopter to <i>Ronald Reagan</i>, where an emergency appendectomy was performed by the ship's surgeon.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="2008_deployment">2008 deployment</span></h3>USS <i>Ronald Reagan</i>, with CVW-14 embarked, departed San Diego on 19 May 2008, for a scheduled <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Seventh_Fleet" title="United States Seventh Fleet">7th Fleet</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Fifth_Fleet" title="United States Fifth Fleet">5th Fleet</a> deployment.<br />
The <i>Reagan</i> Carrier Strike Group performed humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines" title="Philippines">Philippines</a> on 24 June 2008 after that country was devastated by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_Fengshen_%282008%29" title="Typhoon Fengshen (2008)">Typhoon Fengshen</a>, killing hundreds from the central island regions and the main island of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luzon" title="Luzon">Luzon</a>. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon" title="Typhoon">typhoon</a> also capsized the passenger ferry <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Princess_of_the_Stars" title="MV Princess of the Stars">MV <i>Princess of the Stars</i></a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-16"><span>[</span>17<span>]</span></a></sup> Working in support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, <i>Reagan</i> and her escorts of Carrier Strike Group 7 focused their efforts on the island of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panay" title="Panay">Panay</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Visayas" title="Central Visayas">Central Visayas</a>. For eight days, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SH-60_Seahawk" title="SH-60 Seahawk">SH-60 Seahawk</a> helicopters and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-2A_Greyhound" title="C-2A Greyhound">C-2A Greyhound</a> aircraft of the <i>Ronald Reagan</i> Strike Group helped deliver more than 519,000 lbs. of rice, fresh water and other supplies to areas of Panay, which were not reachable via truck due to flooded roads. The mission in Panay would earn the entire strike group the Navy's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanitarian_Service_Medal" title="Humanitarian Service Medal">Humanitarian Service Medal</a>.<br />
The Strike Group arrived in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Fifth_Fleet" title="U.S. Fifth Fleet">U.S. Fifth Fleet</a> area on 28 August 2008, where she launched more than 1,150 sorties into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan" title="Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a> in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. <i>Reagan</i> returned to San Diego on 25 November 2008.<br />
<div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RonaldReaganTiger.png"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="145" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/RonaldReaganTiger.png/220px-RonaldReaganTiger.png" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RonaldReaganTiger.png" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Sailors and their families await a small arms demo during Tiger Cruise 2008.</div></div></div>USS <i>Ronald Reagan</i> received word in February 2009 that the ship had won its second <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Effectiveness_Award" title="Battle Effectiveness Award">Battle Effectiveness Award</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-17"><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="2009_deployment">2009 deployment</span></h3>On May 28, 2009, <i>Reagan</i> deployed with Carrier Air Wing 14 to the 7th and 5th Fleet Areas of Responsibility.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup> <i>Reagan</i> relieved the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29" title="USS Eisenhower (CVN-69)"><i>Eisenhower</i></a> CSG and launched its first sorties in support of OEF on 6 July. <i>Reagan</i> returned to homeport on 21 October after a five-month deployment.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-19"><span>[</span>20<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="2010">2010</span></h3>In early 2010, <i>Reagan</i> was awarded the 2009 Chief of Naval Operations Afloat <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_%22S%22" title="Safety "S"">Safety "S"</a> Award.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-20"><span>[</span>21<span>]</span></a></sup> and the 2009 Pacific Fleet <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_%22E%22" title="Battle "E"">Battle "E"</a> for combat efficiency. The Battle "E" award was <i>Reagan</i><span style="padding-left: 0.1em;">'</span>s second consecutive and third in four years.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-21"><span>[</span>22<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_100506-N-8421M-124_The_aircraft_carriers_USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN_76%29,_USS_Nimitz_%28CVN_68%29_and_USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN_70%29_are_pierside_at_Naval_Air_Station_North_Island.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="157" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/US_Navy_100506-N-8421M-124_The_aircraft_carriers_USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN_76%29%2C_USS_Nimitz_%28CVN_68%29_and_USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN_70%29_are_pierside_at_Naval_Air_Station_North_Island.jpg/220px-US_Navy_100506-N-8421M-124_The_aircraft_carriers_USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN_76%29%2C_USS_Nimitz_%28CVN_68%29_and_USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN_70%29_are_pierside_at_Naval_Air_Station_North_Island.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_100506-N-8421M-124_The_aircraft_carriers_USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN_76%29,_USS_Nimitz_%28CVN_68%29_and_USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN_70%29_are_pierside_at_Naval_Air_Station_North_Island.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>2010 PIA maintenance (6 May 2010)</div></div></div>On 19 May 2010, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_Naval_Shipyard" title="Norfolk Naval Shipyard">Norfolk Naval Shipyard</a> (NNSY) completed the six-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) maintenance cycle on the aircraft carrier <strong class="selflink"><i>Ronald Reagan</i></strong>. This PIA project came in under budget, and it marked both Norfolk Naval Shipyard's largest off-site availability as well as the largest public sector work package ever performed on an aircraft carrier berthed at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_North_Island" title="Naval Air Station North Island">Naval Air Station North Island</a> (NASNI) located near <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronado,_California" title="Coronado, California">Coronado, California</a> (<i>pictured</i>).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NNS100520-1_22-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-NNS100520-1-22"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></a></sup> During the maintenance period, <i>Ronald Reagan</i> received technological upgrades that prepared it for its next deployment and subsequent operation. Refurbishments ranged from hi-tech combat systems and firefighting equipment to improved ship's laundry services and living spaces.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NNS100521-03_23-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-NNS100521-03-23"><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
This PIA maintenance project was an example of the 'One Shipyard' concept wherein the U.S. Navy mobilizes its work force across its various shipyards to better meet fleet readiness requirements as well as to stabilize a vital workforce base for the U.S. defense industry. While Norfolk Naval Shipyard was the project lead, significant was done by its partners, which were:<br />
<ul><li><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puget_Sound_Naval_Shipyard_%26_Intermediate_Maintenance_Facility" title="Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility">Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility</a> (PSNS & IMF)</li>
<li>Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC)</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntington_Ingalls_Industries" title="Huntington Ingalls Industries">Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB)</a>.</li>
</ul>During peak manning, approximately 1,400 worked the project on a daily basis. This included approximately 625 NNSY personnel, 165 PSNS & IMF employees, and 600 from SWRMC/NGSB.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NNS100520-1_22-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-NNS100520-1-22"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
On 18 May 2010, the carrier <i>Ronald Reagan</i> departed Naval Air Station North Island for sea trials.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-24"><span>[</span>25<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NNS100521-03_23-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-NNS100521-03-23"><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CVN74history2010_25-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-CVN74history2010-25"><span>[</span>26<span>]</span></a></sup> The sea trial was the final phase of the PIA, and it was conducted to assess the <i>Reagan</i><span style="padding-left: 0.1em;">'</span>s material readiness to return to the operational fleet.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NNS100521-03_23-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-NNS100521-03-23"><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></a></sup> The <i>Reagan</i> pulled into Naval Air Station North Island on 19 May 2010 after completing its two-day sea trial, marking the official end to its six-month planned incremental availability (PIA) maintenance period.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NNS100521-03_23-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-NNS100521-03-23"><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
On 2 June 2010, the carrier <i>Ronald Reagan</i>, with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Air_Wing_Fourteen" title="Carrier Air Wing Fourteen">Carrier Air Wing Fourteen</a> (CVW-14) embarked, departed Naval Air Station North Island to conduct flight deck certifications.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CVN74history2010_25-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-CVN74history2010-25"><span>[</span>26<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NNS100603-15_26-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-NNS100603-15-26"><span>[</span>27<span>]</span></a></sup> The first CVW-14 aircraft to land on the <i>Reagan</i><span style="padding-left: 0.1em;">'</span>s flight deck was from <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HS-2" title="HS-2">Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 4 {HS-2)</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NNS100603-15_26-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-NNS100603-15-26"><span>[</span>27<span>]</span></a></sup> Other embarked squadrons included:<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VFA-154" title="VFA-154">Strike Fighter Squadron 154 (VFA-154)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VFA-147" title="VFA-147">Strike Fighter Squadron 147 (VFA-147)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VFA-146" title="VFA-146">Strike Fighter Squadron 146 (VFA-146)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VAW-113" title="VAW-113">Airborne Early Warning Squadron 113 (VAW-113)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRC-30" title="VRC-30">Fleet Logistics Squadron 30 (VRC-30)</a></li>
</ul>The certification included a full evaluation of the arresting gear, steam catapults, and flight deck personnel. The <i>Reagan</i><span style="padding-left: 0.1em;">'</span>s air department was assessed on its ability to maintain a fully operational flight deck and respond to simulated mishaps.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NNS100603-15_26-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-NNS100603-15-26"><span>[</span>27<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The "Reagan" participated in Exercise <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIMPAC" title="RIMPAC">RIMPAC</a> during the summer of 2010.<br />
The carrier <i>Ronald Reagan</i> departed from Naval Air Station North Island, California, for a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_of_Inspection_and_Survey" title="Board of Inspection and Survey">Board of Inspection and Survey</a> (INSURV) assessment on 25 August 2010, and <i>Reagan</i> departed its homeport to conduct routine operations off the coast of southern California in preparation for its 2011 Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CVN74history2010_25-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-CVN74history2010-25"><span>[</span>26<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
In November 2010, <i>Reagan</i> provided emergency supplies and assistance to passengers stranded aboard the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival_Splendor" title="Carnival Splendor">Carnival Splendor</a></i>, which was rendered inoperable in the Pacific Ocean by an engine fire.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jon_Swaine_27-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-Jon_Swaine-27"><span>[</span>28<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="2011">2011</span></h3>The ship departed for an Asian deployment on 2 February 2011. On 11 March 2011, <i>Reagan</i> was in the Korean peninsula region for a long-planned exercise off <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea" title="Korea">Korea</a>, but was redirected towards Japan to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Tomodachi" title="Operation Tomodachi">provide support</a> after the massive <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_T%C5%8Dhoku_earthquake_and_tsunami" title="2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami">2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami</a>. The ship, stationed off <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sendai" title="Sendai">Sendai</a>, was used as a floating refueling station for Japanese military and coast guard helicopters flying relief missions in the area.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-28"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a></sup> US Navy helicopters also flew relief missions from the carrier. On 14 March 2011, the ship was forced to relocate to avoid a radioactive plume from the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_I_nuclear_accidents" title="Fukushima I nuclear accidents">Fukushima I nuclear accidents</a> which had contaminated 17 crewmembers of three helicopter crews.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-29"><span>[</span>30<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template"><span style="white-space: nowrap;" title=" since March 2011">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot" title="Wikipedia:Link rot">dead link</a></i>]</span></sup> On March 23, the Reagan's crew conducted a radiation decontamination operation to remove any further radiation hazards from the ship, which included scrubbing down any surface that could have been contaminated, including the flight deck and aircraft.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-30"><span>[</span>31<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
On 4 April 2011, Japan's minister of defense, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshimi_Kitazawa" title="Toshimi Kitazawa">Toshimi Kitazawa</a>, accompanied by US ambassador to Japan <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Roos" title="John Roos">John Roos</a>, visited the ship to thank its crew for its assistance as part of Operation Tomodachi. Said Kitazawa, "I have never been more encouraged by and proud of the fact that the United States is our ally."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-31"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The ship returned to San Diego on 9 September 2011.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-32"><span>[</span>33<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USSRonaldReaganByPhilKonstantin.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="102" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/USSRonaldReaganByPhilKonstantin.jpg/220px-USSRonaldReaganByPhilKonstantin.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USSRonaldReaganByPhilKonstantin.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>USS Ronald Reagan returning to San Diego Bay after a deployment, 2011</div></div></div>In January 2011, the Navy announced that the USS Ronald Reagan would be transferred to the Puget Sound Naval Ship Yard in Bremerton, WA for a Docked Planned Incremental Availability beginning in January 2012 and would be based there for about a year.<br />
<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Commanding_officers">Commanding officers</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_051117-N-4776G-077_Capt._James_A._Symonds,_right,_turns_over_command_of_the_Nimitz-class_aircraft_carrier_USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN_76%29,_to_Capt._Terry_B._Kraft_during_a_change_of_command_ceremony.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="165" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/US_Navy_051117-N-4776G-077_Capt._James_A._Symonds%2C_right%2C_turns_over_command_of_the_Nimitz-class_aircraft_carrier_USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN_76%29%2C_to_Capt._Terry_B._Kraft_during_a_change_of_command_ceremony.jpg/220px-US_Navy_051117-N-4776G-077_Capt._James_A._Symonds%2C_right%2C_turns_over_command_of_the_Nimitz-class_aircraft_carrier_USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN_76%29%2C_to_Capt._Terry_B._Kraft_during_a_change_of_command_ceremony.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_051117-N-4776G-077_Capt._James_A._Symonds,_right,_turns_over_command_of_the_Nimitz-class_aircraft_carrier_USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN_76%29,_to_Capt._Terry_B._Kraft_during_a_change_of_command_ceremony.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Captain <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Symonds" title="James Symonds">James A. Symonds</a>, right, turns over command to Captain <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Kraft" title="Terry Kraft">Terry B. Kraft</a> (November 2005)</div></div></div><ul><li>John William "Bill" Goodwin — November 2000 – 28 August 2003</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Symonds" title="James Symonds">James A. Symonds</a> — 28 August 2003 – 17 November 2005<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-33"><span>[</span>34<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Kraft" title="Terry Kraft">Terry B. Kraft</a> — 17 November 2005 – 2 May 2008<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29#cite_note-34"><span>[</span>35<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li>Kenneth Joseph "KJ" Norton – 2 May 2008 – August 2010</li>
<li>Thom W. Burke – August 2010 – present</li>
</ul>Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-3312000520524644072012-01-22T00:02:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:02:54.851-08:00FN P90 (Gun)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">FN P90</h1><div id="siteSub"><br />
</div><div class="dablink">"PS90" redirects here. For the Russian aircraft engine PS-90, see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviadvigatel_PS-90" title="Aviadvigatel PS-90">Aviadvigatel PS-90</a>.</div><div class="metadata topicon nopopups" id="good-star" style="display: none; right: 10px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Good_articles" title="This is a good article. Click here for more information."><img alt="This is a good article. Click here for more information." height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/94/Symbol_support_vote.svg/15px-Symbol_support_vote.svg.png" width="15" /></a></div><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr class="hproduct"> <th class="fn" colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">P90</th> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FN-P90.PNG"><img alt="Photo of the P90 LV / IR model with an empty magazine in the weapon" height="169" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/FN-P90.PNG/300px-FN-P90.PNG" width="300" /></a><br />
<i>P90 LV / IR</i> model with empty <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_%28firearm%29" title="Magazine (firearm)">magazine</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Type</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_defense_weapon" title="Personal defense weapon">Personal defense weapon</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Place of origin</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium" title="Belgium">Belgium</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Service history</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">In service</th> <td>1991–present <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-diez2000_0-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-diez2000-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Used by</th> <td>40+ countries (see <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#Users" title="FN P90">Users</a></i>)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Wars</th> <td> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War" title="Gulf War">Gulf War</a> <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-diez2000_0-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-diez2000-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_%282001%E2%80%93present%29" title="War in Afghanistan (2001–present)">Afghanistan War</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War" title="Iraq War">Iraq War</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Drug_War" title="Mexican Drug War">Mexican Drug War</a> <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Libyan_civil_war" title="2011 Libyan civil war">2011 Libyan civil war</a> <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-deredactie_2-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-deredactie-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
</ul></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Production history</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Designed</th> <td>1986–90 <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-diez2000_0-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-diez2000-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Manufacturer</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_Herstal" title="FN Herstal">FN Herstal</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Produced</th> <td>1990–present <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-arsmechanica08_3-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-arsmechanica08-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Variants</th> <td>See <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#Variants">Variants</a></i>: <ul><li><i>P90</i>, <i>P90 TR</i>, <i>P90 USG</i>, <i>P90 LV / IR</i></li>
<li><i>PS90</i>, <i>PS90 TR</i>, <i>PS90 USG</i></li>
</ul></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Specifications</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Weight</th> <td> <ul><li>2.54 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilogram" title="Kilogram">kg</a> (5.60 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound_%28mass%29" title="Pound (mass)">lb</a>) <i>empty</i> <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-miller2001_4-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-miller2001-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li>2.68 kg (5.9 lb) <i>empty magazine</i> <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marchington2004_5-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-marchington2004-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li>3.0 kg (6.6 lb) <i>loaded magazine</i> <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marchington2004_5-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-marchington2004-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
</ul></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Length</th> <td>500 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millimetre" title="Millimetre">mm</a> (19.7 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inch" title="Inch">in</a>) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_barrel" title="Gun barrel">Barrel</a> length</th> <td>263 mm (10.4 in) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusap90_7-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusap90-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Width</th> <td>55 mm (2.2 in) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Height</th> <td>210 mm (8.3 in) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2"> <hr /></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartridge_%28firearms%29" title="Cartridge (firearms)">Cartridge</a></th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_5.7%C3%9728mm" title="FN 5.7×28mm">FN 5.7×28mm</a> <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusap90_7-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusap90-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_action" title="Firearm action">Action</a></th> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowback_%28arms%29" title="Blowback (arms)">Straight blowback</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_bolt" title="Closed bolt">closed bolt</a> <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusap90_7-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusap90-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rate_of_fire" title="Rate of fire">Rate of fire</a></th> <td>900 RPM (rounds per minute) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_velocity" title="Muzzle velocity">Muzzle velocity</a></th> <td>715 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M/s" title="M/s">m/s</a> (2,350 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ft/s" title="Ft/s">ft/s</a>) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Effective range</th> <td>200 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre" title="Metre">m</a> (219 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yard_%28length%29" title="Yard (length)">yd</a>) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Maximum range</th> <td>1,800 m (1,969 yd) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Feed system</th> <td>50-round detachable box <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_%28firearm%29" title="Magazine (firearm)">magazine</a> <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusap90_7-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusap90-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Sights</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tritium" title="Tritium">Tritium</a>-illuminated <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_dot_sight" title="Red dot sight">reflex sight</a>, back-up <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_sight" title="Iron sight">iron sights</a> <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>The <b>FN P90</b> is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_fire" title="Selective fire">selective fire</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_defense_weapon" title="Personal defense weapon">personal defense weapon</a> (PDW) designed and manufactured by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_Herstal" title="FN Herstal">FN Herstal</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium" title="Belgium">Belgium</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-miller2001_4-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-miller2001-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup> The P90's name is taken from <i>1990</i>, the year it was introduced.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-arsmechanica08_3-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-arsmechanica08-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup> The P90 was created in response to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO" title="NATO">NATO</a> requests for a replacement for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9%C3%9719mm_Parabellum" title="9×19mm Parabellum">9×19mm Parabellum</a> firearms; it was designed as a compact but powerful firearm for vehicle crews, operators of crew-served weapons, support personnel, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_forces" title="Special forces">special forces</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-terrorist" title="Counter-terrorist">counter-terrorist</a> groups.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-miller2001_4-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-miller2001-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-oliver2007_8-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-oliver2007-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The P90 was designed by FN in conjunction with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_Five-seven" title="FN Five-seven">FN Five-seven</a> pistol and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.7%C3%9728mm" title="5.7×28mm">5.7×28mm</a> ammunition.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-arsmechanica08_3-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-arsmechanica08-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup> Development of the P90 began in 1986, and production commenced in 1990, whereupon the 5.7×28mm ammunition was redesigned and shortened.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-diez2000_0-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-diez2000-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> A modified version of the P90 with a magazine adapted to use the new ammunition was introduced in 1993, and the Five-seven pistol was subsequently introduced as a companion weapon using the same 5.7×28mm ammunition.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gunzonetimeline1990_9-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gunzonetimeline1990-9"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The P90 was developed and initially marketed as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_defense_weapon" title="Personal defense weapon">personal defense weapon</a>, but it could also be considered a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submachine_gun" title="Submachine gun">submachine gun</a> or compact <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_rifle" title="Assault rifle">assault rifle</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dockery2007_10-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dockery2007-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup> Featuring a compact <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullpup" title="Bullpup">bullpup</a> design with an integrated <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflex_sight" title="Reflex sight">reflex sight</a> and fully <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambidextrous" title="Ambidextrous">ambidextrous</a> controls, the P90 is an unconventional weapon with a futuristic appearance.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dockery2007_10-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dockery2007-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup> Its design incorporates several innovations such as a unique top-mounted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_%28firearms%29" title="Magazine (firearms)">magazine</a> and FN's small-caliber, high-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_velocity" title="Muzzle velocity">velocity</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.7%C3%9728mm" title="5.7×28mm">5.7×28mm</a> ammunition.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dockery2007_10-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dockery2007-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The P90 is currently in service with military and police forces in over 40 countries, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria" title="Austria">Austria</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil" title="Brazil">Brazil</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada" title="Canada">Canada</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France" title="France">France</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia" title="Malaysia">Malaysia</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland" title="Poland">Poland</a>, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-milrev_11-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-milrev-11"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup> In the United States, the P90 is in use with over 200 law enforcement agencies, including the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secret_Service" title="United States Secret Service">U.S. Secret Service</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-white2009_12-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-white2009-12"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup> The standard selective fire P90 is restricted to military and law enforcement customers, but since 2005, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-automatic_firearm" title="Semi-automatic firearm">semi-automatic</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbine" title="Carbine">carbine</a> version has been offered to civilian shooters as the <i>PS90</i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dettyTL2008_13-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dettyTL2008-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="History">History</span></h2><h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Development">Development</span></h3>The P90 and its <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.7%C3%9728mm" title="5.7×28mm">5.7×28mm</a> ammunition were developed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_Herstal" title="FN Herstal">FN Herstal</a> in response to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO" title="NATO">NATO</a> requests for a replacement for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9%C3%9719mm_Parabellum" title="9×19mm Parabellum">9×19mm Parabellum</a> cartridge and associated pistols and submachine guns.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_14-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gourley2003-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup> NATO called for two types of weapons chambered for a new cartridge—one a shoulder-fired weapon, and the other a handheld weapon.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_14-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gourley2003-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup> According to NATO, these new weapons, termed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_defense_weapon" title="Personal defense weapon">personal defense weapons</a> (PDWs), were to provide "personal protection in last-resort situations when the user is directly endangered by the enemy [...]."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_14-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gourley2003-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup> In 1989, NATO published document <i>D/296</i>, outlining a number of preliminary specifications for these weapons:<br />
<ul><li>The new cartridge was to have greater range, accuracy, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_trauma" title="Ballistic trauma">terminal performance</a> than the 9×19mm cartridge.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_14-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gourley2003-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup> Additionally, it was to be capable of penetrating <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_armor" title="Body armor">body armor</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_14-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gourley2003-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li>The shoulder-fired personal defense weapon was to weigh less than 3 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilogram" title="Kilogram">kg</a> (6.6 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound_%28mass%29" title="Pound (mass)">lb</a>), with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_%28firearms%29" title="Magazine (firearms)">magazine</a> capacity of at least 20 rounds.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_14-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gourley2003-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li>The handheld personal defense weapon (pistol) was to weigh less than 1 kg (2.2 lb), although a weight of 700 g (1.5 lb) was deemed desirable; it was to have a magazine capacity of no less than 20 rounds.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_14-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gourley2003-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li>Both weapons were to be sufficiently compact to be carried hands-free on the user's person at all times, whether in the cab of a vehicle or the cockpit of an aircraft, and were to perform effectively in all environments and weather conditions.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_14-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gourley2003-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
</ul>FN Herstal was the first <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_arms" title="Small arms">small arms</a> manufacturer to respond to NATO's requirement; FN started by developing a shoulder-fired personal defense weapon, the P90, along with a small caliber, high velocity <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.7%C3%9728mm" title="5.7×28mm">5.7×28mm</a> cartridge type.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_14-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gourley2003-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup> The original 5.7×28mm cartridge, called the <i>SS90</i>, went into production with the P90 in 1990.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marchington2004_5-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-marchington2004-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> The SS90 propelled a 1.5 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram" title="Gram">g</a> (23 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grain_%28unit%29" title="Grain (unit)">grain</a>) plastic-core <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projectile" title="Projectile">projectile</a> from the P90 at a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_velocity" title="Muzzle velocity">muzzle velocity</a> of roughly 850 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M/s" title="M/s">m/s</a> (2,800 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ft/s" title="Ft/s">ft/s</a>).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marchington2004_5-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-marchington2004-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> Shortly after its introduction, the P90 was adopted and used in service with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Forces_Group_%28Belgium%29" title="Special Forces Group (Belgium)">Belgian special forces group</a> in the 1991 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War" title="Gulf War">Gulf War</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-diez2000_0-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-diez2000-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Following the P90's introduction, FN revised the 5.7×28mm ammunition.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gunzonetimeline1990_9-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gunzonetimeline1990-9"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup> The new variation, designated the <i>SS190</i>, used a projectile 2.7 mm (0.11 in) shorter in length than that of the SS90.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marchington2004_5-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-marchington2004-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> This allowed it to be used more conveniently in the 5.7×28mm <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_Five-seven" title="FN Five-seven">FN Five-seven</a> pistol, which was under development at that time.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gunzonetimeline1990_9-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gunzonetimeline1990-9"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup> The SS190 projectile also had a heavier weight, and a more conventional construction with an aluminum and steel core.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marchington2004_5-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-marchington2004-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gunzonetimeline1990_9-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gunzonetimeline1990-9"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup> The first prototypes of the SS190 were created in 1992, and the design was finalized in 1993, replacing the SS90.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gunzonetimeline1990_9-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gunzonetimeline1990-9"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup> A modified version of the P90, with a magazine adapted to use the shortened ammunition, was then introduced in the same year.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gunzonetimeline1990_9-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gunzonetimeline1990-9"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup> Several special cartridge variations were also developed, such as the L191 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracer_ammunition" title="Tracer ammunition">tracer</a> round and the SB193 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_sound" title="Speed of sound">subsonic</a> round for use with a sound-suppressed P90.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="NATO_evaluation">NATO evaluation</span></h3><div class="rellink boilerplate further">Further information: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_5.7%C3%9728mm#History" title="FN 5.7×28mm">FN 5.7×28mm (history)</a></div>In 2002 and 2003, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO" title="NATO">NATO</a> conducted a series of tests with the intention of standardizing a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDW" title="PDW">PDW</a> cartridge as a replacement for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9%C3%9719mm_Parabellum" title="9×19mm Parabellum">9×19mm Parabellum</a> cartridge.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-oliver2007_8-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-oliver2007-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup> The tests compared the relative merits of the FN 5.7×28mm cartridge and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HK_4.6%C3%9730mm" title="HK 4.6×30mm">HK 4.6×30mm</a> cartridge, which was created by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany" title="Germany">German</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_arms" title="Small arms">small arms</a> manufacturer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch" title="Heckler & Koch">Heckler & Koch</a> as a competitor to the 5.7×28mm.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-oliver2007_8-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-oliver2007-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup> The results of the NATO tests were analyzed by a group formed of experts from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada" title="Canada">Canada</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France" title="France">France</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom">United Kingdom</a>, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a>, and the group's conclusion was that the 5.7×28mm was "undoubtedly" the more efficient cartridge.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-oliver2007_8-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-oliver2007-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup> However, the German delegation and others rejected the NATO recommendation that 5.7×28mm be standardized, halting the standardization process indefinitely.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-oliver2007_8-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-oliver2007-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_14-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gourley2003-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup> As a result, both the 4.6×30mm and 5.7×28mm cartridges (and the associated weapons) have been independently adopted by various NATO countries, according to preference; the P90 is currently in service with military and police forces in over 40 countries throughout the world.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-milrev_11-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-milrev-11"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_14-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gourley2003-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Present">Present</span></h3>Further development of the P90 platform led to the creation of the <i>P90 TR</i> variant, which has a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picatinny_rail" title="Picatinny rail">MIL-STD-1913</a> triple rail interface for mounting accessories.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_14-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gourley2003-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup> This variant was introduced in late 1999 and continues to be offered alongside the standard P90.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_14-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gourley2003-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup> More recently, the P90 has been offered to civilian shooters as the <i>PS90</i>, a semi-automatic carbine intended for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-defense" title="Self-defense">personal protection</a> and sporting use.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusaps90_15-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusaps90-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Design_details">Design details</span></h2>The P90 is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_fire" title="Selective fire">selective fire</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowback_%28arms%29" title="Blowback (arms)">straight blowback</a>-operated weapon with a cyclic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rate_of_fire" title="Rate of fire">rate of fire</a> of 900 RPM (rounds per minute).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusap90_7-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusap90-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup> The weapon is chambered for FN's <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.7%C3%9728mm" title="5.7×28mm">5.7×28mm</a> ammunition, and although it was developed and initially marketed as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_defense_weapon" title="Personal defense weapon">personal defense weapon</a>, it could also be considered a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submachine_gun" title="Submachine gun">submachine gun</a> or compact <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_rifle" title="Assault rifle">assault rifle</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dockery2007_10-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dockery2007-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup> Its unusual shape is based on extensive <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergonomic" title="Ergonomic">ergonomic</a> research.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-miller2001_4-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-miller2001-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup> The weapon is grasped by means of a thumbhole in the frame that acts as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pistol_grip" title="Pistol grip">pistol grip</a>, as well as an oversized <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigger_guard" title="Trigger guard">trigger guard</a> that acts as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foregrip" title="Foregrip">foregrip</a> for the shooter's support hand.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marchington2004_5-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-marchington2004-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> The P90 fires from a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_bolt" title="Closed bolt">closed bolt</a> for maximum accuracy, and its design makes extensive use of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymers" title="Polymers">polymers</a> for reduced weight and cost.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dettyTL2008_13-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dettyTL2008-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup> Overall, the weapon is relatively lightweight, weighing 2.5 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilogram" title="Kilogram">kg</a> (5.6 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound_%28mass%29" title="Pound (mass)">lb</a>) empty, or 3 kg (6.6 lb) with a loaded 50-round magazine.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-miller2001_4-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-miller2001-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marchington2004_5-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-marchington2004-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PS90_breakdown.jpg"><img alt="Photo of a disassembled PS90 carbine, showing the major component groups: 1. hammer group, 2. barrel and optical sight group, 3. butt plate, 4. magazine, 5. moving parts group, 6. frame and trigger group." class="thumbimage" height="152" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/PS90_breakdown.jpg/220px-PS90_breakdown.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PS90_breakdown.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Disassembled <i>PS90</i> carbine, showing the component groups. The standard P90 disassembles into similar component groups: <ul><li>1. Hammer group</li>
<li>2. Barrel and optical sight group</li>
<li>3. Butt plate</li>
<li>4. Magazine</li>
<li>5. Moving parts group</li>
<li>6. Frame and trigger group</li>
</ul></div></div></div>The P90 is notable for being fully <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambidextrous" title="Ambidextrous">ambidextrous</a>—it can be operated by right or left-handed shooters with equal ease, and without making any modifications to the weapon.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marchington2004_5-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-marchington2004-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> FN Herstal has described it as the "first fully ambidextrous individual automatic weapon."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-16"><span>[</span>17<span>]</span></a></sup> The <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charging_handle" title="Charging handle">charging handle</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_release" title="Magazine release">magazine release</a> and backup <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_sight" title="Iron sight">iron sights</a> are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the weapon, and the firing selector is located directly at the foot of the trigger, where it can be operated from either side by the shooter's trigger finger or support hand thumb.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusap90_7-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusap90-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup> When fired, the P90 ejects spent cartridge casings downward through a chute located behind the grip, so spent cases are kept out of the shooter's line of sight.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marchington2004_5-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-marchington2004-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The P90 can be fitted with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sling_%28firearms%29" title="Sling (firearms)">sling</a> for greater ease of carry, and since the weapon has a fixed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_%28firearms%29" title="Stock (firearms)">stock</a> (as opposed to having a collapsing or folding stock), it can be quickly deployed when needed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marchington2004_5-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-marchington2004-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhp90_17-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhp90-17"><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></a></sup> The weapon's smooth, rounded contours prevent it from snagging on the shooter's clothing or equipment, and a small vertical protrusion is provided at the front end of the weapon's frame to prevent the shooter's hand from accidentally slipping in front of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_%28firearms%29" title="Muzzle (firearms)">muzzle</a> while shooting.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-miller2001_4-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-miller2001-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marchington2004_5-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-marchington2004-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> A hollow compartment inside the rear of the weapon's frame—accessed by removing the buttplate—allows for convenient storage of a cleaning kit.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marchington2004_5-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-marchington2004-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The P90 was designed to have a length no greater than a man's shoulder width, to allow it to be easily carried and maneuvered in tight spaces, such as the inside of an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armoured_fighting_vehicle" title="Armoured fighting vehicle">armored vehicle</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dockery2007_10-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dockery2007-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup> To achieve this design goal, the weapon's design utilizes the unconventional <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullpup" title="Bullpup">bullpup</a> configuration, in which the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_action" title="Firearm action">action</a> and magazine are located behind the trigger and alongside the shooter's face so that there is no wasted space in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_%28firearms%29" title="Stock (firearms)">stock</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dettyTL2008_13-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dettyTL2008-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup> The P90's dimensions are also minimized by its unique horizontally mounted feeding system, wherein the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_%28firearms%29" title="Magazine (firearms)">box magazine</a> sits parallel to the barrel, fitting flush with the top of the weapon's frame.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dockery2007_10-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dockery2007-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup> The weapon overall has an extremely compact profile—it is the most compact submachine gun to be made with a fixed stock.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dockery2007_10-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dockery2007-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup> The standard version of the weapon has an overall length of 500 mm (19.7 in), a height of 210 mm (8.3 in), and a width of 55 mm (2.2 in).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The P90 requires minimal <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_maintenance" title="Firearm maintenance">maintenance</a>, and it can be disassembled quickly and easily.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-wall2003_18-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-wall2003-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup> It is a modular firearm, consisting of four main component groups: the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_barrel" title="Gun barrel">barrel</a> and optical sight group, the moving parts group, the frame and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigger_%28firearms%29" title="Trigger (firearms)">trigger</a> group, and the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammer_%28firearms%29" title="Hammer (firearms)">hammer</a> group. The P90's barrel is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forging" title="Forging">cold hammer-forged</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_plating" title="Chrome plating">chrome-lined</a>, with an overall length of 263 mm (10.4 in).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusap90_7-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusap90-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup> The barrel has eight <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifling" title="Rifling">rifling</a> grooves with a right-hand <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twist_rate" title="Twist rate">twist rate</a> of 1:231 mm (1:9.1 in), and it is equipped with a diagonally cut <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_suppressor" title="Flash suppressor">flash suppressor</a> that also acts as a recoil compensator.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusap90_7-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusap90-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup> The stated service life of the barrel is 20,000 rounds.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dockery2007_10-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dockery2007-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The P90 uses an internal hammer striking mechanism and a trigger mechanism with a three-position rotary dial fire control selector, located at the foot of the trigger. The dial has three settings: <i>S</i> – safe, <i>1</i> – semi-automatic fire, and <i>A</i> – fully automatic fire. When set on <i>A</i>, the P90's fire selector provides a two-stage trigger operation similar to that of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steyr_AUG" title="Steyr AUG">Steyr AUG</a> assault rifle—pulling the trigger back slightly produces semi-automatic fire, and pulling the trigger fully to the rear produces fully automatic fire.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marchington2004_5-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-marchington2004-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Ammunition">Ammunition</span></h3><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_5.7%C3%9728mm" title="FN 5.7×28mm">FN 5.7×28mm</a></div><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:57lineup.jpg"><img alt="Photo of three 5.7×28mm cartridges as used in the P90. The left cartridge has a plain hollow tip, the center cartridge has a red plastic V-max tip, and the right cartridge has a blue plastic V-max tip." class="thumbimage" height="196" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/57lineup.jpg/220px-57lineup.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:57lineup.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The P90 utilizes the small-caliber, high-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_velocity" title="Muzzle velocity">velocity</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.7%C3%9728mm" title="5.7×28mm">5.7×28mm</a> cartridge.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dockery2007_10-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dockery2007-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup></div></div></div>Particularly significant to the design of the P90 is the small-caliber, high-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_velocity" title="Muzzle velocity">velocity</a> bottlenecked cartridge it uses. The <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.7%C3%9728mm" title="5.7×28mm">5.7×28mm</a> cartridge was created by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_Herstal" title="FN Herstal">FN Herstal</a> in response to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO" title="NATO">NATO</a> requirement that called for a replacement for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9%C3%9719mm_Parabellum" title="9×19mm Parabellum">9×19mm Parabellum</a> cartridge, which is commonly used in pistols and submachine guns.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-oliver2007_8-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-oliver2007-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup> The 5.7×28mm cartridge weighs 6.0 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram" title="Gram">g</a> (93 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grain_%28unit%29" title="Grain (unit)">grains</a>)—roughly half as much as a typical 9×19mm cartridge—making extra ammunition less burdensome, or allowing more ammunition to be carried for the same weight.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dettyTL2008_13-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dettyTL2008-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusaammo2002_19-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusaammo2002-19"><span>[</span>20<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fortierusg02_20-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fortierusg02-20"><span>[</span>21<span>]</span></a></sup> Since the 5.7×28mm cartridge also has a relatively small diameter, an unusually high number of cartridges can be contained in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_%28firearms%29" title="Magazine (firearms)">magazine</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-amselle2011_21-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-amselle2011-21"><span>[</span>22<span>]</span></a></sup> The cartridge has a loud <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_blast" title="Muzzle blast">report</a> and produces considerable <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_blast#Muzzle_flash" title="Muzzle blast">muzzle flash</a> (when fired from a pistol), but it produces roughly 30 percent less <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recoil" title="Recoil">recoil</a> than the 9×19mm cartridge, improving controllability.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fortierusg02_20-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fortierusg02-20"><span>[</span>21<span>]</span></a></sup> Due to its high velocity, the 5.7×28mm also exhibits an exceptionally flat <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trajectory" title="Trajectory">trajectory</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dockery2007_10-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dockery2007-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-wall2003_18-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-wall2003-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
One of the design intents for the standard 5.7×28mm cartridge type, the <i>SS190</i>, was that it have the ability to penetrate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevlar" title="Kevlar">Kevlar</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_vest" title="Ballistic vest">protective vests</a>—such as the NATO <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRISAT" title="CRISAT">CRISAT</a> vest—that will stop conventional pistol bullets.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fortierusg02_20-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fortierusg02-20"><span>[</span>21<span>]</span></a></sup> Fired from the P90, the 5.7×28mm SS190 has a muzzle velocity of roughly 716 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M/s" title="M/s">m/s</a> (2,350 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ft/s" title="Ft/s">ft/s</a>) and is capable of penetrating the CRISAT vest at a range of 200 m (219 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yard_%28unit%29" title="Yard (unit)">yd</a>), or a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_vest#Performance_standards" title="Ballistic vest">Level IIIA</a> Kevlar vest at the same range.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-wall2003_18-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-wall2003-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fortierusg02_20-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fortierusg02-20"><span>[</span>21<span>]</span></a></sup> FN states an effective range of 200 m (219 yd) and a maximum range of 1,800 m (1,969 yd) for the 5.7×28mm cartridge when fired from the P90.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
In testing conducted by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Canadian_Mounted_Police" title="Royal Canadian Mounted Police">Royal Canadian Mounted Police</a> (RCMP) in 1999, the SS190 fired from the P90 at a distance of 25 m (27 yd) exhibited an average penetration depth of 25 cm (9.85 in) in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_gelatin" title="Ballistic gelatin">ballistic gelatin</a> covered with a Level II <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_vest" title="Ballistic vest">vest</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-cutshaw2006_22-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-cutshaw2006-22"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></a></sup> The SS190 exhibited penetration depths ranging from 28 to 34 cm (11 to 13.5 in) when fired from the P90 into bare ballistic gelatin, in tests conducted by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Police_Department" title="Houston Police Department">Houston Police Department</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWAT" title="SWAT">SWAT</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-wall2003_18-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-wall2003-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup> In testing, the SS190 and similar 5.7×28mm <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projectile" title="Projectile">projectiles</a> consistently turn base over point ("tumble") as they pass through ballistic gelatin and other media, using the 21.6-mm (.85 in) projectile length<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-sterett2005_23-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-sterett2005-23"><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></a></sup> to create a larger wound cavity.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-miller2001_4-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-miller2001-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dettyTL2008_13-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dettyTL2008-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-wall2003_18-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-wall2003-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bahde2009_24-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-bahde2009-24"><span>[</span>25<span>]</span></a></sup> However, some are skeptical of the bullet's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_trauma" title="Ballistic trauma">terminal performance</a>, and it is a subject of debate among civilian shooters in the United States.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bahde2009_24-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-bahde2009-24"><span>[</span>25<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The 5.7×28mm projectile potentially poses less risk of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collateral_damage" title="Collateral damage">collateral damage</a> than conventional pistol bullets, because the projectile design limits overpenetration, as well as risk of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricochet" title="Ricochet">ricochet</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-cutshaw2006_22-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-cutshaw2006-22"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-humphries2008_25-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-humphries2008-25"><span>[</span>26<span>]</span></a></sup> The lightweight projectile also poses less risk of collateral damage in the event of a miss, because it loses much of its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_energy" title="Kinetic energy">kinetic energy</a> after traveling only 400 m (437 yd), whereas a conventional pistol bullet such as the 9×19mm retains significant energy beyond 800 m (875 yd).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dockery2007_10-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dockery2007-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup> This range exceeds the engagement distances expected for the 5.7×28mm cartridge's intended applications, so the cartridge's limited energy at long range is not conversely considered to be disadvantageous.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dockery2007_10-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dockery2007-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup> Since the SS190 projectile does not rely on fragmentation or the expansion of a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollow_point_bullet" title="Hollow point bullet">hollow point</a>, the cartridge (and 5.7×28mm weapons) are considered suitable for military use under the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hague_Convention_of_1899" title="Hague Convention of 1899">Hague Convention of 1899</a>, which prohibits the use of expanding bullets in warfare.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bahde2009_24-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-bahde2009-24"><span>[</span>25<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tright" style="width: 311px;"> <div class="thumbinner"> <div style="float: left; margin: 1px; width: 122px;"> <div class="thumbimage"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FNP90MAG02.jpg"><img alt="Photo of a loaded FN P90 magazine" height="156" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/FNP90MAG02.jpg/120px-FNP90MAG02.jpg" width="120" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; margin: 1px; width: 177px;"> <div class="thumbimage"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FNP90MAG01.JPG"><img alt="Photo of a partially loaded FN P90 magazine" height="154" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/FNP90MAG01.JPG/175px-FNP90MAG01.JPG" width="175" /></a></div></div><div class="thumbcaption" style="background: transparent; clear: left; text-align: left;">The P90's unique <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_%28firearms%29" title="Magazine (firearms)">magazine</a> has a capacity of 50 rounds, and it fits flush with the weapon's frame.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dockery2007_10-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dockery2007-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup></div></div></div><h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Feeding">Feeding</span></h3>The P90 uses a unique horizontally mounted feeding system—<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent" title="Patent">patented</a> in the United States—that contributes to the weapon's compact profile and unusual appearance.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dockery2007_10-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dockery2007-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup> <i>U.S. Patent 4,905,394</i> ("Top mounted longitudinal magazine") was awarded in 1990, naming René Predazzer as the sole inventor.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-26"><span>[</span>27<span>]</span></a></sup> The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_%28firearms%29" title="Magazine (firearms)">detachable box magazine</a> is mounted parallel to the P90's barrel, fitting flush with the top of the weapon's frame, and it contains 50 rounds of ammunition, which lie in two rows at a right angle to the barrel.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marchington2004_5-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-marchington2004-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> As the cartridges are pushed back by spring pressure and arrive at the rear end of the magazine, they are fed as a single row into a spiral feed ramp and rotated 90 degrees, aligning them with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamber_%28firearms%29" title="Chamber (firearms)">chamber</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marchington2004_5-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-marchington2004-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> The magazine body is composed of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer" title="Polymer">polymer</a>, and it is semi-transparent to allow the shooter to see the amount of ammunition remaining at any time.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marchington2004_5-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-marchington2004-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Sights_and_accessories">Sights and accessories</span></h3>The P90 was originally equipped with the Ring Sights HC-14-62 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflex_sight" title="Reflex sight">reflex sight</a>, but the current weapon is instead fitted with the Ring Sights MC-10-80 reflex sight, which was specifically designed for it.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_14-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gourley2003-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ringsights01_27-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-ringsights01-27"><span>[</span>28<span>]</span></a></sup> The MC-10-80 has a polymer housing and uses a forward-aimed fiber optic collector to illuminate the daytime reticle, which consists of a large circle of about 180 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minute_of_arc" title="Minute of arc">Minutes of arc</a> (MOA), with a 20 MOA circle surrounding a dot in the center. The night reticle consists of an open <i>T</i> that is primarily illuminated by a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tritium#Firearms_night_sights" title="Tritium">tritium module</a> and ambient light drawn in by an upward-facing collector. The sight is adjustable for both windage and elevation, and it can be used in conjunction with <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_vision_equipment" title="Night vision equipment">night vision equipment</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ringsights01_27-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-ringsights01-27"><span>[</span>28<span>]</span></a></sup> As backup in case the reflex sight is damaged, a set of fixed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_sight" title="Iron sight">iron sights</a> is provided on each side of the reflex sight housing.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ringsights01_27-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-ringsights01-27"><span>[</span>28<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The P90 has provisions for mounting a number of different types of accessories, including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactical_light" title="Tactical light">tactical lights</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_sights" title="Laser sights">laser aiming devices</a>. A sling can be attached to the P90 for greater ease of carry, or it can be fitted with various <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_suppressor" title="Sound suppressor">sound suppressors</a> such as the Gemtech <i>SP90</i>, which was designed specifically for the weapon in cooperation with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_Herstal" title="FN Herstal">FN Herstal</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup> This stainless steel suppressor with a black oxide finish is built according to <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIL-SPEC" title="MIL-SPEC">MIL-SPECs</a>, including saltwater corrosion resistance.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup> It has a length of 184 mm (7.2 in), a diameter of 35 mm (1.4 in) and a weight of 680 g (1.5 lb).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup> When <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_sound" title="Speed of sound">subsonic</a> ammunition is used in conjunction with the suppressor, it reduces the sound signature of the P90 by 33 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel" title="Decibel">dB</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup> A small case collector pouch for the P90 is also available, which fits over the ejection port and collects spent cases as they are ejected downward; the pouch will collect up to one hundred cases before filling.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_14-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gourley2003-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-wall2003_18-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-wall2003-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USGsight01.jpg"><img alt="Outlines of the normal and low-light reticles of the USG reflex sight used on the FN P90 / PS90 USG models" class="thumbimage" height="110" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/USGsight01.jpg/220px-USGsight01.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USGsight01.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The <i>USG</i> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflex_sight" title="Reflex sight">reflex sight</a> has a black T-shaped <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticle" title="Reticle">reticle</a> with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tritium" title="Tritium">tritium</a> elements that glow red and are visible in dim lighting.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rodriguez2008_28-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-rodriguez2008-28"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a></sup></div></div></div><h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Variants">Variants</span></h2><dl><dt>P90 TR</dt>
<dd>The <i>P90 TR</i> (Triple Rail) variant, also known as the "flat-top," was introduced in late 1999.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup> It features a receiver-mounted triple <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIL-STD-1913" title="MIL-STD-1913">MIL-STD-1913</a> (<i>Picatinny</i>) rail interface system, or "Triple Rail," for mounting accessories.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup> There is one full-length accessory rail integrated into the top of the receiver, and two rail stumps are included on the sides of the receiver.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup> The top rail will accept various optical sights with no tools or additional mounting hardware required, and the side rails serve to mount secondary accessories, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactical_light" title="Tactical light">tactical lights</a> or <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_sight" title="Laser sight">laser aiming devices</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusap90_7-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusap90-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup></dd>
<dt>P90 USG</dt>
<dd>The <i>P90 USG</i> (United States Government) variant is similar to the standard P90, except the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflex_sight" title="Reflex sight">reflex sight</a> housing is aluminum, and the sight has a revised <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticle" title="Reticle">reticle</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rodriguez2008_28-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-rodriguez2008-28"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a></sup> The black reticle consists of a tiny dot inside of a small ring, which is joined by three posts that glow red in low light conditions due to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tritium" title="Tritium">tritium</a>-illumination.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rodriguez2008_28-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-rodriguez2008-28"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a></sup> The USG reflex sight can be removed and replaced with a special MIL-STD-1913 (<i>Picatinny</i>) rail mount for attaching a different sight.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rodriguez2008_28-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-rodriguez2008-28"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a></sup></dd>
<dt>P90 Laserex models</dt>
<dd>The <i>P90 LV</i> (Laser Visible) and <i>P90 IR</i> (Infrared) models, both of which were introduced in late 1995, have an integrated <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_applications#Laser_sight" title="Laser applications">laser sight</a> manufactured by Laserex Technologies in Australia.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-idr1996_29-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-idr1996-29"><span>[</span>30<span>]</span></a></sup> The <i>P90 LV</i> model projects a 8 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watt#Multiples" title="Watt">mW</a> visible laser intended to be used as a low-light shooting aid or for dissuasive effect, while the <i>P90 IR</i> model projects a 4.5 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watt#Multiples" title="Watt">mW</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared" title="Infrared">infrared</a> laser that can only be seen with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_vision_device" title="Night vision device">night vision equipment</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusap90_7-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusap90-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-remtekp90laser_30-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-remtekp90laser-30"><span>[</span>31<span>]</span></a></sup> Both laser systems are compact, consisting of a small, flat panel integrated into the front end of the weapon's frame.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-remtekp90laser_30-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-remtekp90laser-30"><span>[</span>31<span>]</span></a></sup></dd></dl><dl><dd>The Laserex P90 laser systems have a weight of 131 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram" title="Gram">g</a> (0.29 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound_%28mass%29" title="Pound (mass)">lb</a>), and they are activated by means of a green pressure switch located on the underside of the weapon's pistol grip.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-remtekp90laser_30-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-remtekp90laser-30"><span>[</span>31<span>]</span></a></sup> The lasers can be configured for three different internal settings: <i>Off</i> – disabled to prevent accidental activation, <i>Training</i> – low intensity for eye safety and extended battery life in training, or <i>Combat</i> – high intensity for maximum visibility.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-remtekp90laser_30-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-remtekp90laser-30"><span>[</span>31<span>]</span></a></sup> The Laserex P90 laser systems have a battery life of 250 hours when used on the <i>Training</i> setting, or a life of 50 hours when used on the <i>Combat</i> setting.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-remtekp90laser_30-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-remtekp90laser-30"><span>[</span>31<span>]</span></a></sup></dd></dl><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 302px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FNPS9002.jpg"><img alt="Photo of a matte black PS90 USG carbine" class="thumbimage" height="95" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/FNPS9002.jpg/300px-FNPS9002.jpg" width="300" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FNPS9002.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The <i>PS90</i> is a semi-automatic carbine developed for civilian shooters for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-defense" title="Self-defense">personal protection</a> and sporting use.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusaps90_15-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusaps90-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> The matte black <i>PS90 USG</i> model is pictured here.</div></div></div><h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="PS90_semi-automatic_models">PS90 semi-automatic models</span></h3><dl><dd>The <i>PS90</i> is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbine" title="Carbine">carbine</a> version of the P90, intended for civilian shooters for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-defense" title="Self-defense">personal protection</a> and sporting use; it was introduced in 2005, and continues to be offered in several configurations.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusaps90_15-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusaps90-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-detty2008_31-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-detty2008-31"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a></sup> The PS90 will accept the standard 50-round P90 magazines, but the gun is supplied with a magazine that is blocked to a capacity of 10 or 30 rounds, allowing it to be sold in jurisdictions where magazine capacities are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_the_United_States_%28by_state%29" title="Gun laws in the United States (by state)">restricted by law</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-detty2008_31-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-detty2008-31"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a></sup></dd></dl><dl><dd>In order to be legal for purchase by civilians without obtaining a tax stamp for a Short Barreled Rifle (SBR) as defined by the United States <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Firearms_Act" title="National Firearms Act">National Firearms Act</a>, the PS90 carbine has an extended 407 mm (16 in) barrel and is semi-automatic, with a trigger pull of approximately 31 to 36 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton_%28unit%29" title="Newton (unit)">N</a> (7 to 8 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound-force" title="Pound-force">lb<i><sub>F</sub></i></a>).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rodriguez2008_28-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-rodriguez2008-28"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-detty2008_31-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-detty2008-31"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a></sup> The lengthened barrel has eight <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifling" title="Rifling">rifling</a> grooves, with a right-hand <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twist_rate" title="Twist rate">twist rate</a> of 1:229 mm (1:9 in) and a rifled length of 376 mm (14.8 in); the muzzle is equipped with a fixed "birdcage" type <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_suppressor" title="Flash suppressor">flash suppressor</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-detty2008_31-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-detty2008-31"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a></sup></dd></dl><dl><dd>Despite the added barrel length, the PS90 is relatively compact and lightweight, with an overall length of 667 mm (26.3 in), and a weight of 3.4 kg (7.5 lb) with a fully loaded 50-round magazine.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-detty2008_31-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-detty2008-31"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a></sup> Due to the added barrel length, the PS90 can also achieve a muzzle velocity of up to 777 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M/s" title="M/s">m/s</a> (2,550 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ft/s" title="Ft/s">ft/s</a>) with SS195LF ammunition, or up to 930 m/s (3,050 ft/s) with third party ammunition (<i>see ballistic performance summary below</i>).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusacatalogammo08_32-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusacatalogammo08-32"><span>[</span>33<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gunblast_33-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gunblast-33"><span>[</span>34<span>]</span></a></sup></dd></dl><dl><dt>PS90 Standard</dt>
<dd>The <i>PS90 Standard</i> features a MIL-STD-1913 (<i>Picatinny</i>) rail fitted to the top of the receiver, which allows the shooter to mount his or her preferred optical sight.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusaps90_15-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusaps90-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> The rail includes a set of integrated iron sights, as backup in case the primary sight is damaged.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusaps90_15-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusaps90-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> The PS90 Standard is available with either an olive drab or black frame.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusaps90_15-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusaps90-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup></dd></dl><dl><dt>PS90 TR</dt>
<dd>The <i>PS90 TR</i> features a "Triple Rail" receiver assembly identical to that of the P90 TR.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusaps90_15-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusaps90-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> The top of the receiver consists of an MIL-STD-1913 (<i>Picatinny</i>) rail, allowing the shooter to mount his or her preferred optical sight.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-detty2008_31-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-detty2008-31"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a></sup> Two polymer side rails—one on each side of the receiver—are also included for mounting secondary accessories, such as lasers or tactical lights.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-detty2008_31-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-detty2008-31"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a></sup> Like the PS90 Standard, the PS90 TR is available with either an olive drab or black frame.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusaps90_15-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusaps90-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup></dd></dl><dl><dt>PS90 USG</dt>
<dd>The <i>PS90 USG</i> is a discontinued variant of the PS90 carbine.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusaps90_15-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusaps90-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> In the same fashion as the P90 USG, this variant has an aluminum <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflex_sight" title="Reflex sight">reflex sight</a> housing with a revised <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticle" title="Reticle">reticle</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rodriguez2008_28-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-rodriguez2008-28"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a></sup> The black reticle consists of a tiny dot inside of a small ring, which is joined by three posts that glow red in low light conditions due to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tritium" title="Tritium">tritium</a>-illumination.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rodriguez2008_28-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-rodriguez2008-28"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a></sup> The USG reflex sight can be removed and replaced with a special MIL-STD-1913 (<i>Picatinny</i>) rail mount for attaching a different sight, and like other models of the PS90, the USG is available with either an olive drab or black frame.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusaps90_15-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusaps90-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rodriguez2008_28-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-rodriguez2008-28"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a></sup> As of 2011, the PS90 USG model is no longer listed by FNH USA,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusaps90_15-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusaps90-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> but the USG reflex sight is still offered as a standalone accessory.</dd></dl><center> <table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-top: 3px double #999; font-size: smaller; text-align: left;" summary="Ballistic performance summary for various 5.7×28mm cartridges"><caption style="font-size: larger; text-align: center;"><i>Ballistic performance summary for various 5.7×28mm cartridges (PS90)</i></caption> <tbody>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid #999; vertical-align: bottom;"> <th><br />
</th> <th style="text-align: center;">SS195LF</th> <th style="text-align: center;">SS197SR</th> <th style="text-align: center;">EA Protector</th> <th style="text-align: center;">EA Varmintor</th> <th style="text-align: center;">EA S4</th> </tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"> <th style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projectile" title="Projectile">Projectile</a> weight</b></th> <td style="text-align: center;">1.8 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram" title="Gram">g</a> (28 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grain_%28mass%29" title="Grain (mass)">gr</a>)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">2.6 g (40 gr)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">2.6 g (40 gr)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">2.3 g (36 gr)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1.8 g (28 gr)</td> </tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"> <th style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_velocity" title="Muzzle velocity">Muzzle velocity</a></b></th> <td style="text-align: center;">777 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M/s" title="M/s">m/s</a> (2,550 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ft/s" title="Ft/s">ft/s</a>)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">640 m/s (2,100 ft/s)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">716 m/s (2,350 ft/s)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">747 m/s (2,450 ft/s)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">930 m/s (3,050 ft/s)</td> </tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"> <th style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_energy" title="Muzzle energy">Muzzle energy</a></b></th> <td style="text-align: center;">550 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joule_%28unit%29" title="Joule (unit)">J</a> (405 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ft-lb" title="Ft-lb">ft-lb</a>)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">530 J (390 ft-lb)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">665 J (490 ft-lb)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">650 J (480 ft-lb)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">785 J (580 ft-lb)</td> </tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"> <th style="text-align: left;"><b>Reference</b></th> <td style="text-align: center;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusacatalogammo08_32-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusacatalogammo08-32"><span>[</span>33<span>]</span></a></sup></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fnhusacatalogammo08_32-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fnhusacatalogammo08-32"><span>[</span>33<span>]</span></a></sup></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gunblast_33-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gunblast-33"><span>[</span>34<span>]</span></a></sup></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gunblast_33-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gunblast-33"><span>[</span>34<span>]</span></a></sup></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gunblast_33-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gunblast-33"><span>[</span>34<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr style="border-top: 3px double #999;"> <td colspan="7"><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table></center> <h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Users">Users</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 187px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:P90_Cyprus.jpg"><img alt="Photo of a Cypriot National Guard member carrying a P90 during a parade in Larnaca" class="thumbimage" height="139" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/P90_Cyprus.jpg/185px-P90_Cyprus.jpg" width="185" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:P90_Cyprus.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypriot_National_Guard" title="Cypriot National Guard">Cypriot National Guard</a> purchased 350 P90s in 2000.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-22"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup> Here, a <i>P90 LV / IR</i> is seen being carried during a military parade in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larnaca" title="Larnaca">Larnaca</a>.</div></div></div>Despite being originally intended as a defensive weapon for military personnel whose primary role is not fighting with small arms (such as vehicle drivers), most sales of the P90 have actually been to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_forces" title="Special forces">special forces</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-terrorist" title="Counter-terrorist">counter-terrorist</a> groups who use it for offensive roles.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_14-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gourley2003-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup> The P90 first saw operational use in the 1991 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War" title="Gulf War">Gulf War</a>, where it was used by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Forces_Group_%28Belgium%29" title="Special Forces Group (Belgium)">Belgian special forces group</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-diez2000_0-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-diez2000-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
In 1997, suppressed P90s were used in combat by the Peruvian special forces group (<i>Grupo de Fuerzas Especiales</i>) in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Chav%C3%ADn_de_Huantar" title="Operation Chavín de Huantar">Operation Chavín de Huantar</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostage_crisis" title="Hostage crisis">hostage rescue</a> siege that ended the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_embassy_hostage_crisis" title="Japanese embassy hostage crisis">Japanese embassy hostage crisis</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-specialops_34-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-specialops-34"><span>[</span>35<span>]</span></a></sup> The operation was a success: all 14 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%BApac_Amaru_Revolutionary_Movement" title="Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement">MRTA</a> revolutionaries were killed, and 71 hostages were rescued.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-specialops_34-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-specialops-34"><span>[</span>35<span>]</span></a></sup> The MRTA revolutionaries who had taken the hostages were equipped with body armor, but it was defeated by the Peruvian special forces' P90s.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-lewis2007_35-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-lewis2007-35"><span>[</span>36<span>]</span></a></sup> In 2011, P90s were used by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muammar_Gaddafi" title="Muammar Gaddafi">Muammar Gaddafi</a>'s <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Libya" title="Military of Libya">military forces</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Libyan_civil_war" title="2011 Libyan civil war">2011 Libyan civil war</a>, and some of these examples were captured and used in the war by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Gaddafi_forces" title="Anti-Gaddafi forces">Libyan rebel forces</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-deredactie_2-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-deredactie-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
By 2009, the P90 was in service with military and police forces in over 40 countries throughout the world.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-milrev_11-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-milrev-11"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup> In the United States, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Police_Department" title="Houston Police Department">Houston Police Department</a> was the first local law enforcement agency to adopt the P90, acquiring it for their <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWAT" title="SWAT">SWAT</a> team in 1999.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-wall2003_18-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-wall2003-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup> In 2003, the Houston SWAT team also became one of the first agencies in the country to use the weapon in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shootout" title="Shootout">shootout</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-wall2003_18-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-wall2003-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup> By 2009, the P90 was in use with over 200 law enforcement agencies in the United States,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-white2009_12-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-white2009-12"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup> including the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secret_Service" title="United States Secret Service">Secret Service</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Federal_Protective_Service" title="United States Federal Protective Service">Federal Protective Service</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-terry2004_36-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-terry2004-36"><span>[</span>37<span>]</span></a></sup> In response, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rifle_Association" title="National Rifle Association">National Rifle Association</a> added the P90 and PS90 to its NRA Tactical Police Competition standards, allowing law enforcement agencies to compete in the event using either weapon.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-nracomp2009_37-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-nracomp2009-37"><span>[</span>38<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Military and law enforcement organizations using the P90 include:<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="background: #f9f9f9; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px #aaa solid; font-size: 95%; margin: 1em 1em 1em 0;"><tbody>
<tr> <th>Country</th> <th>Organization name</th> <th>Model</th> <th>Quantity</th> <th>Date</th> <th>Reference</th> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="2"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="14" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Flag_of_Argentina.svg/22px-Flag_of_Argentina.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina" title="Argentina">Argentina</a></td> <td><i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrupaci%C3%B3n_de_Buzos_T%C3%A1cticos" title="Agrupación de Buzos Tácticos">Agrupación de Buzos Tácticos</a></i> tactical diver group of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine_Navy" title="Argentine Navy">Argentine Navy</a></td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-noro_38-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-noro-38"><span>[</span>39<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-39"><span>[</span>40<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-aresnro12_40-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-aresnro12-40"><span>[</span>41<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Former <i>Policia Aeronáutica Nacional</i> (PAN; National Aeronautical Police)</td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-41"><span>[</span>42<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="2"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_Austria.svg/22px-Flag_of_Austria.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria" title="Austria">Austria</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagdkommando" title="Jagdkommando">Jagdkommando</a></i> (Jakdo) special group of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_Army" title="Austrian Army">Austrian Army</a></td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i>,<br />
<i>P90 TR</i></td> <td align="center">140</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-sunkler2008_42-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-sunkler2008-42"><span>[</span>43<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_Military_Police" title="Austrian Military Police">Kommando Militärstreife & Militärpolizei</a></i> (Kdo MilStrf&MP) close protection teams</td> <td align="center"><i>P90 TR</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-43"><span>[</span>44<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="9"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Flag_of_Belgium_%28civil%29.svg/22px-Flag_of_Belgium_%28civil%29.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium" title="Belgium">Belgium</a></td> <td><i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Naval_Component" title="Belgian Naval Component">Composante Maritime</a></i> (Belgian Navy) commandos</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-44"><span>[</span>45<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Army" title="Belgian Army">Composante Terre</a></i> (Belgian Army)</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">80</td> <td align="center">2004-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-senatebe2004_45-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-senatebe2004-45"><span>[</span>46<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i>Détachement d'Agents de Sécurité</i> (DAS) dignitary protection group</td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">53</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-senatebe2004_45-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-senatebe2004-45"><span>[</span>46<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Police_Special_Units" title="Federal Police Special Units">Directorate of Special Units</a> (DSU) group of the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Police_%28Belgium%29" title="Federal Police (Belgium)">Federale Politie/Police Fédérale</a></i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dupont2001_46-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dupont2001-46"><span>[</span>47<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Former <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gendarmerie_%28Belgium%29" title="Gendarmerie (Belgium)">Gendarmerie/Rijkswacht</a></i> paramilitary police force</td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">114</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-47"><span>[</span>48<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Forces_Group_%28Belgium%29" title="Special Forces Group (Belgium)">Special Forces Group</a> (SFG; used in the 1991 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War" title="Gulf War">Gulf War</a>)</td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-diez2000_0-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-diez2000-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aarschot" title="Aarschot">Aarschot</a> municipal police force</td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-48"><span>[</span>49<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li%C3%A8ge" title="Liège">Liège</a> metropolitan police force (replaced the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzi" title="Uzi">Uzi</a>)</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">2002-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-49"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-49"><span>[</span>50<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-liegecity2004_50-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-liegecity2004-50"><span>[</span>51<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i>Zone de Police Boraine</i> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boussu" title="Boussu">Boussu</a>/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colfontaine" title="Colfontaine">Colfontaine</a>/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frameries" title="Frameries">Frameries</a>/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaregnon" title="Quaregnon">Quaregnon</a>/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Ghislain" title="Saint-Ghislain">Saint-Ghislain</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_municipalities_of_the_Walloon_Region" title="List of municipalities of the Walloon Region">municipalities</a>) police force</td> <td align="center"><i>P90 TR</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-51"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-51"><span>[</span>52<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/05/Flag_of_Brazil.svg/22px-Flag_of_Brazil.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil" title="Brazil">Brazil</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batalh%C3%A3o_de_Opera%C3%A7%C3%B5es_Policiais_Especiais" title="Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais">Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais</a></i> (BOPE) of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Police_of_Rio_de_Janeiro_State" title="Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State">Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-52"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-52"><span>[</span>53<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="3"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cf/Flag_of_Canada.svg/22px-Flag_of_Canada.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada" title="Canada">Canada</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Task_Force_2" title="Joint Task Force 2">Joint Task Force 2</a> (JTF2) special group of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Forces" title="Canadian Forces">CF</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Special_Operations_Forces_Command" title="Canadian Special Operations Forces Command">Special Operations Forces Command</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">2005-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-53"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-53"><span>[</span>54<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Regional_Police" title="Halifax Regional Police">Halifax Regional Police</a> force in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Regional_Municipality,_Nova_Scotia" title="Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia">Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-54"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-54"><span>[</span>55<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_de_police_de_la_Ville_de_Montr%C3%A9al" title="Service de police de la Ville de Montréal">Service de police de la Ville de Montréal</a></i> (SPVM) SWAT in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal,_Quebec" title="Montreal, Quebec">Montreal, Quebec</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-55"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-55"><span>[</span>56<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Flag_of_Chile.svg/22px-Flag_of_Chile.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chile" title="Chile">Chile</a></td> <td><i>Fuerzas Especiales</i> (Special Forces)</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-56"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-56"><span>[</span>57<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Flag_of_Cyprus.svg/22px-Flag_of_Cyprus.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus" title="Cyprus">Cyprus</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypriot_National_Guard" title="Cypriot National Guard">Εθνική Φρουρά</a></i> (Cypriot National Guard) special forces</td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">350</td> <td align="center">2000-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-24"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_14-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gourley2003-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_Republic" title="Czech Republic">Czech Republic</a></td> <td><i>Útvar Rychlého Nasazení</i> (URNA) of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_of_the_Czech_Republic" title="Police of the Czech Republic">Czech National Police</a></td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">2000s-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-57"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-57"><span>[</span>58<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="3"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="14" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Republic" title="Dominican Republic">Dominican Republic</a></td> <td><i>Cuerpo de Ayudantes Militares del Presidente de la República</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dominicanoshoy_58-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dominicanoshoy-58"><span>[</span>59<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Dominican Republic's counter-terrorist group</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">150</td> <td align="center">2002-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-lalibrebelgique_59-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-lalibrebelgique-59"><span>[</span>60<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_the_Dominican_Republic" title="Military of the Dominican Republic">Fuerzas Armadas de la República Dominicana</a></i> (Military of the Dominican Republic)</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dominicanoshoy_58-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dominicanoshoy-58"><span>[</span>59<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="12" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Flag_of_El_Salvador.svg/22px-Flag_of_El_Salvador.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Salvador" title="El Salvador">El Salvador</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comando_Especial_Anti-Terrorista" title="Comando Especial Anti-Terrorista">Comando Especial Antiterrorista</a></i> (CEAT)</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">350</td> <td align="center">2002-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-60"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-60"><span>[</span>61<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="6"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c3/Flag_of_France.svg/22px-Flag_of_France.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France" title="France">France</a></td> <td><i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1er_R%C3%A9giment_Parachutiste_d%27Infanterie_de_Marine" title="1er Régiment Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine">1er Régiment Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine</a></i> (1<sup>er</sup> RPIMa) of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Army" title="French Army">French Army</a></td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-defgouvfr_61-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-defgouvfr-61"><span>[</span>62<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commandement_des_Op%C3%A9rations_Sp%C3%A9ciales" title="Commandement des Opérations Spéciales">Commandement des Opérations Spéciales</a></i> (COS) joint special operations command</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-diez2000_0-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-diez2000-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIGN" title="GIGN">GIGN</a> counter-terrorism group of the <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Gendarmerie" title="French Gendarmerie">Gendarmerie Nationale</a></i></td> <td align="center"><i>P90 TR</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-62"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-62"><span>[</span>63<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupes_d%27Intervention_de_la_Police_Nationale" title="Groupes d'Intervention de la Police Nationale">GIPN</a> counter-terrorism group of the <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_Nationale" title="Police Nationale">Police Nationale</a></i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-sanjar2003_63-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-sanjar2003-63"><span>[</span>64<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recherche_Assistance_Intervention_Dissuasion" title="Recherche Assistance Intervention Dissuasion">RAID</a> counter-terrorism group of the <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_Nationale" title="Police Nationale">Police Nationale</a></i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-sanjar2003_63-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-sanjar2003-63"><span>[</span>64<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-64"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-64"><span>[</span>65<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troupes_de_marine" title="Troupes de marine">Troupes de marine</a></i> naval infantry regiment of the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Army" title="French Army">Armée de Terre</a></i> (French Army)</td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-defgouvfr_61-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-defgouvfr-61"><span>[</span>62<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany" title="Germany">Germany</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Criminal_Police_Office_%28Germany%29" title="Federal Criminal Police Office (Germany)">Bundeskriminalamt</a></i> (BKA; Federal Criminal Police Office) <i>Sicherungsgruppe</i> (SG; tasked with protection of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chancellor_of_Germany_%28Federal_Republic_of_Germany%29" title="Chancellor of Germany (Federal Republic of Germany)">chancellor</a> and other officials)</td> <td align="center"><i>P90 TR</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-65"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-65"><span>[</span>66<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Flag_of_Greece.svg/22px-Flag_of_Greece.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece" title="Greece">Greece</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Anti-Terrorist_Unit_%28Greece%29" title="Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (Greece)">Ειδική Κατασταλτική Αντιτρομοκρατική Μονάδα</a></i> (EKAM) unit of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenic_Police" title="Hellenic Police">Hellenic Police</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-66"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-66"><span>[</span>67<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="14" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Flag_of_Guatemala.svg/22px-Flag_of_Guatemala.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guatemala" title="Guatemala">Guatemala</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretariats_of_the_Presidency_of_Guatemala" title="Secretariats of the Presidency of Guatemala">Secretaría de Asuntos Administrativos de Seguridad de la Presidencia</a></i> (SAAS)</td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">20</td> <td align="center">2009-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ricardo2009_67-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-ricardo2009-67"><span>[</span>68<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg/22px-Flag_of_India.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India" title="India">India</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Protection_Group" title="Special Protection Group">Special Protection Group</a> (SPG; tasked with protection of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_India" title="Prime Minister of India">prime minister</a> and other officials)</td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i>,<br />
<i>P90 TR</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">2008-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-68"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-68"><span>[</span>69<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="2"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Flag_of_Indonesia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Indonesia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia" title="Indonesia">Indonesia</a></td> <td><i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopaska" title="Kopaska">Komando Pasukan Katak</a></i> (Kopaska) tactical diver group of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_Navy" title="Indonesian Navy">Indonesian Navy</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-idnvojnik_69-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-idnvojnik-69"><span>[</span>70<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopassus" title="Kopassus">Komando Pasukan Khusus</a></i> (Kopassus) special forces group of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_Army" title="Indonesian Army">Indonesian Army</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-idnvojnik_69-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-idnvojnik-69"><span>[</span>70<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Flag_of_Ireland.svg/22px-Flag_of_Ireland.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Ireland" title="Republic of Ireland">Ireland</a></td> <td><i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Army_Rangers" title="Irish Army Rangers">Sciathán Fianóglach an Airm</a></i> (Army Ranger Wing) of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Defence_Forces" title="Irish Defence Forces">Irish Defence Forces</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">2003-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-70"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-70"><span>[</span>71<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/03/Flag_of_Italy.svg/22px-Flag_of_Italy.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy" title="Italy">Italy</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_Parachute_Assault_Regiment" title="9th Parachute Assault Regiment">Col Moschin 9<sup>o</sup> Reggimento d'Assalto Paracadutisti</a></i> (9th Parachute Assault Regiment) special forces of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Army" title="Italian Army">Italian Army</a></td> <td align="center"><i>P90 TR</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-raidsitalia_71-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-raidsitalia-71"><span>[</span>72<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Flag_of_Jordan.svg/22px-Flag_of_Jordan.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan" title="Jordan">Jordan</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordanian_Armed_Forces" title="Jordanian Armed Forces">Jordanian Armed Forces</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-72"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-72"><span>[</span>73<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Flag_of_Lebanon.svg/22px-Flag_of_Lebanon.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon" title="Lebanon">Lebanon</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_Security_Forces" title="Internal Security Forces">Forces de Sécurité Intérieure</a></i> (FSI)</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-73"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-73"><span>[</span>74<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Flag_of_Libya_%281977%29.svg/22px-Flag_of_Libya_%281977%29.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libya" title="Libya">Libya</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Libya" title="Military of Libya">Military of Libya</a> (used by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muammar_Gaddafi" title="Muammar Gaddafi">Muammar Gaddafi</a>'s military forces in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Libyan_civil_war" title="2011 Libyan civil war">2011 Libyan civil war</a>, and some of these examples were captured and used in the war by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Gaddafi_forces" title="Anti-Gaddafi forces">Libyan rebel forces</a>)</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">367</td> <td align="center">2008-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-deredactie_2-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-deredactie-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-74"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-74"><span>[</span>75<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Flag_of_Luxembourg.svg/22px-Flag_of_Luxembourg.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg" title="Luxembourg">Luxembourg</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit%C3%A9_Sp%C3%A9ciale_de_la_Police" title="Unité Spéciale de la Police">Unité Spéciale de la Police</a></i> (USP) group of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Ducal_Police" title="Grand Ducal Police">Grand Ducal Police</a></td> <td align="center"><i>P90 TR</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-sunkler2008_42-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-sunkler2008-42"><span>[</span>43<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-75"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-75"><span>[</span>76<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Flag_of_Malaysia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia" title="Malaysia">Malaysia</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PASKAL" title="PASKAL">Pasukan Khas Laut</a></i> (PASKAL) special operations group of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Malaysian_Navy" title="Royal Malaysian Navy">Royal Malaysian Navy</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-76"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-76"><span>[</span>77<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Flag_of_Mauritania.svg/22px-Flag_of_Mauritania.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauritania" title="Mauritania">Mauritania</a></td> <td>BASEP presidential security battalion</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-77"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-77"><span>[</span>78<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Flag_of_Mauritius.svg/22px-Flag_of_Mauritius.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauritius" title="Mauritius">Mauritius</a></td> <td>Various police forces</td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-78"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-78"><span>[</span>79<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="4"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Flag_of_Mexico.svg/22px-Flag_of_Mexico.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico" title="Mexico">Mexico</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Army" title="Mexican Army">Ejército Méxicano</a></i> (Mexican Army) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Special_Forces" title="Mexican Special Forces">Special Forces</a></td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-lajornada2005_79-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-lajornada2005-79"><span>[</span>80<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estado_Mayor_Presidencial" title="Estado Mayor Presidencial">Estado Mayor Presidencial</a></i> (EMP; Presidential Guard)</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-lajornada2005_79-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-lajornada2005-79"><span>[</span>80<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuerzas_Especiales" title="Fuerzas Especiales">Fuerzas Especiales</a></i> (FES) of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Navy" title="Mexican Navy">Mexican Navy</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-lajornada2005_79-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-lajornada2005-79"><span>[</span>80<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Police_%28Mexico%29" title="Federal Police (Mexico)">Policía Federal</a></i> (PF; Federal Police) of the <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretariat_of_Public_Security" title="Secretariat of Public Security">Secretaría de Seguridad Pública</a></i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ricardo2009_67-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-ricardo2009-67"><span>[</span>68<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="2"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands" title="Netherlands">Netherlands</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korps_Commandotroepen" title="Korps Commandotroepen">Korps Commandotroepen</a></i> (KCT) of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Netherlands_Army" title="Royal Netherlands Army">Royal Netherlands Army</a> (replaced the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzi" title="Uzi">Uzi</a>)</td> <td align="center"><i>P90 TR</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">2000-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gourley2003_14-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-gourley2003-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-aviationweek_80-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-aviationweek-80"><span>[</span>81<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ddp1_81-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-ddp1-81"><span>[</span>82<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bijzondere_Bijstands_Eenheid" title="Bijzondere Bijstands Eenheid">Unit Interventie Mariniers</a></i> (UIM) of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands_Marine_Corps" title="Netherlands Marine Corps">Netherlands Marine Corps</a></td> <td align="center"><i>P90 TR</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">2001-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-aviationweek_80-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-aviationweek-80"><span>[</span>81<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ddp2_82-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-ddp2-82"><span>[</span>83<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Flag_of_Nigeria.svg/22px-Flag_of_Nigeria.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria" title="Nigeria">Nigeria</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Intelligence_Agency_%28Nigeria%29" title="National Intelligence Agency (Nigeria)">National Intelligence Agency</a> (NIA)</td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">100</td> <td align="center">2011-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-83"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-83"><span>[</span>84<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Flag_of_Pakistan.svg/22px-Flag_of_Pakistan.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan" title="Pakistan">Pakistan</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Service_Group" title="Special Service Group">Special Service Group</a> (SSG) of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan_Army" title="Pakistan Army">Pakistan Army</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-84"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-84"><span>[</span>85<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="17" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Flag_of_Papua_New_Guinea.svg/22px-Flag_of_Papua_New_Guinea.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papua_New_Guinea" title="Papua New Guinea">Papua New Guinea</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papua_New_Guinea_Defence_Force" title="Papua New Guinea Defence Force">Papua New Guinea Defence Force</a> (PNGDF)</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-85"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-85"><span>[</span>86<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="3"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Flag_of_Peru.svg/22px-Flag_of_Peru.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peru" title="Peru">Peru</a></td> <td><i>Grupo de Fuerzas Especiales</i> (GRUFE) of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peruvian_Armed_Forces" title="Peruvian Armed Forces">Peruvian Armed Forces</a> (used in the rescue of hostages in the 1997 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_embassy_hostage_crisis" title="Japanese embassy hostage crisis">Japanese embassy hostage crisis</a> known as <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Chav%C3%ADn_de_Huantar" title="Operation Chavín de Huantar">Operation Chavín de Huantar</a>)</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-25"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-specialops_34-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-specialops-34"><span>[</span>35<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-86"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-86"><span>[</span>87<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i>Fuerza de Operaciones Especiales</i> (FOES) of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peruvian_Navy" title="Peruvian Navy">Peruvian Navy</a></td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">53</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dintel2007_87-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-dintel2007-87"><span>[</span>88<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-idepe_88-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-idepe-88"><span>[</span>89<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i>Paracaidistas del Ejército</i> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peruvian_Army" title="Peruvian Army">Peruvian Army</a> paratroopers)</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-perudefensa_89-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-perudefensa-89"><span>[</span>90<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines" title="Philippines">Philippines</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Action_Force" title="Special Action Force">Special Action Force</a> (SAF) of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_National_Police" title="Philippine National Police">Philippine National Police</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-lewis2007_35-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-lewis2007-35"><span>[</span>36<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="2"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="14" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/12/Flag_of_Poland.svg/22px-Flag_of_Poland.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland" title="Poland">Poland</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GROM" title="GROM">Grupa Reagowania Operacyjno-Manewrowego</a></i> (GROM) special forces (used primarily for dignitary protection)</td> <td align="center"><i>P90 TR</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">2006-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-90"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-90"><span>[</span>91<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Protection_Bureau" title="Government Protection Bureau">Biuro Ochrony Rządu</a></i> (BOR)</td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">2007-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-polandun_91-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-polandun-91"><span>[</span>92<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Flag_of_Portugal.svg/22px-Flag_of_Portugal.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal">Portugal</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grupo_de_Opera%C3%A7%C3%B5es_Especiais_%28Portugal%29" title="Grupo de Operações Especiais (Portugal)">Grupo de Operações Especiais</a></i> (GOE) of the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pol%C3%ADcia_de_Seguran%C3%A7a_P%C3%BAblica" title="Polícia de Segurança Pública">Polícia de Segurança Pública</a></i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">2002-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-92"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-92"><span>[</span>93<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Flag_of_Romania.svg/22px-Flag_of_Romania.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania" title="Romania">Romania</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deta%C5%9Famentul_de_Interven%C5%A3ie_Rapid%C4%83" title="Detaşamentul de Intervenţie Rapidă">Detaşamentul de Intervenţie Rapidă</a></i> special operations group of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Romania" title="Military of Romania">Romanian Military</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-93"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-93"><span>[</span>94<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" title="Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Emergency_Force" title="Special Emergency Force">Special Emergency Force</a></td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">500</td> <td align="center">1992-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marchington2004_5-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-marchington2004-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-janes1992_94-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-janes1992-94"><span>[</span>95<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-95"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-95"><span>[</span>96<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Flag_of_Singapore.svg/22px-Flag_of_Singapore.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore" title="Singapore">Singapore</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Armed_Forces_Commando_Formation" title="Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation">Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation</a> (CDO FN)</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">500</td> <td align="center">2002-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-96"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-96"><span>[</span>97<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-97"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-97"><span>[</span>98<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-98"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-98"><span>[</span>99<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="2"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Spain.svg/22px-Flag_of_Spain.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain" title="Spain">Spain</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grupo_Especial_de_Operaciones" title="Grupo Especial de Operaciones">Grupo Especial de Operaciones</a></i> (GEO) of the <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuerpo_Nacional_de_Polic%C3%ADa_%28Spain%29" title="Cuerpo Nacional de Policía (Spain)">Cuerpo Nacional de Policía</a></i></td> <td align="center"><i>P90 TR</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-99"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-99"><span>[</span>100<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-100"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-100"><span>[</span>101<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_special_operations" title="Spanish special operations">Escuadrón de Zapadores Paracaidistas</a></i> (EZAPAC) special group of the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Air_Force" title="Spanish Air Force">Ejército del Aire</a></i> (Spanish Air Force)</td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i>,<br />
<i>P90 TR</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-101"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-101"><span>[</span>102<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Flag_of_Suriname.svg/22px-Flag_of_Suriname.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suriname" title="Suriname">Suriname</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Suriname" title="Military of Suriname">Military of Suriname</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">900</td> <td align="center">2001-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-lalibrebelgique_59-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-lalibrebelgique-59"><span>[</span>60<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-102"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-102"><span>[</span>103<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_China" title="Republic of China">Taiwan</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_China_Armed_Forces" title="Republic of China Armed Forces">Republic of China Armed Forces</a></td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">1992-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-janes1992_94-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-janes1992-94"><span>[</span>95<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-103"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-103"><span>[</span>104<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Flag_of_Thailand.svg/22px-Flag_of_Thailand.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand" title="Thailand">Thailand</a></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Thai_Army" title="Royal Thai Army">กองทัพบกไทย</a></i> (Royal Thai Army) special units</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-popenker2001_104-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-popenker2001-104"><span>[</span>105<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Flag_of_Trinidad_and_Tobago.svg/22px-Flag_of_Trinidad_and_Tobago.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinidad_and_Tobago" title="Trinidad and Tobago">Trinidad and Tobago</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinidad_and_Tobago_Defence_Force" title="Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force">Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-105"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-105"><span>[</span>106<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="2"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Flag_of_Turkey.svg/22px-Flag_of_Turkey.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recep_Tayyip_Erdo%C4%9Fan" title="Recep Tayyip Erdoğan">Prime Minister</a>'s close protection teams</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-vatan2007_106-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-vatan2007-106"><span>[</span>107<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%96zel_tim-%C3%96zel_Harekat_Timi_%28Special_Team%29" title="Özel tim-Özel Harekat Timi (Special Team)">Polis Özel tim-Özel Harekat Timi</a></i> counter-terrorism group</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-vatan2007_106-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-vatan2007-106"><span>[</span>107<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-107"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-107"><span>[</span>108<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-108"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-108"><span>[</span>109<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Flag_of_Ukraine.svg/22px-Flag_of_Ukraine.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine" title="Ukraine">Ukraine</a></td> <td>Ukrainian police force (unspecified)</td> <td align="center"><i>P90 LV</i></td> <td align="center">30</td> <td align="center">2008-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-listun_109-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-listun-109"><span>[</span>110<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="17"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="12" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Federal_Protective_Service" title="United States Federal Protective Service">U.S. Federal Protective Service</a> branch of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_%26_Customs_Enforcement" title="Immigration & Customs Enforcement">ICE</a></td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">2001-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-terry2004_36-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-terry2004-36"><span>[</span>37<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-liegecity2004_50-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-liegecity2004-50"><span>[</span>51<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fbo2005_110-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-fbo2005-110"><span>[</span>111<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Immigration_and_Naturalization_Service" title="U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service">U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-26"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Secret_Service" title="U.S. Secret Service">U.S. Secret Service</a></td> <td align="center"><i>P90 TR</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">1990s-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_6-27"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-jones2009-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-time2009_111-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-time2009-111"><span>[</span>112<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-112"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-112"><span>[</span>113<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addison,_TX" title="Addison, TX">Addison</a> police department in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a> (first agency in the country to issue it to <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrol_car" title="Patrol car">patrol cars</a>)</td> <td align="center"><i>PS90 TR</i></td> <td align="center">52</td> <td align="center">2007-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-collier2007_113-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-collier2007-113"><span>[</span>114<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-miller2007_114-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-miller2007-114"><span>[</span>115<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-115"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-115"><span>[</span>116<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_State_Troopers" title="Alaska State Troopers">Alaska State Troopers</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> <td align="center"><i>P90 LV</i></td> <td align="center">9</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-116"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-116"><span>[</span>117<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Police_Department_%28Alabama%29" title="Birmingham Police Department (Alabama)">Birmingham Police Department</a> SWAT in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama" title="Alabama">Alabama</a></td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-117"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-117"><span>[</span>118<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-118"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-118"><span>[</span>119<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan,_TX" title="Bryan, TX">Bryan</a> police department SWAT in Texas</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-119"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-119"><span>[</span>120<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creve_Coeur,_Missouri" title="Creve Coeur, Missouri">Creve Coeur</a> police department in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri" title="Missouri">Missouri</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-120"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-120"><span>[</span>121<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edina,_Minnesota" title="Edina, Minnesota">Edina</a> police department in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota" title="Minnesota">Minnesota</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">11</td> <td align="center">2005-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-121"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-121"><span>[</span>122<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Police_Department" title="Houston Police Department">Houston Police Department</a> SWAT in Texas (first local law enforcement agency in the country to adopt and use the weapon)</td> <td align="center"><i>P90</i></td> <td align="center">5</td> <td align="center">1999-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-wall2003_18-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-wall2003-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kutztown,_Pennsylvania" title="Kutztown, Pennsylvania">Kutztown</a> police department in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-122"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-122"><span>[</span>123<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olathe,_Kansas" title="Olathe, Kansas">Olathe</a> police department ERT in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas" title="Kansas">Kansas</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">23</td> <td align="center">2001-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-123"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-123"><span>[</span>124<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passaic_County,_New_Jersey" title="Passaic County, New Jersey">Passaic County</a> sheriff's department SWAT in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey" title="New Jersey">New Jersey</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">2002-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-humphries2008_25-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-humphries2008-25"><span>[</span>26<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richland_County_Sheriff%27s_Department" title="Richland County Sheriff's Department">Richland County Sheriff's Department</a> SRT in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina" title="South Carolina">South Carolina</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">2000-</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-124"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-124"><span>[</span>125<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sioux_Falls_Police_Department_%28South_Dakota%29" title="Sioux Falls Police Department (South Dakota)">Sioux Falls Police Department</a> SWAT in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Dakota" title="South Dakota">South Dakota</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-125"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-125"><span>[</span>126<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparta_Township,_New_Jersey" title="Sparta Township, New Jersey">Sparta</a> Police Department in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey" title="New Jersey">New Jersey</a></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-126"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-126"><span>[</span>127<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapata_County,_Texas" title="Zapata County, Texas">Zapata County</a> sheriff's department in Texas</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-127"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-127"><span>[</span>128<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="6"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Flag_of_Venezuela.svg/22px-Flag_of_Venezuela.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuela" title="Venezuela">Venezuela</a></td> <td>Bodyguards assigned to the <i>Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores</i></td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-128"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-128"><span>[</span>129<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td>COPEMI unit of the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolivarian_Armada_of_Venezuela" title="Bolivarian Armada of Venezuela">Armada Bolivariana de Venezuela</a></i> (Venezuelan Navy)</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-aviamil2003_129-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-aviamil2003-129"><span>[</span>130<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td>CSAR unit of the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuelan_Air_Force" title="Venezuelan Air Force">Aviación Militar Venezolana</a></i> (Venezuelan Air Force)</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-aviamil2003_129-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-aviamil2003-129"><span>[</span>130<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuelan_Army" title="Venezuelan Army">Ejército Libertador de Venezuela</a></i> (Venezuelan Army)</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-aviamil2003_129-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-aviamil2003-129"><span>[</span>130<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-130"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-130"><span>[</span>131<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuelan_National_Guard" title="Venezuelan National Guard">Guardia Nacional de Venezuela</a></i> (Venezuelan National Guard)</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-aviamil2003_129-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-aviamil2003-129"><span>[</span>130<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Various <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_enforcement_in_Venezuela" title="Law enforcement in Venezuela">police</a> forces</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center">—</td> <td align="center"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-131"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-131"><span>[</span>132<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-132"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#cite_note-132"><span>[</span>133<span>]</span></a></sup></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-88624856587401655372012-01-21T23:58:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:18:25.445-08:00USS Harry S. Truman CVN-75 (Ship)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading"><br />
</h1><div id="siteSub"><br />
</div><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carrier.750pix.jpg" title="USS Harry S. Truman alongside oiler USNS John Lenthall (T-AO-189) in the Mediterranean Sea."><img alt="USS Harry S. Truman alongside oiler USNS John Lenthall (T-AO-189) in the Mediterranean Sea." height="178" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Carrier.750pix.jpg/300px-Carrier.750pix.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
USS <i>Harry S. Truman</i> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_Sea" title="Mediterranean Sea">Mediterranean Sea</a>, alongside <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Sealift_Command" title="Military Sealift Command">MSC</a> oiler <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USNS_John_Lenthall_%28T-AO-189%29" title="USNS John Lenthall (T-AO-189)">USNS <i>John Lenthall</i></a>.</td> </tr>
<tr> <th height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Career</th> <th style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" height="35" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/67px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" width="67" /></span></th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Name:</td> <td>USS <i>Harry S. Truman</i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Namesake:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman" title="Harry S. Truman">Harry S. Truman</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Ordered:</td> <td>30 June 1988</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Builder:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_News_Shipbuilding" title="Newport News Shipbuilding">Newport News Shipbuilding</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Cost:</td> <td>US$4.5 billion</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Laid down:</td> <td>29 November 1993</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Launched:</td> <td>7 September 1996</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Commissioned:</td> <td>25 July 1998</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Homeport:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_Norfolk" title="Naval Station Norfolk">NS Norfolk, Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Motto:</td> <td><i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Buck_Stops_Here" title="The Buck Stops Here">The Buck Stops Here</a></i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Nickname:</td> <td><i>HST</i>, <i>Lone Warrior</i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Status:</td> <td>in active service, as of 2012</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Badge:</td> <td><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CVN75_Crest_full.jpg"><img alt="CVN75 Crest full.jpg" height="129" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/CVN75_Crest_full.jpg/200px-CVN75_Crest_full.jpg" width="200" /></a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">General characteristics</th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Class and type:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier"><i>Nimitz</i>-class</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Displacement:</td> <td>103,900 long tons (116,400 short tons)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Length:</td> <td>Overall: 1,092 feet (332.8 m)<br />
Waterline: 1,040 feet (317.0 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Beam:</td> <td>Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m)<br />
Waterline: 134 ft (40.8 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Draft:</td> <td>Maximum navigational: 37 ft (11.3 m)<br />
Limit: 41 ft (12.5 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Propulsion:</td> <td>2 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westinghouse_Electric_Company" title="Westinghouse Electric Company">Westinghouse</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A4W_reactor" title="A4W reactor">A4W nuclear reactors</a><br />
4 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_turbine" title="Steam turbine">steam turbines</a><br />
4 × shafts<br />
260,000 shp (194 MW)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Speed:</td> <td>30+ knots (56+ km/h; 35+ mph)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Range:</td> <td>Unlimited distance; 20-25 years</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Complement:</td> <td>Ship's company: 3,200<br />
Air wing: 2,480</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Sensors and<br />
processing systems:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/SPS-48" title="AN/SPS-48">AN/SPS-48E</a> 3-D air search radar<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/SPS-49" title="AN/SPS-49">AN/SPS-49(V)5</a> 2-D air search radar<br />
AN/SPQ-9B target acquisition radar<br />
<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/SPN-46" title="AN/SPN-46">AN/SPN-46</a> air traffic control radars<br />
<a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AN/SPN-43&action=edit&redlink=1" title="AN/SPN-43 (page does not exist)">AN/SPN-43C</a> air traffic control radar<br />
<a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AN/SPN-41&action=edit&redlink=1" title="AN/SPN-41 (page does not exist)">AN/SPN-41</a> landing aid radars<br />
4 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems<br />
4 × Mk 95 radars</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Electronic warfare<br />
and decoys:</td> <td>SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite<br />
SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armament:</td> <td>2 × Mk 57 Mod3 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Sparrow" title="Sea Sparrow">Sea Sparrow</a><br />
2 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIM-116_Rolling_Airframe_Missile" title="RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile">RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile</a><br />
3 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS" title="Phalanx CIWS">Phalanx CIWS</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armor:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classified_information" title="Classified information">Classified</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Aircraft carried:</td> <td>90 fixed wing and helicopters</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><b>USS <i>Harry S. Truman</i> (CVN-75)</b> is the eighth <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier"><i>Nimitz</i>-class</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercarrier" title="Supercarrier">supercarrier</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">United States Navy</a>, named after the 33rd President of the United States, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman" title="Harry S. Truman">Harry S. Truman</a>. <i>HST</i><span style="padding-left: 0.1em;">'</span>s <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callsign" title="Callsign">callsign</a> is <i>Lone Warrior</i> and is currently homeported at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_Norfolk" title="Naval Station Norfolk">Naval Station Norfolk</a>, Virginia.<br />
<i>Harry S. Truman</i> was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_naming_and_launching" title="Ship naming and launching">launched</a> on 14 September 1996 by <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_Newport_News" title="Northrop Grumman Newport News">Newport News Shipbuilding</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_News,_Virginia" title="Newport News, Virginia">Newport News, Virginia</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_commissioning" title="Ship commissioning">commissioned</a> on 18 July 1998 with Captain <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Otterbein" title="Thomas Otterbein">Thomas Otterbein</a> in command. President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton" title="Bill Clinton">Bill Clinton</a> was the keynote speaker, and other notable attendees and speakers included Missouri Representative <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ike_Skelton" title="Ike Skelton">Ike Skelton</a>, Missouri Governor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Carnahan" title="Mel Carnahan">Mel Carnahan</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretary_of_Defense" title="Secretary of Defense">Secretary of Defense</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cohen" title="William Cohen">William Cohen</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretary_of_the_Navy" title="Secretary of the Navy">Secretary of the Navy</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_H._Dalton" title="John H. Dalton">John H. Dalton</a>.<br />
USS <i>Harry S. Truman</i> was initially the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagship" title="Flagship">flagship</a> of Carrier Group Two and, beginning 1 October 2004, of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Strike_Group_Ten" title="Carrier Strike Group Ten">Carrier Strike Group Ten</a>.<br />
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</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Description">Description</span></h2><i>Harry Truman</i> (also known as <i>HST</i> within the Navy) is 1,092 ft (333 m) long, 257 ft (78 m) wide and is as high as a twenty-four-story building, at 244 feet (74 m). The super carrier can accommodate approximately 80 aircraft and has a flight deck 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) in size, using four elevators that are 3,880 ft² (360 m²) each to move planes between the flight deck and the hangar bay. With a combat load, <i>HST</i> displaces almost 97,000 tons and can accommodate 6,250 crewmembers. Her four distilling units can make 400,000 U.S. gallons (1,500 m³) of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potable_water" title="Potable water">potable water</a> a day; her food service divisions serve 18,000 meals per day. There are over 2,500 compartments on board requiring 2,520 tons (2.1 MW) of air conditioning capacity (enough to cool over 2,000 homes). The warship uses two Mark II stockless anchors that came from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Forrestal_%28CV-59%29" title="USS Forrestal (CV-59)">USS <i>Forrestal</i></a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-1">[2]</a></sup> and weigh 30 tons each, with each link of the anchor chain weighing 360 pounds (160 kg). She is currently equipped with three 20 mm <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS" title="Phalanx CIWS">Phalanx CIWS</a> mounts and two <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Sparrow" title="Sea Sparrow">Sea Sparrow</a> SAM launchers. The ship cost over $4.5 billion in 2007 dollars to manufacture.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Propulsion">Propulsion</span></h3>Two Westinghouse <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A4W" title="A4W">A4W</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_reactor" title="Nuclear reactor">nuclear reactors</a> are used for propulsion (the ship is capable of steaming more than three million miles before refueling) turning 4 five-bladed screws that weigh 66,220 pounds (30 t) each driving the ship at speeds over 30 knots (56 km/h).<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Recreation">Recreation</span></h3>While underway, the ship has its own daily newspaper, the "Give 'em Hell Herald",<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-2">[3]</a></sup> and its own weekly television newscast, "The Lookout". In addition, the ship's Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR) division collaborates with the public affairs office (PAO) to telecast bingo contests for the crew that award as much as $1,000 and several prizes.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Awards">Awards</span></h3><i>Harry S. Truman</i> has been the recipient of numerous awards recognizing the ship's excellence. They include<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battenberg_Cup" title="Battenberg Cup">Battenberg Cup</a> 2003<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-3">[4]</a></sup></li>
<li><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Efficiency_Award" title="Battle Efficiency Award">Battle "E"</a> in 2003,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-4">[5]</a></sup> 2004,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-5">[6]</a></sup> 2005,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-6">[7]</a></sup> 2008,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-7">[8]</a></sup> 2009 and 2010.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NNS110205-09_8-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-NNS110205-09-8">[9]</a></sup></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Miller" title="Doris Miller">Dorie P. Miller</a> Memorial Award for Food Service in 2002 and 2004</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marjorie_Sterrett_Battleship_Fund_Award" title="Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award">Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award</a>, an honor given to the most battle-ready ship in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Atlantic_Fleet" title="U.S. Atlantic Fleet">U.S. Atlantic Fleet</a> 2004 and 2009</li>
<li><a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ney_Award&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Ney Award (page does not exist)">Ney Award</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-9">[10]</a></sup></li>
<li>Admiral <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Arthur" title="Stan Arthur">Stan Arthur</a> Award, 2004<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-10">[11]</a></sup></li>
</ul><h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Ship.27s_seal_and_battle_flag">Ship's seal and battle flag</span></h3>The oval seal was designed by the ship's pre-commissioning crew and is primarily blue and gold. According to the ship's history webpage, a coat of arms "characterizes the global on-station capability of the ship and the United States Navy" and "Truman's name forms the shape of a forward-deployed aircraft carrier prepared to uphold and protect American interests".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-truman.navy.mil_11-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-truman.navy.mil-11">[12]</a></sup> The three flags near the bottom represent the letters "HST".<br />
The <i>Truman</i> battle flag was also designed by the ship's crew and is a variation of the guidons carried by the companies of the 129th Field Artillery Regiment of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/35th_Infantry_Division_%28United_States%29" title="35th Infantry Division (United States)">35th Infantry Division</a>, such as Battery D, the battery under the command of then Army Capt. Harry Truman during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I" title="World War I">World War I</a>. It consists of crossed cannons on a scarlet background with the phrase "Give 'em hell", a reference to Truman's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1948" title="United States presidential election, 1948">1948 reelection campaign</a>.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Ship_history">Ship history</span></h2><h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Pre-commissioning_and_construction">Pre-commissioning and construction</span></h3><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Harry_S_Truman_Cover.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="123" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Harry_S_Truman_Cover.jpg/220px-Harry_S_Truman_Cover.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Harry_S_Truman_Cover.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>A cover for the Keel Laying of CVN-75 showing her keel was laid as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_United_States" title="USS United States">USS <i>United States</i></a></div></div></div>The keel was laid by <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_Newport_News" title="Northrop Grumman Newport News">Newport News Shipbuilding</a> on 29 November 1993 and the ship was christened on 7 September 1996.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-truman.navy.mil_11-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-truman.navy.mil-11">[12]</a></sup> <i>HST</i> was authorized and laid down as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_United_States" title="USS United States">USS <i>United States</i></a> but her name was changed in February 1995 at the direction of then <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretary_of_the_Navy" title="Secretary of the Navy">Secretary of the Navy</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_H._Dalton" title="John H. Dalton">John H. Dalton</a>.<br />
Three Newport News shipworkers died during construction when a pump room filled with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methane" title="Methane">methane</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_sulfide" title="Hydrogen sulfide">hydrogen sulfide</a> gases during a sewage leak on 12 July 1997. They are commemorated by a brass plaque in the tunnel off Hangar Bay #1. The ship was christened on 7 September 1996, launched 13 September 1996, and the crew began moving aboard from contract housing in Newport News in January 1998. The ship successfully completed builder's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_trial" title="Sea trial">sea trial</a> on 11 June 1998 after a short delay due to noise issues in one of the reactor closure heads. The ship was officially accepted by the Navy on 30 June 1998 and was commissioned on 25 July 1998 at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_Norfolk" title="Naval Station Norfolk">Naval Station Norfolk</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-12">[13]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Commissioning">Commissioning</span></h3>The keynote speaker of the commissioning ceremony was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States" title="President of the United States">President</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton" title="Bill Clinton">Bill Clinton</a>. Other notable attendees and speakers were: Rep. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ike_Skelton" title="Ike Skelton">Ike Skelton</a>, D-Mo., who pushed to have the carrier named after the 33rd president; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri" title="Missouri">Missouri</a> Governor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Carnahan" title="Mel Carnahan">Mel Carnahan</a>; <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_%28U.S._Navy%29" title="Captain (U.S. Navy)">Captain</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Otterbein" title="Thomas Otterbein">Thomas Otterbein</a>, <i>Truman’s</i> first commanding officer; <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretary_of_Defense" title="Secretary of Defense">Secretary of Defense</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cohen" title="William Cohen">William Cohen</a>; and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretary_of_the_Navy" title="Secretary of the Navy">Secretary of the Navy</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_H._Dalton" title="John H. Dalton">John H. Dalton</a>.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="1998.E2.80.931999">1998–1999</span></h3><i>Truman</i> got underway for the first time as a U.S. Navy carrier in August 1998 to conduct <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_deck" title="Flight deck">flight deck</a> certifications, an evolution designed to test the ship’s ability to successfully launch and recover aircraft. That was followed by numerous at sea periods for various training evolutions.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="2000_Maiden_deployment">2000 Maiden deployment</span></h3>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiden_voyage" title="Maiden voyage">Maiden deployment</a> of <i>Harry S. Truman</i> began on 28 November 2000 with <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Air_Wing_3" title="Carrier Air Wing 3">Carrier Air Wing 3</a> (CVW-3) embarked. After transiting the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal" title="Suez Canal">Suez Canal</a>, the air wing flew 869 combat sorties in support of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Southern_Watch" title="Operation Southern Watch">Operation Southern Watch</a> (OSW), including a strike on Iraqi integrated air defense system sites on 16 February 2001, in a sanctioned response to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraqi</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface-to-air_missile" title="Surface-to-air missile">surface-to-air missile</a> fire against United Nations Security Council coalition forces.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-truman.navy.mil_11-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-truman.navy.mil-11">[12]</a></sup> Combat operations ended on 27 April and the ship returned to the U.S. on 23 May 2001. She then entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va., for her first Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) on 5 September.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="2002.E2.80.932003">2002–2003</span></h3><b>HST</b> deployed on her second deployment on 5 December 2002, again with CVW-3 embarked,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-13">[14]</a></sup> visiting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marseille" title="Marseille">Marseille</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France" title="France">France</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Souda_Bay" title="Souda Bay">Souda Bay</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crete" title="Crete">Crete</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koper" title="Koper">Koper</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenia" title="Slovenia">Slovenia</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-14">[15]</a></sup> Between 19 March and 18 April, airwing aircraft flew nearly 1,300 combat sorties from the Mediterranean Sea in the early stages of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Iraqi_Freedom" title="Operation Iraqi Freedom">2003 invasion of Iraq</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-15">[16]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-16">[17]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-17">[18]</a></sup> The ship stopped in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth,_England" title="Portsmouth, England">Portsmouth, England</a>, before returning to Norfolk on 23 May 2003. <i>Truman</i> conducted her second Planned Incremental Availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard from August 2003 to 13 February 2004.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="2004.E2.80.932005">2004–2005</span></h3><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carrier2.750pix.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="141" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Carrier2.750pix.jpg/220px-Carrier2.750pix.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carrier2.750pix.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The ship anchored outside <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth" title="Portsmouth">Portsmouth</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England" title="England">England</a>, while her crew enjoys a port visit.</div></div></div>On 2 June 2004, <i>HST</i> "surged"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-18">[19]</a></sup> for <i>Summer Pulse 04</i>, deploying to the Mediterranean Sea in support of the Navy's Fleet Response Plan. The ship ported in Naples, Italy, and participated in Operation Majestic Eagle in the eastern Atlantic Ocean before returning home on 25 July.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-19">[20]</a></sup><br />
The ship set out from Norfolk on her third extended deployment on 13 October 2004, and visited Souda Bay, Crete, before relieving <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_John_F._Kennedy_%28CV-67%29" title="USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)">USS <i>John F. Kennedy</i></a> on 20 November in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a>.<br />
<i>Truman</i> and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 launched 2,577 sorties, totaling nearly 13,000 flight hours, in support of OIF and maritime security operations (MSO) before being relieved by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29" title="USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)">USS <i>Carl Vinson</i></a> Carrier Strike Group in the Persian Gulf on 19 March 2005. Despite plans to cross the equator and visit <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa" title="South Africa">South Africa</a>, diplomatic issues caused her instead to transit the Suez Canal, stopping in Portsmouth, England, prior to returning home on 19 April 2005.<br />
On 1 September 2005, in response to the disaster of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina" title="Hurricane Katrina">Hurricane Katrina</a>, <i>Truman</i> set sail for the devastated U.S. Gulf Coast. She arrived in the Gulf of Mexico on 4 September and served as the flagship for the Naval task force. While the ship's strike group (Carrier Strike Group 10) commander, Rear Adm. Joseph Kilkenny, was appointed deputy commander of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Task_Force_Katrina" title="Joint Task Force Katrina">Joint Task Force (JTF) Gulf Coast</a> (also known as JTF Katrina & Rita), the ship remained anchored in the gulf and provided fresh desalinated water for the relief effort via helicopter (the actual command hub for the JTF was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Iwo_Jima_%28LHD-7%29" title="USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7)">USS <i>Iwo Jima</i></a>). The carrier also provided support to <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JRB_New_Orleans" title="JRB New Orleans">JRB New Orleans</a> in the form of aviation boatswain's mates and cooks to keep that station in operation.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-20">[21]</a></sup> <i>Harry S. Truman</i> returned to home port in October 2005 after five weeks of relief efforts.<br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elizabeth_River_at_NNSY.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="308" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Elizabeth_River_at_NNSY.jpg/220px-Elizabeth_River_at_NNSY.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elizabeth_River_at_NNSY.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><i>Harry S. Truman</i> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_River_%28Virginia%29" title="Elizabeth River (Virginia)">Elizabeth River</a> near <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_Naval_Shipyard" title="Norfolk Naval Shipyard">Norfolk Naval Shipyard</a> in 2004.</div></div></div><h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="2006">2006</span></h3><i>Harry S. Truman</i> entered the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_Naval_Shipyard" title="Norfolk Naval Shipyard">Norfolk Naval Shipyard</a> for a Docked Planned Incremental Availability in January 2006.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-21">[22]</a></sup> The ship received many system upgrades, and underwent preventative maintenance to repair minor weld defects originating from the initial construction of the reactor plants. She left the yard in December 2006 and continued preparations for surge beginning in April 2007.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="2007">2007</span></h3>On 15 August 2007, an <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-2C_Hawkeye" title="E-2C Hawkeye">E-2C Hawkeye</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation_accident" title="Aviation accident">crashed</a> after taking off from the carrier, killing all three crewmembers. On 5 November 2007 <i>Harry S. Truman</i> left Norfolk for her fourth extended deployment with CVW-3 embarked in support of OIF.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="2008">2008</span></h3><i>HST</i> returned to the US on 4 June 2008.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-22">[23]</a></sup> She first pulled into port in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_Mayport" title="Naval Station Mayport">Naval Station Mayport</a>, Florida in order to welcome aboard family and friends for a three-day "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Cruise" title="Tiger Cruise">Tiger Cruise</a>", before returning to Norfolk Naval Station on 4 June 2008.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-23">[24]</a></sup> The ship was awarded her fourth <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_E" title="Battle E">Battle E</a> award for the east coast (for 2008) in early 2009.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="2009">2009</span></h3><i>HST</i> completed a nearly seven-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, VA in February 2009.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-24">[25]</a></sup> On 5 August 2009, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_EA-18G_Growler" title="Boeing EA-18G Growler">EA-18G Growlers</a> from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VAQ-129" title="VAQ-129">Electronic Attack Squadron 129 (VAQ-129)</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VAQ-132" title="VAQ-132">Electronic Attack Squadron 132 (VAQ-132)</a> completed their first at-sea carrier-arrested landing (trap) aboard <i>Harry S. Truman</i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-25">[26]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="2010">2010</span></h3>The <i>Truman</i> began a seven month deployment to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations in support of maritime security operations<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-26">[27]</a></sup> on 21 May 2010. <i>Truman</i> led a task force of 11 American warships and 5,000 men into the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal" title="Suez Canal">Suez Canal</a> on 20 June 2010. The ship visited four ports during it's 213 days at sea, including Marseille, France; Dubai, U.A.E; Manama, Bahrain; and Souda Bay, Crete, before returning to the United States on December 20, 2010.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="2011">2011</span></h3>On 2 February 2011, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commander,_Naval_Air_Force_U.S._Atlantic_Fleet" title="Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet">Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet</a> named the <i>Truman</i> as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Effectiveness_Award" title="Battle Effectiveness Award">2010 Battle Efficiency</a>, or Battle "E", award winner, which was third consecutive Battle "E" award. This was the sixth award in the ship's twelve-year history, having previously won the Battle "E" award in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2009.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NNS110205-09_8-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-NNS110205-09-8">[9]</a></sup><br />
Harry S. Truman entered a Docked Planned Increment Availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in late March 2011. On 28 February 2011, the <i>Harry S. Truman</i> began its dry-docking planned incremental availability (DPIA) maintenance and yard overhaul period at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_Naval_Shipyard" title="Norfolk Naval Shipyard">Norfolk Naval Shipyard</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth,_Virginia" title="Portsmouth, Virginia">Portsmouth, Virginia</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-27">[28]</a></sup> During this maintenance cycle, <i>Truman</i> received a new main mast, an upgrade in its close-in weapons systems, and the installation of the Automated Digital Network System (ADNS) which provides the carrier with enhanced communications and cooperative engagement capabilities to assess possible threats.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-28">[29]</a></sup> <i>Truman</i> is expected to complete this DPIA yard overhaul in early 2012 and begin preparations for its sixth overseas deployment.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-29">[30]</a></sup> Also, <i>Truman</i><span style="padding-left: 0.1em;">'</span>s berthing spaces were also upgraded, installing 2,500 racks, replacing 46,000 square feet of deck and painting 106,000 square feet of spaces.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29#cite_note-30">[31]</a></sup> On November 8th, 2011, Captain Tushar Tembe passed away after collapsing on the ship. Executive Officer Captain Craig Clapperton assumed command after Captain Tembe's death.Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-47882421173097973462012-01-21T23:53:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:18:04.076-08:00Giuseppe Garibaldi 551 Italian (Ship)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">Italian aircraft carrier <i>Giuseppe Garibaldi</i> (551)</h1><table class="infobox"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ITS_Giuseppe_Garibaldi_%28C_551%29.jpg"><img alt="ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi (C 551).jpg" height="199" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/ITS_Giuseppe_Garibaldi_%28C_551%29.jpg/300px-ITS_Giuseppe_Garibaldi_%28C_551%29.jpg" width="300" /></a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Career (Italy)</th> <th style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" height="35" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Naval_Ensign_of_Italy.svg/53px-Naval_Ensign_of_Italy.svg.png" width="53" /></span></th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Name:</td> <td>Giuseppe Garibaldi</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Builder:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fincantieri" title="Fincantieri">Fincantieri</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Laid down:</td> <td>26 March 1981<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-autogenerated66_0-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_aircraft_carrier_Giuseppe_Garibaldi_%28551%29#cite_note-autogenerated66-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Launched:</td> <td>11 June 1983</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Commissioned:</td> <td>30 September 1985</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Homeport:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taranto" title="Taranto">Taranto</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Motto:</td> <td>"Obbedisco"</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Status:</td> <td>in active service, as of 2012</td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">General characteristics</th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Type:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-submarine_warfare_carrier" title="Anti-submarine warfare carrier">CVS</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Displacement:</td> <td>10,100 tons (standard)<br />
13,850 tons (loaded)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Length:</td> <td>180.2 m</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Beam:</td> <td>33.4 m</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Draught:</td> <td>8.2 m</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Propulsion:</td> <td>4 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avio" title="Avio">General Electric/Avio</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Electric_LM2500" title="General Electric LM2500">LM2500</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_turbine" title="Gas turbine">gas turbines</a> providing 82,000 hp<br />
6 × Diesel generators (9.360 KW)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Speed:</td> <td>30+ knots</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Range:</td> <td>7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Complement:</td> <td>630 Crew<br />
100 Fleet Air Arm<br />
100 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C4ISTAR" title="C4ISTAR">C<sup>4</sup></a> staff</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Sensors and<br />
processing systems:</td> <td>MM/SPS-768 (RAN 3L) long-range radar<br />
SPS-774 (RAN-10S) early warning radar<br />
AN/SPS-52C early warning radar<br />
SPS-702 CORA surface search radar<br />
SPN-749 navigation radar<br />
SPN-728 approach radar<br />
RTN-30 fire control radar<br />
RTN-10X fire control radar<br />
DE 1160 LF hull sonar</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Electronic warfare<br />
and decoys:</td> <td>SLQ-732 jamming system<br />
SCLAR decoy launcher<br />
SLAT anti-torpedo system<br />
<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SLQ-25_Nixie" title="SLQ-25 Nixie">SLQ-25 Nixie</a> towed torpedo decoy</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armament:</td> <td>2 × Mk.29 octuple launcher for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM-7_Sparrow" title="AIM-7 Sparrow">Sea Sparrow</a>/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selenia_Aspide" title="Selenia Aspide">Selenia Aspide</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface-to-air_missile" title="Surface-to-air missile">SAM</a><br />
3 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oto_Melara" title="Oto Melara">Oto Melara</a> Twin 40L70 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DARDO" title="DARDO">DARDO</a><br />
2 × 324 mm triple torpedo tubes<br />
4 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otomat" title="Otomat">Otomat Mk 2</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface-to-surface_missile" title="Surface-to-surface missile">SSMs</a> (removed)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Aircraft carried:</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AV-8B_Harrier_II" title="AV-8B Harrier II">AV-8B Harrier II</a> fighter/bombers<br />
<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SH-3_Sea_King" title="SH-3 Sea King">Augusta SH-3D</a> or <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AgustaWestland_EH101" title="AgustaWestland EH101">AgustaWestland EH101</a> helicopters (ASW, ASH and AEW)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Notes:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennant_number" title="Pennant number">Pennant</a> 551</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<b><i>Giuseppe Garibaldi</i> (551)</b> is an Italian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a>, the first through deck aviation ship ever built for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Navy" title="Italian Navy">Italian Navy</a>, and the first Italian ship built to operate fixed wing aircraft. She is equipped for STOVL aircraft and helicopters. The <i>Garibaldi</i> was involved in combat air operations off Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Libya.<br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
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</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Design">Design</span></h2>She is the fourth ship of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Navy" title="Italian Navy">Italian Navy</a> to be named after the 19th century Italian General <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Garibaldi" title="Giuseppe Garibaldi">Giuseppe Garibaldi</a>. All the five ships included the missile cruiser, together with an image of Garibaldi, are depicted in the crest.<br />
<div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29_with_the_Italian_aircraft_carrier_ITS_Giuseppe_Garibaldi_%28C-551%29.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="147" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29_with_the_Italian_aircraft_carrier_ITS_Giuseppe_Garibaldi_%28C-551%29.jpg/220px-USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29_with_the_Italian_aircraft_carrier_ITS_Giuseppe_Garibaldi_%28C-551%29.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29_with_the_Italian_aircraft_carrier_ITS_Giuseppe_Garibaldi_%28C-551%29.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><i>Giuseppe Garibaldi</i> and the US aircraft carrier <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29" title="USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)">USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)</a></i> operate near each other in the Atlantic Ocean while participating in Majestic Eagle 2004, a multinational <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_exercise" title="War exercise">war exercise</a> conducted off the coast of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morocco" title="Morocco">Morocco</a>.</div></div></div><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Giuseppe_Garibaldi,_C551.svg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="52" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Giuseppe_Garibaldi%2C_C551.svg/220px-Giuseppe_Garibaldi%2C_C551.svg.png" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Giuseppe_Garibaldi,_C551.svg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><i>Giuseppe Garibaldi'</i>s deck layout</div></div></div><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:551-baltimora-19.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="146" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/551-baltimora-19.jpg/220px-551-baltimora-19.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:551-baltimora-19.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SH-3_Sea_King" title="SH-3 Sea King">SH-3 Sea King</a> on deck</div></div></div>Built by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fincantieri" title="Fincantieri">Fincantieri</a> (Italcantieri) at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monfalcone" title="Monfalcone">Monfalcone</a> shipyards on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Trieste" title="Gulf of Trieste">Gulf of Trieste</a>, she was <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keel_laying" title="Keel laying">laid down</a> on 26 March 1981,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-autogenerated66_0-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_aircraft_carrier_Giuseppe_Garibaldi_%28551%29#cite_note-autogenerated66-0">[1]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_naming_and_launching" title="Ship naming and launching">launched</a> on 11 June 1983, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_commissioning" title="Ship commissioning">commissioned</a> on 30 September 1985. <i>Garibaldi</i> is classed as a CVS–ASW or <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASW_carrier" title="ASW carrier">Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft Carrier</a> and is based in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taranto" title="Taranto">Taranto</a>.<br />
The ship is powered by four <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat" title="Fiat">Fiat</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COGAG" title="COGAG">COGAG</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_turbine" title="Gas turbine">gas turbines</a> built under license from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Electric" title="General Electric">GE</a>, offering a sustained power of 81,000 hp (60 MW). Driving two shafts the ship has a maximum speed of 30 knots (56 km/h) and can travel for 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at around 20 knots (37 km/h).<br />
The ship was equipped with four <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otomat" title="Otomat">Otomat Mk2</a> long range <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface-to-surface_missile" title="Surface-to-surface missile">surface to surface missile</a> system installed at the stern of the ship (removed in 2003 to improve the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_deck" title="Flight deck">flight deck</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_communication" title="Satellite communication">satellite communications</a>) and two ILAS three triple tube <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torpedo" title="Torpedo">torpedo</a> launchers. Defences are provided by two eight-cell <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface-to-air_missile" title="Surface-to-air missile">SAM</a> launchers firing the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARH" title="SARH">SARH</a> <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspide" title="Aspide">Aspide</a></i> missile, additional defences are offered by three <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oto_Melara" title="Oto Melara">Oto Melara</a> Twin 40L70 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DARDO" title="DARDO">DARDO</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIWS" title="CIWS">CIWS</a>.<br />
The ship also has many <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_countermeasures" title="Electronic countermeasures">countermeasures</a> include two SCLAR twenty-barrel launchers for <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaff_%28radar_countermeasure%29" title="Chaff (radar countermeasure)">chaff</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decoy" title="Decoy">decoy</a>, flares, or jammers, the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SLQ-25_Nixie" title="SLQ-25 Nixie">SLQ-25 Nixie</a> and SLAT anti-torpedo systems and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_countermeasures" title="Electronic countermeasures">ECM</a> systems.<br />
Her air-arm consists of either a maximum sixteen <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AV-8_Harrier_II" title="AV-8 Harrier II">AV-8B Harrier IIs</a>, or eighteen <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agusta" title="Agusta">Agusta helicopters</a> or a mix of helicopters and fighters. The flight-deck is the characteristic off-axis design with 4 degrees ski-jump for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STOL" title="STOL">STOL</a> aircraft, it is 174 m long and 30.4 m wide.<br />
The peace treaty following <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a> banned <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy" title="Italy">Italy</a> from having an aircraft carrier, and therefore at the time of her launch she did not receive her Harriers, and she was classed as <i>Incrociatore portaeromobili</i> (Italian for <i>Aircraft carrying cruiser</i>). Until 1988 only Italian helicopters landed on her deck, as well as RN Sea Harriers during NATO joint maneuvers. This ban on Italian aircraft carriers was lifted in 1989 and the Italian Navy received fixed-wing <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighter_bomber" title="Fighter bomber">fighter bombers</a> to fly from the <i>Garibaldi</i>.<br />
In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009" title="2009">2009</a> <i>Garibaldi</i> has been joined as the flagship of the Italian navy by the new and larger carrier <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavour_%28550%29" title="Cavour (550)"><i>Cavour</i></a>.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Combat_Operations">Combat Operations</span></h2>The "Garibaldi" has participated in combat operations in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkans" title="Balkans">Balkans</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan" title="Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libya" title="Libya">Libya</a>.<br />
<ul><li>Balkans. In 1999 with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosovo_War" title="Kosovo War">Kosovo War</a>, Italy committed Harrier AV-8B II+ fighters embarked aboard the <i>Garibaldi</i>, from 13 May to early June 1999, 30 sorties were carried out in 63 hours of flight. The planes have used Mk 82 GBU-16 bombs and AGM-65 Maverick missiles. The Italian naval force in addition to the aircraft carrier Garibaldi, with its air group, also included the frigate <i>Zeffiro</i>.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Afghanistan. Italy participated in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participants_in_Operation_Enduring_Freedom" title="Participants in Operation Enduring Freedom">Operation Enduring Freedom</a>, following the attacks of 11 September 2001 and the war on terror declared by U.S. President Bush. The <i>Giuseppe Garibaldi</i> was engaged as a command ship of GRUPNAVIT I, 1 Italian Shipping Group, which also included besides the frigate <i>Zeffiro Garibaldi</i>, the patrol team and the airman supplier in Etna. Set sail from Taranto 18 November 2001, training in the Indian Ocean from December 3, 2001 to March 1 next, returning to Taranto March 18, 2002. During the mission, the AV-8B Harrier unit carried out 288 missions for a total of 860 hours of flight, tasks carried out included interception/interdiction, sea and air support, and aircraft interdiction in Afghanistan.</li>
</ul><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Italian_TAV-8B_Harrier_II.jpg"><img alt="Front view of two-seat grey jet fighter on aircraft carrier deck. A directive personnel is close-by." class="thumbimage" height="148" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Italian_TAV-8B_Harrier_II.jpg/220px-Italian_TAV-8B_Harrier_II.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Italian_TAV-8B_Harrier_II.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>A <i>Marina Militare</i> TAV-8B Harrier II aboard the "Giuseppe Garibaldi"</div></div></div>Libya. Participating in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_military_intervention_in_Libya" title="2011 military intervention in Libya">2011 military intervention in Libya</a> after the transfer of authority to NATO and the decision to participate in strike air-ground operations, the Italian government assigned under NATO command four Italian Navy AV-8B plus (from Garibaldi) in addition to Italian air force aircraft.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_aircraft_carrier_Giuseppe_Garibaldi_%28551%29#cite_note-1">[2]</a></sup> As of 24 March, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Navy" title="Italian Navy">Italian Navy</a> was engaged in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Unified_Protector" title="Operation Unified Protector">Operation Unified Protector</a> with the light aircraft carrier Garibaldi, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maestrale_class_frigate" title="Maestrale class frigate"><i>Maestrale</i>-class</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frigate" title="Frigate">frigate</a> <i><a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Italian_frigate_Libeccio_%28F_572%29&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Italian frigate Libeccio (F 572) (page does not exist)">Libeccio</a></i> and the <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Etna_class_auxiliary_ship&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Etna class auxiliary ship (page does not exist)"><i>Etna</i>-class</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auxiliary_ship" title="Auxiliary ship">auxiliary ship</a> <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etna_%28A_5326%29" title="Etna (A 5326)">Etna</a></i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_aircraft_carrier_Giuseppe_Garibaldi_%28551%29#cite_note-2">[3]</a></sup> Additionally the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizon_class_frigate" title="Horizon class frigate"><i>Horizon</i>-class</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frigate" title="Frigate">frigate</a> <i><a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Italian_frigate_Andrea_Doria_%28D_553%29&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Italian frigate Andrea Doria (D 553) (page does not exist)">Andrea Doria</a></i> and Maestrale-class frigate <i><a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Italian_frigate_Euro_%28F_575%29&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Italian frigate Euro (F 575) (page does not exist)">Euro</a></i> were patrolling off the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicily" title="Sicily">Sicilian</a> coast in an air-defence role.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-italian_navy_3-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_aircraft_carrier_Giuseppe_Garibaldi_%28551%29#cite_note-italian_navy-3">[4]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_aircraft_carrier_Giuseppe_Garibaldi_%28551%29#cite_note-4">[5]</a></sup> In total, until the end of the mission in Libya, the eight Italian Navy AV-8Bs flying from the carrier "Garibaldi" dropped 160 guided bombs during 1221 flight hours.Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-24062211647105445152012-01-21T23:48:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:17:40.341-08:00USS Gerald R. Ford CVN-78 (Ship)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading"><br />
</h1><div id="siteSub"><br />
</div><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CVN-78_Artist_Image.jpg" title="CVN-78"><img alt="CVN-78" height="232" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/CVN-78_Artist_Image.jpg/300px-CVN-78_Artist_Image.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
CVN-78 artist's depiction.</td> </tr>
<tr> <th height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Career</th> <th style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" height="35" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/67px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" width="67" /></span></th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Name:</td> <td>USS <i>Gerald R. Ford</i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Namesake:</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_R._Ford" title="Gerald R. Ford">Gerald R. Ford</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Awarded:</td> <td>10 September 2008</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Builder:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_News_Shipbuilding" title="Newport News Shipbuilding">Newport News Shipbuilding</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Cost:</td> <td>$13.5 billion<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Laid down:</td> <td>13 November 2009<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-navytimes_1-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-navytimes-1">[2]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Sponsored by:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Ford" title="Susan Ford">Susan Ford</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-2">[3]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Commissioned:</td> <td>est. 2015</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Status:</td> <td>Under construction</td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">General characteristics</th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Class and type:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_R._Ford_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carrier"><i>Gerald R. Ford</i>-class</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Displacement:</td> <td>appx. 100,000 tons</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Length:</td> <td>1,092 ft (333 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Beam:</td> <td>134 ft (41 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Propulsion:</td> <td>2 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A1B_reactor" title="A1B reactor">A1B reactor</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Speed:</td> <td>30+ knots</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Range:</td> <td>Unlimited distance; 20-25 years</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Complement:</td> <td>4,660</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armament:</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolved_Sea_Sparrow_Missile" title="Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile">Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile</a><br />
<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Airframe_Missile" title="Rolling Airframe Missile">Rolling Airframe Missile</a><br />
<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close-in_weapons_system" title="Close-in weapons system">Close-in weapons system</a> (CIWS)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Aircraft carried:</td> <td>More than 75</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><b>PCU <i>Gerald R. Ford</i> (CVN-78)</b> is to be the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_ship" title="Lead ship">lead ship</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_R._Ford_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carrier">her class</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">United States Navy</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercarrier" title="Supercarrier">supercarriers</a>. As announced by the U.S. Navy on 16 January 2007, the ship will be named after the 38th <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States" title="President of the United States">President of the United States</a>, the late <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_R._Ford" title="Gerald R. Ford">Gerald R. Ford</a>, whose <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a> naval service included combat duty aboard the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_aircraft_carrier" title="Light aircraft carrier">light aircraft carrier</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Monterey_%28CVL-26%29" title="USS Monterey (CVL-26)"><i>Monterey</i></a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Theater_of_Operations" title="Pacific Theater of Operations">Pacific Theater</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-3">[4]</a></sup><br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keel" title="Keel">keel</a> of the <i>Gerald R. Ford</i> was laid down on 13 November 2009.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-navytimes_1-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-navytimes-1">[2]</a></sup> Construction began on 11 August 2005, when <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman" title="Northrop Grumman">Northrop Grumman</a> held a ceremonial steel cut for a 15-ton plate that will form part of a side shell unit of the carrier. The schedule calls for the ship to join the U.S. Navy’s fleet in 2015. <i>Gerald R. Ford</i> is slated to replace the current <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_%28CVN-65%29" title="USS Enterprise (CVN-65)">USS <i>Enterprise</i></a>, ending her then 50-plus years of active service with the United States Navy.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-4">[5]</a></sup><br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
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</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Ship_naming">Ship naming</span></h2><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GeraldFord1945.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="281" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/GeraldFord1945.jpg/220px-GeraldFord1945.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GeraldFord1945.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Ford in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">Navy</a> uniform, 1945</div></div></div>In 2006, while <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Ford" title="Gerald Ford">Gerald Ford</a> was still alive, Senator <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Warner" title="John Warner">John Warner</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a> proposed to amend a 2007 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Defense_Authorization_Act" title="National Defense Authorization Act">defense-spending bill</a> to declare that CVN-78 "shall be named the U.S.S. <i>Gerald Ford</i>."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-5">[6]</a></sup> The final version signed by President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush">George W. Bush</a> on 17 October 2006<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-6">[7]</a></sup> declared only that it "is the sense of Congress that ... CVN-78 should be named the U.S.S. <i>Gerald R. Ford</i>."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-7">[8]</a></sup> Since such "sense of" language is typically non-binding and does not carry the force of law,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-8">[9]</a></sup> the Navy was not required to name the ship after Ford.<br />
On 3 January 2007, former <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretary_of_Defense" title="Secretary of Defense">Secretary of Defense</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Rumsfeld" title="Donald Rumsfeld">Donald Rumsfeld</a> announced that the aircraft carrier would be named after Ford during a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Gerald_Ford" title="Death and state funeral of Gerald Ford">eulogy</a> for the president at Grace Episcopal Church in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Grand_Rapids" title="East Grand Rapids">East Grand Rapids</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan" title="Michigan">Michigan</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-9">[10]</a></sup> Rumsfeld indicated that he had personally told Ford of the honor during a visit to Ford's home in Rancho Mirage a few weeks before Ford's death. This makes the aircraft carrier one of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._military_vessels_named_after_living_Americans" title="List of U.S. military vessels named after living Americans">few U.S. ships named after someone still alive</a>. Later in the day, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy" title="Navy">Navy</a> confirmed that the aircraft carrier would indeed be named for the former President.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-10">[11]</a></sup> On 16 January 2007, Navy Secretary <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Winter" title="Donald Winter">Donald Winter</a> officially named CVN-78 the USS <i>Gerald R. Ford</i>. Ford's daughter, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Ford" title="Susan Ford">Susan Ford Bales</a>, was named the ship's sponsor. The announcements were made at a Pentagon ceremony attended by Vice President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Cheney" title="Dick Cheney">Dick Cheney</a>, Senators Warner and Levin, Major General <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_C._Swan_III" title="Guy C. Swan III">Guy C. Swan III</a>, Bales, Ford's other three children, and others.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-11">[12]</a></sup><br />
USS <i>America</i> Carrier Veterans Association (CVA) had pushed to name the ship USS <i>America</i>. The CVA is an association of sailors who served aboard <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_America_%28CV-66%29" title="USS America (CV-66)">USS <i>America</i> (CV-66)</a>, which was decommissioned in 1996 and scuttled in the Atlantic as part of a classified weapons damage/battle damage test of large deck aircraft carriers in 2005.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-12">[13]</a></sup> (<i>America</i> will instead be the name of the lead ship of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_class_amphibious_assault_ship" title="America class amphibious assault ship">new class</a> of amphibious assault ships).<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Design_and_development">Design and development</span></h2>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier"><i>Nimitz</i>-class aircraft carrier</a> has been an integral part of United States <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_projection" title="Power projection">power projection</a> strategy since <i>Nimitz</i> was first commissioned. Displacing approximately 100,000 tons when fully loaded, a <i>Nimitz</i>-class carrier is capable of steaming faster than thirty <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knot_%28unit%29" title="Knot (unit)">knots</a>, self-sustaining for up to ninety days, and launching aircraft to strike targets hundreds of miles away.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-13">[14]</a></sup> The endurance of this class is exemplified by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Theodore_Roosevelt_%28CVN-71%29" title="USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)">USS <i>Theodore Roosevelt</i></a>, which spent 159 days underway in support of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Enduring_Freedom" title="Operation Enduring Freedom">Operation Enduring Freedom</a> without the need to visit a port or be refueled.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-14">[15]</a></sup> Over the lifespan of the class many new technologies have been successfully integrated into the design of this vessel. However, with the technical advances made in the past decade the ability of the US Navy to make improvements to this class of ship has become more limited. “The biggest problems facing the <i>Nimitz</i>-class are the limited electrical power generation capability and the upgrade-driven increase in ship weight and erosion of the center of gravity margin needed to maintain ship stability.”<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-15">[16]</a></sup><br />
With these constraints in mind the Navy developed what was initially known as the "CVN-21" program, which ultimately evolved into CVN-78, <i>Gerald R. Ford</i>. Improvements were made through developing technologies and more efficient design. Major design changes include a larger <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_deck" title="Flight deck">flight deck</a>, improvements in weapons and material handling, a new propulsion plant design that requires fewer personnel to operate and maintain, and a new smaller island that has been pushed aft. Technological advances in the field of electromagnetics have led to the development of an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_Aircraft_Launch_System" title="Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System">Electromagnetic Aircraft Launching System</a>, (EMALS), and an Advanced <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arresting_gear" title="Arresting gear">Arresting Gear</a>, (AAG). An integrated warfare system has been developed to support flexibility in adapting the infrastructure of the ship to future mission roles. The new Dual Band Radar (DBR) combines <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-band" title="S-band">S-band</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-band" title="X-band">X-band</a> radar in a single system.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Larrabee.2C_Chuck_2008_16-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-Larrabee.2C_Chuck_2008-16">[17]</a></sup> With new design and technology the Ford will have a 25% increase in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sortie" title="Sortie">sortie</a> generation, threefold increase in electrical generating capacity, increased operational availability, and a number of quality of life improvements.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-17">[18]</a></sup> Requirements for a higher sortie rate of around 160 exits a day with surges to a maximum of 220 sorties a day in times of crisis and intense air warfare activity, has led to design changes in the flight deck, which enable greater aircraft launch capabilities.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Flight_deck">Flight deck</span></h3>Changes to the flight deck are the most visible of the differences between the <i>Nimitz</i> and <i>Gerald R. Ford</i> classes. Several sections have been altered from the layout of the <i>Nimitz</i> class flight deck to improve aircraft handling, storage, and flow. Catapult number four on the <i>Nimitz</i> class cannot launch fully loaded aircraft because of a deficiency of wing clearance along the edge of the flight deck.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-18">[19]</a></sup> CVN-78 will have no catapult-specific restrictions on launching aircraft, but still retains 4 catapults, 2 bow and 2 waist,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-19">[20]</a></sup> and the number of aircraft lifts from hangar deck to flight deck level is also reduced from the earlier ships from 4 to 3. The design changes to the flight deck are instrumental in the maximization of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sortie" title="Sortie">sortie</a> generation.<br />
The route of weapons to the aircraft stops on the flight deck has been replanned to accommodate higher re-arming rates, and in turn higher potential sortie rates.<br />
Another major change: a smaller, redesigned island will be pushed further back relative to the older classes of carriers. Moving the island creates deck space for a centralized re-arming and re-fueling location. This reduces the number of times that an aircraft will have to be moved after landing before it can be launched again. Fewer aircraft movements require, in turn, fewer deck hands to accomplish them, reducing the size of the ship's crew. A similar benefit is realized by altering the path and procedures for weapons movement by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_United_States_Navy_carrier_air_operations#Flight_Deck_Crew_.2F_Key_Personnel" title="Modern United States Navy carrier air operations">redshirts</a> from storage to flight deck, again potentially allowing the new ship to support a higher sortie rate than the Nimitz class ship while using fewer crew members than the Nimitz requires. On <i>Nimitz</i>-class carriers the time that it takes to launch a plane after it has landed is defined by the time necessary to re-arm and re-fuel. To minimize this time, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammunition#Ordnance_ammunition" title="Ammunition">ordnance</a> will be moved by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotics" title="Robotics">robotic devices</a> from storage areas to the centralized re-arming location via re-located weapons elevators. The new path that ordnance follows does not cross any areas of aircraft movement, thereby reducing traffic problems in the hangars and on the flight deck. According to Rear Admiral Dennis M. Dwyer these changes will make it theoretically possible to re-arm the airplanes in "minutes instead of hours."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-20">[21]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Power_generation">Power generation</span></h3>The propulsion and power plant of the <i>Nimitz</i>-class carriers was designed in the 1960s. Technological capabilities of that time did not require the same quantity of electrical power that modern technologies do. "New technologies added to the <i>Nimitz</i>-class ships have generated increased demands for electricity; the current base load leaves little margin to meet expanding demands for power."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-21">[22]</a></sup> Increasing the capability of the U.S. Navy to improve the technological level of the carrier fleet required a larger capacity power system.<br />
The new <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A1B_reactor" title="A1B reactor">A1B reactor</a> plant is a smaller, more efficient design that provides approximately three times the electrical power of the <i>Nimitz</i>-class <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A4W_reactor" title="A4W reactor">A4W reactor</a> plant. The modernization of the plant led to a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Density" title="Energy Density">higher core energy density</a>, lower demands for pumping power, a simpler construction, and the use of modern electronic controls and displays. These changes resulted in a two thirds reduction of watch standing requirements and a significant decrease of required maintenance.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RAND_22-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-RAND-22">[23]</a></sup><br />
A larger power output is a major component to the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Warfare" title="Electronic Warfare">integrated warfare system</a>. Engineers took extra steps to ensure that integrating unforeseen technological advances onto a <i>Gerald R. Ford</i>-class aircraft carrier would be possible. The <i>Gerald R. Ford</i>-class will be an integral component of the fleet for a total of nearly ninety years. One lesson learned from that is that for a ship design to be successful over the course of a century, a great deal of foresight and flexibility is required. Integrating new technologies with the <i>Nimitz</i> class is becoming more difficult to do without any negative consequences. To bring the <i>Gerald R. Ford</i> class into dominance during the next century of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_warfare" title="Naval warfare">naval warfare</a> requires that the class be capable of seamlessly upgrading to more advanced systems.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Launch systems">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Launch_systems">Launch systems</span></h3>The <i>Nimitz</i>-class aircraft carriers use steam-powered catapults to launch aircraft. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_catapult" title="Aircraft catapult">Steam catapults</a> were developed in the 1950s and have been exceptionally reliable. For over fifty years at least one of the four catapults has been able to launch an aircraft 99.5% of the time.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-23">[24]</a></sup> However, there are a number of drawbacks. “The foremost deficiency is that the catapult operates without <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_Theory" title="Control Theory">feedback control</a>. With no feedback, there often occurs large <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transient_%28oscillation%29" title="Transient (oscillation)">transients</a> in tow force that can damage or reduce the life of the airframe.”<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-24">[25]</a></sup> The steam system is massive, inefficient (4–6%),<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-25">[26]</a></sup> and hard to control.<br />
Control problems with the system results in minimum and maximum weight limits. The minimum weight limit is above the weight of all <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unmanned_aerial_vehicle" title="Unmanned aerial vehicle">UAVs</a>. An inability to launch the latest additions to the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_US_Navy_carrier_air_operations" title="Modern US Navy carrier air operations">Naval Air Forces</a> is a restriction on operations that cannot continue into the next generation of aircraft carriers. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_Aircraft_Launch_System" title="Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System">Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS)</a> provides solutions to all these problems. An electromagnetic system is more efficient, smaller, lighter, more powerful, and easier to control. Increased control means that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_Aircraft_Launch_System" title="Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System">EMALS</a> will be able to launch both heavier and lighter aircraft than the steam catapult. Also, the use of a controlled force will reduce the stress on airframes, resulting in less maintenance and a longer lifetime for the airframe. Unfortunately the power limitations for the <i>Nimitz</i> class make the installation of the recently developed EMALS impossible.<br />
Electromagnetics will also be used in the new Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) system. The current system relies on hydraulics to slow and stop a landing aircraft. While effective, as demonstrated by more than fifty years of implementation, the AAG system offers a number of improvements. The current system is unable to capture UAVs without damaging them due to extreme stresses on the airframe. UAVs do not have the necessary mass to drive the large hydraulic piston used to trap heavier manned planes. By using electromagnetics the energy absorption is controlled by a turbo-electric engine. This makes the trap smoother and reduces shock on airframes. Even though the system will look the same from the flight deck as its predecessor, it will be more flexible, safer, more reliable, and require less maintenance and manning.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-26">[27]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Communications">Communications</span></h3>Another addition to <i>Gerald R. Ford</i> class is an integrated search & tracking radar system. The Dual-band radar is being developed for both the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDG_1000" title="DDG 1000">DDG 1000</a> <i>Zumwalt</i> class of guided missile destroyers and the <i>Gerald R. Ford</i> class of aircraft carriers. The island can be kept smaller by replacing six to ten radar antennas with a single six-faced radar. The DBR works by combining the X-Band AN/SPY-3 Multi-Function Radar with the S-Band Volume Search Radar.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-27">[28]</a></sup> The three faces dedicated to the X-band radar are responsible for low altitude tracking and target illumination, while the other three faces dedicated to the S-band are responsible for target search and tracking regardless of weather. “Operating simultaneously over two electromagnetic frequency ranges, the DBR marks the first time this functionality has been achieved using two frequencies coordinated by a single resource manager.”<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Larrabee.2C_Chuck_2008_16-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-Larrabee.2C_Chuck_2008-16">[17]</a></sup> This new system has no moving parts, therefore minimizing maintenance and manning requirements for operation.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Possible_upgrades">Possible upgrades</span></h3>Each new technology and design feature integrated into the <i>Ford</i>-class aircraft carrier improves sortie generation, manning requirements, and operational capabilities. Preparing for the future is a trademark of <i>Gerald R. Ford</i>. New defense systems, such as <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_electron_laser" title="Free electron laser">free electron laser</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directed-energy_weapon" title="Directed-energy weapon">directed-energy weapons</a>, dynamic armor, and tracking systems will require more power. “Only half of the electrical power-generation capability on CVN 78 is needed to run currently planned systems, including EMALS. CVN 78 will thus have the power reserves that the <i>Nimitz</i> class lacks to run lasers and dynamic armor.”<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-28">[29]</a></sup> The addition of new technologies, power systems, design layout, and better control systems results in an increased sortie rate of 25% over the <i>Nimitz</i> class and a 25% reduction in manpower required to operate.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-29">[30]</a></sup><br />
Breakthrough waste management technology will be deployed on the new Gerald R. Ford. Co-developed with the US Navy, PyroGenesis Canada Inc, in 2008, was awarded the contract to outfit the ship with a Plasma Arc Waste Destruction System (PAWDS). This compact system will treat all combustible solid waste generated onboard the ship. After having completed factory acceptance testing in Montreal, the system is scheduled to be shipped to the Huntington Ingalls shipyard in late 2011 where it will be installed on the carrier.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-30">[31]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Construction">Construction</span></h2>On 10 September 2008 the US Navy signed a $5.1 billion contract with <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_Shipbuilding" title="Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding">Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_News,_Virginia" title="Newport News, Virginia">Newport News, Virginia</a>, to design and construct the carrier. Northrop had begun advance construction of the carrier under a $2.7 billion contract in 2005. The carrier is being constructed at the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipbuilding in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton_Roads,_Virginia" title="Hampton Roads, Virginia">Hampton Roads, Virginia</a>, which employs 19,000 workers.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-31">[32]</a></sup><br />
The keel of the new warship was ceremonially laid on November 14, 2009 in Dry Dock 12<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-32">[33]</a></sup> by Ford's daughter, Susan Ford Bales. Said Bales in a speech to the assembled shipworkers and DoD officials, "Dad met the staggering challenges of restoring trust in the presidency and healing the nation's wounds after Watergate in the only way he knew how — with complete honesty and integrity. And that is the legacy we remember this morning."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_%28CVN-78%29#cite_note-33">[34]</a></sup><br />
As of August 2011, the carrier was reported to be approximately "half completed."Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-54020447045483973962012-01-21T23:34:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:16:52.802-08:00USS George H.W. Bush CVN-77 (Ship)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading"><br />
</h1><div id="siteSub"><br />
</div><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29.jpg"><img alt="USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77).jpg" height="195" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29.jpg/300px-USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29.jpg" width="300" /></a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Career</th> <th style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" height="35" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/67px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" width="67" /></span></th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Name:</td> <td>USS <i>George H.W. Bush</i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Namesake:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_H._W._Bush" title="George H. W. Bush">George H. W. Bush</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Ordered:</td> <td>26 January 2001</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Awarded:</td> <td>26 January 2001</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Builder:</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_Newport_News" title="Northrop Grumman Newport News">Northrop Grumman Newport News</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NavyNews12182008_0-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-NavyNews12182008-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Cost:</td> <td>$6.2 billion<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dailypress_1-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-dailypress-1">[2]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Laid down:</td> <td>6 September 2003<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NavyNews12182008_0-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-NavyNews12182008-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Sponsored by:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Bush_Koch" title="Dorothy Bush Koch">Dorothy Bush Koch</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NavyNews12182008_0-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-NavyNews12182008-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Christened:</td> <td>9 October 2006<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NavyNews12182008_0-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-NavyNews12182008-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Launched:</td> <td>9 October 2006</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Commissioned:</td> <td>10 January 2009<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-FoxCommissioned_2-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-FoxCommissioned-2">[3]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Homeport:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_Norfolk" title="Naval Station Norfolk">NS Norfolk</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk,_Virginia" title="Norfolk, Virginia">Norfolk</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Motto:</td> <td><i>Freedom at Work</i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Nickname:</td> <td><i>Avenger</i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Status:</td> <td>in active service, as of 2012<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-FoxCommissioned_2-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-FoxCommissioned-2">[3]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Badge:</td> <td><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CVN-77_insignia.png"><img alt="CVN-77 insignia.png" height="100" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/CVN-77_insignia.png/100px-CVN-77_insignia.png" width="100" /></a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">General characteristics</th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Class and type:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier"><i>Nimitz</i>-class</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Displacement:</td> <td>102,000 long tons (114,000 short tons)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-3">[4]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Length:</td> <td>Overall: 1,092 feet (332.8 m)<br />
Waterline: 1,040 feet (317.0 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Beam:</td> <td>Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m)<br />
Waterline: 134 ft (40.8 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Draft:</td> <td>Maximum navigational: 37 ft (11.3 m)<br />
Limit: 41 ft (12.5 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Propulsion:</td> <td>2 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westinghouse_Electric_Company" title="Westinghouse Electric Company">Westinghouse</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A4W_reactor" title="A4W reactor">A4W nuclear reactors</a><br />
4 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_turbine" title="Steam turbine">steam turbines</a><br />
4 × shafts<br />
260,000 shp (194 MW)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Speed:</td> <td>30+ knots (56+ km/h; 35+ mph)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Range:</td> <td>Unlimited distance; 20-25 years</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Complement:</td> <td>Ship's company: 3,200<br />
Air wing: 2,480</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Sensors and<br />
processing systems:</td> <td>SPS-48E 3-D air search radar<br />
SPS-49A(V)1 2-D air search radar<br />
SPQ-9B fire control radar<br />
2 × SPN-46 air traffic control radars<br />
SPN-43C air traffic control radar<br />
SPN-41 instrument landing system radar<br />
3 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems<br />
3 × Mk 95 radars</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Electronic warfare<br />
and decoys:</td> <td>SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite<br />
SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armament:</td> <td>2 × Mk 29 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESSM" title="ESSM">ESSM</a> launcher<br />
2 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIM-116_Rolling_Airframe_Missile" title="RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile">RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armor:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classified_information" title="Classified information">Classified</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Aircraft carried:</td> <td>90 fixed wing and helicopters</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><b>USS <i>George H.W. Bush</i> (CVN-77)</b> is the tenth and final <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier"><i>Nimitz</i>-class</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercarrier" title="Supercarrier">supercarrier</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">United States Navy</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NavyNews12182008_0-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-NavyNews12182008-0">[1]</a></sup> She is named for the 41st <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States" title="President of the United States">President of the United States</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_H._W._Bush" title="George H. W. Bush">George H. W. Bush</a>, who was a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_aviator" title="Naval aviator">naval aviator</a> during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a>. <i>Bush</i><span style="padding-left: 0.1em;">'</span>s <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callsign" title="Callsign">callsign</a> is <i>Avenger</i>, after the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TBM_Avenger" title="TBM Avenger">TBM Avenger</a> aircraft flown by then-Lieutenant George Bush in WWII. Construction began in 2001 at the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_Newport_News" title="Northrop Grumman Newport News">Northrop Grumman Newport News</a> shipyard and was completed in 2009 at a cost of $6.2 billion.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dailypress_1-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-dailypress-1">[2]</a></sup> She is homeported at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_Norfolk" title="Naval Station Norfolk">Naval Station Norfolk</a>, Virginia.<br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
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</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Ship.27s_seal">Ship's seal</span></h2><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 202px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CVN-77_insignia.png"><img alt="CVN-77 insignia.png" class="thumbimage" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/CVN-77_insignia.png/200px-CVN-77_insignia.png" width="200" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CVN-77_insignia.png" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div></div></div></div>Each element of the seal is significant for its relevance to the ship’s namesake, naval aviation, naval service, and the nation. There are six prominent features of the seal, beginning with the 41 white stars, symbolizing the ship’s namesake (the 41st President). The rays of light that appear on the seal’s horizon represent Bush’s concept of a "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thousand_points_of_light" title="Thousand points of light">thousand points of light</a>", wherein he urged Americans to find meaning and reward by serving a purpose higher than themselves. The graphic depiction of the aircraft carrier reflects the carrier as both a symbol and instrument of American strength as “a force for good.” Above the carrier are overhead profiles of a TBM Avenger torpedo bomber (representing Bush’s days as a Navy pilot), an F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter, and an <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-35_Lightning_II" title="F-35 Lightning II">F-35 Lightning II</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-up-www01.ffc.navy.mil_4-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-up-www01.ffc.navy.mil-4">[5]</a></sup><br />
Fouled anchors and shields, centered on naval aviators wings, honor the ship’s namesake’s aviation history. Finally, the motto “Freedom at Work” is adapted from Bush’s inaugural speech, during which he said, “We know what works: Freedom works. We know what’s right: Freedom is right.”<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-up-www01.ffc.navy.mil_4-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-up-www01.ffc.navy.mil-4">[5]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Description">Description</span></h2><dl><dd><i>Section ref: Global</i><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-5">[6]</a></sup></dd></dl><i>Bush</i> stretches 1,092 feet and displaces over 100,000 tons, making her one of the world’s largest warships (though she is slightly shorter than <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_%28CVN-65%29" title="USS Enterprise (CVN-65)">USS <i>Enterprise</i></a>). Her top speed exceeds 30 knots and powered with two nuclear reactors, she can operate for more than 20 years without refueling.<br />
Several features differentiate CVN-77 from other ships in the <i>Nimitz</i> class.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Design_Enhancements_6-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-Design_Enhancements-6">[7]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Hull">Hull</span></h3>New hull design features<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-7">[8]</a></sup> include a new propeller design, a new bulbous bow design that provides more buoyancy to the forward end of the ship and improves hull efficiency, curved flight deck edges to reduce radar signature, a new underwater hull-coating system, deck covering modernized to reduce ship weight by 100 tons, low Solar Absorptive and Anti-Stain Paint, and a redesigned <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangar" title="Hangar">hangar</a> bay that has less clutter.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Island">Island</span></h3><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_George_H._W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29_island_landing.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="285" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/USS_George_H._W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29_island_landing.jpg/220px-USS_George_H._W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29_island_landing.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_George_H._W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29_island_landing.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Placing the 700-ton island onto the ship’s flight deck in 2006</div></div></div><i>Bush</i> is the second carrier to have a modernized island, which includes a new radar tower (enclosed to reduce radar signature), navigation system upgrades, communication systems enhancements, and transparent armor windows. The island is smaller and has been repositioned further aft to improve flight deck access and reduce signature and electronic self-interference.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Air_operations">Air operations</span></h3>New air operations design features include an updated aviation-fuel storage and distribution system, semi-automated refueling and servicing with new deck locations to provide faster, more efficient aircraft pit stops, requiring fewer people, modernized aircraft launch and recovery equipment, and redesigned <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_blast_deflector" title="Jet blast deflector">jet blast deflectors</a>.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Environmental">Environmental</span></h3>Environmental upgrades have also been designed into the ship, including a vacuum collection/marine sanitation device (VC/MSD), a new marine sewage system that uses fresh water in lieu of sea water for lower maintenance costs. Many older ships in the U.S. Navy utilize a gravity-driven collection holding and transfer (CHT) system to handle sewage waste. Newer US Navy ships, including now CVN-77, collect sewage waste by vacuum, allowing for greater flexibility in piping installation, smaller pipe sizes overall and reducing water consumption. The collection tanks of <i>Bush</i> were modified to accommodate both the VCHT (Vacuum CHT) equipment and the elements of a marine sanitization device to treat the waste prior to discharge. <i>Bush</i> is the first and only aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy to combine the two technologies.<br />
This new VC/MSD driven waste management system has, however, not been without problems. Reports began surfacing immediately after delivery in May 2009 of issues with the ships toilet system. As of November, 2011, the entire system has gone down at least twice, rendering all 423 commodes in the ship's 130 heads inoperable, with many more incidents that have rendered either half of the ship, or sections of the ship, without operating sanitary facilities. In one ship-wide incident, a repair crew spent 35 non-stop hours attempting to return the system to working order. The system is said to suffer breakdowns when inappropriate materials such as feminine hygiene products are flushed down the toliets.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-8">[9]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Electronics_and_communications">Electronics and communications</span></h3>New electronics and communications technology, space rearrangement, operational procedure changes, advanced sensor technologies and maintenance systems have been incorporated to reduce manning costs. A new zonal electrical distribution system will keep problems from affecting other parts of the ship. Automated material movement devices, semi-autonomous, gravity compensated weapons handling devices, damage control automation systems and components have also been installed. Medical and dental equipment have been upgraded, integrated display screens in Damage Control Central have been modernized to improve data integration and display, and equipment in general shops has been modernized to improve productivity.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Namesake">Namesake</span></h2><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TBF_GeorgeBush.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="303" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/TBF_GeorgeBush.jpg/220px-TBF_GeorgeBush.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TBF_GeorgeBush.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>LTJG George Bush in a TBM Avenger in WWII</div></div></div>At age 18, George H. W. Bush became the Navy's youngest pilot when he received his Naval Aviator wings and naval commission. He flew torpedo bombers off <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_San_Jacinto_%28CVL-30%29" title="USS San Jacinto (CVL-30)">USS <i>San Jacinto</i></a> on active duty from August 1942 to September 1945 during World War II. On 2 September 1944, during a mission over the Pacific, Japanese anti-aircraft fire hit his plane. The Navy submarine, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Finback_%28SS-230%29" title="USS Finback (SS-230)">USS <i>Finback</i></a>, rescued him. He was awarded the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_%28United_States%29" title="Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)">Distinguished Flying Cross</a> and three <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Medal" title="Air Medal">Air Medals</a> for courageous service in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_War" title="Pacific War">Pacific Theater</a>. USS <i>George H.W. Bush</i> is the second United States <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a> to be named after a naval aviator (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Forrestal_%28CV-59%29" title="USS Forrestal (CV-59)"><i>Forrestal</i></a> was the first) and the second, following <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29" title="USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)"><i>Ronald Reagan</i></a>, to be named after a living former president (<i>Reagan</i> was christened in 2001 while President Reagan was still living).<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Ship.27s_history">Ship's history</span></h2><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_George_H._W._Bush.JPG"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="143" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/USS_George_H._W._Bush.JPG/220px-USS_George_H._W._Bush.JPG" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_George_H._W._Bush.JPG" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Pentagon naming ceremony in 2001</div></div></div>The contract to build CVN-77 was awarded to <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_Shipbuilding_Newport_News" title="Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding Newport News">Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding Newport News</a> on 26 January 2001. A naming ceremony was held on 9 December 2002 at <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_Newport_News" title="Northrop Grumman Newport News">Northrop Grumman Newport News</a>, with Former President George H.W. Bush attending.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-9">[10]</a></sup> The Honorable <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_England" title="Gordon England">Gordon England</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretary_of_the_Navy" title="Secretary of the Navy">Secretary of the Navy</a>, presided at a ceremony.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Construction">Construction</span></h3>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keel" title="Keel">Keel</a> Laying ceremony was on 6 September 2003, with Former President George H. W. Bush serving as the keynote speaker. Former First Lady <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Bush" title="Barbara Bush">Barbara Bush</a> also attended with their daughter, Dorothy Bush Koch, the ship's sponsor. The former President authenticated the keel by chalking his initials onto a metal plate. His initials were then welded onto the plate, which was permanently affixed to the ship.<br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GHW_Bush_CVN_77_Carrier.JPG"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="115" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/GHW_Bush_CVN_77_Carrier.JPG/220px-GHW_Bush_CVN_77_Carrier.JPG" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GHW_Bush_CVN_77_Carrier.JPG" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>USS <i>George H. W. Bush</i> shortly after being released from dry dock for the first time</div></div></div>The ship was modularly constructed, where large sections are assembled and then lifted into place using a large crane. Major milestones in the construction include the bow placement in March 2005, followed by the island placement on 8 July 2006. The 700-ton island was lifted onto the flight deck in a ceremony called “stepping the mast,” which dates from antiquity and consists of placing coins or other items of significance under the step or bottom of a ship’s mast during construction.<br />
Since at least the construction of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constitution" title="USS Constitution">USS <i>Constitution</i></a> in the 1790s, this tradition has been passed on as a symbol of good luck for U.S. Navy ships. George H. W. Bush participated in the event, placing his naval aviator wings underneath the island during the ceremony.<br />
<i>George H.W. Bush</i> was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_naming_and_launching" title="Ship naming and launching">christened</a> on 7 October 2006.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NavyNews12182008_0-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-NavyNews12182008-0">[1]</a></sup> Former President George H. W. Bush attended the ceremony and became the first president in history to participate in the christening of his namesake ship. President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush">George W. Bush</a> also attended and honored his father during the ceremony as a special guest speaker. Other officials participating in the ceremony included <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretary_of_Defense" title="Secretary of Defense">Secretary of Defense</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Rumsfeld" title="Donald Rumsfeld">Donald Rumsfeld</a>, Secretary of the Navy <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Winter" title="Donald Winter">Donald Winter</a>; Virginia Senators <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Warner" title="John Warner">John Warner</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen_%28U.S._politician%29" title="George Allen (U.S. politician)">George Allen</a>, Virginia Gov. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Kaine" title="Tim Kaine">Tim Kaine</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_Naval_Operations" title="Chief of Naval Operations">Chief of Naval Operations</a> Admiral <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Mullen" title="Michael Mullen">Michael Mullen</a>.<br />
Other construction milestones included catapult system testing on the ship's flight deck on 25 January 2008. Former President George H. W. Bush signaled the launch of two "dead loads" off the deck of the carrier. Dead loads are large, wheeled, steel vessels weighing up to 80,000 pounds, simulating the weight of actual aircraft.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-10">[11]</a></sup><br />
On 11 August 2008, the Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) crew moved aboard the ship, the first meals were served in the galley, the U.S. flag was raised on the fantail for the first time, and the first watches were set.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-11">[12]</a></sup><br />
<i>Bush</i> left Northrop Grumman Ship Building for the first time on 23 December 2008, proceeding a few miles down river to <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_Naval_Station" title="Norfolk Naval Station">Norfolk Naval Station</a>.<br />
Part of the ship's steel was manufactured from re-forged steel made from the support columns hauled out of the Twin Towers wreckage.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Commissioning">Commissioning</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_George_H._W._Bush_2.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="147" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/USS_George_H._W._Bush_2.jpg/220px-USS_George_H._W._Bush_2.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_George_H._W._Bush_2.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Guests and U.S. Navy personnel at the commissioning ceremony, Jan 10 2009</div></div></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_George_H._W._Bush_4.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="147" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/USS_George_H._W._Bush_4.jpg/220px-USS_George_H._W._Bush_4.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_George_H._W._Bush_4.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>George H. W. Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush depart the ship following the commissioning ceremony</div></div></div>USS <i>George H.W. Bush</i> was commissioned 10 January 2009 at <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_Naval_Station" title="Norfolk Naval Station">Norfolk Naval Station</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NewCarrier_12-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-NewCarrier-12">[13]</a></sup> prior to her official delivery to the Navy. 15,000 people were in attendance, including future PO1 retiree Roux, veterans of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_San_Jacinto_%28CVL-30%29" title="USS San Jacinto (CVL-30)">USS <i>San Jacinto</i></a>, the ship George Bush served on during WWII. President George W. Bush delivered the principal address, George H.W. Bush set the first watch, and ship's sponsor Dorothy "Doro" Bush Koch gave the order to "man our ship and bring her to life!" A GM-built Grumman <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TBM_Avenger" title="TBM Avenger">TBM Avenger</a> like the one then-Lieutenant junior grade George Bush flew in WWII performed a fly-over. Northrop Grumman Corporation Builder's sea trials were completed on 16 February 2009, providing an opportunity to test systems, components and compartments at sea for the first time. The trials included high-speed runs and a demonstration of the carrier's other capabilities.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-13">[14]</a></sup> Following builder's trials, the ship underwent acceptance trials on 10 April 2009,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-14">[15]</a></sup> conducted by representatives of the U.S. Navy Board of Inspection and Survey, to test and evaluate the ship's systems and performance.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Delivery_and_shakedown">Delivery and shakedown</span></h3><i>Bush</i> was officially delivered to the Navy on 11 May 2009.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-15">[16]</a></sup><br />
The first fixed-wing flights were conducted on 19 May 2009 when <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F/A-18_Super_Hornet" title="F/A-18 Super Hornet">F/A-18 Super Hornets</a> from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VX-23" title="VX-23">Air Test and Evaluation Squadron</a> at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_Patuxent_River" title="Naval Air Station Patuxent River">Naval Air Station Patuxent River</a>, Maryland began <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_deck" title="Flight deck">flight deck</a> certification, which tests a carriers ability to conduct <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_US_Navy_carrier_air_operations" title="Modern US Navy carrier air operations">air operations</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-16">[17]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-17">[18]</a></sup> On 26 May 2009, Former President George H.W. Bush and his daughter, Dorothy Bush Koch, flew aboard the carrier to observe flight operations during the ship's underway period in the Atlantic Ocean. USS <i>George H.W. Bush</i> successfully completed her first flight deck certification on that day.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-18">[19]</a></sup> <i>Bush</i> returned to Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard on 18 June 2009 for post-delivery maintenance work, also known as the ship's post shakedown availability (PSA). A PSA is a typical availability in the early life of a carrier that allows the Navy and builder to resolve any items that came up during trials and delivery and make any last-minute changes and upgrades. Work includes the installation of a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigid_Hull_Inflatable_Boat" title="Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat">Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat</a> (RHIB) handling system and a new fresh water purification system. Other changes include compartment reconfigurations, combat system and radar equipment upgrades, and minor repairs. The work is scheduled to last through early 2010.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-19">[20]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="First_deployment">First deployment</span></h3>The carrier and four other ships of its carrier strike group, under the command of Rear Admiral <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nora_Tyson" title="Nora Tyson">Nora Tyson</a>, departed on its first deployment on 11 May 2011 and sailed across the Atlantic to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom">Britain</a> to participate in <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Saxon_Warrior&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Operation Saxon Warrior (page does not exist)">Operation Saxon Warrior</a>, held in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Approaches" title="Western Approaches">Western Approaches</a> and culminating in a so called '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thursday_War" title="Thursday War">Thursday War</a>'.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-navynews.co.uk_20-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-navynews.co.uk-20">[21]</a></sup> It then moved towards <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth" title="Portsmouth">Portsmouth</a>, England (docking at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stokes_Bay" title="Stokes Bay">Stokes Bay</a> because it was too large to enter the harbour - and the naval base does not have sufficient nuclear berths for the carrier to moor alongside) on 27 May and left on the 31st.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-navynews.co.uk_20-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-navynews.co.uk-20">[21]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-21">[22]</a></sup> The carrier arrived at Naples, Italy on 10 June 2011.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-22">[23]</a></sup><br />
On 23 August 2011, the carrier <i>George H.W. Bush</i> made its 20,000th arrested landing while operating in the Arabian Sea during flight operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This milestone was accomplished by LCDR Chris R. Swanson who was flying an <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-2C_Hawkeye" title="E-2C Hawkeye">E-2C Hawkeye</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airborne_early_warning_and_control" title="Airborne early warning and control">airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft</a> assigned to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 124.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-23">[24]</a></sup><br />
The carrier returned to her home port of Norfolk on 10 December 2011, following a seven-month deployment supporting operations with the U.S. Navy's 5th and 6th fleets.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H.W._Bush_%28CVN-77%29#cite_note-24"></a>Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-13698101876399985842012-01-21T23:26:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:21:06.871-08:00USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 (Ship)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading"><br />
</h1><table class="metadata plainlinks ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mbox-image"><br />
</td><td class="mbox-text"><small><i></i></small></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Uss_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN_69%29.jpg" title="The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower"><img alt="The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower" height="153" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Uss_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN_69%29.jpg/300px-Uss_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN_69%29.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
USS <i>Dwight D. Eisenhower</i> with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_Washington_%28CVN-73%29" title="USS George Washington (CVN-73)">USS <i>George Washington</i></a> in the Indian Ocean</td> </tr>
<tr> <th height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Career (United States)</th> <th style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" height="35" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/67px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" width="67" /></span></th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Name:</td> <td>USS <i>Dwight D. Eisenhower</i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Namesake:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_D._Eisenhower" title="Dwight D. Eisenhower">Dwight D. Eisenhower</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Builder:</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_Newport_News" title="Northrop Grumman Newport News">Newport News Shipbuilding</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Cost:</td> <td>$679 million</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Laid down:</td> <td>15 August 1970</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Launched:</td> <td>11 October 1975</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Sponsored by:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamie_Eisenhower" title="Mamie Eisenhower">Mamie Doud-Eisenhower</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-navysite.de_0-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-navysite.de-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Commissioned:</td> <td>18 October 1977</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Homeport:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_Norfolk" title="Naval Station Norfolk">NS Norfolk, Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Motto:</td> <td><i>I Like Ike</i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Nickname:</td> <td><i>Mighty Ike</i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Status:</td> <td>in active service, as of 2012</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Badge:</td> <td><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CVN-69_insignia.jpg"><img alt="CVN-69 insignia.jpg" height="100" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/CVN-69_insignia.jpg/100px-CVN-69_insignia.jpg" width="100" /></a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">General characteristics</th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Class and type:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier"><i>Nimitz</i>-class</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Displacement:</td> <td>101,600 long tons (113,800 short tons)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-1">[2]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Length:</td> <td>Overall: 1,092 feet (332.8 m)<br />
Waterline: 1,040 feet (317.0 m) Overall Length: 1,115 feet (340 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Beam:</td> <td>Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m)<br />
Waterline: 134 ft (40.8 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Draught:</td> <td>Maximum navigational: 37 ft (11.3 m)<br />
Limit: 41 ft (12.5 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Draft:</td> <td>37.7 feet (11.3 meters)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Propulsion:</td> <td>2 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westinghouse_Electric_Company" title="Westinghouse Electric Company">Westinghouse</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A4W_reactor" title="A4W reactor">A4W nuclear reactors</a><br />
4 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_turbine" title="Steam turbine">steam turbines</a><br />
4 × shafts<br />
260,000 shp (194 MW)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Speed:</td> <td>30+ knots (56+ km/h; 35+ mph)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Range:</td> <td>Unlimited distance; 20-25 years</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Complement:</td> <td>Ship's company: 3,200<br />
Air wing: 2,480</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Sensors and<br />
processing systems:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/SPS-48" title="AN/SPS-48">AN/SPS-48E</a> 3-D air search radar<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/SPS-49" title="AN/SPS-49">AN/SPS-49(V)5</a> 2-D air search radar<br />
AN/SPQ-9B target acquisition radar<br />
<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/SPN-46" title="AN/SPN-46">AN/SPN-46</a> air traffic control radars<br />
<a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AN/SPN-43&action=edit&redlink=1" title="AN/SPN-43 (page does not exist)">AN/SPN-43C</a> air traffic control radar<br />
<a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AN/SPN-41&action=edit&redlink=1" title="AN/SPN-41 (page does not exist)">AN/SPN-41</a> landing aid radars<br />
4 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems<br />
4 × Mk 95 radars</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Electronic warfare<br />
and decoys:</td> <td>SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite<br />
SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armament:</td> <td>2 × <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Sparrow" title="Sea Sparrow">Sea Sparrow</a><br />
2 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIM-116_Rolling_Airframe_Missile" title="RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile">RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armor:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classified_information" title="Classified information">Classified</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Aircraft carried:</td> <td>90 fixed wing and helicopters</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><b>USS <i>Dwight D. Eisenhower</i> (CVN-69)</b> ("<i>Ike</i>") is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a> currently in service with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">United States Navy</a>. Commissioned in 1977, the ship is the second of the ten <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier"><i>Nimitz</i>-class supercarriers</a> currently in service, and is the first ship named after the thirty-fourth President of the United States, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_D._Eisenhower" title="Dwight D. Eisenhower">Dwight D. Eisenhower</a>. The vessel was initially named simply as USS <i>Eisenhower</i>, much like the lead ship of the class <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nimitz_%28CVN-68%29" title="USS Nimitz (CVN-68)"><i>Nimitz</i></a>, but the name was changed to its present form on 25 May 1970. The carrier, like all others of her class, was constructed at <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_News_Shipbuilding_Company" title="Newport News Shipbuilding Company">Newport News Shipbuilding Company</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a>, with the same design as the lead ship, although the ship has been overhauled twice to bring her up to the standards of those constructed more recently.<br />
Since commissioning, <i>Eisenhower</i> has participated in deployments including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Eagle_Claw" title="Operation Eagle Claw">Operation Eagle Claw</a> during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_hostage_crisis" title="Iran hostage crisis">Iran hostage crisis</a> in 1980, as well as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War" title="Gulf War">Gulf War</a> in the 1990s, and more recently in support of US military operations in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan" title="Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a>.<br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
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</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Design_and_construction">Design and construction</span></h2><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier">Nimitz class aircraft carrier</a></div>On 29 June 1970, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_Newport_News" title="Northrop Grumman Newport News">Newport News Shipbuilding</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_News,_Virginia" title="Newport News, Virginia">Newport News, Virginia</a> was awarded the contract for construction. On 30 June 1975, her designation was changed from CVAN-69 to CVN-69.<br />
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 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamie_Eisenhower" title="Mamie Eisenhower">Mamie Doud-Eisenhower</a>, and commissioned 18 October 1977, Captain <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_E._Ramsey&action=edit&redlink=1" title="William E. Ramsey (page does not exist)">William E. Ramsey</a> in command.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-navysite.de_0-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-navysite.de-0">[1]</a></sup> Since her commissioning, <i>Eisenhower</i> has had 13 Commanding Officers.<br />
On commissioning, she replaced the aging <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a>–era carrier <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Franklin_D._Roosevelt_%28CV-42%29" title="USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42)">USS <i>Franklin D. Roosevelt</i></a> in the fleet.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Service_history">Service history</span></h2><h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Early_deployments">Early deployments</span></h3><i>Eisenhower</i> was initially assigned to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Fleet_Forces_Command" title="United States Fleet Forces Command">U.S. Atlantic Fleet</a>, and after receiving over a year of training, in Spring of 1978 the ship was visited by President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter" title="Jimmy Carter">Jimmy Carter</a> who hit a golf ball off the flight deck into the Atlantic Ocean. In January 1979 she sailed for her first deployment to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_Sea" title="Mediterranean Sea">Mediterranean Sea</a> . During this deployment, while off the coast of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel" title="Israel">Israel</a>, Israeli Prime Minister <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menachem_Begin" title="Menachem Begin">Menachem Begin</a> visited <i>Eisenhower</i>. The carrier returned to <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_Naval_Station" title="Norfolk Naval Station">Norfolk Naval Station</a> in July of the same year. Under the command of her second Commanding Officer, Captain <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_H._Mauldin&action=edit&redlink=1" title="James H. Mauldin (page does not exist)">James H. Mauldin</a>, her second deployment occurred in 1980, when she was dispatched by President Carter to the Indian Ocean, in response to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_hostage_crisis" title="Iran hostage crisis">Iran hostage crisis</a>. She relieved the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nimitz_%28CVN-68%29" title="USS Nimitz (CVN-68)">USS <i>Nimitz</i></a> 3 days after the Iranian hostage rescue attempt.<br />
As a result of the tensions in the area, <i>Eisenhower</i> stayed on station off the coast of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran">Iran</a> 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, <i>Ike</i> had one three-day port visit to Singapore.<br />
She was relieved by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Independence_%28CV-62%29" title="USS Independence (CV-62)">USS <i>Independence</i></a>. She returned home to Norfolk on 22 December 1980, just in time for her airwing and crew to celebrate Christmas with their families.<br />
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 <i>Nimitz</i>, was the previous record holder. <i>Eisenhower'</i>s record was broken by another of her "sister ships," the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Theodore_Roosevelt_%28CVN-71%29" title="USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)">USS <i>Theodore Roosevelt</i></a>.<br />
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.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Overhaul_and_subsequent_deployments">Overhaul and subsequent deployments</span></h3>After her fifth deployment <i>Eisenhower</i> went into <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_News_Shipbuilding_and_Drydock" title="Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock">Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock</a> in October 1985 for a major overhaul. The 18-month yard period included the addition of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIWS" title="CIWS">Close-in Weapons System</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM-7_Sparrow" title="AIM-7 Sparrow">NATO Sea Sparrow</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-active_radar_homing" title="Semi-active radar homing">Missile System</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Tactical_Data_System" title="Naval Tactical Data System">Naval Tactical Data System</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-submarine_warfare" title="Anti-submarine warfare">anti-submarine warfare</a> module, communications upgrades and rehabilitation of 1,831 berths in 25 compartments. She re-entered the fleet in April 1987.<br />
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.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-2">[3]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-3">[4]</a></sup><br />
<i>Eisenhower</i> entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard (Portsmouth, Virginia) in September 1988; she returned to the fleet in April 1989.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="1990s">1990s</span></h3>In 1990, <i>Eisenhower</i> 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 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_Landings" title="Normandy Landings">D-Day</a> anniversary ceremonies off the coast of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy" title="Normandy">Normandy</a>, President Eisenhower's son <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Eisenhower" title="John Eisenhower">John Eisenhower</a> and D-Day veterans embarked in the ship, while <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Air_Wing_Seven" title="Carrier Air Wing Seven">Carrier Air Wing Seven</a> conducted a memorial flyover of the American cemetery at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha_Beach" title="Omaha Beach">Omaha Beach</a>.<br />
<h4><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Operation_Desert_Shield.2FDesert_Storm">Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm</span></h4>In response to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Kuwait" title="Invasion of Kuwait">invasion</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait" title="Kuwait">Kuwait</a>, <i>Eisenhower</i> became the first carrier to conduct sustained operations in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Sea" title="Red Sea">Red Sea</a>, and only the second nuclear-powered aircraft carrier ever to transit the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal" title="Suez Canal">Suez Canal</a>. <i>Ike</i> served as a ready striking force in the event Iraq invaded <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" title="Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a>, and participated in maritime interception operations in support of a United Nations embargo against Iraq.<br />
After completion of an extensive shipyard period and work ups, the carrier deployed 26 September 1991 to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a> to continue multi-national operations with coalition forces in support of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Desert_Storm" title="Operation Desert Storm">Operation Desert Storm</a>. <i>Ike</i> returned to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk,_Virginia" title="Norfolk, Virginia">Norfolk</a> 2 April 1992, and on 12 January 1993, entered <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_Naval_Shipyard" title="Norfolk Naval Shipyard">Norfolk Naval Shipyard</a> for overhaul and conversion, returning to the fleet 12 November 1993.<br />
<h4><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Post.E2.80.93Gulf_War">Post–Gulf War</span></h4><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 252px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29_RF.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29_RF.jpg/250px-USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29_RF.jpg" width="250" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29_RF.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>USS Dwight D. Eisenhower departs for a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean.</div></div></div>In September 1994, <i>Eisenhower</i> and elements of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._10th_Mountain_Division" title="U.S. 10th Mountain Division">U.S. 10th Mountain Division</a> first tested the concept of adaptive force packaging. The division's soldiers and equipment were loaded on board, and the ship's Army/Navy team headed for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port-au-Prince" title="Port-au-Prince">Port-au-Prince</a> to lead <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Uphold_Democracy" title="Operation Uphold Democracy">Operation Uphold Democracy</a>, the U.S.-led effort to restore the elected government of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiti" title="Haiti">Haiti</a>.<br />
One month later, in October 1994, <i>Eisenhower</i> departed for a six-month deployment which included flying missions in support of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Southern_Watch" title="Operation Southern Watch">Operation Southern Watch</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Deny_Flight" title="Operation Deny Flight">Operation Deny Flight</a>. This deployment marked the first time that women had deployed as crew members of a U.S. Navy combatant. <i>Eisenhower</i>, 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 <i>The Love Boat</i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-MSNBC_4-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-MSNBC-4">[5]</a></sup> There was also a case of a sailor who filmed himself having sex with a female.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-MSNBC_4-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-MSNBC-4">[5]</a></sup><br />
In April 1995, the game show <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_of_Fortune_%28US_game_show%29" title="Wheel of Fortune (US game show)">Wheel of Fortune</a></i> taped two weeks of episodes on the ship's hangar deck.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-5">[6]</a></sup><br />
<i>Eisenhower</i> 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.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="2000s">2000s</span></h3>Deploying in February 2000 and returning that August on the "Millennium Cruise", for the first time <i>Ike</i><span style="padding-left: 0.2em;">'</span>s embarked aircraft dropped ordnance in combat while supporting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Southern_Watch" title="Operation Southern Watch">Operation Southern Watch</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_no-fly_zones" title="Iraqi no-fly zones">No-Fly Zone</a> over Iraq.<br />
On 21 May 2001, the ship returned to Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company (NNS&DDC) to begin a 4 year, $2.5 billion <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refueling_and_complex_overhaul" title="Refueling and complex overhaul">refueling and complex overhaul</a>. In addition to replacing the cores in the two nuclear reactors, <i>Eisenhower</i> underwent complex renovations and major technological upgrades during this scheduled half-life overhaul. On 25 January 2005, <i>Ike</i> 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.<br />
<h4><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Persian_Gulf.2FIndian_Ocean_deployment">Persian Gulf/Indian Ocean deployment</span></h4><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 242px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Super_Hornet_on_flight_deck.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="160" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Super_Hornet_on_flight_deck.jpg/240px-Super_Hornet_on_flight_deck.jpg" width="240" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Super_Hornet_on_flight_deck.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F/A-18E/F_Super_Hornet" title="F/A-18E/F Super Hornet">F/A-18E/F Super Hornet</a> parked on the flight deck of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, as the ship operates in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_Sea" title="Arabian Sea">Arabian Sea</a>, December 2006.</div></div></div>On 3 October 2006 with Carrier Air Wing 7 (CVW-7), <i>Eisenhower</i> returned to sea as the flagship of Rear Admiral <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Allen_G._Myers&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Allen G. Myers (page does not exist)">Allen G. Myers</a>, commanding Carrier Strike Group 8. CSG-8 also includes the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guided-missile_cruiser" title="Guided-missile cruiser">guided-missile cruiser</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Anzio_%28CG-68%29" title="USS Anzio (CG-68)">USS <i>Anzio</i> (CG-68)</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guided-missile_destroyer" title="Guided-missile destroyer">guided-missile destroyers</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ramage_%28DDG-61%29" title="USS Ramage (DDG-61)"><i>Ramage</i> (DDG-61)</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Mason_%28DDG-87%29" title="USS Mason (DDG-87)"><i>Mason</i> (DDG-87)</a>, and the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast-attack_submarine" title="Fast-attack submarine">fast-attack submarine</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Newport_News_%28SSN-750%29" title="USS Newport News (SSN-750)"><i>Newport News</i> (SSN-750)</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-6">[7]</a></sup> She visited Naples, Italy and then <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limassol" title="Limassol">Limassol</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus" title="Cyprus">Cyprus</a> for three days in October 2006 before departing to the east. She entered the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a> in December 2006.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-7">[8]</a></sup><br />
On 8 January 2007, a US <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_AC-130" title="Lockheed AC-130">AC-130</a> gunship based out of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djibouti" title="Djibouti">Djibouti</a> was dispatched to target <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda" title="Al-Qaeda">Al-Qaeda</a> operatives located in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia" title="Somalia">Somalia</a>. <i>Eisenhower</i> "was deployed in the Indian Ocean to provide air cover for the operation and, if needed, to evacuate downed airmen and other casualties."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-US-STRIKE-IN-SOMALIA-TARGETS-AL-QAEDA-FIGURE_8-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-US-STRIKE-IN-SOMALIA-TARGETS-AL-QAEDA-FIGURE-8">[9]</a></sup> It joined other US and allied vessels from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrain" title="Bahrain">Bahrain</a>-based Combined Task Force 150<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NAVY-TRIES-TO-BLOCK-FLEEING-JIHADISTS_9-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-NAVY-TRIES-TO-BLOCK-FLEEING-JIHADISTS-9">[10]</a></sup> 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 <i>Arleigh Burke</i>-class destroyer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ramage_%28DDG-61%29" title="USS Ramage (DDG-61)">USS <i>Ramage</i> (DDG-61)</a> and the <i>Ticonderoga</i>-class cruiser <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bunker_Hill_%28CG-52%29" title="USS Bunker Hill (CG-52)">USS <i>Bunker Hill</i> (CG-52)</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RAMAGE-BUNKER-HILL-KEEPING-AN-EYE-ON-SOMALIA_10-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-RAMAGE-BUNKER-HILL-KEEPING-AN-EYE-ON-SOMALIA-10">[11]</a></sup> The aim of the patrols is to "... stop SICC leaders or foreign militant supporters escaping" Somalia.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-11">[12]</a></sup><br />
In March 2007, following the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Iranian_seizure_of_Royal_Navy_personnel" title="2007 Iranian seizure of Royal Navy personnel">Iranian seizure of Royal Navy personnel</a>, <i>Eisenhower</i> began <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wargaming" title="Wargaming">battle group exercises</a> off the Iranian coastline. In April 2007, the ship was relieved by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nimitz_%28CVN-68%29" title="USS Nimitz (CVN-68)">USS <i>Nimitz</i></a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Tensions-High-in-Persian-Gulf-Over-British-Captives_12-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-Tensions-High-in-Persian-Gulf-Over-British-Captives-12">[13]</a></sup><br />
<h4><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="2008.E2.80.932009">2008–2009</span></h4><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 252px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rafale_USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="160" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Rafale_USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower.jpg/250px-Rafale_USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower.jpg" width="250" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rafale_USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>A French Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft conducts touch and go landings aboard the <i>Eisenhower</i> during a coalition training exercise.</div></div></div>On 4 October 2008 <i>Eisenhower</i> sailor Robert Lemar Robinson was killed on the ship during training exercises off the coast of North Carolina. The sailor was killed after being struck by an airplane at 8:15 p.m. on the carrier's flight deck.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-13">[14]</a></sup><br />
On 21 February 2009, <i>Eisenhower</i> 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 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_W._Tidd" title="Kurt W. Tidd">Kurt W. Tidd</a>. Also embarked were Carrier Air Wing 7 and the staff of Commander, Destroyer Squadron 28. Other ships of Strike Group 8 were <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bainbridge_%28DDG-96%29" title="USS Bainbridge (DDG-96)">USS <i>Bainbridge</i> (DDG-96)</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Halyburton_%28FFG-40%29" title="USS Halyburton (FFG-40)">USS <i>Halyburton</i> (FFG-40)</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Scranton_%28SSN-756%29" title="USS Scranton (SSN-756)">USS <i>Scranton</i> (SSN-756)</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Vicksburg_%28CG-69%29" title="USS Vicksburg (CG-69)">USS <i>Vicksburg</i> (CG-69)</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gettysburg_%28CG-64%29" title="USS Gettysburg (CG-64)">USS <i>Gettysburg</i> (CG-64)</a>. In addition to supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, the strike group conducted maritime security operations including anti-piracy operations. On 16 May, <i>Eisenhower</i> became the first <i>Nimitz</i>-class carrier to dock pierside in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manama,_Bahrain" title="Manama, Bahrain">Manama, Bahrain</a>. The last carrier to moor pierside in Bahrain was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Rendova_%28CVE-114%29" title="USS Rendova (CVE-114)">USS <i>Rendova</i> (CVE-114)</a> in 1948. On 30 July 2009, the <i>Eisenhower</i> returned to Naval Station Norfolk after almost a six month deployment.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-14">[15]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="2010.E2.80.932011">2010–2011</span></h3><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CVN-69-SPIE-training.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="146" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/CVN-69-SPIE-training.jpg/220px-CVN-69-SPIE-training.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CVN-69-SPIE-training.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Six participate in Special Purpose Insertion Extraction (SPIE) training session with the <i>Dwight D. Eisenhower</i></div></div></div>On 2 January 2010, <i>Eisenhower</i> again deployed to the Middle East, the U.S. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Fifth_Fleet" title="United States Fifth Fleet">5th</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Sixth_Fleet" title="United States Sixth Fleet">6th</a> Fleet areas of operations. She served as the flagship of Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group commanded by Rear Admiral Philip S. Davidson. While in theater, the strike group provided security cooperation, forward naval presence, maritime security, and crisis response. In addition to the <i>Ike</i>, the strike group was made up of Carrier Air Wing 7; Commander, Destroyer Squadron 28; the guided-missile cruiser <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Hu%C3%A9_City_%28CG-66%29" title="USS Hué City (CG-66)">USS <i>Hué City</i> (CG-66)</a>; and guided-missile destroyers <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_McFaul_%28DDG-74%29" title="USS McFaul (DDG-74)">USS <i>McFaul</i> (DDG-74)</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carney_%28DDG-64%29" title="USS Carney (DDG-64)">USS <i>Carney</i> (DDG-64)</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Farragut_%28DDG-99%29" title="USS Farragut (DDG-99)">USS <i>Farragut</i> (DDG-99)</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-15">[16]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-16">[17]</a></sup> On 28 July 2010, the <i>Ike</i> returned to her homeport in Norfolk.<br />
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".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-17">[18]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-18">[19]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower_%28CVN-69%29#cite_note-19">[20]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Eventual_replacement">Eventual replacement</span></h3>The <i>Eisenhower</i> will eventually be replaced around 2021 by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_R._Ford_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carrier"><i>Gerald R. Ford</i>–class aircraft carrier</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CVN-80" title="CVN-80">CVN-80</a>. Said name of CVN-80 is currently unknown.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Awards">Awards</span></h2><i>Eisenhower</i> has earned a number of awards, including the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Efficiency_Award" title="Battle Efficiency Award">Battle "E"</a> in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1990, 1998, 1999 and 2006 as the most battle efficient carrier in the Atlantic Fleet. In 1999, she won the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marjorie_Sterrett_Battleship_Fund_Award" title="Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award">Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award</a> for the Atlantic Fleet. In addition, she was awarded the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_Unit_Commendation" title="Navy Unit Commendation">Navy Unit Commendation</a> with service star (1980, 1983); the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meritorious_Unit_Commendation" title="Meritorious Unit Commendation">Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation</a> with three service stars (1990, 1992, 1995, 2001); the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_Expeditionary_Medal" title="Navy Expeditionary Medal">Navy Expeditionary Medal</a> (1980), the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Defense_Service_Medal" title="National Defense Service Medal">National Defense Service Medal</a> with service star; the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_Expeditionary_Medal" title="Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal">Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal</a> with three service stars (1983, 1994, 1998, 2000); and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwest_Asia_Service_Medal" title="Southwest Asia Service Medal">Southwest Asia Service Medal</a> with two campaign stars. The ship also won the <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Atlantic_Fleet_Retention_Excellence_Award&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Atlantic Fleet Retention Excellence Award (page does not exist)">Atlantic Fleet Retention Excellence Award</a> (aka the <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Golden_Anchor_Award&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Golden Anchor Award (page does not exist)">Golden Anchor Award</a>) in 1999; as well as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battenberg_Cup#cite_note-3" title="Battenberg Cup">Battenberg Cup</a> in 2006.Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-40509069463776665772012-01-21T23:23:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:06:51.129-08:00Colt 9mm SMG (Gun)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading"><br />
</h1><div id="siteSub"><br />
</div><div class="dablink">"M635" redirects here. For BMW M6/M635CSi, see <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_E24#M_version" title="BMW E24">BMW E24#M version</a>.</div><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr class="hproduct"> <th class="fn" colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Colt 9mm SMG</th> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colt_9mm_SMG_635_10.JPG"><img alt="Colt 9mm SMG 635 10.JPG" height="225" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Colt_9mm_SMG_635_10.JPG/300px-Colt_9mm_SMG_635_10.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
The Colt 9mm SMG</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Type</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submachine_gun" title="Submachine gun">Submachine gun</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Place of origin</th> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="12" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Service history</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Used by</th> <td>See <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_9mm_SMG#Users">Users</a></i></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Production history</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Produced</th> <td>1982-present</td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Specifications</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Weight</th> <td>2.61 kg (5.75 lb) w/o magazine<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_9mm_SMG#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Length</th> <td>730 mm (28.9 in ) (<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_%28firearm%29" title="Stock (firearm)">stock</a> extended)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_9mm_SMG#cite_note-1">[2]</a></sup> 650 mm (25.6 in) (stock retracted)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_9mm_SMG#cite_note-2">[3]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_barrel" title="Gun barrel">Barrel</a> length</th> <td>10.5 in<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_9mm_SMG#cite_note-3">[4]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartridge_%28firearms%29" title="Cartridge (firearms)">Cartridge</a></th> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x19mm_Parabellum" title="9x19mm Parabellum">9x19mm Parabellum</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_9mm_SMG#cite_note-4">[5]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_action" title="Firearm action">Action</a></th> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowback_%28arms%29" title="Blowback (arms)">blowback</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_bolt" title="Closed bolt">closed bolt</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_9mm_SMG#cite_note-5">[6]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rate_of_fire" title="Rate of fire">Rate of fire</a></th> <td>700-1000 round/min<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_9mm_SMG#cite_note-6">[7]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_velocity" title="Muzzle velocity">Muzzle velocity</a></th> <td>396 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meters_per_second" title="Meters per second">m/s</a> (1300) <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feet_per_second" title="Feet per second">ft/s</a>)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_9mm_SMG#cite_note-7">[8]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Effective range</th> <td>100 m<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_9mm_SMG#cite_note-8">[9]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Feed system</th> <td>32 round detachable box <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine" title="Magazine">magazine</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_9mm_SMG#cite_note-9">[10]</a></sup></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>The <b>Colt 9mm SMG</b> is a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x19mm_Parabellum" title="9x19mm Parabellum">9x19mm Parabellum</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submachine_gun" title="Submachine gun">submachine gun</a> manufactured by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt%27s_Manufacturing_Company" title="Colt's Manufacturing Company">Colt</a>, based on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle" title="M16 rifle">M16 rifle</a> platform.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_9mm_SMG#cite_note-10">[11]</a></sup><br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Design_details">Design details</span></h2>The Colt 9mm SMG is a closed bolt, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowback_%28arms%29" title="Blowback (arms)">blowback</a> operated SMG, rather than the conventional <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_impingement" title="Direct impingement">direct impingement</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas-operated_reloading" title="Gas-operated reloading">gas operation</a> of the standard 5.56x45mm M16 type rifle.<br />
The overall aesthetics are identical to most M16 type rifles. Changes include a large plastic brass deflector mounted toward the rear of the dust cover. Factory Colt 9mm SMGs are equipped with a 10.5 inch length barrel and have an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle" title="M16 rifle">M16</a> style upper receiver, which means they feature a fixed carry handle, no forward assist and A1 sights (with 50 and 100 meter settings). The magazine well of the receiver is modified using a special adaptor to allow the usage of smaller 9mm magazines. The magazines themselves are a copy of the Israeli <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UZI" title="UZI">UZI</a> SMG magazine, modified to fit the Colt and lock the bolt back after the last shot.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Variants">Variants</span></h2><div class="rellink boilerplate seealso">For more details on Colt 9mm SMG variants, see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AR-15_variants" title="AR-15 variants">AR-15 variants</a>.</div>Current Colt production models are the <b>RO635</b> which features a Safe/Semi/Full Auto <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_fire" title="Selective fire">selective fire</a> trigger group and the <b>RO639</b> which features a Safe/Semi/3 round Burst selective fire trigger group. Both are equipped with a 10.5 inch length barrel. The 633 was a modified compact version with a 7 inches (180 mm) barrel and simplified front sight post used by the DEA.<br />
The most common model is the 635, the latest version of which are simply marked <b>SMG 9mm NATO</b>.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Users">Users</span></h2><ul><li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Flag_of_Bangladesh.svg/22px-Flag_of_Bangladesh.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh" title="Bangladesh">Bangladesh</a>: Extensively used by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhaka_Metropolitan_Police" title="Dhaka Metropolitan Police">Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_9mm_SMG#cite_note-11">[12]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_9mm_SMG#cite_note-12">[13]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Flag_of_Panama.svg/22px-Flag_of_Panama.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama" title="Panama">Panama</a>: Used by the Policia Motorizada "Linces" Unit of Panama National Police.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from November 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="12" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a>: Used by the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Marine_Corps" title="U.S. Marine Corps">U.S. Marine Corps</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_9mm_SMG#cite_note-13">[14]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_9mm_SMG#cite_note-14">[15]</a></sup> Also used by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_Enforcement_Administration" title="Drug Enforcement Administration">Drug Enforcement Administration</a> (DEA), the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Marshals_Service" title="U.S. Marshals Service">U.S. Marshals Service</a>, and a number of other federal agencies.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_9mm_SMG#cite_note-15">[16]</a></sup></li>
</ul><h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Gallery">Gallery</span></h2><ul class="gallery"><li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div style="width: 155px;"><div class="thumb" style="width: 150px;"><div style="margin: 30px auto;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:635_2.JPG"><img alt="" height="90" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/635_2.JPG/120px-635_2.JPG" width="120" /></a></div></div><div class="gallerytext">Colt SMG 635</div></div></li>
<li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div style="width: 155px;"><div class="thumb" style="width: 150px;"><div style="margin: 15px auto;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eds_Colt_SMG_635_left_side_with_M2_sight.jpg"><img alt="" height="120" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Eds_Colt_SMG_635_left_side_with_M2_sight.jpg/102px-Eds_Colt_SMG_635_left_side_with_M2_sight.jpg" width="102" /></a></div></div><div class="gallerytext">Colt SMG 635, ML 2 Sight, Colt mount, and a magazine</div></div></li>
<li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div style="width: 155px;"><div class="thumb" style="width: 150px;"><div style="margin: 30px auto;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eds_Colt_SMG_635_right_side,_ML_2_sight,_Colt_mount.jpg"><img alt="" height="90" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Eds_Colt_SMG_635_right_side%2C_ML_2_sight%2C_Colt_mount.jpg/120px-Eds_Colt_SMG_635_right_side%2C_ML_2_sight%2C_Colt_mount.jpg" width="120" /></a></div></div><div class="gallerytext">Colt SMG 635, ML 2 Sight, Colt mount</div></div></li>
<li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div style="width: 155px;"><div class="thumb" style="width: 150px;"><div style="margin: 48.5px auto;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Evers_Colt_9mm_SMG.PNG"><img alt="" height="53" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Evers_Colt_9mm_SMG.PNG/120px-Evers_Colt_9mm_SMG.PNG" width="120" /></a></div></div><div class="gallerytext">COLT SMG</div></div></li>
</ul>Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-22602410480616070022012-01-21T23:21:00.001-08:002012-01-22T00:16:30.319-08:00Daewoo Precision Industries K7 (Gun)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading"><br />
</h1><div id="siteSub"><br />
</div><div id="contentSub"> (Redirected from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Daewoo_K7&redirect=no" title="Daewoo K7">Daewoo K7</a>)</div><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr class="hproduct"> <th class="fn" colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Daewoo Precision Industries K7</th> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Daewoo_K7_SMG_at_Defense_Asia_2006_0.jpg"><img alt="Daewoo K7 SMG at Defense Asia 2006 0.jpg" height="232" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Daewoo_K7_SMG_at_Defense_Asia_2006_0.jpg/300px-Daewoo_K7_SMG_at_Defense_Asia_2006_0.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
Daewoo Precision Industries K7 on display</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Type</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submachine_gun" title="Submachine gun">Submachine gun</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Place of origin</th> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Flag_of_South_Korea.svg/22px-Flag_of_South_Korea.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea" title="South Korea">Republic of Korea</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Service history</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">In service</th> <td>2003 - Present</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Used by</th> <td>See <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daewoo_K7#Users" title="Daewoo K7">Users</a></i></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Production history</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Designer</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%26T_Daewoo" title="S&T Daewoo">Daewoo Precision Industries</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Manufacturer</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%26T_Daewoo" title="S&T Daewoo">Daewoo Precision Industries</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Produced</th> <td>2003 - Present</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Variants</th> <td>None</td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Specifications</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Weight</th> <td>4.00 kg</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Length</th> <td>620 mm (stock retraced) / 800 mm (stock extended)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_barrel" title="Gun barrel">Barrel</a> length</th> <td>n/a</td> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartridge_%28firearms%29" title="Cartridge (firearms)">Cartridge</a></th> <td>9x19mm Luger / Parabellum</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliber" title="Caliber">Caliber</a></th> <td>9mm</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_action" title="Firearm action">Action</a></th> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowback_%28arms%29" title="Blowback (arms)">Blowback</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rate_of_fire" title="Rate of fire">Rate of fire</a></th> <td>1,100 rounds/min</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Effective range</th> <td>150 m</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Feed system</th> <td>30-round (30-round magazines can also be used from <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzi_submachine_gun" title="Uzi submachine gun">UZI</a> or 32-round magazines from Beretta PM12s)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Sights</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_sight" title="Iron sight">Iron sights</a></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>The <b>Daewoo Precision Industries K7</b> was announced in 2003 as a 9 mm silenced submachine gun (with permanent suppressor) for use with the South-Korean special forces. It is based on the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daewoo_K1" title="Daewoo K1">K1A</a> infantry rifle, from which the receiver and telescopic buttstock was copied. It was first displayed in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates" title="United Arab Emirates">United Arab Emirates</a> at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Defence_Exhibition" title="International Defence Exhibition">IDEX (International Defence Exhibition)</a> 2003 convention.<br />
The K7 is under manufacture by S&T Daewoo.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daewoo_K7#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup><br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Design">Design</span></h2>As the K7 uses a subsonic <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x19mm_Parabellum" title="9x19mm Parabellum">9 mm</a> cartridge, there is little need for the weapon to use the direct gas impingement system of the K1A. Instead, the K7 utilizes a simple blow-back system. A 30-round vertical box magazine is used and it can use 30-round magazines taken from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzi" title="Uzi">IMI Uzis</a> or 32-round magazine from <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beretta_Model_12" title="Beretta Model 12">Beretta Model 12s</a>. As the original K1A magazine well was retained, there are internal accommodations for the smaller 9 mm magazine. There are 3 firing modes, single shot, a 3-round burst and fully automatic. However, using fully automatic fire will quickly damage the baffles in the suppressor. As a result of the light bolt, a cyclic rate of fire of 1150 rounds per minute is achieved.<br />
The K7's upper receiver is based from a K2, albeit modified.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WG_1-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daewoo_K7#cite_note-WG-1">[2]</a></sup> The hammer/fire control unit and telescopic stock is based from the K1.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WG_1-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daewoo_K7#cite_note-WG-1">[2]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Suppressor">Suppressor</span></h2>The suppressor reduces the gas pressure, and the already low velocity of the subsonic cartridge reduces the firing signature significantly. Also, the suppressor distorts the sound so that it is barely recognisable as a gunshot. But just as important, the suppressor contains the entire muzzle flash so that the firer's position is hard to detect, even at night. The noise caused by a K7 is 120 decibels.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WG_1-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daewoo_K7#cite_note-WG-1">[2]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Users">Users</span></h2><ul><li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Flag_of_Bangladesh.svg/22px-Flag_of_Bangladesh.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh" title="Bangladesh">Bangladesh</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daewoo_K7#cite_note-2">[3]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Flag_of_Indonesia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Indonesia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia" title="Indonesia">Indonesia</a>: <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopaska" title="Kopaska">Komando Pasukan Katak</a></i> (Kopaska) tactical diver group and <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopassus" title="Kopassus">Komando Pasukan Khusus</a></i> (Kopassus) special forces group.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-idnvojnik_3-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daewoo_K7#cite_note-idnvojnik-3">[4]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Flag_of_South_Korea.svg/22px-Flag_of_South_Korea.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea" title="South Korea">Republic of Korea</a>: South Korean <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_forces" title="Special forces">special forces</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WG_1-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daewoo_K7#cite_note-WG-1"></a></sup></li>
</ul>Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-51303289668548657872012-01-21T23:19:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:16:19.594-08:00USS Constellation CV-64 (Ship)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading"><br />
</h1><div id="siteSub"><br />
</div><div class="dablink">For other ships of the same name, see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation" title="USS Constellation">USS Constellation</a>.</div><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_CV-64.jpg" title="USS Constellation (CV-64)"><img alt="USS Constellation (CV-64)" height="214" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/USS_Constellation_CV-64.jpg/300px-USS_Constellation_CV-64.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
USS <i>Constellation</i> arriving in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth,_Western_Australia" title="Perth, Western Australia">Perth, Western Australia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Career (United States)</th> <th style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" height="35" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/67px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" width="67" /></span></th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Name:</td> <td>USS <i>Constellation</i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Awarded:</td> <td>1 July 1956<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NVR_0-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-NVR-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Builder:</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Naval_Shipyard" title="New York Naval Shipyard">New York Naval Shipyard</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Laid down:</td> <td>14 September 1957<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NVR_0-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-NVR-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Launched:</td> <td>8 October 1960<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NVR_0-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-NVR-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Acquired:</td> <td>1 October 1961<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NVR_0-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-NVR-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Commissioned:</td> <td>27 October 1961<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NVR_0-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-NVR-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Decommissioned:</td> <td>6 August 2003<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NVR_0-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-NVR-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Struck:</td> <td>2 December 2003<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NVR_0-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-NVR-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Nickname:</td> <td><i>Connie</i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Status:</td> <td>currently at the Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bremerton,_Washington" title="Bremerton, Washington">Bremerton, WA</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">General characteristics</th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Class and type:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitty_Hawk_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Kitty Hawk class aircraft carrier"><i>Kitty Hawk</i>-class</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Displacement:</td> <td>61,981 tons light<br />
82,538 tons full load<br />
20,557 tons dead<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NVR_0-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-NVR-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Length:</td> <td>1,088 ft (332 m) overall, 990 ft (302 m) waterline<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NVR_0-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-NVR-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Beam:</td> <td>282 ft (86 m) extreme, 130 ft (40 m) waterline<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NVR_0-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-NVR-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Draft:</td> <td>39 ft (12 m)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NVR_0-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-NVR-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Propulsion:</td> <td>eight boilers, four steam turbine engines, totaling 280,000 shp (210 MW)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Speed:</td> <td>34 knots (62.96 km/h)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Complement:</td> <td>3,150 – Air Wing: 2,480</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armament:</td> <td>Two <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Sparrow" title="Sea Sparrow">Sea Sparrow</a> missile launchers, three 20 mm <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS" title="Phalanx CIWS">Phalanx CIWS</a> guns, and her Air Wing. Formerly: Terrier surface-to-air missile systems.</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Aircraft carried:</td> <td>72 (approx)</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><b>USS <i>Constellation</i> (CV-64)</b>, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitty_Hawk_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Kitty Hawk class aircraft carrier"><i>Kitty Hawk</i>-class</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercarrier" title="Supercarrier">supercarrier</a>, was the third ship of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">United States Navy</a> to be named in honor of the "new constellation of stars" on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_United_States" title="Flag of the United States">flag of the United States</a> and the only naval vessel ever authorized to display red, white, and blue designation numbers. One of the fastest ships in the Navy, as proven by her victory during a battlegroup race held in 1985, she was nicknamed "Connie" by her crew and officially as "America's Flagship".<br />
The contract to build <i>Constellation</i> was awarded to the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Naval_Shipyard" title="New York Naval Shipyard">New York Naval Shipyard</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn,_New_York" title="Brooklyn, New York">Brooklyn, New York</a>, on 1 July 1956, and her keel was laid down 14 September 1957 at the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Navy_Yard" title="New York Navy Yard">New York Navy Yard</a>. She was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_naming_and_launching" title="Ship naming and launching">launched</a> 8 October 1960, sponsored by Mary Herter (wife of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_State" title="United States Secretary of State">Secretary of State</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Herter" title="Christian Herter">Christian Herter</a>.) <i>Constellation</i> was delivered to the Navy 1 October 1961, and commissioned 27 October 1961, with Captain <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._J._Walker" title="T. J. Walker">T. J. Walker</a> in command.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-DANFS_1-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-DANFS-1">[2]</a></sup> At that time, she had cost about US$264.5 million.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Terzibaschitsch_2-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-Terzibaschitsch-2">[3]</a></sup> <i>Constellation</i> was the last U.S. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a> (as of 2010) to be built at a yard other than <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_News_Shipbuilding_%26_Drydock_Company" title="Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company">Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company</a>.<br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="History">History</span></h2><h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Fire_during_construction">Fire during construction</span></h3>The <i>USS Constellation, CVA-64</i> was heavily damaged by fire while under construction on 19 December 1960.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-DANFS_1-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-DANFS-1">[2]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Terzibaschitsch_2-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-Terzibaschitsch-2">[3]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-3">[4]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-brooklyn_disaster_4-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-brooklyn_disaster-4">[5]</a></sup> The carrier was in the final stages of construction at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn_Navy_Yard" title="Brooklyn Navy Yard">Brooklyn Navy Yard</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn" title="Brooklyn">Brooklyn</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a> when the fire began.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-brooklyn_disaster_4-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-brooklyn_disaster-4">[5]</a></sup><br />
The fire broke out when a forklift operating on the hangar deck accidentally pushed its cargo into a steel plate knocking it over. The plate then broke off the plug of a 500 gallon tank of diesel fuel which spilled from the container reaching the lower levels of the ship. The fuel was ignited perhaps by the blowtorch of a welder and then moved to a wooden scaffolding. The flames spread quickly filling the passageways of the ship with smoke. A Navy commander commented on the nature of the ships design at an inquiry, “Ships of this class are the most complex structures ever designed by man.”<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-brooklyn_disaster_4-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-brooklyn_disaster-4">[5]</a></sup><br />
It took 17 hours for firefighters to extinguish the fire and some of whom had been “driven to the raw edge of exhaustion” after being called into service in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_New_York_air_disaster" title="1960 New York air disaster">Park Slope air accident</a>. The firefighters saved hundreds of lives without losing any of their own.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-brooklyn_disaster_4-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-brooklyn_disaster-4">[5]</a></sup> The extensive damage cost 75 million dollars to repair, and delayed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_commissioning" title="Ship commissioning">commissioning</a> date by seven months, leading to a rumor that the ship that had burned in New York was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Kitty_Hawk_%28CV-63%29" title="USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)"><i>Kitty Hawk</i> (CV-63)</a> and the fire caused the Navy to change the names and hull number designations between the two sister ships that were being built simultaneously in separate shipyards in separate states.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Construction_Yards_5-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-Construction_Yards-5">[6]</a></sup> An abstract of a <i>New York Times</i> article from the day after the fire, December 20, 1960, refers to the ship as USS <i>Constellation</i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NYT_20DEC1960_6-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-NYT_20DEC1960-6">[7]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="1960.E2.80.931969">1960–1969</span></h3>Following fitting out and acceptance trials, <i>Constellation</i> departed her home port of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_Norfolk" title="Naval Station Norfolk">Norfolk, Virginia</a>, on 7 February 1962 for initial air operations off the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Capes" title="Virginia Capes">Virginia Capes</a>. She conducted her first catapult launch and arrested landing the same day with Commander <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_C._Watkins" title="George C. Watkins">George C. Watkins</a>, air group (CVG) 13 commander, at the controls of an <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A4_Skyhawk#A-4C" title="A4 Skyhawk">A4D-2 Skyhawk</a> of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_Squadron_34_%28U.S._Navy%29" title="Attack Squadron 34 (U.S. Navy)">Attack Squadron 34</a>. After a month of operating locally, "Connie" (as the carrier became known) conducted a two-month shakedown cruise in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean" title="Caribbean">Caribbean</a>.<br />
In summer 1962, <i>Constellation</i> was transferred to the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Pacific_Fleet" title="US Pacific Fleet">Pacific Fleet</a> and <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=CVG-13&action=edit&redlink=1" title="CVG-13 (page does not exist)">CVG-13</a> was disestablished. For the two-month trip around Cape Horn to her new home port of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_San_Diego" title="Naval Station San Diego">San Diego</a>, Calif., Connie embarked elements of <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=CVG-5&action=edit&redlink=1" title="CVG-5 (page does not exist)">CVG-5</a> and departed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_Mayport" title="Naval Station Mayport">Mayport, Fla.</a>, on 25 July. In November <i>Constellation</i>, with <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=CVG-14&action=edit&redlink=1" title="CVG-14 (page does not exist)">CVG-14</a> on board, commenced workup exercises for her upcoming maiden deployment to the western Pacific as a component of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. The uneventful cruise took place from February to September 1963.<br />
<i>Constellation</i>'s second deployment began on 5 May 1964. She relieved <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Kitty_Hawk_%28CVA-63%29" title="USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63)"><i>Kitty Hawk</i></a> (CVA-63) on station in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Tonkin" title="Gulf of Tonkin">Gulf of Tonkin</a> off <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam" title="Vietnam">Vietnam</a> on 8 June, embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 (air groups had been redesignated air wings on 20 December 1963) and flew armed photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconnaissance" title="Reconnaissance">reconnaissance</a> missions over <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laos" title="Laos">Laos</a> until 13 July. Following an upkeep period at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Naval_Base_Subic_Bay" title="U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay">Subic Bay</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines" title="Philippines">Philippines</a>, <i>Constellation</i> reached <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong" title="Hong Kong">Hong Kong</a> for a port visit on 27 July, but within a few days was called back into action.<br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_%28CVA-64%29_underway_1964-65.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="143" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/USS_Constellation_%28CVA-64%29_underway_1964-65.jpg/220px-USS_Constellation_%28CVA-64%29_underway_1964-65.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_%28CVA-64%29_underway_1964-65.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>USS <i>Constellation</i> during her 1964–65 deployment.</div></div></div>As a result of orders received during the first day of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Tonkin_Incident" title="Gulf of Tonkin Incident">Gulf of Tonkin Incident</a> (2 August 1964), the <i>Constellation</i> got underway and headed toward the Gulf of Tonkin. On 4 August, the Constellation launched <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-4_Phantom_II" title="F-4 Phantom II">F-4B Phantom IIs</a> to join aircraft from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ticonderoga_%28CV-14%29" title="USS Ticonderoga (CV-14)"><i>Ticonderoga</i></a> (CVA-14) in providing air cover over the destroyers which were allegedly claimed by the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_Baines_Johnson" title="Lyndon Baines Johnson">Johnson</a> administration to have been attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats. On 5 August both carriers launched air strikes on a North Vietnamese oil facility and naval vessels. <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CVW-14" title="CVW-14">CVW-14</a> lost two aircraft, an <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-1_Skyraider" title="A-1 Skyraider">A-1 Skyraider</a>, piloted by LTjg. Richard C. Sather, who was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killed_in_action" title="Killed in action">killed in action</a> (KIA), and an <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-4_Skyhawk" title="A-4 Skyhawk">A-4 Skyhawk</a> flown by LTjg. Everett Alvarez Jr., who became one of America's first US POW's of the Vietnam War.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-7">[8]</a></sup> Operations returned to a more normal cycle for the remainder of the deployment, and <i>Constellation</i> returned to <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego,_California" title="San Diego, California">San Diego, California</a> on 1 February 1965, ending a nearly nine-month cruise. <i>Connie</i> and CVW-14 were awarded a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_Unit_Commendation" title="Navy Unit Commendation">Navy Unit Commendation</a> (NUC) for the early August operations.<br />
A first shipyard period for <i>Constellation</i> followed, lasting eight months; then workups commenced for her first full-blown war cruise. The carrier, with <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=CVW-15&action=edit&redlink=1" title="CVW-15 (page does not exist)">CVW-15</a> on board, was underway for operations off Vietnam in May 1966. During 111 days on station, aircraft from <i>Constellation</i> pounded roads, bridges and other targets, attempting to impede the flow of men and war materials south. The F-4B aircrew of pilot Lieutenant <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_M._McGunigan&action=edit&redlink=1" title="William M. McGunigan (page does not exist)">William M. McGunigan</a> and radar intercept officer Lieutenant (jg) <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_M._Fowler&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Robert M. Fowler (page does not exist)">Robert M. Fowler</a> from Fighter Squadron (VF) 161 shot down a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiG-17" title="MiG-17">MiG-17</a> fighter jet on 13 July, marking the ship’s first MiG kill of the war. <i>Connie</i> returned to San Diego in December after her seven-month combat cruise, having lost 16 aircrewmen and 15 aircraft. Subsequently, both <i>Constellation</i> and CVW-15 were awarded a NUC for this deployment.<br />
After a short workup cycle, <i>Constellation'</i>s third combat deployment commenced in April 1967. With CVW-14 embarked, the carrier operated first on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Station" title="Dixie Station">Dixie Station</a> (a patrol area about 60 miles (100 km) off South Vietnam) with strikes in the Iron Triangle region, and then moved north to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_Station" title="Yankee Station">Yankee Station</a> (a patrol area about 50 miles (80 km) off North Vietnam) for a total of 121 days on the line. Reflecting the intensive nature of air operations, F-4Bs of <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VF_142&action=edit&redlink=1" title="VF 142 (page does not exist)">VFs 142</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VF-143" title="VF-143">143</a> accounted for four MiG kills. The eight-month deployment ended in December, having totaled losses of 16 aircraft and 20 personnel, including 7 KIAs and 8 POWs. Both the carrier and CVW-14 received a NUC.<br />
Returning to Vietnam in May 1968 after six months stateside, the <i>Constellation</i>/CVW-14 team was restricted to strikes below the 20th parallel of North Vietnam as a result of a March presidential order. This was followed by a complete halt to strikes over the north on 1 November. <i>Connie</i> spent 128 days on the line, flying more than 11,000 combat and support missions and dropping almost 20,000 tons of ordnance. Fifteen aircraft were destroyed, nine due to enemy action. Six aircrew members perished, five were listed as KIAs and three were taken as POWs. The eight-month deployment ended in January 1969.<br />
By August, it was time for <i>Connie</i> to return to Vietnam for a fifth combat deployment, again with CVW-14. Following an initial 20-day period of supporting strikes in South Vietnam as well as Laos, <i>Constellation</i> sailed to <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Defender_Station&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Defender Station (page does not exist)">Defender Station</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Japan" title="Sea of Japan">Sea of Japan</a>, which had been created as a result of increased tensions on the Korean Peninsula. A return to Yankee Station on 1 November also produced a major milestone in the carrier's life when the F-4J aircrew of air wing skipper Cdr. R. K. Billings and Lt. jg. Jeff Taylor of VF-143 conducted <i>Connie</i>'s 100,000th arrested landing. During a mission on 28 March 1970, the VF-142 F-4 crew of Lts. <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_E._Beaulier" title="Jerome E. Beaulier">Jerome E. Beaulier</a> and <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steven_J._Barkley&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Steven J. Barkley (page does not exist)">Steven J. Barkley</a> downed a North Vietnamese <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiG-21" title="MiG-21">MiG-21</a> jet fighter. Following a total of 128 days on the line, <i>Connie'</i>s nine-month deployment ended in May, with CVW-14 suffering the loss of seven total aircraft, five to enemy action. One aircrewman was taken as a POW, but there were no fatalities.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-DANFS_1-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-DANFS-1">[2]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="1970.E2.80.931979">1970–1979</span></h3>Upon her return <i>Constellation</i> began a nine-month major shipyard overhaul, her second since commissioning. In spring 1971 she welcomed aboard a new air wing, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CVW-9" title="CVW-9">CVW-9</a>, and departed San Diego on 1 October for what would become a historic combat deployment. Air operations commenced with strikes against mainly logistic targets in Laos as well as reconnaissance missions over North Vietnam into 1972. On 19 January, the <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VF-96&action=edit&redlink=1" title="VF-96 (page does not exist)">VF-96</a> F-4 Phantom crew of Lt. <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Cunningham" title="Randy Cunningham">Randall H. "Duke" Cunningham</a> and Ltjg. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_P._Driscoll" title="William P. Driscoll">William P. Driscoll</a> scored a kill against a MiG-21, the first for a Navy aircraft since <i>Connie'</i>s VF-142 kill on 28 March 1970. The carrier was nearing the end of her scheduled deployment when her tour was extended to meet the threat posed by the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive of 30 March 1972.<br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_%28CVA-64%29_underway_1971-72.JPEG"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="149" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/USS_Constellation_%28CVA-64%29_underway_1971-72.JPEG/220px-USS_Constellation_%28CVA-64%29_underway_1971-72.JPEG" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_%28CVA-64%29_underway_1971-72.JPEG" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><i>Constellation</i> underway off Vietnam, 1971–72.</div></div></div>Initial air strikes in support of ground troops were followed by a new, more intensive series of air strikes against major targets in North Vietnam. On 8 May, the same VF-96 aircrew team of Cunningham and Driscoll scored against a MiG-17. Then on 10 May, Cunningham and Driscoll downed three MiG-17s, becoming the first aces of the Vietnam war. Three more MiG-17s were downed by two other VF-96 crews, two by Lts. <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_J._Connelly&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Michael J. Connelly (page does not exist)">Michael J. Connelly</a> and <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_J._Blonski&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Thomas J. Blonski (page does not exist)">Thomas J. Blonski</a> and one by Lt. <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steven_C._Shoemaker&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Steven C. Shoemaker (page does not exist)">Steven C. Shoemaker</a> and Ltjg. <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Keith_V._Crenshaw&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Keith V. Crenshaw (page does not exist)">Keith V. Crenshaw</a>. Adding to the score, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VF-92" title="VF-92">VF-92</a> aircrew Lt. <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Curt_Dose&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Curt Dose (page does not exist)">Curt Dose</a> and Lieutenant Commander <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_McDevitt&action=edit&redlink=1" title="James McDevitt (page does not exist)">James McDevitt</a> shot down a MiG-21. All told, <i>Constellation</i> fliers shot down seven MiGs on 10 May. The nine-month deployment ended on 1 July, the carrier having spent 154 days off Vietnam. Seven aircraft were lost, two aircrewmen were reported KIA and two became POWs. The <i>Constellation</i>/CVW-9 team received the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_Unit_Citation_%28US%29" title="Presidential Unit Citation (US)">Presidential Unit Citation</a> for their outstanding efforts.<br />
<i>Constellation</i> was the focus of media attention when black members of her crew protested what they saw as disparate treatment by the Navy, leading to what some saw as an abortive <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutiny" title="Mutiny">mutiny</a> in late 1972. <i>Constellation</i> returned to the United States on 1 July and prepared to return to the western Pacific in early 1973. Replacement personnel reported aboard while <i>Constellation</i> was in the United States until the ship had 250 more men than the ship's berthing could accommodate. <i>Constellation's</i> commanding officer ordered administrative (less than honorable) discharges for five black sailors he considered troublemakers. He planned to give early discharges to another 250 men whose enlistments would expire while <i>Constellation</i> was overseas. While <i>Constellation</i> was conducting exercises off the California coast, a rumor started that the captain was going to give 250 less than honorable discharges to black sailors. On 1 November, black sailors waylaid a white mess cook in a passageway and broke his jaw. The captain scheduled an open meeting for 2100 3 November to clarify the 250 planned discharges. At noon 3 November a group of 50 black sailors began a sit-in on a portion of the mess deck. On the night of 3–4 November, 60 black sailors took control of the scheduled meeting, refused to leave the mess deck, and threatened to "tear up the ship." <i>Constellation</i> returned to San Diego on 4 November to offload 130 men, including 12 white sailors, before returning to sea. <i>Constellation</i> returned to San Diego on 7 November and the offloaded sailors were transported back to the dock on 9 November, but only 8 boarded their ship. The remaining sailors sat down on the dock to be filmed by television crews and were ultimately transferred to shore stations for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mast_%28naval%29" title="Mast (naval)">mast</a>. Twelve received general discharges, 35 were honorably discharged but not recommended for re-enlistment, and 73 received punishments ranging from loss of pay and reduction in rate to warnings prior to being reassigned to sea duty.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-proceedings_8-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-proceedings-8">[9]</a></sup><br />
In January 1973, <i>Constellation</i> headed back to Southeast Asia. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Peace_Accords" title="Paris Peace Accords">Paris Peace Accords</a> took effect on 28 January, but CVW-9 aircraft continued to strike targets in Laos until a cease-fire in that country was called on 21 February. Thus <i>Connie</i>, which had been on station at the beginning of combat operations in Vietnam in 1964, was on station at the end, nine years later. The remainder of the nine-month deployment consisted largely of flights in support of mine-clearing operations in North Vietnam.<br />
Upon her return in October 1973, <i>Constellation</i> enjoyed a nine-month workup cycle, and departed in June 1974 for her first peacetime deployment in 10 years. On 23 November, she became the first carrier to enter the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a> since 1949. The six-month cruise ended on 23 December 1974.<br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_near_the_Aleutian_Islands.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="147" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_near_the_Aleutian_Islands.jpg/220px-USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_near_the_Aleutian_Islands.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_near_the_Aleutian_Islands.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><i>Constellation</i> near the Aleutian Islands during PACEX '89.</div></div></div>A 14-month major overhaul and upgrade at <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puget_Sound_Naval_Shipyard" title="Puget Sound Naval Shipyard">Puget Sound Naval Shipyard</a>, Wash., commenced in February 1974, during which <i>Constellation</i> was modified to reflect the Navy's new multipurpose air, surface and antisubmarine warfare role for carriers. She was redesignated a CV on 30 June 1975. With the overhaul completed in April 1976, <i>Connie</i> could now operate both the new <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-3_Viking" title="S-3 Viking">S-3A Viking</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-14_Tomcat" title="F-14 Tomcat">F-14A Tomcat</a>. However, the workups uncovered problems, and a 26-day drydocking in late 1976 at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Beach_Naval_Shipyard" title="Long Beach Naval Shipyard">Long Beach Naval Shipyard</a>, Calif., was required. The highlight for the remaining workup cycle was participation in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) multinational exercises held in and around the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_Islands" title="Hawaiian Islands">Hawaiian Islands</a>. An uneventful April to November 1977 deployment, <i>Connie'</i>s tenth, to the Far East followed.<br />
<i>Constellation'</i>s next deployment, from September 1978 to May 1979, was originally scheduled to end in March but was extended due to her <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sortie" title="Sortie">sortie</a> into the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Ocean" title="Indian Ocean">Indian Ocean</a> in reaction to a political crisis in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemen" title="Yemen">Yemen</a>. Following a relatively short eight-month turnaround cycle, she was underway again in February 1980. After participating in RIMPAC exercises, <i>Constellation</i> steamed westward to the Arabian Sea, where <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonzo_Station" title="Gonzo Station">Gonzo Station</a> had been established following the November 1979 takeover of the American Embassy in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran" title="Tehran">Tehran</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran">Iran</a>. <i>Connie</i> had reached the eastern Indian Ocean when the unsuccessful 24 April 1980 raid to free American hostages took place, and she relieved <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Coral_Sea_%28CV-43%29" title="USS Coral Sea (CV-43)"><i>Coral Sea</i></a> (CV-43) on Gonzo Station on 1 May. This at-sea period would last a record-setting 110 days. The deployment ended in mid-October.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-DANFS_1-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-DANFS-1">[2]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="1980.E2.80.931989">1980–1989</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ronald_Reagan_aboard_USS_Constellation.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="148" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e8/Ronald_Reagan_aboard_USS_Constellation.jpg/220px-Ronald_Reagan_aboard_USS_Constellation.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ronald_Reagan_aboard_USS_Constellation.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan" title="Ronald Reagan">Ronald Reagan</a> (third from left) aboard USS Constellation, 20 August 1981</div></div></div>During the 1981 workup cycle President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan" title="Ronald Reagan">Ronald Reagan</a> visited <i>Constellation</i> on 20 August 1981 and proclaimed the carrier "America's Flagship" while presenting the crew a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_President_of_the_United_States" title="Flag of the President of the United States">presidential flag</a> and announcing to the crew: "Let friend and foe alike know that America has the muscle to back up its words, and ships like this and men like you are that muscle."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-9">[10]</a></sup> An uneventful deployment to the western Pacific and Indian Ocean from October 1981 to May 1982 followed. In January 1983, <i>Constellation</i> entered the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puget_Sound_Naval_Shipyard" title="Puget Sound Naval Shipyard">Puget Sound Naval Shipyard</a> for a 13-month complex overhaul, during which the ship's <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrier_missile" title="Terrier missile">Terrier missile</a> system was replaced with NATO <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Sparrow" title="Sea Sparrow">Sea Sparrow</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS" title="Phalanx CIWS">Phalanx</a> Close-In Weapon System was added and modifications were made to allow the carrier to operate the new <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F/A-18_Hornet" title="F/A-18 Hornet">F/A-18A Hornet</a> strike aircraft. <i>Connie</i> deployed from February to August 1985 with CVW-14 embarked, marking the first deployment for the F/A-18.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-DANFS_1-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-DANFS-1">[2]</a></sup> It was during this deployment that the Connie gained her motto, "Go Ahead Make My Day", which was painted on the ship's island; a direct quote from President Ronald Reagan in response to terrorist threats made against the <i>Connie</i> when she responded to the American hostage crisis of 1985. For their performance in 1985, <i>Connie's</i> crew earned the prestigious Meritorius Unit Commendation, and the ship herself received the Secretary of the Navy's Environmental Protection Award.<br />
<div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_aerial_Battle_E.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="171" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_aerial_Battle_E.jpg/220px-USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_aerial_Battle_E.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_aerial_Battle_E.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><i>Constellation</i> crew members form Battle E awards on the flight deck.</div></div></div>As preparations for a 1987 deployment proceeded, it was announced that <i>Constellation</i> had earned the coveted Pacific Fleet Battle Efficiency Award (<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Efficiency_E" title="Battle Efficiency E">Battle Efficiency E</a>) for the 18-month period ending on 30 June 1986. During an April to October 1987 deployment, <i>Connie</i> conducted air operations in support of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Earnest_Will" title="Operation Earnest Will">Operation Earnest Will</a>, the escorting of re-flagged <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait" title="Kuwait">Kuwaiti</a> tankers in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a> as a result of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran">Iranian</a> attacks against international shipping.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-DANFS_1-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-DANFS-1">[2]</a></sup> As a result, the crew of <i>Constellation</i> was awarded the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_Expeditionary_Medal" title="Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal">Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal</a> for their service.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-10">[11]</a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_underway_bow_view.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="147" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_underway_bow_view.jpg/220px-USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_underway_bow_view.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_underway_bow_view.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><i>Constellation</i> underway, 1988.</div></div></div>On the morning of 2 August 1988 <i>Connie</i> quietly slipped her moorings for a routine two week carrier qualification off the coast of southern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a>. Things quickly turned out to be anything but routine. The ship had barely cleared the harbor when a JP-5 fuel leak in the uptakes rained down on the One Main Machinery Room and erupted into a full blown conflagration that tore through the uptakes and spread throughout the ship. The Oil King and Oil Lab were blamed early. One Main Top Watch (a Machinist Mate) said JP-5, jet fuel, as he exited the space.Explosions rocked the ship and the crew went into <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Quarters" title="General Quarters">General Quarters</a>. Amid explosions and extreme heat, volunteers from the crew entered enclosed spaces to extinguish the fires and preserve the ship. Through the selfless service of her crew, Connie's main fires were extinguished around 21:00 hours at which time Marines from the Marine Detachment served hot dogs to the exhausted crew in the hangar bay.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from July 2008">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> To the crew's horror, the fires reflashed and the crew went back into action.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from July 2008">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> Into the next day, the crew battled the blaze that had reflashed and continued to threaten the entire ship.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from July 2008">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> <i>Connie</i> pulled back into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Island" title="North Island">North Island</a> on 3 August.<br />
Round-the-clock repairs by the crew assisted by civilian contractors got the ship ready for deployment, on schedule. The <i>Constellation</i>/CVW-14 team deployed on 1 December 1988 for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Ocean" title="Indian Ocean">Indian Ocean</a>. Four days out to sea, a Prowler and its four crew members were lost at sea.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-11">[12]</a></sup> This West-Pac deployment ended six months later at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego" title="San Diego">San Diego</a> on 1 June 1989.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-DANFS_1-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-DANFS-1">[2]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="1990.E2.80.931999">1990–1999</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_in_Seattle.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="139" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_in_Seattle.jpg/220px-USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_in_Seattle.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_in_Seattle.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><i>Constellation</i> in Seattle, 1996.</div></div></div>With CVW-9 embarked, <i>Connie</i> departed San Diego on 12 February 1990 for the East Coast. Following exercises with the air forces of several South American countries, including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gringo-Gaucho" title="Gringo-Gaucho">Gringo-Gaucho</a> with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine_Navy" title="Argentine Navy">Argentine Navy</a>, while en route and preparations at Norfolk, Va., <i>Constellation</i> entered <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Naval_Shipyard" title="Philadelphia Naval Shipyard">Philadelphia Naval Shipyard</a>, Pa., in July to begin a $800-million, three-year <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Service_Life_Extension_Program&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Service Life Extension Program (page does not exist)">Service Life Extension Program</a> (SLEP). Completed in March 1993, the SLEP was a cross between new construction and a comprehensive overhaul, designed to add 15 years to the carrier's operational life. Among other things, her main, largest steam turbines were replaced, an operation that had never been designed into a ship of this size. The <i>Constellation</i> conducted her post-SLEP shakedown with a number of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CVW-17" title="CVW-17">CVW-17</a> squadrons, and then moored at Mayport, Fla., on 8 April. With <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CVW-2" title="CVW-2">CVW-2</a> assigned, <i>Connie</i> departed Mayport on 29 May and conducted exercises with various South American air forces while en route to San Diego, where she arrived on 22 July 1993.<br />
During May–June 1994 <i>Connie</i> and CVW-2 participated in RIMPAC exercises, and on 10 November departed San Diego for an extended deployment for the first time in six years. Exercises off <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawa" title="Okinawa">Okinawa</a> were followed by a number of exercises off <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea" title="Korea">Korea</a> region that had once again become the focus of world attention with the news that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Korea" title="North Korea">North Korea</a> was attempting to develop nuclear weapons. On 11 January 1995, the <i>Constellation</i> battle group entered the Persian Gulf to take up station in support of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Southern_Watch" title="Operation Southern Watch">Operation Southern Watch</a> (OSW), enforcing the no-fly zone over southern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a>. The six-month deployment concluded with her return to San Diego on 10 May. The <i>Constellation'</i>s next deployment, from 1 April to 1 October 1997, included a return to the Persian Gulf for OSW activities, now under operational control of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_5th_Fleet" title="US 5th Fleet">Fifth Fleet</a>. In over 10 weeks of operating in the Gulf, CVW-2 flew more than 4,400 sorties, with well over 1,000 sorties in direct support of OSW.<br />
As <i>Connie</i> prepared for her 1999 deployment, tensions were once again rising on the Korean Peninsula following an exchange of gunfire between North and South Korean vessels. The <i>Constellation</i> departed San Diego on 18 June 1999 for the Korean Peninsula to monitor the situation. On 28 August, she entered the Persian Gulf and in 10 weeks conducted more than 5,000 sorties and 1,256 OSW sorties. This period was highlighted by air strikes against two Iraqi radar stations and an attempt by <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VF-2" title="VF-2">VF-2</a> to engage an Iraqi jet with the long-range Phoenix air-to-air missile on 14 September. CVW-2 aircraft engaged in nine specific ordnance-dropping air strikes while in the Persian Gulf. The battle group departed the Persian Gulf on 5 November, and she arrived home for the holidays on 17 December. At the year's end, <i>Constellation</i> was awarded her second Battle Efficiency E as the Pacific Fleet's best carrier for the 12-month reporting period.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-DANFS_1-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-DANFS-1">[2]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="2000.E2.80.932003">2000–2003</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_Sydney_Australia_2001.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="165" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_Sydney_Australia_2001.jpg/220px-USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_Sydney_Australia_2001.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29_Sydney_Australia_2001.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><i>Constellation</i> in Sydney harbor, 2001.</div></div></div><i>Constellation'</i>s 20th deployment began on 16 March 2001. She entered the Persian Gulf on 30 April and immediately commenced operations in support of OSW. On 13 May Capt. <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_W._Miller&action=edit&redlink=1" title="John W. Miller (page does not exist)">John W. Miller</a> assumed command as <i>Connie's</i> 30th skipper, and her last. She ceased OSW operations on 4 August, having conducted multiple air strikes in response to Iraqi violations of the no-fly zone. <i>"Connie"</i> departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 9 September with dependents on board for the traditional <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Cruise" title="Tiger Cruise">Tiger Cruise</a> on the final leg to San Diego. On <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11_September_2001_attacks" title="11 September 2001 attacks">11 September</a> <i>Constellation</i> was nearly halfway between Pearl Harbor and San Diego when word was received of the terrorist attacks on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pentagon" title="The Pentagon">Pentagon</a>. Despite discussions about turning the battle group around, the carrier was allowed to complete her regularly scheduled deployment. <i>Connie</i> arrived in San Diego on Friday 14 September and celebrated her 40th birthday the next month.<br />
Following an abbreviated turnaround cycle, <i>Constellation</i> prepared for her final deployment and the opportunity to fight in the global war on terrorism. She departed on 2 November 2002 and was soon supporting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Enduring_Freedom" title="Operation Enduring Freedom">Operation Enduring Freedom</a>; on 17 December she entered the Persian Gulf to begin OSW missions. On 19 March 2003, with two carriers in the eastern Mediterranean and three in the gulf, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_invasion_of_Iraq" title="2003 invasion of Iraq">Operation Iraqi Freedom</a> commenced. <i>Connie</i> was designated a night carrier and remained on station throughout the major ground combat phase. She launched more than 1,500 sorties and CVW-2 aircraft delivered over 1.7 million pounds (770,000 kg) of ordnance. While one aircraft was lost in an operational mishap, there were no fatalities.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-DANFS_1-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-DANFS-1">[2]</a></sup><br />
<i>Connie</i> departed the gulf on 17 April and steamed for San Diego for the last time. On 1 June a Sea Control Squadron 38 S-3B Viking crewed by Lt. <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hartley_Postlethwaite&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Hartley Postlethwaite (page does not exist)">Hartley Postlethwaite</a>, Ltjg. <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arthur_Gutting&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Arthur Gutting (page does not exist)">Arthur Gutting</a> and CO Capt. John W. Miller recorded <i>Constellation'</i>s 395,710th and final arrested landing. Her 21st and final deployment ended the next day.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-DANFS_1-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-DANFS-1">[2]</a></sup><br />
<i>Constellation</i> was replaced by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29" title="USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)">USS <i>Ronald Reagan</i> (CVN-76)</a>.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Retirement">Retirement</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_decommissioning_ceramony.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="143" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/USS_Constellation_decommissioning_ceramony.jpg/220px-USS_Constellation_decommissioning_ceramony.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_decommissioning_ceramony.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>USS <i>Constellation</i> is decommissioned</div></div></div>After 41 years of commissioned service, the USS <i>Constellation</i> was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_decommissioning" title="Ship decommissioning">decommissioned</a> at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_North_Island" title="Naval Air Station North Island">Naval Air Station North Island</a> in San Diego on 7 August 2003. The ship was towed, beginning 12 September 2003, to the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_fleet" title="Ghost fleet">ghost fleet</a> at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Inactive_Ship_Maintenance_Facility" title="Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility">Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bremerton,_Washington" title="Bremerton, Washington">Bremerton, Washington</a>. On 2 December 2003, the ship was stricken (formally removed from the Naval Vessel Register) when Admiral <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vern_Clark" title="Vern Clark">Vern Clark</a> decided against expenditure of maintenance costs. <i>Constellation</i> is currently in Reserve Category X, meaning it receives no maintenance or preservation, and only security against fire, flooding, and pilferage is provided. Reserve Category X applies to ships that have been stricken and are awaiting disposal by scrap, sale to foreign countries, as a designated target in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_fire_exercise" title="Live fire exercise">live fire exercise</a>, memorial, or donation, as applicable.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-12">[13]</a></sup><br />
As of February 2008, <i>Constellation</i> is scheduled to be disposed of by dismantling in the next five years, along with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Independence_%28CV-62%29" title="USS Independence (CV-62)">USS <i>Independence</i></a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-sinklist_13-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#cite_note-sinklist-13">[14]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="In_popular_culture">In popular culture</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_in_Pearl_Harbor_Movie.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="165" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/03/USS_Constellation_in_Pearl_Harbor_Movie.jpg/220px-USS_Constellation_in_Pearl_Harbor_Movie.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Constellation_in_Pearl_Harbor_Movie.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_B-25_Mitchell" title="North American B-25 Mitchell">B-25</a> sits on the flight deck of USS <i>Constellation</i> during filming of the movie <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Harbor_%28film%29" title="Pearl Harbor (film)">Pearl Harbor</a></i> in 2000</div></div></div><i>Constellation</i> appears in the 2001 film <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Harbor_%28film%29" title="Pearl Harbor (film)">Pearl Harbor</a></i>, portraying the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Hornet_%28CV-8%29" title="USS Hornet (CV-8)">USS <i>Hornet</i></a> during the takeoff sequences for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doolittle_Raid" title="Doolittle Raid">Doolittle Raid</a>. In September 2000, four vintage <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_B-25_Mitchell" title="North American B-25 Mitchell">B-25s</a> took off from the ship while she was steaming off the coast of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego" title="San Diego">San Diego</a>, reenacting the feat of Doolittle's raiders, albeit on a much larger flight deck. Some members of the crew were used as extras in the movie. In 1989, actors Danny Glover, Willem Dafoe and Brad Johnson spent several weeks aboard the ship interacting with crew members and aircrews from VA-196 to get a feel for carrier and Naval Aviation life, in preparation for their roles in the movie <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_of_the_Intruder" title="Flight of the Intruder">Flight of the Intruder</a>. In the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Improvement_%28TV_series%29" title="Home Improvement (TV series)">Home Improvement</a></i> television episode <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Home_Improvement_episodes#Season_6:_1996.E2.80.931997" title="List of Home Improvement episodes">"At Sea" (Season 6, Ep. 1)</a>, the <i>Tool Time</i> cast and crew visit the <i>Connie</i> for a "Salute to Engines" special.<br />
The story of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Cruise" title="Tiger Cruise">Tiger Cruise</a></i>, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Disney_Channel_Original_Movies" title="List of Disney Channel Original Movies">Disney Channel Original Movie</a>, takes place aboard the USS <i>Constellation</i>.<br />
In computer game <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jetfighter_%28series%29" title="Jetfighter (series)">Jetfighter II</a></i>, USS <i>Constellation</i> serves as the base of operations in most of player's combat missions. Player can also choose it from six available airfields (the other five being <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_International_Airport" title="Los Angeles International Airport">LAX</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandenberg_Air_Force_Base" title="Vandenberg Air Force Base">VBG</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_International_Airport" title="San Francisco International Airport">SFO</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland_International_Airport" title="Oakland International Airport">OAK</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moffett_Federal_Airfield" title="Moffett Federal Airfield">NUQ</a>) to takeoff or land at in "Free Flight" mode.Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-41326654100532590572012-01-21T23:15:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:16:02.691-08:00Thai HTMS Chakri Naruebet (Ship)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">HTMS <i>Chakri Naruebet</i></h1><div id="siteSub"><br />
</div><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chakri_Naruebet_2001.JPEG"><img alt="A small aircraft carrier with an upturned bow underway in calm seas. The number "911" is painted on the side, and an AV-8S aircraft and S-70 helicopter are sitting on the flight deck." height="201" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Chakri_Naruebet_2001.JPEG/300px-Chakri_Naruebet_2001.JPEG" width="300" /></a><br />
HTMS <i>Chakri Naruebet</i> underway in the South China Sea in early 2001</td> </tr>
<tr> <th height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Career (Thailand)</th> <th style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" height="35" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Naval_Ensign_of_Thailand.svg/53px-Naval_Ensign_of_Thailand.svg.png" width="53" /></span></th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Name:</td> <td>HTMS <i>Chakri Naruebet</i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Namesake:</td> <td>"In honour of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakri_Dynasty" title="Chakri Dynasty">Chakri Dynasty</a>"</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Ordered:</td> <td>27 March 1992</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Builder:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navantia" title="Navantia">Bazán</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrol,_Spain" title="Ferrol, Spain">Ferrol, Spain</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Cost:</td> <td>US$336 million</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Laid down:</td> <td>12 July 1994</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Launched:</td> <td>20 January 1996</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Commissioned:</td> <td>27 March 1997</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Homeport:</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sattahip" title="Sattahip">Sattahip</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Motto:</td> <td>Rule The Sky, Rule The Sea, Chakri Naruebet. (ครองเวหา ครองนที จักรีนฤเบศร)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Status:</td> <td>Operational as of 2011</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Badge:</td> <td><div class="center"><div class="floatnone"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HTMS_CVh911.png" title="Ship's logo"><img alt="Ship's logo" height="148" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1d/HTMS_CVh911.png" width="100" /></a></div></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">General characteristics</th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Type:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V/STOL" title="V/STOL">V/STOL</a> carrier</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Displacement:</td> <td>11,486 tons full load</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Length:</td> <td>182.65 m (599.2 ft) (overall)<br />
174.1 m (571 ft) (flight deck)<br />
164.1 metres (538 ft) (between perpendiculars)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Beam:</td> <td>22.5 m (74 ft) (waterline)<br />
30.5 m (100 ft) maximum</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Draught:</td> <td>6.12 m (20.1 ft)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Propulsion:</td> <td>2 x <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Electric_LM2500" title="General Electric LM2500">GE LM2500</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_turbine" title="Gas turbine">gas turbines</a> providing 22,125 shp (16,499 kW)<br />
2 x Bazán-MTU 16V1163 TB83 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_engine" title="Diesel engine">diesel engines</a> providing 5,600 bhp (4,200 kW)<br />
2 x shafts with 5-bladed propellers</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Speed:</td> <td>25.5 knots (47.2 km/h; 29.3 mph) (maximum)<br />
17.2 knots (31.9 km/h; 19.8 mph) (cruising)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Range:</td> <td>10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)<br />
7,150 nautical miles (13,240 km; 8,230 mi) at 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Troops:</td> <td>Up to 675 soldiers</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Complement:</td> <td>62 officers<br />
393 sailors<br />
146 aircrew</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Sensors and<br />
processing systems:</td> <td>Hughes SPS-52C air search radar, E/F band<br />
2 x Kelvin-Hughes 1007 navigational radars</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Electronic warfare<br />
and decoys:</td> <td><b>Decoys:</b><br />
4 x SRBOC decoy launchers<br />
SLQ-32 towed decoy</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armament:</td> <td>2 x 0.5-inch machine guns<br />
3 x dual <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistral_missile" title="Mistral missile">Mistral</a> surface-to-air missile launchers</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Aircraft carried:</td> <td>6 AV-8S Matadors<br />
4-6 S-70B Seahawks<br />
Up to 14 additional helicopters when required</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Aviation facilities:</td> <td>174.6-by-27.5-metre (573 by 90 ft) flight deck<br />
12° <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_deck#Ski-jump_ramp" title="Flight deck">ski-jump</a><br />
Hangar space for 10 aircraft</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Notes:</td> <td>Equipment <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitted_for_but_not_with" title="Fitted for but not with">fitted for but not with</a> is listed in the article</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><b>HTMS <i>Chakri Naruebet</i></b> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_alphabet" title="Thai alphabet">Thai</a> จักรีนฤเบศร, meaning "In honour of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakri_Dynasty" title="Chakri Dynasty">Chakri Dynasty</a>"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Werth772_0-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Werth772-0">[1]</a></sup>) is the flagship of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Thai_Navy" title="Royal Thai Navy">Royal Thai Navy</a> (RTN), and Thailand's first and only <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a>. Based on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Navy" title="Spanish Navy">Spanish Navy</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_aircraft_carrier_Principe_de_Asturias" title="Spanish aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias"><i>Principe de Asturias</i></a> design and constructed by Spanish shipbuilder <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navantia" title="Navantia">Bazán</a>, <i>Chakri Naruebet</i> was ordered in 1992, launched in 1996, and commissioned into the RTN in 1997.<br />
The carrier is designed to operate an air group of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical/Short_Takeoff_and_Landing" title="Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing">V/STOL</a> fighter aircraft and helicopters, and is fitted with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_deck#Ski-jump_ramp" title="Flight deck">ski-jump</a>, although by 1999, the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AV-8S_Matador" title="AV-8S Matador">Matador V/STOL aircraft</a> were inoperable, and flight operations were limited to helicopters. <i>Chakri Naruebet</i> was intended for patrols and force projection in Thai waters, disaster relief, and amphibious warfare support. However, a lack of funding brought on by the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Asian_Financial_Crisis" title="1997 Asian Financial Crisis">1997 Asian Financial Crisis</a> means that the carrier has spent much of her career docked at the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sattahip" title="Sattahip">Sattahip</a> naval base.<br />
<i>Chakri Naruebet</i> has been deployed on several <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disaster_relief" title="Disaster relief">disaster relief</a> operations, including in the aftermath of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake_and_tsunami" title="2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami">2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami</a>, and in response to separate flooding incidents in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Thai_floods" title="2010 Thai floods">late 2010</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Southern_Thailand_floods" title="2011 Southern Thailand floods">early 2011</a>. Outside of disaster relief, most of the ship's other departures from port consist primarily of a single training day per month, and transportation of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Family_of_Thailand" title="Royal Family of Thailand">Royal Family of Thailand</a>, leading to claims by some naval commentators that the ship is merely an oversized <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_yacht" title="Royal yacht">royal yacht</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Werth772_0-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Werth772-0">[1]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan88_1-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan88-1">[2]</a></sup><br />
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</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Design">Design</span></h2>When <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_Gay_%281989%29" title="Typhoon Gay (1989)">Typhoon Gay</a> hit Thailand in 1989, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Thai_Navy" title="Royal Thai Navy">Royal Thai Navy</a>, as the main unit responsible for search and rescue missions, found that its ships and aircraft were unable to withstand the rough weather at sea.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RTNpast_2-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-RTNpast-2">[3]</a></sup> Moreover, the Royal Thai Navy needed a new, high-technology ship to modernize its fleet.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RTNpast_2-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-RTNpast-2">[3]</a></sup><br />
The original plan was to acquire a 7,800 ton vessel from <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bremer_Vulcan" title="Bremer Vulcan">Bremer Vulcan</a>, but the Thai government cancelled the contract on 22 July 1991.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Janes08.09_3-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Janes08.09-3">[4]</a></sup> A new contract for a larger warship to be constructed at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navantia" title="Navantia">Bazán</a>'s shipyard in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrol,_Spain" title="Ferrol, Spain">Ferrol, Spain</a>, and was signed by the Thai and Spanish governments on 27 March 1992.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Janes08.09_3-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Janes08.09-3">[4]</a></sup> The proposed vessel was based on the design of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Navy" title="Spanish Navy">Spanish Navy</a> aircraft carrier <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_aircraft_carrier_Principe_de_Asturias" title="Spanish aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias"><i>Principe de Asturias</i></a>, which in turn was based on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">United States Navy</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Control_Ship" title="Sea Control Ship">Sea Control Ship</a> concept.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ireland249_4-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Ireland249-4">[5]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan88_1-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan88-1">[2]</a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chakri_Naruebet-Kitty_Hawk_size.JPEG"><img alt="Aerial photograph of two aircraft carriers sailing in concert on calm water. The upper ship is smaller, and has a small number of aircraft on its flight deck. The larger carrier, with a flat deck crowded with planes and helicopters, is towards the bottom." class="thumbimage" height="147" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Chakri_Naruebet-Kitty_Hawk_size.JPEG/220px-Chakri_Naruebet-Kitty_Hawk_size.JPEG" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chakri_Naruebet-Kitty_Hawk_size.JPEG" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><i>Chakri Naruebet</i> (top) underway with the United States Navy <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercarrier" title="Supercarrier">supercarrier</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Kitty_Hawk_%28CV-63%29" title="USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)">USS <i>Kitty Hawk</i></a></div></div></div><i>Chakri Naruebet</i> is the smallest aircraft carrier in operation in the world. She <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Displacement_%28ship%29" title="Displacement (ship)">displaces</a> 11,486 tons at full load.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Werth772_0-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Werth772-0">[1]</a></sup> The carrier is 164.1 metres (538 ft) long <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Between_perpendiculars" title="Between perpendiculars">between perpendiculars</a>, and 182.65 metres (599.2 ft) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Length_overall" title="Length overall">overall</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Werth772_0-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Werth772-0">[1]</a></sup> She is 22.5 metres (74 ft) wide at the waterline, with a maximum <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beam_%28nautical%29" title="Beam (nautical)">beam</a> of 30.5 metres (100 ft), and a draught of 6.12 metres (20.1 ft).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Werth772_0-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Werth772-0">[1]</a></sup> The warship has a ship's company of 62 officers, 393 sailors, and 146 aircrew.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Werth772_0-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Werth772-0">[1]</a></sup> Up to 675 personnel can be transported; commonly soldiers of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Thai_Marine_Corps" title="Royal Thai Marine Corps">Royal Thai Marine Corps</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Werth772_0-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Werth772-0">[1]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan89_5-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan89-5">[6]</a></sup><br />
<i>Chakri Naruebet</i> is propelled by a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_diesel_or_gas" title="Combined diesel or gas">combined diesel or gas</a> (CODOG) system.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Werth772_0-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Werth772-0">[1]</a></sup> Each of the two, five-bladed propellers is connected to a Bazán-MTU 16V1163 TB83 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_engine" title="Diesel engine">diesel engine</a> (providing 5,600 brake horsepower (4,200 kW), used for cruising speed), and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Electric_LM2500" title="General Electric LM2500">General Electric LM2500</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_turbine" title="Gas turbine">gas turbine</a> (providing 22,125 shaft horsepower (16,499 kW), used to reach top speed for short periods).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Werth772_0-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Werth772-0">[1]</a></sup> <i>Chakri Naruebet</i> has a maximum speed of 25.5 knots (47.2 km/h; 29.3 mph), although she can only reach 17.2 knots (31.9 km/h; 19.8 mph) with the diesels alone.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Werth772_0-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Werth772-0">[1]</a></sup> She has a maximum range of 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) with a constant speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph), and 7,150 nautical miles (13,240 km; 8,230 mi) at 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Werth772_0-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Werth772-0">[1]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Armament_and_aircraft">Armament and aircraft</span></h3><i>Chakri Naruebet</i> is fitted with two 0.5-inch machine guns, and three Matra Sadral sextuple surface-to-air missile launchers firing <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistral_missile" title="Mistral missile">Mistral missiles</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Janes08.09_3-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Janes08.09-3">[4]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan89_5-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan89-5">[6]</a></sup> The missile launchers were installed in 2001.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Janes08.09_3-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Janes08.09-3">[4]</a></sup> The vessel is also <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitted_for_but_not_with" title="Fitted for but not with">fitted for but not with</a> an 8-cell Mark 41 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_launch_system" title="Vertical launch system">Vertical launch system</a> for <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Sparrow" title="Sea Sparrow">Sea Sparrow</a> missiles, and four <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS" title="Phalanx CIWS">Phalanx close-in weapon systems</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan88_1-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan88-1">[2]</a></sup><br />
The carrier was designed to operate an air group of up to six <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AV-8S_Matador" title="AV-8S Matador">AV-8S Matador</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical/Short_Takeoff_and_Landing" title="Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing">V/STOL</a> aircraft, plus four to six <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-70B_Seahawk" title="S-70B Seahawk">S-70B Seahawk</a> helicopters.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Werth772_0-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Werth772-0">[1]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan89_5-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan89-5">[6]</a></sup> <i>Chakri Naruebet</i> is also capable of carrying up to fourteen additional helicopters; a mix of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_Sea_King" title="Sikorsky Sea King">Sikorsky Sea King</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_S-76" title="Sikorsky S-76">Sikorsky S-76</a>, and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CH-47_Chinook" title="CH-47 Chinook">CH-47 Chinook</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Werth772_0-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Werth772-0">[1]</a></sup> There is only enough hangar space for ten aircraft.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Janes08.09_3-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Janes08.09-3">[4]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan89_5-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan89-5">[6]</a></sup><br />
The Matador is a first generation export version of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Siddeley_Harrier" title="Hawker Siddeley Harrier">Hawker Siddeley Harrier</a>, acquired secondhand from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Navy" title="Spanish Navy">Spanish Navy</a> in 1997.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ireland249_4-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Ireland249-4">[5]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Goebel_6-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Goebel-6">[7]</a></sup> The nine Spanish aircraft (seven standard version plus two TAV-8S <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trainer_aircraft" title="Trainer aircraft">trainer aircraft</a>) were refurbished by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construcciones_Aeron%C3%A1uticas_SA" title="Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA">Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA</a> firm before delivery.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Goebel_6-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Goebel-6">[7]</a></sup> By 1999, only one aircraft was operational, and the RTN was looking for other first-generation Harriers to cannibalize for spares.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Goebel_6-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Goebel-6">[7]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Carp302_7-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Carp302-7">[8]</a></sup> In 2003, the navy attempted to acquire several second-generation,ex-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy" title="Royal Navy">Royal Navy</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Aerospace_Sea_Harrier" title="British Aerospace Sea Harrier">Sea Harrier FA2</a> aircraft from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Aerospace" title="British Aerospace">British Aerospace</a>, but the deal did not go ahead.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-8">[9]</a></sup><br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_deck" title="Flight deck">flight deck</a> measures 174.6 by 27.5 metres (573 by 90 ft).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Janes08.09_3-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Janes08.09-3">[4]</a></sup> A 12° <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_deck#Ski-jump_ramp" title="Flight deck">ski-jump</a> assists V/STOL aircraft to take off.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Janes08.09_3-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Janes08.09-3">[4]</a></sup> There are two aircraft lifts, each capable of lifting 20 tons.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Janes08.09_3-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Janes08.09-3">[4]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Sensors_and_countermeasures">Sensors and countermeasures</span></h3>The sensor suite of <i>Chakri Narebet</i> consists of a Hughes SPS-52C air search radar operating on the E/F band, and two Kelvin-Hughes 1007 navigational radars.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Janes08.09_3-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Janes08.09-3">[4]</a></sup> There are provisions to install an SPS-64 surface search radar and a hull-mounted sonar, but neither has been fitted as of 2008.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Janes08.09_3-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Janes08.09-3">[4]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan89_5-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan89-5">[6]</a></sup> Fire control facilities are also yet to be fitted.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Janes08.09_3-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Janes08.09-3">[4]</a></sup><br />
The carrier is equipped with four <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_36_SRBOC" title="Mark 36 SRBOC">SRBOC decoy launchers</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan89_5-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan89-5">[6]</a></sup> and an SLQ-25 towed decoy.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from January 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Construction">Construction</span></h2>Work on the Thai carrier commenced in October 1993, although it was not until 12 July 1994 that the hull was laid down.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Janes08.09_3-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Janes08.09-3">[4]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan88_1-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan88-1">[2]</a></sup> <i>Chakri Naruebet</i> was launched on 20 January 1996<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan88_1-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan88-1">[2]</a></sup> by <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Sirikit" title="Queen Sirikit">Queen Sirikit</a>.<br />
<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_trials" title="Sea trials">Sea trials</a> were conducted from October 1996 to January 1997, the latter part of which was in coordination with the Spanish Navy.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Janes08.09_3-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Janes08.09-3">[4]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan88_1-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan88-1">[2]</a></sup> This was followed by aviation trials at <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rota,_Spain" title="Rota, Spain">Rota, Spain</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Janes08.09_3-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Janes08.09-3">[4]</a></sup> The carrier was handed over on 27 March 1997, when she was commissioned into the RTN.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Werth772_0-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Werth772-0">[1]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Janes08.09_3-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Janes08.09-3">[4]</a></sup> She arrived in Thai waters at the start of August 1997, and formally entered service on 10 August.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan88_1-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan88-1">[2]</a></sup><br />
<i>Chakri Naruebet</i> cost US$336 million to build.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Carp302_7-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Carp302-7">[8]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Role_and_operational_history">Role and operational history</span></h2><i>Chakri Naruebet</i> is the first aircraft carrier to be operated by a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia" title="Southeast Asia">Southeast Asian</a> nation.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan88_1-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan88-1">[2]</a></sup> She is assigned to the <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Third_Naval_Area_Command&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Third Naval Area Command (page does not exist)">Third Naval Area Command</a>, and her intended duties include operational support of the RTN's amphibious warfare forces, patrols and force projection around Thailand's coastline and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_exclusion_zone" title="Economic exclusion zone">economic exclusion zone</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disaster_relief" title="Disaster relief">disaster relief</a> and humanitarian missions, and search-and-rescue operations.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Werth772_0-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Werth772-0">[1]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Janes08.09_3-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Janes08.09-3">[4]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ireland249_4-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Ireland249-4">[5]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan88_1-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan88-1">[2]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Carp302_7-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Carp302-7">[8]</a></sup> However, at the time the carrier entered service, the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Asian_Financial_Crisis" title="1997 Asian Financial Crisis">1997 Asian Financial Crisis</a> prevented the necessary funding to operate the ship from being available.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan88_1-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan88-1">[2]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Carp302_7-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Carp302-7">[8]</a></sup> Consequently, <i>Chakri Naruebet</i> is usually only operational for a single day per month for training, with the rest of the time spent alongside as a "part-time tourist attraction".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Werth772_0-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Werth772-0">[1]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan88_1-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan88-1">[2]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Carp302_7-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Carp302-7">[8]</a></sup> The ship rarely leaves the proximity of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sattahip" title="Sattahip">Sattahip</a> naval base, and when she does, it is usually to transport and host the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Family_of_Thailand" title="Royal Family of Thailand">Royal Family of Thailand</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Werth772_0-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Werth772-0">[1]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan88_1-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan88-1">[2]</a></sup> Naval commentators consider <i>Chakri Naruebet</i> to be less an aircraft carrier and more the world's most expensive <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_yacht" title="Royal yacht">royal yacht</a>, while the Thai media have nicknamed the ship "Thai-tanic", and consider her to be a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_elephant" title="White elephant">white elephant</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bischan88_1-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Bischan88-1">[2]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Carp302_7-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-Carp302-7">[8]</a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chakri_Naruebet_2001_stern_view.JPEG"><img alt="A small aircraft carrier photographed from behind as she sails across calm waters" class="thumbimage" height="145" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Chakri_Naruebet_2001_stern_view.JPEG/220px-Chakri_Naruebet_2001_stern_view.JPEG" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chakri_Naruebet_2001_stern_view.JPEG" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Stern view of <i>Chakri Naruebet</i></div></div></div>Between 4 and 7 November 1997, <i>Chakri Naruebet</i> participated in disaster relief operations following the passage of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Pacific_typhoon_season#Severe_Tropical_Storm_Linda_.28Openg.29" title="1997 Pacific typhoon season">Tropical Storm Linda</a> across the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Thailand" title="Gulf of Thailand">Gulf of Thailand</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kra_Isthmus" title="Kra Isthmus">Kra Isthmus</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RTNdisaster_9-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-RTNdisaster-9">[10]</a></sup> The carrier's main task was to search for and assist any fishing vessels affected by the storm.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RTNdisaster_9-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-RTNdisaster-9">[10]</a></sup><br />
Flooding in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songkhla_Province" title="Songkhla Province">Songkhla Province</a> resulted in the carrier's mobilisation in late November 2000.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RTNdisaster_9-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-RTNdisaster-9">[10]</a></sup> <i>Chakri Naruebet</i> was anchored at an island marina off Songkhla, and used as a base for helicopters and small boats transporting food, supplies, and wounded.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RTNdisaster_9-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-RTNdisaster-9">[10]</a></sup><br />
In January 2003, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Phnom_Penh_riots" title="2003 Phnom Penh riots">anti-Thai riots</a> were sparked in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phnom_Penh" title="Phnom Penh">Phnom Penh</a> by incorrect news reports of a claim by a Thai actress that the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wat" title="Angkor Wat">Angkor Wat</a> temple complex belonged to Thailand, not Cambodia. <i>Chakri Naruebet</i> was sent to help with any evacuation of Thai citizens from Cambodia.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify" title="Wikipedia:Please clarify"><span title="The text in the vicinity of this tag needs clarification or removal of jargon from April 2010">clarification needed</span></a></i>]</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RTNdisaster_9-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-RTNdisaster-9">[10]</a></sup><br />
Following an <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake" title="2004 Indian Ocean earthquake">undersea earthquake in the Indian Ocean</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsunami" title="Tsunami">tsunamis</a> struck multiple regions around the Indian Ocean, including the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andaman_Sea" title="Andaman Sea">Andaman Sea</a> coast of Thailand. The personnel of <i>Chakri Naruebet</i> were part of a 760-strong response by the Thai military to the disaster.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RTNdisaster_9-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-RTNdisaster-9">[10]</a></sup> This task force was involved in search-and-rescue around <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phuket_%28city%29" title="Phuket (city)">Phuket</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phi_Phi_Islands" title="Phi Phi Islands">Phi Phi Islands</a>, treatment of wounded and handling of dead, and repair work to schools and government facilities.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RTNdisaster_9-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-RTNdisaster-9">[10]</a></sup><br />
During the August 2005 filming of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rescue_Dawn" title="Rescue Dawn">Rescue Dawn</a></i>, a dramatised <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biographical_film" title="Biographical film">biographical film</a> of US Navy pilot <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieter_Dengler" title="Dieter Dengler">Dieter Dengler</a> and his capture during the Vietnam War, the flight deck of <i>Chakri Naruebet</i> was used to represent the carrier <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ranger_%28CV-61%29" title="USS Ranger (CV-61)">USS <i>Ranger</i></a>.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from September 2010">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup><br />
In November 2010, the ship was involved in flood relief operations following the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Thai_floods" title="2010 Thai floods">2010 Thai floods</a>; anchored off <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songkhla_Province" title="Songkhla Province">Songkhla Province</a>, relief supplies and food were airlifted to people in the region, while hospital patients were evacuated by the ship's helicopters.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTMS_Chakri_Naruebet#cite_note-10">[11]</a></sup> <i>Chakri Naruebet</i> was sent to <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koh_Tao" title="Koh Tao">Koh Tao</a> in late March during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Southern_Thailand_floods" title="2011 Southern Thailand floods">2011 Southern Thailand floods</a>, as the heavy storms causing the flooding had isolated the island, requiring the evacuation of tourists and local citizensMoch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-46198739020000240082012-01-21T23:09:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:15:22.417-08:00Charles de Gaulle R91 France (Ship)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">French aircraft carrier <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> (R91)</h1><div id="siteSub">F</div><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_De_Gaulle_%28R91%29_underway_2009.jpg" title="The Charles De Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier"><img alt="The Charles De Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier" height="216" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Charles_De_Gaulle_%28R91%29_underway_2009.jpg/300px-Charles_De_Gaulle_%28R91%29_underway_2009.jpg" width="300" /></a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Career (France)</th> <th style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" height="35" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Civil_and_Naval_Ensign_of_France.svg/53px-Civil_and_Naval_Ensign_of_France.svg.png" width="53" /></span></th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Name:</td> <td><i>Charles de Gaulle</i> (R91)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Namesake:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_de_Gaulle" title="Charles de Gaulle">Charles de Gaulle</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Ordered:</td> <td>3 February 1986</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Builder:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DCNS_%28company%29" title="DCNS (company)">DCNS</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Laid down:</td> <td>14 April 1989</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Launched:</td> <td>7 May 1994</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Commissioned:</td> <td>18 May 2001</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>In service:</td> <td>18 May 2001</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Renamed:</td> <td>Laid down as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_ship_Richelieu" title="French ship Richelieu"><i>Richelieu</i></a>, renamed <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> in 1987</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Homeport:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toulon" title="Toulon">Toulon</a>, France</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Nickname:</td> <td>CDG</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Honours and<br />
awards:</td> <td>Jack with the colours of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_French_Forces" title="Free French Forces">Free French Forces</a> (front) and the ribbon of the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordre_de_la_Lib%C3%A9ration" title="Ordre de la Libération">Ordre de la Libération</a></i> (back)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Fate:</td> <td>Active in service as of 2011</td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">General characteristics</th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Class and type:</td> <td>Unique <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Displacement:</td> <td>37,085 tonnes (standard)<br />
42,000 tonnes (full load)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Length:</td> <td>261.5 m (858 ft) overall</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Beam:</td> <td>64.36 m (211.2 ft) overall</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Draught:</td> <td>9.43 m (30.9 ft)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Propulsion:</td> <td>2 × K15 pressurised water reactors (PWR), 150 MW each<br />
4 × diesel-electric<br />
2 × shafts</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Speed:</td> <td>27 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knot_%28unit%29" title="Knot (unit)">knots</a> (50 km/h)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Range:</td> <td>Unlimited distance; 20-25 years</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Endurance:</td> <td>45 days of food</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Capacity:</td> <td>800 commandos, 500 tonnes of ammunitions</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Complement:</td> <td>Ship's company: 1,350<br />
Air wing: 600</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Sensors and<br />
processing systems:</td> <td>DRBJ 11 B tridimensional air search radar<br />
DRBV 26D air search radar<br />
DRBV 15C low altitude air search radar<br />
Arabel target acquisition radar</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Electronic warfare<br />
and decoys:</td> <td>ARBR 21 Detector<br />
ARBB 33 Countermeasures suite<br />
ARBG2 MAIGRET Interceptor<br />
4 × Sagaie decoys launcher<br />
SLAT (<i>Système de lutte anti-torpille</i>) torpedo countermeasures</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armament:</td> <td>4 × 8 cell A-43 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylver_%28missile_launcher%29" title="Sylver (missile launcher)">Sylver launchers</a> carrying the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBDA_Aster" title="MBDA Aster">MBDA Aster 15</a> surface to air missile.<br />
2 × 6 cell Sadral launchers carrying <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistral_missile" title="Mistral missile">Mistral</a> short range missiles<br />
8 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20_mm_mod%C3%A8le_F2_gun" title="20 mm modèle F2 gun">Giat 20F2 20 mm cannons</a>.</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Aircraft carried:</td> <td>28 – 40 aircraft,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-1">[2]</a></sup> including<br />
* <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Rafale" title="Dassault Rafale">Rafale M</a><br />
* <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Super_%C3%89tendard" title="Dassault Super Étendard">Super Étendard</a><br />
* <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-2_Hawkeye" title="E-2 Hawkeye">E-2C Hawkeye</a><br />
* <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocopter_Dauphin" title="Eurocopter Dauphin">SA365 Dauphin</a> helicopters</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><b><i>Charles de Gaulle</i> (R91)</b> is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagship" title="Flagship">flagship</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Navy" title="French Navy">French Navy</a> (<i>Marine Nationale</i>) and the largest Western European aircraft carrier. She is the tenth French aircraft carrier, the first French <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_marine_propulsion" title="Nuclear marine propulsion">nuclear-powered</a> surface vessel, and the first and so far only nuclear-powered carrier completed outside of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">United States Navy</a>. She is named after French statesman and general <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_de_Gaulle" title="Charles de Gaulle">Charles de Gaulle</a>.<br />
The ship carries a complement of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault-Breguet_Super_%C3%89tendard" title="Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard">Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Rafale" title="Dassault Rafale">Dassault Rafale M</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_E-2_Hawkeye" title="Grumman E-2 Hawkeye">E-2C Hawkeye</a> aircraft, as well as modern electronics and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBDA_Aster" title="MBDA Aster">Aster</a> missiles. She is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CATOBAR" title="CATOBAR">CATOBAR</a>-type carrier that uses a shorter version of the catapult system installed on the US <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz-class" title="Nimitz-class"><i>Nimitz</i> class</a> carriers, the 75 m C13-3 steam catapult.<br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Development">Development</span></h2><h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Construction">Construction</span></h3>The carrier replaced <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Foch_%28R99%29" title="French aircraft carrier Foch (R99)"><i>Foch</i></a>, a conventionally-powered aircraft carrier, in 2001. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Clemenceau_%28R98%29" title="French aircraft carrier Clemenceau (R98)"><i>Clemenceau</i></a> and <i>Foch</i> were completed in 1961 and 1963 respectively; the requirement for a replacement was identified in the mid-1970s.<br />
The hull was laid down in April 1989 at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DCNS_%28company%29" title="DCNS (company)">DCNS</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brest,_France" title="Brest, France">Brest</a> naval shipyard. The carrier was completed in May 1994 and at 35,500 tonnes was the largest warship launched in Western Europe since 1951.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from May 2007">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> She was to be named <i>Richelieu</i> in 1986 by the French president at the time, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Mitterrand" title="François Mitterrand">François Mitterrand</a>, after the famous French politician Armand-Jean du Plessis, Cardinal and Duc de <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardinal_Richelieu" title="Cardinal Richelieu">Richelieu</a> (following a traditional name for capital ships in the French Navy, see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_battleship_Richelieu" title="French battleship Richelieu">battleship <i>Richelieu</i></a> for instance).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-senat.fr_2-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-senat.fr-2">[3]</a></sup> On 7 February 1987, however, after a ferocious row, the name of the ship was changed to <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> by the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaullist" title="Gaullist">Gaullist</a> Prime Minister at the time, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Chirac" title="Jacques Chirac">Jacques Chirac</a>.<br />
Construction quickly fell behind schedule as the project was starved of funding, which was worsened by the economic recession in the early 1990s.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from February 2007">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> Total costs for the vessel would top €3 billion. Work on the ship was suspended altogether on four occasions: 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1995.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-senat.fr_2-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-senat.fr-2">[3]</a></sup> The ship was commissioned on 18 May 2001, five years behind the projected deadline.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Spying_incident">Spying incident</span></h3>In 1993, it was alleged by <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian" title="The Guardian">The Guardian</a></i> that a group of engineers inspecting the vessel during her construction were British <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Intelligence_Service" title="Secret Intelligence Service">Secret Intelligence Service</a> (MI6) operatives, believed to have been evaluating the method of shielding the nuclear reactors, amongst other technical details.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-3">[4]</a></sup> However, the newspaper published a denial by both the British government and the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direction_de_la_surveillance_du_territoire" title="Direction de la surveillance du territoire">Direction de la surveillance du territoire</a></i> (DST) (in English: <i>Directorate of Territorial Surveillance</i>) that there had been any incident.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-4">[5]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Trials_and_technical_problems">Trials and technical problems</span></h3><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FS_CDG_cartoon.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="218" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/53/FS_CDG_cartoon.jpg/220px-FS_CDG_cartoon.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FS_CDG_cartoon.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Satirical strip of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Parisien" title="Le Parisien">Le Parisien</a></i> newspaper. The sign reads : "Work in progress, slow down".</div></div></div><i>Charles de Gaulle</i> entered sea trials in 1999. These identified the need to extend the flight deck to safely operate the E-2C Hawkeye. This operation sparked negative publicity, however, as the same tests had been conducted on both <i>Foch</i> and <i>Clemenceau</i> when the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-8_Crusader" title="F-8 Crusader">F-8E(FN) Crusader</a> fighter had been introduced. The 5 million francs for the extension was 0.025% of the total budget for <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> project.<br />
On 28 February 2000, a nuclear reactor trial triggered the combustion of additional isolation elements, producing a smoke incident.<br />
During the night of 9 November 2000, in the Western Atlantic while en route toward <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_Norfolk" title="Naval Station Norfolk">Norfolk, Virginia</a>, the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_%28nautical%29" title="Port (nautical)">port</a> propeller broke and the ship had to return to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toulon" title="Toulon">Toulon</a> to replace the faulty unit. The investigations that followed showed similar structural faults in the other propeller and in the spare propellers: bubbles in the one-piece copper-aluminium alloy propellers near the centre. The fault was blamed on the supplier, Atlantic Industries, which had already gone bankrupt. To make matters worse, all documents relating to the design and fabrication of the propellers had been lost in a fire. As a temporary solution, the less advanced spare propellers of <i>Clemenceau</i> and <i>Foch</i> were used, limiting the maximum speed to 24 knots (44 km/h) instead of the contractual 27 knots (50 km/h).<br />
On 5 March 2001, <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> went back to sea with two older propellers and sailed 25.2 knots (47 km/h) on her trials. Between July and October, <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> had to be refitted once more due to abnormal noises, as loud as 100 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel" title="Decibel">dB</a>, near the starboard propeller, which had rendered the aft part of the ship uninhabitable.<br />
On 8 November 2001, a sailor performing a routine maintenance task lost consciousness due to a toxic gas leak. A non-commissioned officer attempted to rescue him and collapsed as well. They were rescued by the on-board medical team and sent to Toulon Hospital. Both survived.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Active_service">Active service</span></h2><h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Refitting">Refitting</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FS_CDG_bridge3.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="142" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/FS_CDG_bridge3.jpg/220px-FS_CDG_bridge3.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FS_CDG_bridge3.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Command bridge of <i>Charles de Gaulle</i></div></div></div>On 16 September 2001, the French press reported slightly higher than acceptable radioactivity levels aboard <i>Charles de Gaulle</i>, thought to be caused by a faulty isolation element. It was later discovered that the radioactivity levels were normal, but that the regulations concerning acceptable radioactivity levels had changed. While the United States was preparing its response to the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11,_2001_attacks" title="September 11, 2001 attacks">September 11, 2001 attacks</a> in the form of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Enduring_Freedom" title="Operation Enduring Freedom">Operation Enduring Freedom</a>, the media complained about the lack of deployable French military power. At the same time, the Defence Commission reported the maintenance of the Fleet to be substandard. In this context, <i>Charles de Gaulle</i>, then under repairs, was again an object of criticism, with former President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val%C3%A9ry_Giscard_d%27Estaing" title="Valéry Giscard d'Estaing">Valéry Giscard d'Estaing</a> describing it as a "half-aircraft-carrier".<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Link_16">Link 16</span></h3>On 11 October 2001, the frigate <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_frigate_Cassard_%28D_614%29" title="French frigate Cassard (D 614)">Cassard</a></i>, four <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airborne_Early_Warning_and_Control" title="Airborne Early Warning and Control">AWACS</a> aircraft and <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> were involved in a successful trial of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_16" title="Link 16">Link 16</a> high-bandwidth secure data network. The network allows real-time monitoring of the airspace from the South of England to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_Sea" title="Mediterranean Sea">Mediterranean Sea</a>. The collected data were also transmitted in real time to the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_frigate_Jean_Bart_%28D615%29" title="French frigate Jean Bart (D615)">Jean Bart</a></i> through the older <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_11" title="Link 11">Link 11</a> system.<br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fleet_5_nations.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="134" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Fleet_5_nations.jpg/220px-Fleet_5_nations.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fleet_5_nations.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>A rare occurrence of a 5-country multinational fleet of the NATO countries, the Netherlands, France, the United States, Italy, and the United Kingdom, during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Enduring_Freedom" title="Operation Enduring Freedom">Operation Enduring Freedom</a> in the Oman Sea</div></div></div><h3><span class="editsection"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Afghanistan"></a></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Afghanistan">Afghanistan</span></h3>On 21 November 2001, France decided to send <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> to the Indian Ocean in support of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Enduring_Freedom" title="Operation Enduring Freedom">Operation Enduring Freedom</a> against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taliban" title="Taliban">Taliban</a>-controlled <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan" title="Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a>. <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Task_Force_473" title="Task Force 473">Task Force 473</a>, with 2,900 men under the command of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter_Admiral" title="Counter Admiral">Contre-Amiral</a> François Cluzel, sailed on 1 December. The task force was composed of <i>Charles de Gaulle</i>, frigates <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_frigate_Lamotte-Picquet_%28D645%29" title="French frigate Lamotte-Picquet (D645)"><i>La Motte-Picquet</i></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_frigate_Jean_de_Vienne_%28D643%29" title="French frigate Jean de Vienne (D643)"><i>Jean de Vienne</i></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_frigate_Jean_Bart_%28D615%29" title="French frigate Jean Bart (D615)"><i>Jean Bart</i></a>, the nuclear <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_submarine" title="Attack submarine">attack submarine</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_submarine_Rubis_%28S601%29" title="French submarine Rubis (S601)"><i>Rubis</i></a>, the tanker <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meuse_%28A607%29&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Meuse (A607) (page does not exist)"><i>Meuse</i></a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviso" title="Aviso">aviso</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%27Estienne_d%27Orves_class" title="D'Estienne d'Orves class"><i>Commandant Ducuing</i></a>.<br />
Embarked air power comprised sixteen <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault-Breguet_Super_%C3%89tendard" title="Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard">Super Étendards</a>, one E-2C Hawkeye, two Rafale Ms and several helicopters. The Super Étendards carried out their first missions above Afghanistan on 19 December, executing reconnaissance and bombing missions, covering over 3,000 kilometres. Overall they carried out 140 missions, averaging 12 every day.<br />
<div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Enterprise_FS_Charles_de_Gaulle.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="165" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/USS_Enterprise_FS_Charles_de_Gaulle.jpg/220px-USS_Enterprise_FS_Charles_de_Gaulle.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Enterprise_FS_Charles_de_Gaulle.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_%28CVN-65%29" title="USS Enterprise (CVN-65)">USS <i>Enterprise</i></a> (left), the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, and <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> (right), at the time the latest nuclear carrier.</div></div></div>On 18 February 2002, a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helios_1B" title="Helios 1B">Helios</a> observation satellite spotted abnormal activities near <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardez" title="Gardez">Gardez</a>. The next day, after <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Special_Forces" title="American Special Forces">American Special Forces</a> in the region confirmed these observations, <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> launched two reconnaissance Super Étendards. On 20 February, British and US forces entered the valley and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Anaconda" title="Operation Anaconda">Operation Anaconda</a> began in early March.<br />
In March, Super Étendards and six <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirage_2000" title="Mirage 2000">Mirage 2000</a> aircraft carried out airstrikes against targets claimed to be <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Qaeda" title="Al Qaeda">al Qaeda</a>. A few targets suggested by US forces were denied out of fear of hitting civilians. Nevertheless, French involvement was complimented on 11 March 2002 by US President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush">George W. Bush</a>, who mentioned "our good ally, France, has deployed nearly one-fourth of its navy to support Operation Enduring Freedom".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-5">[6]</a></sup> At this point, the French air complement had been increased to 16 Super Étendards, 6 Mirage 2000 D, 5 Rafales, and two Hawkeye AWACS. From February, the air wings of <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_John_C._Stennis_%28CVN-74%29" title="USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)">USS <i>John C. Stennis</i></a> landed on each other's decks as a means of strengthening the ties between the allies.<br />
On 2 May, <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> arrived in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore" title="Singapore">Singapore</a> for relief and returned to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oman" title="Oman">Oman</a> on 18 May.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Indian-Pakistani_crisis">Indian-Pakistani crisis</span></h3>In June 2002 while <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> was in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_Sea" title="Arabian Sea">Arabian Sea</a>, armed Rafale fighters conducted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_air_patrol" title="Combat air patrol">combat air-patrols</a> with the United States Navy off the coast of India and Pakistan,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-hindu-report_6-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-hindu-report-6">[7]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bharat_7-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-bharat-7">[8]</a></sup> marking a significant point in the Rafale M's operational career and its integration with the carrier.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-8">[9]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Rescue_mission">Rescue mission</span></h3>On 9 October, the <i>CrossMed</i> (The Regional Operational Centre for Monitoring and Rescue in the Mediterranean Sea) received a distress call from the 8-metre <i>Babolin</i>, whose hull was leaking. <i>Charles de Gaulle</i>, on manoeuvres in the region, sent a helicopter that airlifted the three-man crew, despite 35-knot (65 km/h) wind, troubled sea, and bad visibility.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Continuing_operations">Continuing operations</span></h3><i>Charles de Gaulle</i> participated in further actions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2005. It returned to Southwest Asia in May 2006 and shortly after supported coalition efforts over Afghanistan. The aircraft carrier regularly participates in the annual bilateral naval exercises between the Indian and French navies<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-9">[10]</a></sup> called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varuna_naval_exercises" title="Varuna naval exercises">'Varuna'</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-10">[11]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="First_major_overhaul">First major overhaul</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CdG-photo116.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="146" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/CdG-photo116.jpg/220px-CdG-photo116.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CdG-photo116.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><i>Charles de Gaulle</i> refitting in the southwestern dock of Vauban industrial zone in 2008</div></div></div><i>Charles de Gaulle'</i>s first major <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refueling_and_Overhaul" title="Refueling and Overhaul">overhaul</a> began in September 2007. The highlight of this 15-month refit was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refueling_and_Overhaul" title="Refueling and Overhaul">refueling of the nuclear power plant</a>, a necessary step after six years in service, during which <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> sailed the equivalent of 12 times around the world, spent 900 days at sea, and performed 19,000 catapult launches.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-11">[12]</a></sup> Several improvements will also be made, including the installation of new propellers. These will allow the <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> to reach her design speed of 27 knots (50 km/h), replacing the vintage propellers used as a stop-gap since 2001. Aircraft maintenance and weapons stores will also be upgraded to allow operation of new <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Rafale" title="Dassault Rafale">Rafale</a> F3 fighters armed with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air-Sol_Moyenne_Port%C3%A9e" title="Air-Sol Moyenne Portée">ASMP-A</a> nuclear missiles and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storm_Shadow" title="Storm Shadow">SCALP EG</a> cruise missiles, and satellite communications bandwidth will be increased tenfold. The refit was completed in December 2008 but following technical problems in March 2009 the carrier is back in Toulon for repairs. An intensive work-up period is planned to bring the <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> and her airgroup back to operational status.<br />
On 14 October 2010, a four month cruise was cut down to a single day when the ship suffered an electrical fault in its propulsion system.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-12">[13]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Fifth_overseas_deployment:_Task_Force_473_.26_Operation_Agapanthus_2010">Fifth overseas deployment: Task Force 473 & Operation Agapanthus 2010</span></h3>A French naval task group, designated <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Task_Force_473" title="Task Force 473">Task Force 473</a>, led by the <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> departed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toulon" title="Toulon">Toulon</a> on 30 October 2010 for a four-month deployment, code-named Operation Agapanthus 2010, to the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean. and Persian Gulf.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-defpros_13-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-defpros-13">[14]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Brahmand_14-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-Brahmand-14">[15]</a></sup> The task group also included the frigates <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_frigate_Forbin_%28D620%29" title="French frigate Forbin (D620)"><i>Forbin</i></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_frigate_Tourville_%28D_610%29" title="French frigate Tourville (D 610)"><i>Tourville</i></a>; a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubis_class_submarine" title="Rubis class submarine">nuclear attack submarine</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_submarine_Am%C3%A9thyste_%28S605%29" title="French submarine Améthyste (S605)"><i>Améthyste</i></a>; a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durance_class_tanker" title="Durance class tanker">replenishment oiler <i>Meuse</i></a>, 3,000 sailors, and an Embarked Aviation Group (EAG) consiting of 12 Super-Étendard attack aircraft, 10 Rafale multi-role fighters, and two E-2C Hawkeye 2000 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airborne_Early_Warning" title="Airborne Early Warning">AEW</a> aircraft.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-defpros_13-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-defpros-13">[14]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-PressTV_15-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-PressTV-15">[16]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ragahuvanshi_16-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-Ragahuvanshi-16">[17]</a></sup> The task group commander, Rear Admiral Jean-Louis Kerignard, defined force's mission as follows:<br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 252px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_101210-N-1261P-028_The_aircraft_carrier_USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN_72%29,_back,_and_the_French_navy_aircraft_carrier_Charles_De_Gaulle_%28R_91%29_a.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="179" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/US_Navy_101210-N-1261P-028_The_aircraft_carrier_USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN_72%29%2C_back%2C_and_the_French_navy_aircraft_carrier_Charles_De_Gaulle_%28R_91%29_a.jpg/250px-US_Navy_101210-N-1261P-028_The_aircraft_carrier_USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN_72%29%2C_back%2C_and_the_French_navy_aircraft_carrier_Charles_De_Gaulle_%28R_91%29_a.jpg" width="250" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_101210-N-1261P-028_The_aircraft_carrier_USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN_72%29,_back,_and_the_French_navy_aircraft_carrier_Charles_De_Gaulle_%28R_91%29_a.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>With USS <i>Abraham Lincoln</i></div></div></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 202px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FS_CdG_Rafale.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="121" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/FS_CdG_Rafale.jpg/200px-FS_CdG_Rafale.jpg" width="200" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FS_CdG_Rafale.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Rafale number 9 on the flight deck of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier</div></div></div><dl><dd>The force would help allied navies fight piracy off the coast of Somalia and send jets to support NATO in the skies above Afghanistan."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-PressTV_15-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-PressTV-15">[16]</a></sup></dd></dl>Once on station, Task Force 473 joined two <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Navy" title="U.S. Navy">U.S. Navy</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_strike_group" title="Carrier strike group">carrier strike groups</a> operating in the Persian Gulf (<i>pictured</i>), the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Strike_Group_Nine" title="Carrier Strike Group Nine">Carrier Strike Group Nine</a> led by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29" title="USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)">USS <i>Abraham Lincoln</i> (CVN-72)</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Strike_Group_Ten" title="Carrier Strike Group Ten">Carrier Strike Group Ten</a> led by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman_%28CVN-75%29" title="USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)">USS <i>Harry S. Truman</i> (CVN-75)</a> .<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-PressTV_15-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-PressTV-15">[16]</a></sup> On 28 November 2010, according to an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associated_Press" title="Associated Press">Associated Press</a> dispatch, the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_Defence_%28France%29" title="Minister of Defence (France)">French Ministry of Defense</a> announced that a French Rafale fighter jet crashed near the <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> which was operating 60 miles (100 kilometres) off the coast of Pakistan in the Arabian Sea in support of coaltion forces in Afghanistan. The pilot parachuted to safety and was picked up by helicopter, and the cause of the crash was under investigation.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-17">[18]</a></sup> In December 2010, during its deployment to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a>, the British <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_22_frigate" title="Type 22 frigate">Type 22 frigate</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Cumberland_%28F85%29" title="HMS Cumberland (F85)"><i>Cumberland</i></a> rotated from its <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_Security_Operations" title="Maritime Security Operations">maritime security patrol</a> to escort <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> in support of coalition military operations in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_%282001%E2%80%93present%29" title="War in Afghanistan (2001–present)">Afghanistan</a>. This represented an example of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_operations" title="Combined operations">interoperability</a> pursuant to the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-British_Defence_and_Security_Cooperation_Treaty_and_Downing_Street_Declaration" title="Franco-British Defence and Security Cooperation Treaty and Downing Street Declaration">recently-ratified Anglo-Franco defence cooperation treaty</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-18">[19]</a></sup><br />
Between 7–14 January 2011, Task Force 473 participated with bilateral naval exercise, code named <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varuna_naval_exercises" title="Varuna naval exercises">Varuna 10</a>, with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Navy" title="Indian Navy">Indian Navy</a>. Indian naval units participating in Varuna 10 included the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaur_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Centaur class aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INS_Viraat_%28R22%29" title="INS Viraat (R22)"><i>Viraat</i></a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godavari_class_frigate" title="Godavari class frigate">frigates</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INS_Godavari_%28F20%29" title="INS Godavari (F20)"><i>Godavari</i></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INS_Ganga_%28F22%29" title="INS Ganga (F22)"><i>Ganga</i></a>; and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shishumar_class_submarine" title="Shishumar class submarine">diesel-electric submarine</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INS_Shalki_%28S46%29" title="INS Shalki (S46)"><i>Shalki</i></a>. Varuna 10 was a two-phase naval exercise, with the harbor phase taking place between 7–11 January and the sea phase between 11–14 January in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_Sea" title="Arabian Sea">Arabian Sea</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ragahuvanshi_16-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-Ragahuvanshi-16">[17]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-19">[20]</a></sup> Task Force 473 paid a port visit to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goa" title="Goa">Goa</a> between 7–14 January 2001.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-20">[21]</a></sup> The carrier <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> and the frigate <i>Fobin</i> also paid a goodwill visit to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khor_Fakkan" title="Khor Fakkan">Khor Fakkan</a>, United Arab Emirates, on 30 January 2011, docking at its container terminal facilities.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-21">[22]</a></sup><br />
Operation Agapanthus 2010 concluded on 21 February 2011. Task Force 473 completed more than 1,000 flying hours flown from the <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> in support of NATO's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Security_Assistance_Force" title="International Security Assistance Force">International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)</a> deployed in Afghanistan. Task Force 473 also participated in bilateral exercises with armed forces of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Armed_Forces" title="Indian Armed Forces">India</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_of_Saudi_Arabia" title="Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a>, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Defence_Force_%28UAE%29" title="Union Defence Force (UAE)">United Arab Emirates</a> to test the interoperability of French military forces and share expertise with the regional partners.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Brahmand_14-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-Brahmand-14">[15]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="2011_Mediterranean_Operations">2011 Mediterranean Operations</span></h3><div class="rellink">Further information: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Op%C3%A9ration_Harmattan" title="Opération Harmattan">Opération Harmattan</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_military_intervention_in_Libya" title="2011 military intervention in Libya">2011 military intervention in Libya</a></div>On 20 March 2011, the <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> was deployed to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_Sea" title="Mediterranean Sea">Mediterranean Sea</a> to enforce <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution_1973" title="United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973</a> which called for a no-fly zone over <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libya" title="Libya">Libya</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-22">[23]</a></sup> Accompanying the <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> were the frigates <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_frigate_Dupleix_%28D641%29" title="French frigate Dupleix (D641)"><i>Dupleix</i></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_frigate_Aconit_%28F_713%29" title="French frigate Aconit (F 713)"><i>Aconit</i></a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durance_class_tanker" title="Durance class tanker">fleet replenishment tanker <i>Meuse</i></a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-23">[24]</a></sup><br />
During Unified Protector, the air fleet has flown 1.350 sorties during the war on Libya. The CdG was then withdrawn for maintenance at Toulon on 10th August.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-24">[25]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Integration_in_the_future_navy">Integration in the future navy</span></h3>The French Navy is theoretically a two-carrier navy, mainly to ensure that at least one ship is operational at all times even if the other is under repair. This scheme requires another aircraft carrier to be built though, as the <i>Charles de Gaulle</i> is the only aircraft carrier currently serving.<br />
Cost considerations have made equipment standardization a necessity. In this context, there is a possibility of collaboration with Britain for future aircraft carriers and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thales_Group" title="Thales Group">Thales</a> made the design for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Elizabeth_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier"><i>Queen Elizabeth</i>-class aircraft carrier</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-25">[26]</a></sup> which may be modified as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_French_aircraft_carrier" title="Future French aircraft carrier">Future French aircraft carrier</a>. Steps have been taken by both countries to make such a scenario possible: the new carrier had to be conventionally propelled to meet the requirements of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy" title="Royal Navy">Royal Navy</a>. France favours nuclear propulsion, and a study is being conducted to see if it is more cost efficient than gas turbines.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Charles_de_Gaulle_%28R91%29#cite_note-26"></a>Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-41261348063739758802012-01-21T22:58:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:14:54.972-08:00USS Carl Vinson CVN-70 (Ship)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">USS <i>Carl Vinson</i> (CVN-70)</h1><br />
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</td><td class="mbox-text"><small><i></i></small></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29.jpg" title="The USS Carl Vinson"><img alt="The USS Carl Vinson" height="199" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29.jpg/300px-USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
USS <i>Carl Vinson</i> sailing toward the southern hemisphere.</td> </tr>
<tr> <th height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Career (United States)</th> <th style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" height="35" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/67px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" width="67" /></span></th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Name:</td> <td>USS <i>Carl Vinson</i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Namesake:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Vinson" title="Carl Vinson">Carl Vinson</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Ordered:</td> <td>5 April 1974</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Builder:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_News_Shipbuilding" title="Newport News Shipbuilding">Newport News Shipbuilding</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Laid down:</td> <td>11 October 1975</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Launched:</td> <td>15 March 1980</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Commissioned:</td> <td>13 March 1982</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Homeport:</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAS_North_Island" title="NAS North Island">NAS North Island San Diego, California</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Motto:</td> <td><i>Vis Per Mare</i><br />
(Strength from the Sea)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Nickname:</td> <td><i>Starship Vinson,<br />
The Battlestar,<br />
The Gold Eagle,<br />
San Francisco's Own,<br />
America's Favorite Carrier,<br />
Chuckie V,<br />
U.S.S. Chuck Wagon,<br />
The Carl Prison,<br />
Cell Block 70</i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Status:</td> <td>in active service, as of 2012</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Badge:</td> <td><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CVN-70_Seal.jpg"><img alt="CVN-70 Seal.jpg" height="97" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/CVN-70_Seal.jpg/100px-CVN-70_Seal.jpg" width="100" /></a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">General characteristics</th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Class and type:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier"><i>Nimitz</i>-class</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Displacement:</td> <td>101,300 long tons (113,500 short tons)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Length:</td> <td>Overall: 1,092 feet (332.8 m)<br />
Waterline: 1,040 feet (317.0 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Beam:</td> <td>Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m)<br />
Waterline: 134 ft (40.8 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Draft:</td> <td>Maximum navigational: 37 feet (11.3 m)<br />
Limit: 41 feet (12.5 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Propulsion:</td> <td>2 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westinghouse_Electric_Company" title="Westinghouse Electric Company">Westinghouse</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A4W_reactor" title="A4W reactor">A4W nuclear reactors</a><br />
4 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_turbine" title="Steam turbine">steam turbines</a><br />
4 × shafts<br />
260,000 shp (194 MW)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Speed:</td> <td>30+ knots (56+ km/h; 35+ mph)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Range:</td> <td>Unlimited distance; 20-25 years</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Complement:</td> <td>Ship's company: 3,200<br />
Air wing: 2,480</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Crew:</td> <td>6062</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Sensors and<br />
processing systems:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/SPS-48" title="AN/SPS-48">AN/SPS-48E</a> 3-D air search radar<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/SPS-49" title="AN/SPS-49">AN/SPS-49(V)5</a> 2-D air search radar<br />
AN/SPQ-9B target acquisition radar<br />
<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/SPN-46" title="AN/SPN-46">AN/SPN-46</a> air traffic control radars<br />
<a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AN/SPN-43&action=edit&redlink=1" title="AN/SPN-43 (page does not exist)">AN/SPN-43C</a> air traffic control radar<br />
<a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AN/SPN-41&action=edit&redlink=1" title="AN/SPN-41 (page does not exist)">AN/SPN-41</a> landing aid radars<br />
4 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems<br />
4 × Mk 95 radars</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Electronic warfare<br />
and decoys:</td> <td>SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite<br />
SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armament:</td> <td>2 × Mk 57 Mod3 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Sparrow" title="Sea Sparrow">Sea Sparrow</a><br />
2 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIM-116_Rolling_Airframe_Missile" title="RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile">RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile</a><br />
3 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS" title="Phalanx CIWS">Phalanx CIWS</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armor:</td> <td>Unknown</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Aircraft carried:</td> <td>90 fixed wing and helicopters</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>The <b>USS <i>Carl Vinson</i> (CVN-70)</b> is the third <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">United States Navy</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier"><i>Nimitz</i> class</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercarrier" title="Supercarrier">supercarrier</a> and is named after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Vinson" title="Carl Vinson">Carl Vinson</a>, a Congressman from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28U.S._state%29" title="Georgia (U.S. state)">Georgia</a>. <i>Carl Vinson's</i> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callsign" title="Callsign">callsign</a> is "Gold Eagle". It played host to the first NCAA basketball game on an aircraft carrier on 11/11/11 between the University of North Carolina and Michigan State University. The corpse of Osama Bin Laden was disposed of from the deck of the Carl Vinson.<br />
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</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Namesake">Namesake</span></h2>A member of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="United States House of Representatives">United States House of Representatives</a> for fifty years, Carl Vinson was, for twenty-nine years, the Chairman of the House Naval Affairs and Armed Services Committee; Vinson was the principal sponsor of the so-called "Vinson Acts," culminating in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-Ocean_Navy_Act" title="Two-Ocean Navy Act">Two-Ocean Navy Act</a> of 1940, which provided for the massive Naval shipbuilding effort in World War II.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Ship_Seal">Ship Seal</span></h3>The seal of USS <i>Carl Vinson</i> shows an eagle, wings spread and talons extended, carrying a banner in its beak. The eagle is emblematic of the nation and the ship's motto, and also represents the power that resides in the ship's aircraft. The eagle flies in the form of a stylized letter "V," the initial of the ship's namesake, Congressman Carl Vinson. The "V" also represents the ship's hull when viewed bow-on. Inscribed on the banner the eagle carries is the Latin Phrase "Vis Per Mare" which means "Strength through the Sea."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-cvn70.navy.mil_1-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-cvn70.navy.mil-1">[2]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Carrier_Strike_Group_1">Carrier Strike Group 1</span></h3>In October 2009, the US Navy announced that <i>Carl Vinson</i> would be the flagship of the newly established Carrier Strike Group 1, based in San Diego.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-2">[3]</a></sup> The ship, under the command of Captain Bruce H. Lindsey, departed Norfolk for San Diego on 12 January 2010. Accompanying the carrier was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Air_Wing_Seventeen" title="Carrier Air Wing Seventeen">Carrier Air Wing Seventeen</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroyer_Squadron_One_%28United_States%29" title="Destroyer Squadron One (United States)">Destroyer Squadron 1</a> and the guided missile cruiser <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bunker_Hill_%28CG-52%29" title="USS Bunker Hill (CG-52)"><i>Bunker Hill</i></a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-3">[4]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Design_and_construction">Design and construction</span></h2><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier">Nimitz class aircraft carrier</a></div>The keel was laid at <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_Newport_News" title="Northrop Grumman Newport News">Newport News Shipbuilding</a> on 11 October 1975, and on 15 March 1980 the ship was launched/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_naming_and_launching" title="Ship naming and launching">christened</a>. Congressman Carl Vinson became the first person in the history of the United States Navy to witness a ship's launching in his honor. After builder sea trials, she was delivered to the Navy on 26 February 1982.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Ship_history">Ship history</span></h2><h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="1980s">1980s</span></h3>USS Carl Vinson was commissioned on 13 March 1982 at Newport News, Virginia, with Captain Richard Martin commanding. Present were the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_Naval_Operations" title="Chief of Naval Operations">Chief of Naval Operations</a> Admiral <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_B._Hayward" title="Thomas B. Hayward">Thomas B. Hayward</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretary_of_the_Navy" title="Secretary of the Navy">Secretary of the Navy</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Lehman" title="John F. Lehman">John F. Lehman</a>, Keynote speaker Senator <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Tower" title="John Tower">John Tower</a>, and ship's sponsor <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Molly_Snead&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Molly Snead (page does not exist)">Molly Snead</a>. After commissioning, <i>USS Carl Vinson</i> put to sea to conduct <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_deck" title="Flight deck">flight deck</a> certifications, an evaluation designed to test the ship’s ability to conduct <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_US_Navy_carrier_air_operations" title="Modern US Navy carrier air operations">Modern US Navy carrier air operations</a>. That was followed by numerous at sea periods for various training evolutions along the East Coast.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-cvn70.navy.mil_1-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-cvn70.navy.mil-1">[2]</a></sup><br />
<i>Carl Vinson</i> departed Norfolk on 1 March 1983 with <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carrier_Air_Wing_Fifteen&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Carrier Air Wing Fifteen (page does not exist)">Carrier Air Wing Fifteen</a> (CVW-15) embarked for her <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiden_voyage" title="Maiden voyage">maiden deployment</a>, an eight-month around the world cruise to her new homeport of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_Alameda" title="Naval Air Station Alameda">Naval Air Station Alameda</a>, California, arriving on 28 Oct. 1983.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-cvn70.navy.mil_1-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-cvn70.navy.mil-1">[2]</a></sup><br />
<i>Carl Vinson</i> participated in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIMPAC" title="RIMPAC">RIMPAC</a> '84 before departing on 14 October 1984 for an overseas deployment in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Ocean" title="Pacific Ocean">Western Pacific</a>. <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carrier_Air_Wing_Fifteen&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Carrier Air Wing Fifteen (page does not exist)">Carrier Air Wing Fifteen</a> (CVW-15) was embarked. From January until April 1985, <i>Carl Vinson</i> was in the Indian Ocean for 107 consecutive days. The WESTPAC deployment included Sea of Japan operations while pursuing a Soviet <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_class_submarine" title="Charlie class submarine">CHARLIE I</a> submarine in the Indian Ocean.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-4">[5]</a></sup><br />
The carrier received her first <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meritorious_Unit_Commendation" title="Meritorious Unit Commendation">Meritorious Unit Commendation</a> for operations conducted from November 1984 to May 1985. In February, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_Naval_Operations" title="Chief of Naval Operations">Chief of Naval Operations</a> named <i>Carl Vinson</i> the winner of the Admiral <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_H._Flatley" title="James H. Flatley">James H. Flatley</a> Memorial Award for operational readiness and aviation safety for 1984.<br />
On 12 August 1986 the ship departed Alameda for a western Pacific deployment, again with CVW-15 aboard, and in the process became the first modern U.S. aircraft carrier to operate in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bering_Sea" title="Bering Sea">Bering Sea</a>. In January 1987, after operating extensively in the Indian Ocean and North <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_Sea" title="Arabian Sea">Arabian Sea</a>, <i>Carl Vinson</i> transited the Bering Sea once more while returning to NAS Alameda.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-5">[6]</a></sup><br />
<i>Carl Vinson</i> and CVW-15 departed for the ship's fourth overseas deployment on 15 June 1988. While on station the carrier supported <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Earnest_Will" title="Operation Earnest Will">Operation Earnest Will</a>, the escort of U.S. flagged <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanker_%28ship%29" title="Tanker (ship)">tankers</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a>. The carrier returned to the States on 16 December 1988 and was awarded the Admiral Flatley Memorial Award for aviation safety for 1988.<br />
On 18 September 1989 the carrier departed Alameda to participate in <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=PACEX&action=edit&redlink=1" title="PACEX (page does not exist)">PACEX</a> '89, the largest peacetime <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_exercise" title="Military exercise">naval exercise</a> since the Second World War. During the exercise <i>Carl Vinson</i> operated in the Bering Sea and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleutian_Islands" title="Aleutian Islands">Aleutian Islands</a>, eventually leading a three carrier battle group operation in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Japan" title="Sea of Japan">Sea of Japan</a> and the Pacific Ocean. <i>Carl Vinson</i> had a port call in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busan" title="Busan">Pusan</a>, South Korea and then returned to her home port of Alameda shortly after the devastating <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_Loma_Prieta_earthquake" title="1989 Loma Prieta earthquake">1989 Loma Prieta earthquake</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-6">[7]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="1990s">1990s</span></h3><i>Vinson</i> departed on her fifth deployment (again with CVW-15) on 1 February 1990, the last deployment for the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-7_Corsair" title="A-7 Corsair">A-7 Corsair</a>. The ship returned to Alameda on 30 July 1990. On 22 September 1990, <i>Carl Vinson</i> entered the yards at Bremerton Naval Station, Washington for a 28-month complex overhaul (COH). The carrier received her first COMNAVAIRPAC Battle "E" award for 1990.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-7">[8]</a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CVW14_aircraft_1994.JPEG"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="168" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/CVW14_aircraft_1994.JPEG/220px-CVW14_aircraft_1994.JPEG" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CVW14_aircraft_1994.JPEG" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>CVW-14 aircraft over <i>Vinson</i> in 1994</div></div></div>On 17 February 1994 the carrier, with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Air_Wing_Fourteen" title="Carrier Air Wing Fourteen">Carrier Air Wing Fourteen</a> embarked, departed for the Persian Gulf in support of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Southern_Watch" title="Operation Southern Watch">Operation Southern Watch</a>. The carrier returned to Alameda on 17 August 1994, receiving her third Admiral Flatley Award for aviation safety.<br />
In 1995, a documentary entitled "Carrier: Fortress at Sea" was aired on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discovery_Channel" title="Discovery Channel">Discovery Channel</a>, which chronicled the carrier's six month-long voyage to and from the Persian Gulf.<br />
From 26 August until 3 September 1995, <i>Vinson</i> participated in <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Exercise_Ke_Koa&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Exercise Ke Koa (page does not exist)">Exercise Ke Koa</a>, as well as ceremonies to commemorate the end of World War II in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_War" title="Pacific War">Pacific</a>. During these ceremonies, President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton" title="Bill Clinton">Bill Clinton</a> visited the ship in Hawaii. As part of the commemoration ceremonies, <i>Vinson</i> launched 11 WWII era planes.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-8">[9]</a></sup><br />
The ship departed for her seventh deployment 14 May 1996, heading for the Persian Gulf with CVW-14 in support for Operation Southern Watch and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Desert_Strike" title="Operation Desert Strike">Operation Desert Strike</a>. The ship also participated in Exercise <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rugged_Nautilus&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Rugged Nautilus (page does not exist)">Rugged Nautilus</a> before returning to Alameda on 14 November 1996.<br />
With the closing of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_Alameda" title="Naval Air Station Alameda">Naval Air Station Alameda</a>, the ship was transferred to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bremerton,_Washington" title="Bremerton, Washington">Bremerton, Washington</a>, arriving at her new homeport on 17 January 1997, where she played host to the last carrier launch and recovery operations for the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-6_Intruder" title="A-6 Intruder">A-6E Intruder</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-9">[10]</a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29_RB2.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="157" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29_RB2.jpg/220px-USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29_RB2.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29_RB2.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><i>Carl Vinson</i> enters Pearl Harbor with CVW-11 aboard</div></div></div>In 1998 with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Air_Wing_Eleven" title="Carrier Air Wing Eleven">Carrier Air Wing Eleven</a> (CVW-11) embarked, the ship participated in RIMPAC '98 before departing for the Persian Gulf, launching <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airstrike" title="Airstrike">airstrikes</a> on 19 December 1998 in support of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Desert_Fox" title="Operation Desert Fox">Operation Desert Fox</a> and Operation Southern Watch. These strikes continued into March 1999. In July 1999, <i>Carl Vinson</i> was drydocked in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puget_Sound_Naval_Shipyard" title="Puget Sound Naval Shipyard">Puget Sound Naval Shipyard</a> for 11 months as the Navy spent more than $230 million to upgrade the ship. Post refit shakedowns continued into 2000.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-10">[11]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="2000s">2000s</span></h3><div class="rellink boilerplate seealso">See also: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Strike_Group_One" title="Carrier Strike Group One">Carrier Strike Group One</a></div>On 23 July 2001, again with CVW-11 embarked, <i>Carl Vinson</i> steamed from Bremerton, Washington, bound for the Persian Gulf to support <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Southern_Watch" title="Operation Southern Watch">Operation Southern Watch</a>. This changed abruptly on 11 September 2001, as the ship was rounding the tip of India. In response to the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11_September_2001_attacks" title="11 September 2001 attacks">terror attacks</a> on U.S. soil, <i>Vinson</i> changed course and sped toward the North <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_Sea" title="Arabian Sea">Arabian Sea</a>, where on 7 October 2001, <i>Vinson</i> launched the first airstrikes in support of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Enduring_Freedom" title="Operation Enduring Freedom">Operation Enduring Freedom</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-11">[12]</a></sup> For 72 days, <i>Vinson</i>, along with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Air_Wing_Eleven" title="Carrier Air Wing Eleven">Carrier Wing 11</a>, launched over 4,000 combat sorties in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_on_Terror" title="War on Terror">War on Terror</a>, earning the ship the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. <i>Vinson</i> earned the Battle E and Navy Unit Commendation during this deployment. In mid December, <i>Vinson</i> began the return trip home, stopping over at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changi_Naval_Base" title="Changi Naval Base">Changi Naval Base</a>, Singapore for Christmas before reaching the U.S. on 23 January 2002. In April, the ship was overhauled, setting sail in September for a post-refit shakedown. During this time several new operational systems were installed, and the ship’s flight deck and catapults were completely renovated. Numerous other spaces and crew living areas were also entirely restored, drastically improving working and living conditions for the crew. Completing her maintenance / overhaul period in record-setting time, USS Carl Vinson and crew got underway in September to conduct sea trials.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-12">[13]</a></sup><br />
In January 2003 she was set for a one month work up for Flight Deck Quals with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Air_Wing_Nine" title="Carrier Air Wing Nine">Carrier Air Wing Nine</a> (CVW-9) embarked. Due to the start of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Iraqi_Freedom" title="Operation Iraqi Freedom">Operation Iraqi Freedom</a> the ship was extended at sea indefinitely. After 9 months (Sept 2003) <i>Carl Vinson</i> finally returned to Bremerton on 15 September 2003.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-13">[14]</a></sup> From January 2003 until September 2003, she made port calls in Hawaii, Guam, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Deployments_of_USS_CARL_VINSON_14-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-Deployments_of_USS_CARL_VINSON-14">[15]</a></sup> USS Carl Vinson’s participation in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foal_Eagle" title="Foal Eagle">Foal Eagle</a>, an annually scheduled joint and combined training exercise conducted in the Korean theatre.<br />
In competition year 2004, she won the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marjorie_Sterrett_Battleship_Fund_Award" title="Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award">Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award</a>, awarded to the most battle-ready ship in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Pacific_Fleet" title="U.S. Pacific Fleet">U.S. Pacific Fleet</a>.<br />
In January 2005, <i>Carl Vinson</i> departed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bremerton,_Washington" title="Bremerton, Washington">Bremerton, Washington</a> with CVW-9 embarked for a six month deployment, including several months in the Persian Gulf in support of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Iraqi_Freedom" title="Operation Iraqi Freedom">Operation Iraqi Freedom</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-15">[16]</a></sup> Highlights of the cruise included port calls to Singapore, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guam" title="Guam">Guam</a>, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodes,_Greece" title="Rhodes, Greece">Rhodes, Greece</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbon,_Portugal" title="Lisbon, Portugal">Lisbon, Portugal</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-16">[17]</a></sup> <i>Vinson</i> completed this deployment at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_Norfolk" title="Naval Station Norfolk">Naval Station Norfolk</a> on 31 July 2005.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-17">[18]</a></sup><br />
<h4><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Refueling_and_Complex_Overhaul_2005">Refueling and Complex Overhaul 2005</span></h4><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCOH" title="RCOH">RCOH</a></div>In November 2005, <i>Carl Vinson</i> became the third <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier"><i>Nimitz</i> class</a> carrier to undergo a mid-life <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refueling_and_Complex_Overhaul" title="Refueling and Complex Overhaul">Refueling and Complex Overhaul</a> (RCOH), which was scheduled to last 36 months.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-18">[19]</a></sup> The ship moved out of dry dock to pier side berth at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard in May 2007.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-19">[20]</a></sup><br />
She commenced post-refueling <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_trials" title="Sea trials">sea trials</a> on 28 June 2009 and returned to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_Norfolk" title="Naval Station Norfolk">Naval Station Norfolk</a> on 1 July 2009.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-USS_Carl_Vinson_.28CVN_70.29_-_History_20-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-USS_Carl_Vinson_.28CVN_70.29_-_History-20">[21]</a></sup> The Navy accepted her back into the fleet on 11 July 2009, after successful completion of her sea trials.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-21">[22]</a></sup><br />
In October 2009, <i>Carl Vinson</i> entered a four-month shipyard maintenance period at Northrup Grumman Newport News in preparation for her upcoming transit to the Pacific in the spring.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-navytimes.com_22-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-navytimes.com-22">[23]</a></sup> The ship was scheduled to transit around South America<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-navytimes.com_22-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-navytimes.com-22">[23]</a></sup> to her new home of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAS_North_Island" title="NAS North Island">NAS North Island</a> (San Diego), joining the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nimitz_%28CVN-68%29" title="USS Nimitz (CVN-68)"><i>Nimitz</i> (CVN-68)</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan_%28CVN-76%29" title="USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)"><i>Ronald Reagan</i> (CVN-76)</a>, by early 2010.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-23">[24]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="2010s">2010s</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_100115-N-4774B-898_The_Nimitz-class_aircraft_carrier_USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN_70%29_shown_operating_off_the_coast_of_Haiti.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="143" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/US_Navy_100115-N-4774B-898_The_Nimitz-class_aircraft_carrier_USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN_70%29_shown_operating_off_the_coast_of_Haiti.jpg/220px-US_Navy_100115-N-4774B-898_The_Nimitz-class_aircraft_carrier_USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN_70%29_shown_operating_off_the_coast_of_Haiti.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_100115-N-4774B-898_The_Nimitz-class_aircraft_carrier_USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN_70%29_shown_operating_off_the_coast_of_Haiti.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><i>Vinson</i> off Haiti, to aid in earthquake relief; the ship carried 19 helicopters specially for this mission.</div></div></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:100308-N-0808V-52.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="146" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/100308-N-0808V-52.jpg/220px-100308-N-0808V-52.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:100308-N-0808V-52.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The <i>Carl Vinson</i> in formation with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bunker_Hill_%28CG-52%29" title="USS Bunker Hill (CG-52)">USS <i>Bunker Hill</i></a> and Argentine frigate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARA_G%C3%B3mez_Roca_%28P-46%29" title="ARA Gómez Roca (P-46)">ARA <i>Gómez Roca</i></a> during Southern Seas 2010</div></div></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS-Carl-Vinson_Interior_2010.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="146" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/USS-Carl-Vinson_Interior_2010.jpg/220px-USS-Carl-Vinson_Interior_2010.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS-Carl-Vinson_Interior_2010.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Interior of USS Carl Vinson</div></div></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USSVinsonByPhilKonstantin.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="174" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/USSVinsonByPhilKonstantin.jpg/220px-USSVinsonByPhilKonstantin.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USSVinsonByPhilKonstantin.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>USS Carl Vinson in San Diego Bay, 2011</div></div></div>On 12 January 2010, just hours after the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Haiti_earthquake" title="2010 Haiti earthquake">2010 Haiti earthquake</a>, <i>Carl Vinson</i> was ordered to redirect from her current deployment in the North Atlantic Ocean to Haiti to contribute to the relief effort as part of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Unified_Response" title="Operation Unified Response">Operation Unified Response</a>. Upon receiving orders from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Southern_Command" title="United States Southern Command">USSOUTHCOM</a>, the <i>Carl Vinson</i> battle group proceeded to <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayport,_Florida" title="Mayport, Florida">Mayport, Florida</a> where the ships loitered offshore to receive additional supplies and helicopters. The ships arrived off <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_au_Prince" title="Port au Prince">Port au Prince</a> on 15 January 2010 to commence operations.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-24">[25]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-25">[26]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-26">[27]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN" title="CNN">CNN</a> medical correspondent and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurosurgeon" title="Neurosurgeon">neurosurgeon</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanjay_Gupta" title="Sanjay Gupta">Sanjay Gupta</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pediatric_surgeon" title="Pediatric surgeon">pediatric surgeon</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Ford" title="Henri Ford">Henri Ford</a>, and two Navy doctors removed a piece of concrete from the skull of a 12-year-old earthquake victim in an operation performed aboard <i>Carl Vinson</i> on 18 January.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-27">[28]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-28">[29]</a></sup> In addition to providing medical relief, CVN-70's excess <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desalination" title="Desalination">desalination</a> capacity was critical to providing water to Haiti's population during the earthquake relief.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-desalination_29-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-desalination-29">[30]</a></sup><br />
On March 2010, during her transit around South America performed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gringo-Gaucho" title="Gringo-Gaucho">Gringo-Gaucho / Southern Seas 2010</a> maneuvers with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine_Navy" title="Argentine Navy">Argentine Navy</a> <sup><a class="external text" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSwuCZSpFPc" rel="nofollow">video</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-30">[31]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-31">[32]</a></sup><br />
On 12 April 2010 the carrier arrived at her new home port of Naval Station North Island, San Diego California.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-32">[33]</a></sup><br />
On 30 November 2010, with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Air_Wing_Seventeen" title="Carrier Air Wing Seventeen">Carrier Air Wing Seventeen</a> embarked, the <i>Vinson</i> departed Naval Air Station North Island for a three-week <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_Unit_Training_Exercise" title="Composite Unit Training Exercise">composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX)</a> and its 2010–2011 deployment to the U.S. Seventh Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR) in the Western Pacific and U.S. Fifth Fleet Areas of Responsibility in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf as part of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Strike_Group_One" title="Carrier Strike Group One">Carrier Strike Group One</a>. This is the first Western Pacific deployment for <i>Vinson</i> in more than five years since the ship entered its Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) in the fall<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify" title="Wikipedia:Please clarify"><span title="The text in the vicinity of this tag needs clarification or removal of jargon from May 2011">clarification needed</span></a></i>]</sup> of 2005.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-33">[34]</a></sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability"><span title="The material in the vicinity of this tag failed verification of its source citation(s) from May 2011">not in citation given</span></a></i>]</sup><br />
On 11 April 2011 while operating in the Arabian Sea, an F/A-18 Hornet suffered an engine fire immediately after launch from the carrier. The aircraft returned to the carrier with one engine and the fire was extinguished without any damage to the ship or any injuries to the pilot or ship crew members.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-34">[35]</a></sup><br />
On 2 May 2011, following his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Osama_bin_Laden" title="Death of Osama bin Laden">death</a>, the body of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osama_bin_Laden" title="Osama bin Laden">Osama bin Laden</a> was brought aboard Carl Vinson, which was operating in the Northern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_Sea" title="Arabian Sea">Arabian Sea</a>, and buried at sea following <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_funeral" title="Islamic funeral">religious rites</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-35">[36]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-36">[37]</a></sup><br />
The ship docked in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_Bay" title="Manila Bay">Manila Bay</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines" title="Philippines">Philippines</a> from 15 to 18 May 2011 for a "routine port call and goodwill visit" meant to "highlight the strong historic, community, and military connections between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines." Among those given a special tour of this aircraft carrier were <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_President" title="Philippine President">Philippine President</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benigno_Aquino_III" title="Benigno Aquino III">Benigno Aquino III</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Ambassador" title="U.S. Ambassador">U.S. Ambassador</a> to the Philippines <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_K._Thomas,_Jr." title="Harry K. Thomas, Jr.">Harry K. Thomas, Jr.</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-37">[38]</a></sup> This brief visit was criticized by cause-oriented group <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagong_Alyansang_Makabayan" title="Bagong Alyansang Makabayan">Bagong Alyansang Makabayan</a> as well as Filipino youth leader <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Palatino" title="Raymond Palatino">Raymond Palatino</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_the_Philippines" title="University of the Philippines">University of the Philippines</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_science" title="Political science">political science</a> professor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarita_Carlos" title="Clarita Carlos">Clarita Carlos</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-38"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-38">[39]</a></sup><br />
The ship docked in Hong Kong in the Peoples Republic of China on Sunday, 22 May 2011 to take on supplies for its return to homeport San Diego, and to provide photo opportunities to the Chinese press. The ship returned to San Diego on 15 June 2011.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-39">[40]</a></sup><br />
On 21 June 2011, it was announced that the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_State_Spartans_men%27s_basketball" title="Michigan State Spartans men's basketball">Michigan State Spartans</a> would play a regular season men's basketball game against the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_Tar_Heels_men%27s_basketball" title="North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball">North Carolina Tar Heels</a> on the flight deck of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson" title="USS Carl Vinson">USS Carl Vinson</a> on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day" title="Veterans Day">Veterans Day</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-40">[41]</a></sup> On 11 November 2011, the inaugural <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Classic" title="Carrier Classic">Carrier Classic</a> took place at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_North_Island" title="Naval Air Station North Island">Naval Air Station North Island</a> on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_Bay" title="San Diego Bay">San Diego Bay</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronado,_California" title="Coronado, California">Coronado</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a>. <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._President" title="U.S. President">U.S. President</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama" title="Barack Obama">Barack Obama</a> was one of 8,111 people in attendance as the Tar Heels defeated the Spartans by a score of 67–55.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-41">[42]</a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USSCarlVinsonBasketballByPhilKonstantin.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="165" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/USSCarlVinsonBasketballByPhilKonstantin.jpg/220px-USSCarlVinsonBasketballByPhilKonstantin.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USSCarlVinsonBasketballByPhilKonstantin.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Deck of the USS Vinson set up for the Michigan State-North Carolina basketball game in 2011</div></div></div>On 30 November 2011, <i>Carl Vinson</i> departed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_North_Island" title="Naval Air Station North Island">Naval Air Station North Island</a>, California, on its scheduled Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NNS111130-04_42-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-NNS111130-04-42">[43]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-43">[44]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Awards">Awards</span></h2><i>Carl Vinson</i> has received numerous awards, including:<br />
<ul><li><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Efficiency_Award" title="Battle Efficiency Award">Battle "E"</a> – 1990, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_%28CVN-70%29#cite_note-44">[45]</a></sup></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meritorious_Unit_Commendation" title="Meritorious Unit Commendation">Meritorious Unit Commendation</a> – 1985, 1995, 1996, 1999</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_Unit_Commendation" title="Navy Unit Commendation">Navy Unit Commendation</a> – 1998, 2001</li>
<li>Vice Admiral <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_H._Flatley" title="James H. Flatley">James H. Flatley</a> Memorial Safety Award – 1985, 1988, 1994, 1996</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marjorie_Sterrett_Battleship_Fund_Award" title="Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award">Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award</a> – 2004</li>
</ul>Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-26969232658487208372012-01-21T22:48:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:14:32.434-08:00Cavour 550 Italian (Ship)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">Italian aircraft carrier <i>Cavour</i> (550)</h1><div id="siteSub"><br />
</div><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cavour_%28550%29.jpg"><img alt="Cavour (550).jpg" height="194" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Cavour_%28550%29.jpg/300px-Cavour_%28550%29.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
Cavour (550)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Career (Italy)</th> <th style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" height="35" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Naval_Ensign_of_Italy.svg/53px-Naval_Ensign_of_Italy.svg.png" width="53" /></span></th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Name:</td> <td>Cavour</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Builder:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fincantieri" title="Fincantieri">Fincantieri</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Laid down:</td> <td>July 17, 2001</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Launched:</td> <td>July 20, 2004</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Commissioned:</td> <td>March 27, 2008</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>In service:</td> <td>June 10, 2009</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Homeport:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Spezia" title="La Spezia">La Spezia</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Motto:</td> <td>In Arduis Servare Mentem</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Status:</td> <td>Active</td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">General characteristics</th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Type:</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_Carrier" title="Aircraft Carrier">CVH</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Displacement:</td> <td>27,100 tons 30,000 tons(full-load)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_aircraft_carrier_Cavour_%28550%29#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Length:</td> <td>244 m</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Beam:</td> <td>39 m</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Draught:</td> <td>8.7 m</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Propulsion:</td> <td>4 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avio" title="Avio">General Electric/Avio</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Electric_LM2500" title="General Electric LM2500">LM2500+</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_turbine" title="Gas turbine">gas turbines</a> providing 88.000 hp<br />
6 × Diesel generators (13.200 KW)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Speed:</td> <td>28+ knots</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Range:</td> <td>7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at 16 knots (30 km/h)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Complement:</td> <td>451 Crew<br />
203 Fleet Air Arm<br />
140 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C4ISTAR" title="C4ISTAR">C<sup>4</sup></a> staff<br />
325 Marines (standard)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armament:</td> <td>4 × 8 cell A-43 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylver_%28missile_launcher%29" title="Sylver (missile launcher)">Sylver launchers</a> carrying the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBDA_Aster" title="MBDA Aster">MBDA Aster 15</a> surface to air missile<br />
2 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oto_Melara" title="Oto Melara">Oto Melara</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otobreda_76_mm" title="Otobreda 76 mm">76/62 mm Super Rapido</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_artillery" title="Naval artillery">gun</a><br />
3 × <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oerlikon_Contraves" title="Oerlikon Contraves">Oerlikon Contraves</a> 25/80 mm <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-aircraft_warfare" title="Anti-aircraft warfare">AA</a> gun</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Aircraft carried:</td> <td>20<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_aircraft_carrier_Cavour_%28550%29#cite_note-1">[2]</a></sup><br />
<ul><li>8 x <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AV-8B_Harrier_II" title="AV-8B Harrier II">AV-8B Harrier IIs</a> (combat jet)</li>
<li>12 x <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AgustaWestland_EH101" title="AgustaWestland EH101">EH101 AEW/HEW</a> and other <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicopters" title="Helicopters">helicopters</a></li>
</ul>30 max load.</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Notes:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennant_number" title="Pennant number">Pennant</a> 550</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><b><i>Cavour</i> (550)</b> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_language" title="Italian language">Italian</a>: <span lang="it"><i>Portaerei Cavour</i></span>) is an Italian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a> (CVH) and the newest flagship of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marina_Militare" title="Marina Militare">Marina Militare</a> Italiana, the Italian Navy. She is named after the Italian statesman and politician <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camillo_Benso,_conte_di_Cavour" title="Camillo Benso, conte di Cavour">Camillo Benso, conte di Cavour</a>.<br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="History">History</span></h2><i>Cavour</i> was laid down by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fincantieri" title="Fincantieri">Fincantieri</a> on 17 July 2001, and she was launched from the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riva_Trigoso" title="Riva Trigoso">Riva Trigoso</a> shipyard in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sestri_Levante" title="Sestri Levante">Sestri Levante</a>, on 20 July 2004. Sea trials began in December 2006, and she was officially commissioned March 27, 2008. Full Operational Capability (FOC) was reached June 10, 2009. The ship was never moved to Taranto, as usually happens for the maintenance of the Italian Navy ships, because the dock is not deep enough to host it. It stays in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muggiano" title="Muggiano">Muggiano</a> harbour, close to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Spezia" title="La Spezia">La Spezia</a>.<br />
On 2010 January 19, Cavour was dispatched to Haiti as part of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_White_Crane" title="Operation White Crane">Operation White Crane</a>, Italy's operation for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Haiti_earthquake" title="2010 Haiti earthquake">2010 Haiti earthquake</a> relief.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_aircraft_carrier_Cavour_%28550%29#cite_note-2">[3]</a></sup><br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Navy" title="Italian Navy">Italian Navy</a> is to receive 22 aircraft <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-35_Lightning_II" title="Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II">F-35B</a> between 2014 and 2021, with its <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavour_%28550%29" title="Cavour (550)">Cavour aircraft carrier</a> set to be modified to operate them by 2016.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_aircraft_carrier_Cavour_%28550%29#cite_note-3">[4]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Description">Description</span></h2><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 202px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cavour_Napoli.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="150" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Cavour_Napoli.jpg/200px-Cavour_Napoli.jpg" width="200" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cavour_Napoli.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The "Cavour" maneuvering</div></div></div>The ship is designed to combine fixed wing V/STOL and helicopter air operations, command and control operations and the transport of military or civil personnel and heavy vehicles. The 134 metre, 2,800 m<sup>2</sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangar" title="Hangar">hangar</a> space can double as a vehicle hold capable of holding up to 24 main battle tanks (typically <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariete" title="Ariete">Ariete</a>) or many more lighter vehicles (50 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dardo_IFV" title="Dardo IFV">Dardo IFV</a>, 100+ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iveco_LMV" title="Iveco LMV">Iveco LMV</a>), and is fitted aft with access ramps rated to 70 tons, as well as two elevators rated up to 30 tons for aircraft. Cavour can also operate as Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH), accommodating heavy transport helicopters (<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eh_101" title="Eh 101">EH 101 ASH</a>) and ~325 marines.<br />
Cavour has a displacement of 27,900 tons but can reach more than 30,000 tons at full military capacity, after improvements done in 2008.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_aircraft_carrier_Cavour_%28550%29#cite_note-4">[5]</a></sup><br />
Initially she was to be named after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Einaudi" title="Luigi Einaudi">Luigi Einaudi</a>, then Admiral <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Doria" title="Andrea Doria">Andrea Doria</a>, before receiving her current title. Now that <i>Cavour</i> has become operational, it is the <i>Nuova Unità Maggiore</i> (NUM, or New Main Unit) of the Marina Militare, complementing the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Garibaldi_%28551%29" title="Giuseppe Garibaldi (551)"><i>Giuseppe Garibaldi</i></a>. The ship was originally constructed in two sections (bow and stern) then later fused together.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="First_mission">First mission</span></h2>The first mission of the aircraft carrier was in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiti" title="Haiti">Haiti</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operazione_White_Crane" title="Operazione White Crane">Operazione White Crane</a>), where it supplemented international efforts to provide relief for the victims of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Haiti_earthquake" title="2010 Haiti earthquake">January 2010 earthquake</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_aircraft_carrier_Cavour_%28550%29#cite_note-5"></a>Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-29082468718524035892012-01-21T20:52:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:14:07.237-08:00Admiral Kuznetsov (Ship)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov</h1><br />
<table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kusnzov2.jpg" title="An overhead view of Admiral Kuznetsov."><img alt="An overhead view of Admiral Kuznetsov." height="198" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Kusnzov2.jpg/300px-Kusnzov2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Career (Soviet Union ⁄ Russia)</th> <th style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" height="35" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Naval_Ensign_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg/53px-Naval_Ensign_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg.png" width="53" /></span> <span class="flagicon"><img alt="" height="35" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Naval_Ensign_of_Russia.svg/53px-Naval_Ensign_of_Russia.svg.png" width="53" /></span></th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Name:</td> <td><i>Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov</i> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language" title="Russian language">Russian</a>: <span lang="ru">Адмирал Флота Советского Союза Кузнецов</span>)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Namesake:</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Gerasimovich_Kuznetsov" title="Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov">Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Ordered:</td> <td>March 3, 1981</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Builder:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sea_Shipyard" title="Black Sea Shipyard">Nikolayev South</a><br />
<i>Designer:</i> Nevskoye Planning and Design Bureau</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Laid down:</td> <td>22 February 1983</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Launched:</td> <td>5 December 1985</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Commissioned:</td> <td>21 January 1991<br />
Fully operational in 1995</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Status:</td> <td>in active service, as of 2012</td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">General characteristics</th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Class and type:</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov class aircraft carrier"><i>Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov</i>-class</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Displacement:</td> <td><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-military-heat.com_0-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-military-heat.com-0">[1]</a></sup><br />
<ul><li>43,000 tons (Standard-load)</li>
<li>55,000 tons (Full-load)</li>
<li>58,600 tons (Max-load)</li>
</ul></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Length:</td> <td>1,005.5 ft (306.5 m) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Length_overall" title="Length overall">o/a</a><br />
900 ft (270 m) <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Length_at_the_waterline" title="Length at the waterline">w/l</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Beam:</td> <td>237.2 ft (72.3 m) o/a<br />
125 ft (38 m) w/l</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Draft:</td> <td>29.9 ft (9.1 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Propulsion:</td> <td>Steam turbines, 8 turbo-pressurised boilers, 4 shafts, 200,000 hp (150 MW)<br />
2 × 50,000 hp (37 MW) turbines<br />
9 × 2,011 hp (1,500 kW) turbogenerators<br />
6 × 2,011 hp (1,500 kW) diesel generators<br />
4 × fixed pitch propellers</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Speed:</td> <td>32 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knot_%28unit%29" title="Knot (unit)">knots</a> (37 mph; 59 km/h)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Range:</td> <td>8,500 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nautical_mile" title="Nautical mile">nmi</a> (15,700 km) at 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Endurance:</td> <td>45 days</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Complement:</td> <td>1,993 (total); 1,960 ship's crew<br />
626 air group<br />
40 flag staff<br />
3,857 rooms</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armament:</td> <td>• 8 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-630" title="AK-630">AK-630</a> AA guns (6×30 mm, 6,000 round/min/mount, 24,000 rounds)<br />
• 8 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashtan_CIWS" title="Kashtan CIWS">CADS-N-1 Kashtan</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close-in_weapon_system" title="Close-in weapon system">CIWS</a> (each 2 × 30 mm Gatling AA plus 32 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SA-19_Grisom" title="SA-19 Grisom">3K87 <i>Kortik</i></a> SAM)<br />
• 12 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-700_Granit" title="P-700 Granit">P-700 <i>Granit</i></a> SSM<br />
• 18 × 8-cell <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SA-15_Gauntlet" title="SA-15 Gauntlet">3K95 <i>Kinzhal</i></a> SAM <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_launching_system" title="Vertical launching system">VLS</a> (192 missiles; 1 missile per 3 seconds)<br />
• <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udav-1_anti-submarine_system" title="Udav-1 anti-submarine system">RBU-12000 UDAV-1</a> ASW rocket launchers (60 rockets)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Aircraft carried:</td> <td>41-52<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-military-heat.com_0-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-military-heat.com-0">[1]</a></sup><br />
<ul><li>Fixed Wing; <ul><li>14 × <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Su-33" title="Su-33">Su-33</a> fighters (current)</li>
<li>28 × <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiG-29K" title="MiG-29K">MiG-29K</a> fighters<br />
(planned after refit)</li>
<li>4 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-25" title="Sukhoi Su-25">Sukhoi Su-25</a>UTG/UBP aircraft</li>
</ul></li>
<li>Rotary Wing; <ul><li>4 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamov_Ka-27" title="Kamov Ka-27">Kamov Ka-27</a>LD32 helicopters</li>
<li>11 × Kamov Ka-27PLO helicopters</li>
<li>2 × Kamov Ka-27S helicopters</li>
</ul></li>
</ul></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><i><b>Admiral Flota Sovetskovo Soyuza Kuznetsov</b></i> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language" title="Russian language">Russian</a>: <span lang="ru">Адмирал флота Советского Союза Кузнецов</span> "Fleet Admiral of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov"), originally named <i><b>Riga</b></i>, renamed <i><b>Leonid Brezhnev</b></i> then <i><b>Tbilisi</b></i><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-nwcr_flightops_1-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-nwcr_flightops-1">[2]</a></sup>) is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_cruiser" title="Aircraft cruiser">aircraft cruiser</a> (heavy aircraft carrying missile cruiser (TAVKR) in Russian classification) serving as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagship" title="Flagship">flagship</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Navy" title="Russian Navy">Russian Navy</a>.<br />
She was originally commissioned in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Navy" title="Soviet Navy">Soviet Navy</a>, and was intended to be the lead ship of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiral_Kuznetsov_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Admiral Kuznetsov class aircraft carrier">her class</a>, but the only other ship of her class, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_aircraft_carrier_Varyag" title="Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag"><i>Varyag</i></a>, was never commissioned and was sold to the People's Republic of China by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine" title="Ukraine">Ukraine</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-nwrc_winter2004_china_ambitions_2-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-nwrc_winter2004_china_ambitions-2">[3]</a></sup> <i>Kuznetsov</i> was named after the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union" title="Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union">Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Gerasimovich_Kuznetsov" title="Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov">Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov</a>.<br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Role">Role</span></h2><table class="metadata plainlinks ambox ambox-style ambox-More_footnotes"><tbody>
<tr> <td class="mbox-image"><div style="width: 52px;"><img alt="" height="40" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg/40px-Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg.png" width="40" /></div></td> <td class="mbox-text">This section includes a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">list of references</a>, but <b>its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#Adding_the_citation" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">inline citations</a></b>. Please help to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Fact_and_Reference_Check" title="Wikipedia:WikiProject Fact and Reference Check">improve</a> this article by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:When_to_cite" title="Wikipedia:When to cite">introducing</a> more precise citations. <small><i>(August 2011)</i></small></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>While designated an aircraft carrier by the West, the design of the <i>Admiral Kuznetsov'</i> class implies a mission different from that of either the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">United States Navy</a>’s carriers or those of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy" title="Royal Navy">Royal Navy</a>. The term used by her builders to describe the Russian ships is <i>tyazholyy avianesushchiy raketnyy kreyser</i> (TAVKR or TARKR) - “heavy aircraft-carrying missile <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruiser" title="Cruiser">cruiser</a>” - intended to support and defend strategic missile-carrying submarines, surface ships, and naval missile-carrying aircraft of the Russian Navy.<br />
<div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ussr_cv.svg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="148" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Ussr_cv.svg/220px-Ussr_cv.svg.png" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ussr_cv.svg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The deck configuration has three launch positions for fixed-wing aircraft.</div></div></div>The <i>Admiral Kuznetsov'</i>s main fixed-wing aircraft is the multi-role <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-33" title="Sukhoi Su-33">Sukhoi Su-33</a>. It can perform <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_superiority" title="Air superiority">air superiority</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_air_patrol" title="Combat air patrol">fleet defence</a>, and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_support" title="Air support">air support</a> missions and can also be used for direct fire support of amphibiuous assault, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_reconnaissance" title="Aerial reconnaissance">reconnaissance</a> and placement of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_mine" title="Naval mine">naval mines</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-knaapo_3-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-knaapo-3">[4]</a></sup><br />
It is augmented by the twin seat Su-33UB<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from December 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup>, which is also used for pilot training along with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-25#Su-25UTG" title="Sukhoi Su-25">Su-25UTG</a>. The carrier also carries the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamov_Ka-27" title="Kamov Ka-27">Kamov Ka-27</a> and Kamov Ka-27S helicopters for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-submarine_warfare" title="Anti-submarine warfare">anti-submarine warfare</a>, search and rescue, and small transport.<br />
For take-off of the fixed wing aircraft, the <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i> uses a ski-jump at the end of her deck. On take-off aircraft accelerate toward and up the ski-jump using their <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afterburner" title="Afterburner">afterburners</a>. This results in the aircraft leaving the deck at a higher angle and elevation than on an aircraft carrier with a flat deck and catapults. The ski-jump take-off is less demanding on the pilot, since the acceleration is lower, but results in a clearance speed of only 120–140 km/h (75-85 mph) requiring an aircraft design which will not stall at those speeds.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-4">[5]</a></sup><br />
The <i>cruiser</i> role is facilitated by the <i>Kuznetsov's</i> complement of 12 long-range surface-to-surface anti-ship Granit (<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS-N-19" title="SS-N-19">SS-N-19</a>) (NATO name SHIPWRECK) cruise missiles. This armament justifies the ship's Russian type designator "heavy aircraft carrying cruiser".<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="History">History</span></h2><i>Admiral Flota Sovetskovo Soyuza Kuznetsov</i>, constructed at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sea_Shipyard" title="Black Sea Shipyard">Nikolayev South Shipyard</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mykolaiv" title="Mykolaiv">Nikolayev</a>, Ukrainian SSR, was launched in 1985, and became fully operational in 1995. An official ceremony marking the start of construction took place on 1 September 1982; in fact she was laid down in 1983. The vessel was first named <i>Riga</i>, but in November 1982 the name was changed to <i>Leonid Brezhnev</i>.<br />
In August 1987 she was renamed the <i>Tbilisi</i>, and finally on 4 October 1990 to <i>Admiral Flota Sovetskovo Soyuza Kuznetsov</i>, referred to in short as <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i>. The ship was 71% complete by mid-1989. In November 1989 she undertook her first aircraft operation trials. In December 1991, she sailed from the Black Sea to join the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Fleet" title="Northern Fleet">Northern Fleet</a>. Only from 1993 on did she receive aircraft.<br />
<b>* 1995-96 Mediterranean Deployment</b><br />
<i>Kuznetsov</i> made a Mediterranean cruise early in 1996, marking the 300th anniversary of the Russian Navy. During that period the carrier lay at anchor at sea off the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria" title="Syria">Syrian</a> harbour of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartus" title="Tartus">Tartus</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Encounters_5-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-Encounters-5">[6]</a></sup> and her aircraft, mainly <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-33" title="Sukhoi Su-33">Su-33</a> fighters, made flights close to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel" title="Israel">Israeli</a> shore line and were intercepted by Israeli <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-16" title="F-16">F-16s</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Encounters_5-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-Encounters-5">[6]</a></sup><br />
<b>* 1997-98</b><br />
At the end of 1997 she remained immobilized in a Northern Fleet shipyard, awaiting funding for major repairs, which were halted when they were only 20% complete. The overhaul was completed in July 1998, and the ship returned to active service in the Northern fleet on 3 November 1998.<br />
<b>* 2000</b><br />
The <i>Kuznetsov</i> apparently remained in port for about two years before preparing for another Mediterranean deployment scheduled for the winter of 2000-2001. This deployment was cancelled due to the loss of the nuclear-powered submarine <i>Kursk</i>. The <i>Kuznetsov</i> participated in operations related to the rescue and salvage of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_submarine_Kursk" title="Russian submarine Kursk"><i>Kursk</i></a> submarine in late 2000. Plans for further operations were postponed or cancelled.<br />
<b>* 2003-04</b><br />
In late 2003 and early 2004, the <i>Kuznetsov</i> went to sea for inspection and trials. In late October 2004, she participated in a fleet exercise of the Russian Navy in the Atlantic Ocean,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-6">[7]</a></sup> and again in September 2005. During the 2005 exercise, one of her <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Su-33" title="Su-33">Su-33</a> fighters was involved in an accident, and fell from the carrier into the Atlantic Ocean.<br />
Although financial and technical problems have resulted in limited operations for the ship,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-7">[8]</a></sup> it is expected that <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i> will remain in active duty until at least 2030.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-8">[9]</a></sup><br />
<b>* 2006</b><br />
On 27 September 2006 it was announced that <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i> will return to service in the Northern Fleet by the end of the year. The ship will undergo another modernization refit, in an attempt to correct some of her many technical issues. Admiral <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Masorin" title="Vladimir Masorin">Vladimir Masorin</a>, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, also stated that several <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Su-33" title="Su-33">Su-33</a> fighters assigned to the aircraft carrier would return to the ship after undergoing maintenance and refits of their own.<br />
<b>* 2007-08 Mediterranean deployment</b><br />
On 11 December 2007, <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i> passed by Norwegian oil platforms in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Sea" title="North Sea">North Sea</a>, 60 nautical miles (110 km) outside <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergen" title="Bergen">Bergen</a>, Norway.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-9">[10]</a></sup> Su-33 fighters and Kamov helicopters were launched from the carrier while she was in the area of the rigs. The incident caused the Norwegian helicopter service to stop its flights out to the rigs, due to a risk of collision with Russian aircraft operating from the carrier. The Russian carrier was in international waters during the manoeuvre.<br />
The <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i> then proceeded to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_Sea" title="Mediterranean Sea">Mediterranean Sea</a>, where she participated in an exercise together with 11 other Russian Navy surface ships and 47 aircraft. She performed three tactical training missions, using live and simulated missile launches with both air and surface missiles.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-10">[11]</a></sup><br />
The aircraft carrier arrived back in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severomorsk" title="Severomorsk">Severomorsk</a> on 3 February 2008 along with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udaloy_class_destroyer" title="Udaloy class destroyer">Udaloy II class</a> destroyer <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Russian_destroyer_Admiral_Chabanenko&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Russian destroyer Admiral Chabanenko (page does not exist)"><i>Admiral Chabanenko</i></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udaloy_class_destroyer" title="Udaloy class destroyer">Udaloy I class</a> ASW Destroyer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_destroyer_Admiral_Levchenko" title="Russian destroyer Admiral Levchenko"><i>Admiral Levchenko</i></a>.<br />
After a maintenance period she was back at sea on 11 October 2008 where drills were held in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barents_Sea" title="Barents Sea">Barents Sea</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Russia" title="President of Russia">Russian President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitry_Medvedev" title="Dmitry Medvedev">Dmitry Medvedev</a> visited the ship on 12 October 2008 during the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stability-2008" title="Stability-2008">Stability-2008</a> strategic exercises.<br />
<b>* 2008-09 Mediterranean deployment</b><br />
On 5 December 2008 the aircraft carrier and several other vessels left Severomorsk heading for the Atlantic on a tour which was announced would be lasting several months and which would include combat training including joint drills with Russia's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sea_Fleet" title="Black Sea Fleet">Black Sea Fleet</a> and visits to several ports in the Mediterranean.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-11">[12]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-12">[13]</a></sup> On this tour while the <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i> anchored off <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a> on 7 January 2009 a small fire broke out on the ship. One crewmember was killed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide_poisoning" title="Carbon monoxide poisoning">carbon monoxide poisoning</a>. The fire was caused by a short-circuit.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-13">[14]</a></sup><br />
On 16 February 2009, the <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i>, along with other Russian naval vessels was involved in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Cork_oil_spill" title="West Cork oil spill">a large oil spill</a> while she refuelled off the south coast of Ireland.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-times1_14-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-times1-14">[15]</a></sup><br />
On 2 March 2009 the <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i> returned to her main base in Severomorsk after a three-month voyage in the Northern Atlantic and the Mediterranean waters.<br />
<b>* 2010</b><br />
In September 2010 the <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i> left a dry dock after scheduled repairs and is getting ready for a training mission in the Barents Sea at the end of that month.<br />
<b>* 2011-12 Mediterranean deployment</b><br />
The Russian Main Navy Staff has announced that the <i>Kuznetsov</i> will begin a deployment to the Atlantic and Mediterranean in the early days of December. The carrier will be escorted by the large ASW ship <i>Admiral Chabanenko</i>. In late November 2011, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pravda" title="Pravda">Pravda</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuters" title="Reuters">Reuters</a> announced that a squardon led by the <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i> will deploy to its naval base in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartus" title="Tartus">Tartus</a> as a show of support for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assad_family" title="Assad family">al-Assad regime</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-15">[16]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-16">[17]</a></sup> However, in contradiction a Russian naval spokesman stated to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izvestia" title="Izvestia">Izvestia</a> daily that "The call of the Russian ships in Tartus should not be seen as a gesture towards what is going on in Syria," and "This was planned already in 2010 when there were no such events there. There has been active preparation and there is no need to cancel this," noting that the <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i> would also be making port calls in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beirut" title="Beirut">Beirut</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genoa" title="Genoa">Genoa</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus" title="Cyprus">Cyprus</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-17">[18]</a></sup><br />
On 29 November 2011, Army General <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolay_Makarov" title="Nikolay Makarov">Nikolay Makarov</a>, Chief of the Russian General Staff, said that sending ships of the Russian Navy to the Mediterranean Sea is linked to exercises and not to the situation in Syria. "In the event of necessity, namely to carry out repairs, to take water and food on board and to allow rest for the crews, Russian ships may visit Tartus but in this case this has not been included in the plan of the trip," the Interfax source said. He also noted that the size of <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i> does not allow it to moor in Tartus because the port does not have suitable infrastructure, i.e. large enough mooring.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-18">[19]</a></sup><br />
On 6 November 2011, the <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i> and escorting ships departed its Northern Fleet homebase for a several month Mediterranean deployment. During the deployment <i>Kuznetsov</i> will also exercise with ships from the Russian Baltic and Black Sea Fleets.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-19">[20]</a></sup><br />
On 12 December 2011 the <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i> with its carrier group, has been spotted northeast of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orkney" title="Orkney">Orkneys</a> off the coast of northern Scotland from where it has been shadowed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_York_%28D98%29" title="HMS York (D98)">HMS York</a> for a week. This was the first time the carrier had deployed near the UK; due to severe weather, the group took shelter in international waters in the Moray Firth, some 30 miles from the UK coast. The Kuznetsov then sailed around the top of Scotland and into the Atlantic past western Ireland, where it conducted flying operations with her <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-33" title="Sukhoi Su-33">Sukhoi Su-33 Flanker</a> jets and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamov_Ka-27" title="Kamov Ka-27">Kamov Ka-27</a> helicopters in international airspace.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-20">[21]</a></sup><br />
On 8 January 2012, the <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i> anchored near shore outside of Tartus while other ships in its escort entered the port to use the leased Russian naval support facility. After replenishing supplies, all of the ships will continue their Mediterranean deployment on 9 January.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-21">[22]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="MiG-29K_for_the_Admiral_Kuznetsov">MiG-29K for the <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i></span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%9C%D0%90%D0%9A%D0%A1-2007-%D0%97%D0%92%D0%93-016.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="140" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/%D0%9C%D0%90%D0%9A%D0%A1-2007-%D0%97%D0%92%D0%93-016.jpg/220px-%D0%9C%D0%90%D0%9A%D0%A1-2007-%D0%97%D0%92%D0%93-016.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%9C%D0%90%D0%9A%D0%A1-2007-%D0%97%D0%92%D0%93-016.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>MiG-29KUB jet at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramenskoye_Airport" title="Ramenskoye Airport">Zhukovskiy</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gromov_Flight_Research_Institute" title="Gromov Flight Research Institute">LII</a> air field</div></div></div>According to the newspaper "Bulletin Reports," the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Navy" title="Russian Navy">Russian Navy</a> expects to buy the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan_MiG-29K" title="Mikoyan MiG-29K">Mikoyan MiG-29K</a> for the <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i> by 2011, according to an informed source in the Russian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Defence_%28Russia%29" title="Ministry of Defence (Russia)">Ministry of Defence</a>, noting that the contract may be concluded in the next two years. Information was confirmed by the general designer of one of the defence enterprises, which produces sub-assemblies for these aircraft, while the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiG" title="MiG">MiG corporation</a> refrained from comment.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rusnavy_22-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-rusnavy-22">[23]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-23">[24]</a></sup><br />
Currently, the Navy has a fleet of 19 carrier-based Su-33 fighters, a resource which will expire by 2015. The production of new Su-33 is possible, but not cost-effective for such small volumes. At the same time, the MiG-29K in this respect are more convenient, because the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Navy" title="Indian Navy">Indian Navy</a> has already ordered 16 aircraft and plans to buy at least 30 planes. As noted by Konstantin Makienko, it lessens the series article cost and allows Russia to save on development. India has paid 730 million dollars for the development and delivery of 16 fighters, while the 24 planes for Russia's fleet would cost about $1 billion.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rusnavy_22-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-rusnavy-22">[23]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Mid-life_refit">Mid-life refit</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dmitry_Medvedev_on_the_Admiral_Kuznetsov.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="147" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Dmitry_Medvedev_on_the_Admiral_Kuznetsov.jpg/220px-Dmitry_Medvedev_on_the_Admiral_Kuznetsov.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dmitry_Medvedev_on_the_Admiral_Kuznetsov.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitry_Medvedev" title="Dmitry Medvedev">Dmitry Medvedev</a> and Defence Minister <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatoly_Serdyukov" title="Anatoly Serdyukov">Anatoly Serdyukov</a> aboard <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i> in October 2008</div></div></div>In April 2010 it was announced that by the end of 2012 the ship will enter <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severodvinsk" title="Severodvinsk">Severodvinsk</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sevmash" title="Sevmash">Sevmash</a> shipyard for a major refit and modernisation.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-en.rian.ru_24-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_of_the_Fleet_of_the_Soviet_Union_Kuznetsov#cite_note-en.rian.ru-24">[25]</a></sup> The report states that the refit will include upgrades to the obsolete electronics and sensor equipment, installation of the new anti-aircraft system and increase of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_air_wing" title="Carrier air wing">air wing</a> by the removal of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-700_Granit" title="P-700 Granit">P-700 Granit</a> anti-ship missiles. Upgrades might also include exchanging the troublesome steam powerplant to the gas-turbine or even nuclear propulsion and installation of catapults to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_deck#Angled_flight_deck" title="Flight deck">angled deck</a>Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-45344441545226439662012-01-15T01:07:00.000-08:002012-01-21T20:45:20.370-08:00USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72 (Ship)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">
USS <i>Abraham Lincoln</i> (CVN-72)</h1>
<br />
<table class="metadata plainlinks ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mbox-image"><br /></td><td class="mbox-text"><small><i></i></small></td> </tr>
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<table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Abraham_Lincoln%28CVN_72%29.jpg" title="USS Abraham Lincoln, supporting Operation Southern Watch, 28 November 2002"><img alt="USS Abraham Lincoln, supporting Operation Southern Watch, 28 November 2002" height="197" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/USS_Abraham_Lincoln%28CVN_72%29.jpg/300px-USS_Abraham_Lincoln%28CVN_72%29.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
USS <i>Abraham Lincoln</i> underway, with support aircraft overhead, in the Western Pacific Ocean, 8 May 2006</td> </tr>
<tr> <th height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Career (United States)</th> <th style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" height="35" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/67px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" width="67" /></span></th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Name:</td> <td>USS <i>Abraham Lincoln</i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Namesake:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln" title="Abraham Lincoln">Abraham Lincoln</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Ordered:</td> <td>27 December 1982</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Builder:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_News_Shipbuilding" title="Newport News Shipbuilding">Newport News Shipbuilding</a> Co.</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Laid down:</td> <td>3 November 1984</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Launched:</td> <td>13 February 1988</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Christened:</td> <td>13 February 1988</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Commissioned:</td> <td>11 November 1989</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Homeport:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_Everett" title="Naval Station Everett">NS Everett</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_%28U.S._state%29" title="Washington (U.S. state)">Washington</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Motto:</td> <td><i>Shall not Perish</i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Nickname:</td> <td><i>Abe</i></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Status:</td> <td>in active service, as of 2012</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Badge:</td> <td><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cvn72_badge.jpg"><img alt="Cvn72 badge.jpg" height="100" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a2/Cvn72_badge.jpg/100px-Cvn72_badge.jpg" width="100" /></a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" height="30" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">General characteristics</th> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Class and type:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier"><i>Nimitz</i>-class</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Displacement:</td> <td>100,000 long tons (110,000 short tons)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Length:</td> <td>Overall: 1,092 feet (332.8 m)<br />
Waterline: 1,040 feet (317.0 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Beam:</td> <td>Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m)<br />
Waterline: 134 ft (40.8 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Draft:</td> <td>Maximum navigational: 37 ft (11.3 m)<br />
Limit: 41 ft (12.5 m)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Propulsion:</td> <td>2 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westinghouse_Electric_Company" title="Westinghouse Electric Company">Westinghouse</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A4W_reactor" title="A4W reactor">A4W nuclear reactors</a><br />
4 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_turbine" title="Steam turbine">steam turbines</a><br />
4 × shafts<br />
260,000 shp (194 MW)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Speed:</td> <td>30+ knots (56+ km/h; 35+ mph)</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Range:</td> <td>Unlimited distance; 20-25 years</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Complement:</td> <td>Ship's company: 3,200<br />
Air wing: 2,480</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Sensors and<br />
processing systems:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/SPS-48" title="AN/SPS-48">AN/SPS-48E</a> 3-D air search radar<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/SPS-49" title="AN/SPS-49">AN/SPS-49(V)5</a> 2-D air search radar<br />
AN/SPQ-9B target acquisition radar<br />
<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/SPN-46" title="AN/SPN-46">AN/SPN-46</a> air traffic control radars<br />
<a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AN/SPN-43&action=edit&redlink=1" title="AN/SPN-43 (page does not exist)">AN/SPN-43C</a> air traffic control radar<br />
<a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AN/SPN-41&action=edit&redlink=1" title="AN/SPN-41 (page does not exist)">AN/SPN-41</a> landing aid radars<br />
4 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems<br />
4 × Mk 95 radars</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Electronic warfare<br />
and decoys:</td> <td>SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite<br />
SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armament:</td> <td>2 × Mk 57 Mod3 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Sparrow" title="Sea Sparrow">Sea Sparrow</a><br />
2 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIM-116_Rolling_Airframe_Missile" title="RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile">RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile</a><br />
3 × <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS" title="Phalanx CIWS">Phalanx CIWS</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Armor:</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classified_information" title="Classified information">Classified</a></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td>Aircraft carried:</td> <td>90 fixed wing and helicopters</td> </tr>
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<b>USS <i>Abraham Lincoln</i> (CVN-72)</b>, is the fifth <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier"><i>Nimitz</i>-class supercarrier</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">United States Navy</a>. She is the second Navy ship named after former president <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln" title="Abraham Lincoln">Abraham Lincoln</a>. Her home port is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_Everett" title="Naval Station Everett">Everett, Washington</a>.<br />
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<h2>
<span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Ship_history">Ship history</span></h2>
<h3>
<span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Construction">Construction</span></h3>
<i>Lincoln'</i>s contract was awarded to <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_Newport_News" title="Northrop Grumman Newport News">Newport News Shipbuilding</a> on 27 December 1982; her keel was laid 3 November 1984 at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_News,_Virginia" title="Newport News, Virginia">Newport News, Virginia</a>. The ship was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_naming_and_launching" title="Ship naming and launching">launched</a> on 13 February 1988 and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_commissioning" title="Ship commissioning">commissioned</a> on 11 November 1989. She cost $4.5 billion in 2007 dollars.<br />
<h3>
<span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="1990_to_1999">1990 to 1999</span></h3>
<i>Abraham Lincoln</i> was transferred to the Pacific in September 1990 performing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gringo-Gaucho" title="Gringo-Gaucho">Gringo-Gaucho</a> with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine_Naval_Aviation" title="Argentine Naval Aviation">Argentine Naval Aviation</a> during her transit. Her maiden <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Ocean" title="Pacific Ocean">Western Pacific</a> deployment came unexpectedly on 28 May 1991 in response to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War#Operation_Desert_Shield" title="Gulf War">Operation Desert Shield</a>/<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Desert_Storm" title="Operation Desert Storm">Desert Storm</a>.<br />
While heading towards the Indian Ocean, the ship was diverted to support evacuation operations after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Pinatubo" title="Mount Pinatubo">Mount Pinatubo</a> erupted on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luzon" title="Luzon">Luzon</a> Island in the Philippines. In support of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Fiery_Vigil" title="Operation Fiery Vigil">Operation Fiery Vigil</a>, <i>Lincoln</i> led a 23-ship armada that moved over 45,000 people from the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subic_Bay_Naval_Station" title="Subic Bay Naval Station">Subic Bay Naval Station</a> to the port of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cebu_City" title="Cebu City">Cebu</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visayas" title="Visayas">Visayas</a>. It was the largest peacetime evacuation of active military personnel and their families in history.<br />
After Fiery Vigil, <i>Lincoln</i> steamed toward the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a>, to run reconnaissance and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_air_patrol" title="Combat air patrol">combat air patrols</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait" title="Kuwait">Kuwait</a>, assisting allied and US troops involved with Desert Storm.<br />
In early 1992, the ship was at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_Alameda" title="Naval Air Station Alameda">Naval Air Station Alameda</a> on Ship's Restricted Availability (SRA) for minor maintenance and refitting.<br />
From June 1993 <i>Lincoln</i> was the flagship of Commander, Carrier Group Three.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29#cite_note-1">[2]</a></sup> In October 1993, the carrier was ordered to the coast of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia" title="Somalia">Somalia</a> to assist UN humanitarian operations. For four weeks, <i>Abraham Lincoln</i> flew air patrols over <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mogadishu" title="Mogadishu">Mogadishu</a> in support of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Restore_Hope" title="Operation Restore Hope">Operation Restore Hope</a>.<br />
<i>Abraham Lincoln</i> was to be the first carrier to integrate female aviators into the crew after the Combat Exclusion Laws were lifted on 28 April 1993. The ship left <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_San_Diego" title="Naval Station San Diego">San Diego</a> on 24 October 1994, to begin refresher training. The next day, Lieutenant <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kara_Spears_Hultgreen" title="Kara Spears Hultgreen">Kara Spears Hultgreen</a>, first female <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-14_Tomcat" title="F-14 Tomcat">F-14 Tomcat</a> pilot, died when her plane crashed into the sea on final approach due to a combination of engine malfunction and pilot error.<br />
<i>Abraham Lincoln'</i>s third deployment began in April 1995 when <i>Lincoln</i> was sent to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a>, where the ship assisted in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Watch" title="Southern Watch">Southern Watch</a> and in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Vigilant_Sentinel" title="Operation Vigilant Sentinel">Operation Vigilant Sentinel</a>.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from April 2009">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> During an underway replenishment, the <i>Lincoln</i> was run into by USS Sacramento when the Sacramento had steering difficulties due to a split rudder, crushing the port side of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Sacramento_%28AOE-1%29" title="USS Sacramento (AOE-1)">USS <i>Sacramento</i></a>, crushing the M-frames, partially crushing a female crew berthing area, and punching a large hole in the <i>Sacramento</i>’s superstructure. (TACAN room) The <i>Lincoln</i> was able to continue on with her mission while the <i>Sacramento</i> had to dock at Jebel Ali, U.A.E. for several weeks for repair.<br />
Later that year, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighthouse_and_naval_vessel_urban_legend" title="Lighthouse and naval vessel urban legend">a supposed transcript of an exchange</a> between the <i>Abraham Lincoln</i> and a Canadian lighthouse was widely disseminated on the Internet. The Navy has officially denied it occurred,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-USN_denial_2-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29#cite_note-USN_denial-2">[3]</a></sup> but it continues to circulate.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Snopes_lighthouse_page_3-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29#cite_note-Snopes_lighthouse_page-3">[4]</a></sup><br />
<h4>
<span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Operation_Infinite_Reach">Operation Infinite Reach</span></h4>
<i>Abraham Lincoln</i> began a fourth deployment in June 1998. Once again, the ship headed for the Persian Gulf in support of operation Southern Watch. During this deployment, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Strike_Group_Nine" title="Carrier Strike Group Nine">USS Abraham Lincoln Battle Group</a> launched <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_cruise_missiles" title="Tomahawk cruise missiles">Tomahawk cruise missiles</a> against two sites. First was a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Shifa_pharmaceutical_factory" title="Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory">Sudanese Pharmecutical company</a> suspected of assisting <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osama_Bin_Laden" title="Osama Bin Laden">Osama Bin Laden</a> in making chemical weapons. The second was Bin Laden's terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. These Strikes were ordered by President Clinton 13 days after terrorists <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_United_States_embassy_bombings" title="1998 United States embassy bombings">bombed the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania</a> and was codenamed <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Infinite_Reach" title="Operation Infinite Reach">Operation Infinite Reach</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29#cite_note-4">[5]</a></sup> The USS Abraham Lincoln was awarded the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_Expeditionary_Medal" title="Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal">Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal</a>, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Strike_Group_Nine" title="Carrier Strike Group Nine">USS Abraham Lincoln Battle Group</a> the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meritorious_Unit_Commendation" title="Meritorious Unit Commendation">Meritorious Unit Commendation</a> ribbon for its participation. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29#cite_note-5">[6]</a></sup><br />
<h3>
<span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="2000s">2000s</span></h3>
The carrier's fifth deployment commenced in August 2000 when <i>Abraham Lincoln</i> again traveled to the Persian Gulf in support of Southern Watch. On this deployment, the carrier, air wing and battle group ships earned the Navy <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meritorious_Unit_Commendation" title="Meritorious Unit Commendation">Meritorious Unit Commendation</a>. Additionally the ship earned the prestigious Arleigh Burke Award as the most improved command in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Pacific_Fleet" title="United States Pacific Fleet">Pacific Fleet</a>.<br />
<i>Abraham Lincoln</i> was in port on 11 September 2001. She was put to sea on 20 July 2002 to support <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_%282001-present%29" title="War in Afghanistan (2001-present)">Operation Enduring Freedom</a>. She took up station once more in support of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Southern_Watch" title="Operation Southern Watch">Operation Southern Watch</a> before taking a port visit to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth,_Western_Australia" title="Perth, Western Australia">Perth, Western Australia</a>. It was during this time that the <i>Lincoln</i> was ordered to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a> to take part in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_invasion_of_Iraq" title="2003 invasion of Iraq">Operation Iraqi Freedom</a>. This forced the Navy to extend <i>Lincoln'</i>s stay from 20 January 2003 to 6 May 2003. The news of this extension was delivered to the ship's crew on New Years morning by the then Battlegroup Commander, RADM Kelly, with the phrase, "We don't need to be home holding our loved ones, we need to be here holding the line. Get over it!" The term "Get over it" became the running joke aboard ship, which eventually led to a deployment patch made aboard that read "Westpac 2003 CVN-72 CVW-14 GET OVER IT" with an image intended to depict an admiral kicking a sailor in the groin.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29#cite_note-6">[7]</a></sup><br />
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The USS <i>Abraham Lincoln</i> returning to port carrying its Mission Accomplished banner, 2 May 2003.</div>
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<i>Abraham Lincoln</i> and the carrier battle group and airwing helped deliver the opening salvos and air strikes in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Iraqi_Freedom" title="Operation Iraqi Freedom">Operation Iraqi Freedom</a>. During her deployment, some 16,500 sorties were flown and 1.6 million pounds of ordnance used. Sea Control Squadron 35 (VS-35), the "Blue Wolves", was instrumental in delivering over 1 million pounds of fuel to these strike aircraft, one of the largest aerial refueling undertakings by a carrier aviation squadron in history. The carrier returned home in May 2003, in the process receiving a visit from President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush">George W. Bush</a> before officially ending <i>Lincoln'</i>s deployment by docking at San Diego before returning to homeport in Everett, WA. Bush stated at the time that this was the end to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_invasion_of_Iraq" title="2003 invasion of Iraq">major combat operations</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a>. While this statement did coincide with an end to the conventional phase of the war, Bush's assertion—and the sign itself—became controversial after <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerrilla" title="Guerrilla">guerrilla</a> warfare in Iraq increased during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_insurgency" title="Iraqi insurgency">Iraqi insurgency</a>. The vast majority of casualties, both military and civilian, have occurred since the speech.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29#cite_note-7">[8]</a></sup> The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House" title="White House">White House</a> said their services constructed the banner. As explained by Cmdr. Conrad Chun, a Navy spokesman, "The banner was a Navy idea, the ship's idea. The idea popped up in one of the meetings aboard the ship preparing for its homecoming and thought it would be good to have a banner, '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_Accomplished" title="Mission Accomplished">Mission Accomplished</a>.' The sailors then asked if the White House could get the sign made. ... The banner signified the successful completion of the ship's deployment," Cmdr. Chun continued noting that the Abraham Lincoln was deployed 290 days, longer than any other nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in history.<br />
On 1 October 2004, the carrier's controlling formation was redesignated from Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Strike_Group_Nine" title="Carrier Strike Group Nine">Carrier Strike Group Nine</a>. <i>Abraham Lincoln</i> departed for her next voyage on 15 October 2004. The carrier was on a port call in Hong Kong when a the 9.0-magnitude <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake" title="2004 Indian Ocean earthquake">2004 Indian Ocean earthquake</a> struck southern Asia on 26 December 2004. To help with the international relief effort and assist with search and rescue efforts already underway, the <i>Lincoln</i> deployed to the hard hit western coast of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumatra" title="Sumatra">Sumatra</a> to provide humanitarian assistance. The deployment was designated <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Unified_Assistance" title="Operation Unified Assistance">Operation Unified Assistance</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29#cite_note-8">[9]</a></sup><br />
In mid-January 2005 the carrier left <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia" title="Indonesia">Indonesian</a> waters after the Indonesian government refused to allow fighter pilots assigned to <i>Lincoln</i> to conduct air patrols and training flights. By law, US carrier-based pilots must practice at least once every two to three weeks to remain "fit," otherwise they are grounded. Despite the move into international waters, <i>Lincoln</i> continued to provide support to the region until 4 February. During the carrier's 33 days on station, she and her battle group, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Strike_Group_Nine" title="Carrier Strike Group Nine">Carrier Strike Group Nine</a> delivered 5.7 million pounds of relief supplies. The 17 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicopter" title="Helicopter">helicopters</a> assigned to HSL-47 Saberhawks and HS-2 "Golden Falcons", attached to CVW-2 flew 1,747 relief missions along the western coast of Sumatra. The carrier's departure coincided with the arrival of the hospital ship <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USNS_Mercy_%28T-AH-19%29" title="USNS Mercy (T-AH-19)"><i>Mercy</i></a>.<br />
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An Air Traffic Controller works approach controller in Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATTC) aboard the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier"><i>Nimitz</i> class</a> aircraft carrier USS <i>Abraham Lincoln</i>.</div>
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On 18 December 2006, the USS <i>Abraham Lincoln</i> left dry dock at the shipyard ahead of schedule and under budget. The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) completed ship tank maintenance in less than half the scheduled time. In 89 days, 18 tanks were completed. The Tank Value Stream Team achieved this partnering with Ship’s Force and the Lincoln Project Team. While in dry dock, the whole ship was painted by the crew at nights and on weekends rather than waiting for contractors to do the job.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29#cite_note-9">[10]</a></sup><br />
The refit was completed 26 March 2007, when Rear Adm. Scott Van Buskirk assumed command of Carrier Strike Group Nine (CSG 9) from Rear Adm. Bill Goodwin.<br />
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Helicopters depart from the <i>Abraham Lincoln</i> en route to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aceh" title="Aceh">Aceh</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumatra" title="Sumatra">Sumatra</a>, supporting humanitarian airlifts to tsunami-stricken coastal regions in early 2005.</div>
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<h3>
<span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="2010s">2010s</span></h3>
On January 13, 2010, the carrier completed upgrades and repair that cost $250 million at <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puget_Sound_Naval_Shipyard" title="Puget Sound Naval Shipyard">Puget Sound Naval Shipyard</a>. The carrier was to be assigned to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Strike_Group_Nine" title="Carrier Strike Group Nine">Carrier Strike Group Nine</a>. On February 03, 2011, The ship was awarded the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Effectiveness_Award" title="Battle Effectiveness Award">Battle Effectiveness Award</a> for its high standards of excellence and combat readiness.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29#cite_note-10">[11]</a></sup><br />
On 9 December 2010, the U.S. Navy officially announced that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_Everett" title="Naval Station Everett">Naval Station Everett</a>, Washington, was the new homeport for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nimitz_%28CVN-68%29" title="USS Nimitz (CVN-68)">USS <i>Nimitz</i> (CVN-68)</a>, replacing <i>Abraham Lincoln</i>, which would be undergoing its scheduled <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refueling_and_Complex_Overhaul" title="Refueling and Complex Overhaul">Refueling and Complex Overhaul</a> (RCOH) at the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_Shipbuilding_Newport_News" title="Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding Newport News">Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Newport News shipyard</a> in Virginia which is slated to begin in 2013.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Wertheim_11-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29#cite_note-Wertheim-11">[12]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29#cite_note-12">[13]</a></sup><br />
<h3>
<span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="2011s">2011s</span></h3>
On 1 March 2011, the news media reported that the U.S. Navy had awarded Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Newport News a $206.7 million USD option under a previously awarded contract to plan <i>Abraham Lincoln</i><span style="padding-left: 0.1em;">'</span>s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refueling_and_Overhaul" title="Refueling and Overhaul">RCOH</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29#cite_note-13">[14]</a></sup> The planning contract covered the design, documentation, engineering, advanced material procurement, inspections, fabrication, and support work for <i>Lincoln</i><span style="padding-left: 0.1em;">'</span>s RCOH, with more than 1,000 employees supporting this planning phase. Additional funding for the RCOH was pending the passage of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Department_of_Defense" title="U.S. Department of Defense">U.S. Department of Defense</a>'s Fiscal Year 2011 budget appropriations by the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Congress" title="U.S. Congress">U.S. Congress</a>. Upon authorization, the <i>Lincoln</i><span style="padding-left: 0.1em;">'</span>s RCOH was anticipated to begin in 2013, and it is scheduled to take between three and four years to complete at an estimated overall cost of $3 billion USD.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Wertheim_11-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29#cite_note-Wertheim-11">[12]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29#cite_note-14">[15]</a></sup><br />
In addition to the refueling of its two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A4W_reactor" title="A4W reactor">A4W nuclear reactors</a>, <i>Abraham Lincoln</i><span style="padding-left: 0.1em;">'</span>s upcoming RCOH will include the installation of the newly developed Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) system. Developed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics" title="General Atomics">General Atomics</a>, the AAG system will replace the <i>Lincoln</i><span style="padding-left: 0.1em;">'</span>s current Mark-7 arresting gear’s hydraulic machinery with an electric motor-based system. The new system offers greater operational flexibility, reliability, and safety with reduced manning and maintenance costs. The AAG system is standard equipment for the upcoming <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_R._Ford_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carrier"><i>Ford</i>-class supercarriers</a>. <i>Abraham Lincoln</i> is the first <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier" title="Nimitz class aircraft carrier"><i>Nimitz</i>-class supercarrier</a> to have the AAG system retro-fitted with other <i>Nimitz</i>-class carriers also to be so retro-fitted during their upcoming RCOH yard period.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29#cite_note-15">[16]</a></sup><br />
On 1 August 2011, the U.S. Navy announced that the <i>Abraham Lincoln</i> will shift its homeport from Everett, Washington, to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_News,_Virginia" title="Newport News, Virginia">Newport News, Virginia</a>, for its Refueling and Complex Overhaul in August 2012.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29#cite_note-16">[17]</a></sup>. The ship departed Everett for the deployment that would take it around the world to Newport News in December 2011.Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-26279729836065899502012-01-15T00:59:00.000-08:002012-01-15T00:59:18.399-08:00MP5 (gun)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">Heckler & Koch MP5</h1><br />
<div class="dablink">"MP5" redirects here. For the 2003 video game, see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Party_5" title="Mario Party 5">Mario Party 5</a>.</div><table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr class="hproduct"> <th class="fn" colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Heckler & Koch MP5</th> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MP5A3_Marinir.jpg"><img alt="MP5A3 Marinir.jpg" height="105" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/MP5A3_Marinir.jpg/300px-MP5A3_Marinir.jpg" width="300" /></a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Type</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submachine_gun" title="Submachine gun">Submachine gun</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Place of origin</th> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Germany" title="West Germany">West Germany</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Service history</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">In service</th> <td>1966–present</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Used by</th> <td>See <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#Users">Users</a></i></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Production history</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Designer</th> <td>Tilo Möller, Manfred Guhring, Georg Seidl, Helmut Baureuter</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Designed</th> <td>1964–1966</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Manufacturer</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch" title="Heckler & Koch">Heckler & Koch</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Produced</th> <td>1966–present</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Variants</th> <td>See <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#Variants">Variants</a></i></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Specifications</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Weight</th> <td>2.54 kg (5.60 lb) (MP5A2, MP5A4)<br />
3.08 kg (6.8 lb) (MP5A3, MP5A5)<br />
2 kg (4.4 lb) (MP5K, MP5KA1, MP5KA4, MP5KA5)<br />
2.78 kg (6.1 lb) (MP5K-PDW)<br />
2.80 kg (6.2 lb) (MP5SD1, MP5SD4)<br />
3.10 kg (6.8 lb) (MP5SD2, MP5SD5)<br />
3.60 kg (7.9 lb) (MP5SD3, MP5SD6)<br />
2.67 kg (5.9 lb) fixed stock / 2.85 kg (6.3 lb) retractable stock (MP5/10)<br />
2.67 kg (5.9 lb) fixed stock / 2.85 kg (6.3 lb) retractable stock (MP5/40)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Length</th> <td>Fixed stock: 680 mm (27 in) (MP5A2, MP5A4, MP5/10, MP5/40)<br />
790 mm (31.1 in) (MP5SD2, MP5SD5)<br />
Telescoping stock: 700 mm (27.6 in) stock extended / 550 mm (21.7 in) stock collapsed (MP5A3, MP5A5)<br />
603 mm (23.7 in) stock extended / 368 mm (14.5 in) stock folded (MP5K-PDW)<br />
805 mm (31.7 in) stock extended / 670 mm (26.4 in) stock collapsed (MP5SD3, MP5SD6)<br />
660 mm (26.0 in) stock extended / 490 mm (19.3 in) stock collapsed (MP5/10, MP5/40)<br />
Receiver end cap: 325 mm (12.8 in) (MP5K, MP5KA1, MP5KA4, MP5KA5)<br />
349 mm (13.7 in) (MP5K-PDW)<br />
550 mm (21.7 in) (MP5SD1, MP5SD4)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_barrel" title="Gun barrel">Barrel</a> length</th> <td>225 mm (8.9 in) (MP5A2, MP5A3, MP5A4, MP5A5, MP5/10, MP5/40)<br />
115 mm (4.5 in) (MP5K, MP5KA1, MP5KA4, MP5KA5, MP5K-PDW)<br />
146 mm (5.7 in) (MP5SD1, MP5SD2, MP5SD3, MP5SD4, MP5SD5, MP5SD6)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Width</th> <td>50 mm (2.0 in) (MP5A2, MP5A3, MP5A4, MP5A5, MP5K, MP5KA1, MP5KA4, MP5KA5, MP5K-PDW, MP5/10, MP5/40)<br />
60 mm (2.4 in) (MP5SD1, MP5SD2, MP5SD3, MP5SD4, MP5SD5, MP5SD6)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Height</th> <td>260 mm (10.2 in) (MP5A2, MP5A3, MP5A4, MP5A5, MP5SD1, MP5SD2, MP5SD3, MP5SD4, MP5SD5, MP5SD6, MP5/10, MP5/40)<br />
210 mm (8.3 in) (MP5K, MP5KA1, MP5KA4, MP5KA5, MP5K-PDW)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2"> <hr /></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartridge_%28firearms%29" title="Cartridge (firearms)">Cartridge</a></th> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x19mm_Parabellum" title="9x19mm Parabellum">9x19mm Parabellum</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10mm_Auto" title="10mm Auto">10mm Auto</a> (MP5/10)<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.40_S%26W" title=".40 S&W">.40 S&W</a> (MP5/40)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_action" title="Firearm action">Action</a></th> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roller-delayed_blowback" title="Roller-delayed blowback">Roller-delayed blowback</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_bolt" title="Closed bolt">closed bolt</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rate_of_fire" title="Rate of fire">Rate of fire</a></th> <td>700 rounds/min (MP5SD series), 800 rounds/min (MP5A series, MP5/10 and MP5/40), 900 rounds/min (MP5K series)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_velocity" title="Muzzle velocity">Muzzle velocity</a></th> <td>400 m/s (1,312 ft/s) (MP5A2, MP5A3, MP5A4, MP5A5)<br />
375 m/s (1,230.3 ft/s) (MP5K, MP5KA1, MP5KA4, MP5KA5, MP5K-PDW)<br />
285 m/s (935.0 ft/s) (MP5SD1, MP5SD2, MP5SD3, MP5SD4, MP5SD5, MP5SD6)<br />
425 m/s (1,394.4 ft/s) (MP5/10)<br />
315 m/s (1,033.5 ft/s) (MP5/40)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Effective range</th> <td>200 m (656 ft) (MP5A2, MP5A3, MP5A4, MP5A5), 100 m (328 ft) (MP5/10), 50 m (164 ft) (MP5/40), 100 m (328 ft) (MP5K, MP5KA1, MP5KA4, MP5KA5, MP5K-PDW)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Feed system</th> <td>15- or 30- or 32- round detachable <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_magazine" title="Box magazine">box magazine</a>, 100-round <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_C-Mag" title="Beta C-Mag">Beta C-Mag drum magazine</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Sights</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_sight" title="Iron sight">Iron sights</a>. Rear: rotary drum; front: hooded post</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>The <b>Heckler & Koch MP5</b> (from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_language" title="German language">German</a>: <span lang="de"><i>Maschinenpistole 5</i></span>, "machine pistol model 5") is a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x19mm_Parabellum" title="9x19mm Parabellum">9mm</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submachine_gun" title="Submachine gun">submachine gun</a> of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_arms" title="Small arms">small arms</a> manufacturer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch" title="Heckler & Koch">Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K)</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberndorf_am_Neckar" title="Oberndorf am Neckar">Oberndorf am Neckar</a>.<br />
The MP5 is currently one of the most widely used submachine guns in the world,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-hogg2002_0-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-hogg2002-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> having been adopted by numerous military, law enforcement, intelligence and security organizations. In the 1990s, Heckler & Koch developed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_UMP" title="Heckler & Koch UMP">Heckler & Koch UMP</a>, the MP5's successor, though both remain in production.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="History">History</span></h2><table class="metadata plainlinks ambox ambox-content ambox-Unreferenced"><tbody>
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</td> <td class="mbox-text"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 152px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SEAL_MP5N.JPEG"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="230" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/SEAL_MP5N.JPEG/150px-SEAL_MP5N.JPEG" width="150" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SEAL_MP5N.JPEG" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>A SEAL Team 8 member armed with an MP5-N variant.</div></div></div>Heckler & Koch, encouraged by the success of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_G3" title="Heckler & Koch G3">G3</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_rifle" title="Automatic rifle">automatic rifle</a>, developed a family of small arms consisting of four types of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm" title="Firearm">firearms</a> (all based on a common G3 design layout and operating principle), where the first type was chambered in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62x51mm_NATO" title="7.62x51mm NATO">7.62x51mm NATO</a>, the second—using the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62x39mm" title="7.62x39mm">7.62x39mm M43</a> round, third—the intermediate <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.56x45mm_NATO" title="5.56x45mm NATO">5.56x45mm NATO</a> caliber and the fourth type—chambering the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x19mm_Parabellum" title="9x19mm Parabellum">9x19mm Parabellum</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pistol" title="Pistol">pistol</a> cartridge. The MP5 was created within the fourth group of firearms and was initially known as the <b>HK54</b>.<br />
Work on the MP5 began in 1964 and scarcely two years later it was adopted by the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Federal_Police" title="German Federal Police">German Federal Police</a>, border guard and army special forces.<br />
The MP5 is manufactured under license in several nations including Greece (formerly at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenic_Arms_Industry" title="Hellenic Arms Industry">EBO - Hellenic Arms Industry</a>, currently at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EAS_%28weapons%29" title="EAS (weapons)">EAS - Hellenic Defense Systems</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran">Iran</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Industries_Organization" title="Defense Industries Organization">Defense Industries Organization</a>), Mexico (<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEDENA" title="SEDENA">SEDENA</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan" title="Pakistan">Pakistan</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan_Ordnance_Factories" title="Pakistan Ordnance Factories">Pakistan Ordnance Factories</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" title="Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudan" title="Sudan">Sudan</a> (<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Industry_Corporation_%28Sudan%29" title="Military Industry Corporation (Sudan)">Military Industry Corporation</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_and_Chemical_Industry_Corporation_%28Turkey%29" title="Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (Turkey)">MKEK</a>), and the United Kingdom (initially at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Ordnance" title="Royal Ordnance">Royal Ordnance</a>, later diverted to Heckler & Koch Great Britain).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-worldpolicy2000_2-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-worldpolicy2000-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Design_details">Design details</span></h2><table class="metadata plainlinks ambox ambox-content ambox-Unreferenced"><tbody>
<tr> <td class="mbox-image"><br />
</td> <td class="mbox-text"><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>The primary version of the MP5 family is the <b>MP5A2</b>, which is a lightweight, air-cooled, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_fire" title="Selective fire">selective fire</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roller-delayed_blowback" title="Roller-delayed blowback">delayed blowback</a> operated <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x19mm_Parabellum" title="9x19mm Parabellum">9x19mm Parabellum</a> weapon with a roller-delayed bolt. It fires from a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_bolt" title="Closed bolt">closed bolt</a> (bolt forward) position.<br />
The fixed, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-floating_barrel" title="Free-floating barrel">free floating</a>, cold hammer-forged barrel has 6 right-hand grooves with a 1 in 250 mm (1:10 in) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifling" title="Rifling">rifling</a> twist rate and is pressed and pinned into the receiver.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Features">Features</span></h3>The first MP5 models used a double-column straight box <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_%28firearms%29" title="Magazine (firearms)">magazine</a>, but since 1977, slightly curved, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel" title="Steel">steel</a> magazines are used with a 15-round capacity (weighing 0.12 kg) or a 30-round capacity (0.17 kg empty).<br />
<div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Visierlinie.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="216" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Visierlinie.jpg/220px-Visierlinie.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Visierlinie.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>A view through the weapon's aperture sight.</div></div></div>The adjustable <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_sight" title="Iron sight">iron sights</a> (closed type) consist of a rotating rear diopter drum and a front post installed in a hooded ring. The rear sight is adjustable for both windage and elevation with the use of a special tool; the drum provides four different apertures of varying width used for firing at 25, 50, 75 and 100 m.<br />
The MP5 has a hammer firing mechanism. The trigger group is housed inside an interchangeable <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer" title="Polymer">polymer</a> trigger module (with an integrated pistol grip) and equipped with a 3-position fire mode selector that serves as the manual safety toggle. The “S” or <i>Sicher</i> position in white denotes weapon safe, “E” or <i>Einzelfeuer</i> in red represents single fire, and “F” or <i>Feuerstoß</i> (also marked in red) designates continuous fire. The SEF symbols appear on both sides of the plastic trigger group. The selector lever is actuated with the thumb of the shooting hand and is located only on the left side of the original SEF trigger group or on both sides of the ambidextrous trigger groups. The safety/selector is rotated into the various firing settings or safety position by depressing the tail end of the lever. Tactile clicks (stops) are present at each position to provide a positive stop and prevent inadvertent rotation. The "safe" setting disables the trigger by blocking the hammer release with a solid section of the safety axle located inside the trigger housing.<br />
The non-reciprocating <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocking_handle" title="Cocking handle">cocking handle</a> is located above the handguard and protrudes from the cocking handle tube at approx. a 45° angle. This rigid control is attached to a tubular piece within the cocking lever housing called the cocking lever support, which in turn, makes contact with the forward extension of the bolt group. It is not however connected to the bolt carrier and therefore cannot be used as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_assist" title="Forward assist">forward assist</a> to fully seat the bolt group. The cocking handle is held in a forward position by a spring detent located in the front end of the cocking lever support which engages in the cocking lever housing. The lever is locked back by pulling it fully to the rear and rotating it slightly clockwise where it can be hooked into an indent in the cocking lever tube.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Operating_mechanism">Operating mechanism</span></h3>The bolt rigidly engages the barrel extension – a cylindrical component welded to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Receiver_%28firearms%29" title="Receiver (firearms)">receiver</a> into which the barrel is pinned. The delay mechanism is of the same design as that used in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G3_rifle" title="G3 rifle">G3 rifle</a>. The two-part bolt consists of a bolt head with rollers and a bolt carrier. The heavier bolt carrier lies up against the bolt head when the weapon is ready to fire and inclined planes on the front locking piece lie between the rollers and force them out into recesses in the barrel extension.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Patent_3283435_8-Nov-1966_BREECH_CLOSURE_Theodor_Koch.png"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="120" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/US_Patent_3283435_8-Nov-1966_BREECH_CLOSURE_Theodor_Koch.png/220px-US_Patent_3283435_8-Nov-1966_BREECH_CLOSURE_Theodor_Koch.png" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Patent_3283435_8-Nov-1966_BREECH_CLOSURE_Theodor_Koch.png" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The roller-delayed blowback mechanism originated from the aborted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StG_45%28M%29" title="StG 45(M)">StG 45(M)</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_rifle" title="Assault rifle">assault rifle</a> prototypes developed in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Germany" title="Nazi Germany">Nazi Germany</a> at the end of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a>.</div></div></div>When fired, expanding propellant gases produced from the burning powder in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartridge_%28firearms%29" title="Cartridge (firearms)">cartridge</a> exert rearward pressure on the bolt head transferred through the base of the cartridge case as it is propelled out of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamber_%28firearms%29" title="Chamber (firearms)">chamber</a>. A portion of this force is transmitted through the rollers projecting from the bolt head, which are cammed inward against the inclined flanks of the locking recesses in the barrel extension and to the angled shoulders of the locking piece. The selected angles of the recesses and the incline on the locking piece produce a velocity ratio of about 4:1 between the bolt carrier and the bolt head. This results in a calculated delay, allowing the projectile to exit the barrel and gas pressure to drop to a safe level before the case is extracted from the chamber.<br />
<div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 242px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Police.gun.1.london.arp.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="271" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Police.gun.1.london.arp.jpg/240px-Police.gun.1.london.arp.jpg" width="240" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Police.gun.1.london.arp.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>A British police officer guarding <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downing_Street" title="Downing Street">Downing Street</a> with an MP5SFA3 semi-automatic carbine fitted with an underbarrel torch and an EOtech <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holographic_weapon_sight" title="Holographic weapon sight">holographic sight</a>.</div></div></div>The delay results from the amount of time it takes for enough recoil energy to be transferred through to the bolt carrier in a sufficient quantity for it to be driven to the rear against the force of inertia of the bolt carrier and the forward pressure exerted against the bolt by the recoil spring. As the rollers are forced inward they displace the locking piece and propel the bolt carrier to the rear. The bolt carrier's rearward velocity is four times that of the bolt head since the cartridge remains in the chamber for a short period of time during the initial recoil impulse. After the bolt carrier has traveled rearward 4 mm, the locking piece is withdrawn fully from the bolt head and the rollers are compressed into the bolt head. Only once the locking rollers are fully cammed into the bolt head can the entire bolt group continue its rearward movement in the receiver, breaking the seal in the chamber and continuing the feeding cycle.<br />
Since the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x19mm_Parabellum" title="9x19mm Parabellum">9x19mm Parabellum</a> cartridge is relatively low powered, the bolt does not have an anti-bounce device like the G3, but instead the bolt carrier contains <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tungsten" title="Tungsten">tungsten</a> granules that prevent the bolt group from bouncing back after impacting the barrel extension. The weapon has a fluted chamber that enhances extraction reliability by bleeding gases backwards into the shallow flutes running along the length of the chamber to prevent the cartridge case from expanding and sticking to the chamber walls (since the bolt is opened under relatively high barrel pressure). A spring extractor is installed inside the bolt head and holds the case securely until it strikes the ejector arm and is thrown out of the ejection port to the right of the receiver. The lever-type ejector is located inside the trigger housing (activated by the movement of the recoiling bolt).<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Accessories">Accessories</span></h3>Three lugs are provided at the muzzle that are used to work with certain muzzle devices made by Heckler & Koch, including: a slotted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_suppressor" title="Flash suppressor">flash suppressor</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blank-firing_adaptor" title="Blank-firing adaptor">blank firing attachment</a> (marked with a red painted band denoting use with blank ammunition only), an adaptor for launching <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifle_grenade" title="Rifle grenade">rifle grenades</a> (for use with rifle-style grenades with an inside diameter of 22 mm using a special grenade launching cartridge) and a cup-type attachment used to launch <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tear_gas" title="Tear gas">tear gas</a> grenades.<br />
The receiver housing has notches that permit the attachment of a standard Heckler & Koch quick-detachable scope mount (also used with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_G3" title="Heckler & Koch G3">G3</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_HK33" title="Heckler & Koch HK33">HK33</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G3SG/1" title="G3SG/1">G3SG/1</a>) that can be used to mount daytime optical sights (telescopic 4x24), night sights or a halogen flashlight. It can be used with reflex sights and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser" title="Laser">laser</a> pointers. The mount features two spring-actuated bolts, positioned along the base of the mount, which exert pressure on the receiver to hold the mount in the same position at all times assuring zero retention. All versions of the quick-detachable scope mount provide a sighting tunnel through the mount so that the shooter can continue to use the fixed iron sights with the scope mount attached to the top of the receiver.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Variants">Variants</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hkmp5count-terr-wiki.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="117" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Hkmp5count-terr-wiki.jpg/220px-Hkmp5count-terr-wiki.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hkmp5count-terr-wiki.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch" title="Heckler & Koch">Heckler & Koch</a> MP5 submachine gun is widely used by law enforcement, tactical teams and military forces. Seen here is the MP5A3 variant with the early 'slimline' handguard.</div></div></div>The MP5A2 has a fixed stock (made of a synthetic polymer), whereas the compact <i>MP5A3</i> has a retractable metal stock.<br />
In the early 1970s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch" title="Heckler & Koch">HK</a> introduced a conversion kit for the MP5 that enables it to use sporting ammunition (<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.22_LR" title=".22 LR">.22 LR</a>). This unit consists of a barrel insert, a bolt group and two 20-round magazines. This modification reduces the cyclic rate to 650 rounds/min.<br />
The MP5A2 and MP5A3 are available with optional 4-position trigger groups; these are known as the <i>MP5A4</i> and <i>MP5A5</i> respectively. The trigger groups are marked with bullet pictograms rather than letters or numbers (each symbol represents the number of bullets that will be fired when the trigger is pulled and held rearward with a full magazine inserted in the weapon) and are fully ambidextrous (the selector lever is present on each side of the trigger housing). The additional setting of the fire selector, one place before the fully automatic setting, enables a two or three-shot burst firing mode. H&K offers dedicated training variants of these weapons, designated <i>MP5A4PT</i> and <i>MP5A5PT</i> (PT – Plastic Training), modified to fire a plastic 9x19mm PT training cartridge produced by <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamit_Nobel_AG" title="Dynamit Nobel AG">Dynamit Nobel</a> of Germany. These weapons operate like the standard MP5 but have a floating chamber and the bolt lacks both rollers to function properly when firing the lighter plastic projectiles. To help identify these weapons blue dots were painted on their cocking handles and additional lettering provided. The PT variant can be configured with various buttstocks and trigger groups and was developed for the West German Police and Border Guard.<br />
<div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USMC_MP5_Submachine_Gun.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="147" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/USMC_MP5_Submachine_Gun.jpg/220px-USMC_MP5_Submachine_Gun.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USMC_MP5_Submachine_Gun.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps" title="United States Marine Corps">U.S. Marine</a> fires an MP5.</div></div></div>The modular design of the MP5 offers multiple trigger groups: three-position "SEF" fire selector (positions: "S"-safe, "E"-semi automatic, "F" fully automatic. Located on left of receiver only); three-position fire selector (positions: safe, semiautomatic and a 2 or 3-round burst; selector lever is ambidextrous and its settings are marked with pictograms); four-position fire selector (positions: weapon safe, single fire, 2 or 3-round burst, full auto; ambidextrous selector; selector settings marked with pictograms); two-position fire control group (positions: weapon safe, single fire only; ambidextrous selector lever with pictograms) and a three-position fire selector group – the so called “Navy” trigger (settings: weapon safe, semi-automatic, fully automatic fire; ambidextrous selector lever; selector settings marked with bullet symbols again).<br />
<div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USMC_MP_SRT_MP5.JPEG"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="338" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/USMC_MP_SRT_MP5.JPEG/220px-USMC_MP_SRT_MP5.JPEG" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USMC_MP_SRT_MP5.JPEG" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>A USMC Military Police <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Reaction_Team" title="Special Reaction Team">Special Reaction Team</a> using the MP5-N.</div></div></div>A variant with the last trigger group designated the <b>MP5-N</b> (N – Navy) was developed in 1986 for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">United States Navy</a>. This model has a collapsible stock, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tritium" title="Tritium">tritium</a>-illuminated front sight post and a 225 mm (8.9 in) threaded barrel for use with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_steel" title="Stainless steel">stainless steel</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suppressor" title="Suppressor">sound suppressor</a> made by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight%27s_Armament_Company" title="Knight's Armament Company">Knight's Armament Company</a> together with quieter subsonic ammunition.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Semi-auto_only_variants">Semi-auto only variants</span></h3>The <i>MP5SFA2</i> (SF - single-fire) is the same as the MP5A2 but is fitted with an ambidextrous semi-automatic only trigger group. Versions delivered after December 1991 are assembled with select-fire bolt carriers allowing fully automatic operation when used with the appropriate trigger module. Developed in 1986 in response to the American <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Bureau_of_Investigation" title="Federal Bureau of Investigation">FBI</a> solicitation for "9 mm Single-fire Carbines". The <i>MP5SFA3</i> features a retractable metal stock.<br />
The two-position trigger unit was used in the single-fire <i>HK94</i> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbine" title="Carbine">carbine</a> that was produced specifically for the civilian market with a 420 mm (16.5 in) barrel.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Suppressed_variants">Suppressed variants</span></h3>In 1974 H&K initiated design work on a sound-suppressed variant of the MP5, designated the <b>MP5SD</b> (SD – <i>Schalldämpfer</i> German for "sound suppressor"), which features an integral but detachable <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium" title="Aluminium">aluminium</a> sound suppressor and a lightweight bolt. The weapon's 146 mm (5.7 in) barrel has 30 2.5 mm (0.1 in) ports drilled forward of the chamber through which escaping gases are diverted to the surrounding sealed tubular casing that is screwed on to threading on the barrel’s external surface just prior to the ported segment. The suppressor itself is divided into two stages; the initial segment surrounding the ported barrel serves as an expansion chamber for the propellant gases, reducing gas pressure to slow down the acceleration of the projectile. The second, decompression stage occupies the remaining length of the suppressor tube and contains a stamped metal helix separator with several compartments which increase the gas volume and decrease its temperature, deflecting the gases as they exit the muzzle, so muffling the exit report. The bullet leaves the muzzle at subsonic velocity, so it does not generate a sonic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_wave" title="Shock wave">shock wave</a> in flight. As a result of reducing the barrel’s length and venting propellant gases into the suppressor, the bullet’s muzzle velocity was lowered anywhere from 16% to 26% (depending on the ammunition used) while maintaining the weapon’s automation and reliability. The weapon was designed to be used with standard supersonic ammunition with the suppressor on at all times.<br />
The MP5SD is produced exclusively by H&K in several versions: the <i>MP5SD1</i> and <i>MP5SD4</i> (both have a receiver end cap instead of a buttstock), <i>MP5SD2</i> and <i>MP5SD5</i> (equipped with a fixed synthetic buttstock) and the <i>MP5SD3</i> and <i>MP5SD6</i> (fitted with a collapsible metal stock). The MP5SD1, MP5SD2 and MP5SD3 use a standard "SEF" trigger group (from the MP5A2 and MP5A3), while the MP5SD4, MP5SD5 and MP5SD6 – a trigger module with a mechanically limited 3-round burst mode and ambidextrous selector controls (from the MP5A4 and MP5A5). A suppressed version was produced for the U.S. Navy - designated the <i>MP5SD-N</i>, which is a version of the MP5SD3 with a retractable metal stock, front sight post with tritium-illuminated dot and a stainless steel suppressor. This model has a modified cocking handle support to account for the slightly larger outside diameter of the suppressor. The design of the suppressor allows the weapon to be fired with water inside, should water enter the device during operation in or near water.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="MP5K">MP5K</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AKM_and_MP5K.JPEG"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="143" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/AKM_and_MP5K.JPEG/220px-AKM_and_MP5K.JPEG" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AKM_and_MP5K.JPEG" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>USAF <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Air_Force_Office_of_Special_Investigations" title="U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations">OSI</a> Special Agent firing a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Australian_Air_Force" title="Royal Australian Air Force">RAAF</a> Air Traffic Control Detachment MP5K at the Baghdad International Airport firing range.</div></div></div><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_SEALs_in_from_water.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="176" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/US_Navy_SEALs_in_from_water.jpg/220px-US_Navy_SEALs_in_from_water.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_SEALs_in_from_water.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>U.S. Navy SEALs armed with MP5s on a training exercise.</div></div></div>In 1976 a shortened version of the MP5A2 was introduced; the <i>MP5K</i> (K from the German word <i>Kurz</i> = "short") was designed for close quarters battle use by clandestine operations and special services. The MP5K does not have a shoulder stock (the receiver end was covered with a flat end cap, featuring a buffer on the inside and a sling loop on the outside), and the bolt and receiver were shortened at the rear. The resultant lighter bolt led to a higher rate of fire than the standard MP5. The barrel, cocking handle and its cover were shortened and a vertical foregrip was used to replace the standard handguard. The barrel ends at the base of the foresight, which prevents the use of any sort of muzzle device.<br />
The MP5K is produced (by Heckler & Koch and under license in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran">Iran</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a>) in four different versions: the MP5K, <i>MP5KA4</i>, <i>MP5KA1</i>, <i>MP5KA5</i>, where the first two variants have adjustable, open-type iron sights (with a notched rotary drum), and the two remaining variants - fixed open sights, however the front sight post was changed and a notch was cut into the receiver top cover. The MP5K retained the capability to use optical sights through the use of an adapter.<br />
A civilian semiautomatic derivative of the MP5K known as the <b>SP89</b> was produced that had a foregrip with a muzzle guard in place of the vertical grip.<br />
In 1991 a further variant of the MP5K was developed, designated the <i>MP5K-PDW</i> (PDW – Personal Defense Weapon) that retained the compact dimensions of the MP5K but restored the fire handling characteristics of the full-size MP5A2. The MP5K-PDW uses a side-folding synthetic shoulder stock (made by the U.S. company Choate Machine and Tool), a “Navy” trigger group, a front sight post with a built-in tritium insert and a slightly lengthened threaded, three-lug barrel (analogous to the MP5-N). The stock can be removed and replaced with a receiver endplate; a rotary drum with apertures from the MP5A2 can also be used.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Larger_caliber_versions">Larger caliber versions</span></h3>In 1991, Heckler & Koch introduced the <i>MP5/10</i> (chambered in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10mm_Auto" title="10mm Auto">10mm Auto</a>) and <i>MP5/40</i> (chambered for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.40_S%26W" title=".40 S&W">.40 S&W</a> cartridge), which are based on the MP5A4 and MP5A5. These weapons were assembled in fixed and retractable stock configurations (without a separate designation) and are fed from translucent 30-round polymer box magazines.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup> These weapons include a bolt hold-open device, which captures the bolt group in its rear position after expending the last cartridge from the magazine. The bolt is then released by pressing a lever positioned on the left side of the receiver. Both weapons use a barrel with 6 right-hand grooves and a 380 mm (1:15 in) twist rate, and like the MP5-N, both have a 3-lugged muzzle device and a tritium-illuminated front sight aiming dot.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Variants_list">Variants list</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Patent_DE1553874_07-Oct-1971_Handfeuerwaffe_mit_Schalldaempfer_Heckler_und_Koch.png"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="117" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Patent_DE1553874_07-Oct-1971_Handfeuerwaffe_mit_Schalldaempfer_Heckler_und_Koch.png/220px-Patent_DE1553874_07-Oct-1971_Handfeuerwaffe_mit_Schalldaempfer_Heckler_und_Koch.png" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Patent_DE1553874_07-Oct-1971_Handfeuerwaffe_mit_Schalldaempfer_Heckler_und_Koch.png" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Cross section diagram of an MP5SD early model suppressor, from 1971 patent. Vented barrel surrounded by metal mesh packing in the expansion chambers, followed by conical baffles in the forward chambers.</div></div></div><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MP3K_ImgID1.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="103" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/MP3K_ImgID1.jpg/220px-MP3K_ImgID1.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MP3K_ImgID1.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>MP5K-PDW (early prototype, lacking 'Navy' trigger group and lugged barrel).</div></div></div><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Heckler_Koch_MP5.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="108" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Heckler_Koch_MP5.jpg/220px-Heckler_Koch_MP5.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Heckler_Koch_MP5.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The MP5SD3.</div></div></div><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Turkishsoldiermp5.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="146" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Turkishsoldiermp5.jpg/220px-Turkishsoldiermp5.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Turkishsoldiermp5.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>A Turkish gendarmerie on guard at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topkap%C4%B1_Palace" title="Topkapı Palace">Topkapı Palace</a> with the MP5</div></div></div><ul><li><b>HK54</b>: The original model that was produced in the mid 1960s. It later became known as the MP5A1, a very slightly modified version. No buttstock (endplate/receiver cap in place of buttstock), "Navy"/"SEF" trigger group.</li>
<li><b>MP5A2</b>: Fixed buttstock, "SEF" trigger group.</li>
<li><b>MP5SFA2</b>: Fixed buttstock, single-fire (SF) trigger group.</li>
<li><b>MP5A3</b>: Retractable buttstock,"SEF" trigger group.</li>
<li><b>MP5SFA3</b>: Semi-automatic carbine version of MP5A3.Retractable buttstock and single-fire (SF) trigger group.</li>
<li><b>MP5A4</b>: Fixed buttstock, 3-round burst trigger group.</li>
<li><b>MP5A5</b>: Retractable buttstock, 3-round burst trigger group.</li>
<li><b>MP5-N</b>: Model developed specifically for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">U.S. Navy</a>. Ambidextrous "Navy" trigger group, 3-lug/threaded barrel for attaching a sound suppressor; retractable stock.</li>
<li><b>MP5F</b>: Model developed specifically for the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_France" title="Military of France">French military</a>. Rubber-padded retractable stock, ambidextrous sling loops/bolts and internal modifications to handle high-pressure ammunition.</li>
<li><b>MP5K</b>: Short (Kurz) version, "SEF" trigger group. <ul><li><b>MP5KA1</b>: MP5K with smooth upper surface and small iron sights; "SEF" trigger group.</li>
<li><b>MP5KA4</b>: MP5K with 3-round burst trigger group.</li>
<li><b>MP5KA5</b>: MP5KA1 with 3-round burst trigger group.</li>
<li><b>MP5K-N</b>: MP5K with "Navy" trigger group and 3-lug/threaded barrel for mounting suppressors or other muzzle attachments.</li>
<li><b>MP5K-PDW</b>: <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Defense_Weapon" title="Personal Defense Weapon">Personal Defense Weapon</a>; MP5K-N with added folding stock and 3-lug/threaded barrel for mounting of suppressors; "Navy" or 3-round burst trigger group. Introduced in 1991.</li>
</ul></li>
<li><b>MP5SD1</b>: No buttstock (endplate/receiver cap in place of buttstock), "SEF" trigger group, integrated suppressor (<i>Schalldämpfer</i>)</li>
<li><b>MP5SD2</b>: Fixed buttstock, "SEF" trigger group, integrated suppressor.</li>
<li><b>MP5SD3</b>: Retractable buttstock, "SEF" trigger group, integrated suppressor.</li>
<li><b>MP5SD4</b>: No buttstock (endplate/receiver cap in place of buttstock), 3-round burst trigger group, integrated suppressor.</li>
<li><b>MP5SD5</b>: Fixed buttstock, 3-round burst trigger group, integrated suppressor.</li>
<li><b>MP5SD6</b>: Retractable buttstock, 3-round burst trigger group, integrated suppressor.</li>
<li><b>MP5SD-N1</b>: Retractable buttstock, "Navy" trigger group, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight%27s_Armament_Company" title="Knight's Armament Company">KAC</a> stainless steel suppressor.</li>
<li><b>MP5SD-N2</b>: Fixed buttstock, "Navy" trigger group, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight%27s_Armament_Company" title="Knight's Armament Company">KAC</a> stainless steel suppressor.</li>
<li><b>MP5/10</b>: Chambered in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10mm_Auto" title="10mm Auto">10mm Auto</a>, available in various stock/trigger group configurations. It was produced from 1992 to 2000.</li>
<li><b>MP5/40</b>: Chambered in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.40_S%26W" title=".40 S&W">.40 S&W</a>, available in various stock/trigger group configurations. It was produced from 1992 to 2000.</li>
<li><b>HK94</b>: American import model of the MP5 with a 16 in barrel and special safe/semi-automatic trigger group, designed for civilian use. It was made from 1983 to 1989, in three different configurations.</li>
<li><b>SP89</b>: <i>Sport Pistole M1989</i>. Semi-automatic only version of the MP5K designed for civilian use. It had a modified foregrip redesigned into a traditional handguard to make it compliant with the Semi-Auto Weapons Ban of 1989. It was made from 1989 to 1994.</li>
<li><b>MP-10</b>: A submachine gun based on the MP5. Manufactured by <i>Special Weapons</i>.</li>
<li><b>SP-10</b>: Civilian copy of the above mentioned <i>MP-10</i>.</li>
</ul><h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Users">Users</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RAF-Logo.svg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="216" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/RAF-Logo.svg/220px-RAF-Logo.svg.png" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RAF-Logo.svg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Although the terrorist group <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army_Faction" title="Red Army Faction">Red Army Faction</a> did not use the MP5 itself, they depicted it in their insignia, shown here.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup></div></div></div><ul><li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="16" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Flag_of_Albania.svg/22px-Flag_of_Albania.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albania" title="Albania">Albania</a>: <i>Garda e Republikes</i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="14" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Flag_of_Argentina.svg/22px-Flag_of_Argentina.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina" title="Argentina">Argentina</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gander1995_7-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-gander1995-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b9/Flag_of_Australia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Australia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia" title="Australia">Australia</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Australian_Air_Force" title="Royal Australian Air Force">Royal Australian Air Force</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airfield_Defence_Guards" title="Airfield Defence Guards">Airfield Defence Guards</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Operations_Command_%28Australia%29" title="Special Operations Command (Australia)">Special Operations Command</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-9"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup> and all <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_Tactical_Group" title="Police Tactical Group">Police Tactical Groups</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AUS_10-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-AUS-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-11"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_Austria.svg/22px-Flag_of_Austria.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria" title="Austria">Austria</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EKO_Cobra" title="EKO Cobra">EKO Cobra</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-12"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Flag_of_Bahrain.svg/22px-Flag_of_Bahrain.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrain" title="Bahrain">Bahrain</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Flag_of_Bangladesh.svg/22px-Flag_of_Bangladesh.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh" title="Bangladesh">Bangladesh</a>: Army, Special Forces, Rapid Action Battalion, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh_Navy" title="Bangladesh Navy">Bangladesh Navy</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Warfare_Diving_And_Salvage" title="Special Warfare Diving And Salvage">Special Warfare Diving And Salvage</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Flag_of_Belgium_%28civil%29.svg/22px-Flag_of_Belgium_%28civil%29.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium" title="Belgium">Belgium</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/05/Flag_of_Brazil.svg/22px-Flag_of_Brazil.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil" title="Brazil">Brazil</a>: <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batalh%C3%A3o_de_Opera%C3%A7%C3%B5es_Policiais_Especiais" title="Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais">Special Police Operations Battalion</a></i><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Force_of_Public_Safety" title="National Force of Public Safety">National Force of Public Safety</a></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Bulgaria.svg/22px-Flag_of_Bulgaria.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgaria" title="Bulgaria">Bulgaria</a>: 160 imported in 2009.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-16"><span>[</span>17<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Flag_of_Cameroon.svg/22px-Flag_of_Cameroon.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon" title="Cameroon">Cameroon</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cf/Flag_of_Canada.svg/22px-Flag_of_Canada.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada" title="Canada">Canada</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Forces" title="Canadian Forces">Canadian Forces</a> Naval Boarding Party,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-17"><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Canadian_Mounted_Police" title="Royal Canadian Mounted Police">Royal Canadian Mounted Police</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Flag_of_Chile.svg/22px-Flag_of_Chile.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chile" title="Chile">Chile</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China" title="China">China</a>: Used by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chongqing" title="Chongqing">Chongqing</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWAT" title="SWAT">SWAT</a> (<a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NR-08&action=edit&redlink=1" title="NR-08 (page does not exist)">NR-08</a>, Chinese copy of MP5)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-19"><span>[</span>20<span>]</span></a></sup> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing_SWAT" title="Beijing SWAT">Beijing SWAT</a> (original HK made models).<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from December 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Flag_of_Costa_Rica.svg/22px-Flag_of_Costa_Rica.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Rica" title="Costa Rica">Costa Rica</a>: UEA (Unidad Especial de Apoyo) Special Police Unit<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-20"><span>[</span>21<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Flag_of_Croatia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Croatia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatia" title="Croatia">Croatia</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lu%C4%8Dko_Anti-Terrorist_Unit" title="Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit">Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-21"><span>[</span>22<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_Republic" title="Czech Republic">Czech Republic</a>: URNA counter-terrorist group<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-meyr1999_22-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-meyr1999-22"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></a></sup> and other units of the armed forces (MP5A5, MP5SD6, MP5K-PDW).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-23"><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="17" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Flag_of_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo" title="Democratic Republic of the Congo">Democratic Republic of Congo</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="17" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/Flag_of_Denmark.svg/22px-Flag_of_Denmark.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denmark" title="Denmark">Denmark</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="12" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Flag_of_El_Salvador.svg/22px-Flag_of_El_Salvador.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Salvador" title="El Salvador">El Salvador</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="14" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Flag_of_Estonia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Estonia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonia" title="Estonia">Estonia</a>:<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonian_Police" title="Estonian Police">Estonian Police</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-24"><span>[</span>25<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Flag_of_Finland.svg/22px-Flag_of_Finland.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finland" title="Finland">Finland</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_Defence_Forces" title="Finnish Defence Forces">Finnish Defence Forces</a> under designation <i>9.00 konepistooli 2000</i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-25"><span>[</span>26<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c3/Flag_of_France.svg/22px-Flag_of_France.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France" title="France">France</a>: <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupe_d%27Intervention_de_la_Gendarmerie_Nationale" title="Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale">GIGN</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-meyr1999_22-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-meyr1999-22"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></a></sup> and certain specialized units within the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Army" title="French Army">French Army</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-26"><span>[</span>27<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-27"><span>[</span>28<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Flag_of_Georgia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Georgia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28country%29" title="Georgia (country)">Georgia</a>: MP5K and MP5SD.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-28"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany" title="Germany">Germany</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Police_%28Germany%29" title="Federal Police (Germany)">Bundespolizei (Federal Police)</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landespolizei" title="Landespolizei">Landespolizei (State Police)</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-29"><span>[</span>30<span>]</span></a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Army" title="German Army">German Army</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feldj%C3%A4ger" title="Feldjäger">Feldjäger (Military Police)</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-30"><span>[</span>31<span>]</span></a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSG_9" title="GSG 9">GSG 9</a> special operations unit<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-miller2001_31-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-miller2001-31"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a></sup> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Navy" title="German Navy">German Navy</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-32"><span>[</span>33<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Flag_of_Ghana.svg/22px-Flag_of_Ghana.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghana" title="Ghana">Ghana</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Flag_of_Greece.svg/22px-Flag_of_Greece.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece" title="Greece">Greece</a>: Manufactured locally by Hellenic Defence Systems (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EAS_%28weapons%29" title="EAS (weapons)">EAS</a>: <i>Ellinika Amyntika Systimata</i>).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-33"><span>[</span>34<span>]</span></a></sup> Used by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Anti-terrorist_Unit" title="Special Anti-terrorist Unit">EKAM</a> counter-terrorist group.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-astymonia2004_34-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-astymonia2004-34"><span>[</span>35<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Flag_of_Honduras.svg/22px-Flag_of_Honduras.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honduras" title="Honduras">Honduras</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Flag_of_Hong_Kong.svg/22px-Flag_of_Hong_Kong.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong" title="Hong Kong">Hong Kong</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Police_Force" title="Hong Kong Police Force">Hong Kong Police Force</a> (used by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_Security_Unit_%28Hong_Kong%29" title="Airport Security Unit (Hong Kong)">Airport Security Unit</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-35"><span>[</span>36<span>]</span></a></sup> <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Counter_Terrorism_Response_Unit&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Counter Terrorism Response Unit (page does not exist)">Counter Terrorism Response Unit</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Duties_Unit" title="Special Duties Unit">Special Duties Unit</a> and other units with various HK original made variants).<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from December 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="16" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Flag_of_Iceland.svg/22px-Flag_of_Iceland.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland" title="Iceland">Iceland</a>:<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%ADkingasveitin" title="Víkingasveitin">Víkingasveitin</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icelandic_National_Police" title="Icelandic National Police">Icelandic National Police</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-36"><span>[</span>37<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg/22px-Flag_of_India.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India" title="India">India</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Army" title="Indian Army">Indian Army</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MARCOS" title="MARCOS">MARCOS</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Security_Guards" title="National Security Guards">National Security Guards</a>, and Maharashtra State <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_One" title="Force One">Force One</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-37"><span>[</span>38<span>]</span></a></sup> Also used by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Protection_Group" title="Special Protection Group">Special Protection Group</a> until 2008, when it was replaced with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90" title="FN P90">FN P90</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_F2000" title="FN F2000">FN F2000</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-38"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-38"><span>[</span>39<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Flag_of_Indonesia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Indonesia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia" title="Indonesia">Indonesia</a>: <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopaska" title="Kopaska">Komando Pasukan Katak</a></i> (Kopaska) tactical diver group and <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopassus" title="Kopassus">Komando Pasukan Khusus</a></i> (Kopassus) special forces group.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-idnvojnik_39-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-idnvojnik-39"><span>[</span>40<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/22px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran">Iran</a>: Produced under license.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-worldpolicy2000_2-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-worldpolicy2000-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Flag_of_Iraq.svg/22px-Flag_of_Iraq.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Flag_of_Ireland.svg/22px-Flag_of_Ireland.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Ireland" title="Republic of Ireland">Ireland</a>: <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Army_Rangers" title="Irish Army Rangers">Irish Army Rangers</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-40"><span>[</span>41<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/03/Flag_of_Italy.svg/22px-Flag_of_Italy.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy" title="Italy">Italy</a>: Used by the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carabinieri" title="Carabinieri">Carabinieri</a></i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-41"><span>[</span>42<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Flag_of_Jamaica.svg/22px-Flag_of_Jamaica.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica" title="Jamaica">Jamaica</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica_Constabulary_Force" title="Jamaica Constabulary Force">Jamaica Constabulary Force</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-42"><span>[</span>43<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9e/Flag_of_Japan.svg/22px-Flag_of_Japan.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japan</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Boarding_Unit" title="Special Boarding Unit">Special Boarding Unit</a>(SBU)of Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-History_43-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-History-43"><span>[</span>44<span>]</span></a></sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Assault_Team" title="Special Assault Team">Special Assault Team</a>(SAT), <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special_Investigation_Team&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Special Investigation Team (page does not exist)">Special Investigation Team</a>(SIT), <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Martial_Arts_Attack_Team&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Martial Arts Attack Team (page does not exist)">Martial Arts Attack Team</a>(MAAT) of Japanese Police.</li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Flag_of_Jordan.svg/22px-Flag_of_Jordan.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan" title="Jordan">Jordan</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Flag_of_Kenya.svg/22px-Flag_of_Kenya.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya" title="Kenya">Kenya</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya_Police" title="Kenya Police">Kenya Police</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-44"><span>[</span>45<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-45"><span>[</span>46<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Flag_of_Lithuania.svg/22px-Flag_of_Lithuania.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuania" title="Lithuania">Lithuania</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuanian_Armed_Forces" title="Lithuanian Armed Forces">Lithuanian Armed Forces</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-46"><span>[</span>47<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Flag_of_Luxembourg.svg/22px-Flag_of_Luxembourg.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg" title="Luxembourg">Luxembourg</a>: <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit%C3%A9_Sp%C3%A9ciale_de_la_Police" title="Unité Spéciale de la Police">Unité Spéciale de la Police</a></i> intervention unit of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Ducal_Police" title="Grand Ducal Police">Grand Ducal Police</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-47"><span>[</span>48<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Flag_of_Malaysia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia" title="Malaysia">Malaysia</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_Armed_Forces" title="Malaysian Armed Forces">Malaysian Armed Forces</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Malaysia_Police" title="Royal Malaysia Police">Royal Malaysia Police</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Malaysian_Customs" title="Royal Malaysian Customs">Royal Malaysian Customs</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_Maritime_Enforcement_Agency" title="Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency">Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency</a> (A2 and A3 versions). Also used by various counter-terrrorism units <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grup_Gerak_Khas" title="Grup Gerak Khas">Grup Gerak Khas</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PASKAL" title="PASKAL">PASKAL</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PASKAU" title="PASKAU">PASKAU</a>, as well as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasukan_Gerakan_Khas" title="Pasukan Gerakan Khas">Pasukan Gerakan Khas</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-48"><span>[</span>49<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Flag_of_Malta.svg/22px-Flag_of_Malta.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malta" title="Malta">Malta</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Flag_of_Mauritius.svg/22px-Flag_of_Mauritius.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauritius" title="Mauritius">Mauritius</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Flag_of_Mexico.svg/22px-Flag_of_Mexico.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico" title="Mexico">Mexico</a>: Manufactured under license.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-49"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-49"><span>[</span>50<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands" title="Netherlands">Netherlands</a>: Dutch Royal and Diplomatic security (DKDB)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-50"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-50"><span>[</span>51<span>]</span></a></sup> and Dutch SWAT team (arrestatieteam).<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from December 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Flag_of_New_Zealand.svg/22px-Flag_of_New_Zealand.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand" title="New Zealand">New Zealand</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_Special_Air_Service" title="New Zealand Special Air Service">New Zealand Special Air Service</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_Police" title="New Zealand Police">New Zealand Police</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Tactics_Group" title="Special Tactics Group">Special Tactics Group</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-51"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-51"><span>[</span>52<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="19" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Flag_of_Niger.svg/22px-Flag_of_Niger.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niger" title="Niger">Niger</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Flag_of_Nigeria.svg/22px-Flag_of_Nigeria.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria" title="Nigeria">Nigeria</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="16" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Flag_of_Norway.svg/22px-Flag_of_Norway.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway" title="Norway">Norway</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Armed_Forces" title="Norwegian Armed Forces">Norwegian Armed Forces</a>, to be replaced by the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP7" title="MP7">MP7</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-52"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-52"><span>[</span>53<span>]</span></a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Police_Service" title="Norwegian Police Service">Norwegian Police Service</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-53"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-53"><span>[</span>54<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Flag_of_Pakistan.svg/22px-Flag_of_Pakistan.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan" title="Pakistan">Pakistan</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan_Army" title="Pakistan Army">Pakistan Army</a>, built by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan_Ordnance_Factories" title="Pakistan Ordnance Factories">Pakistan Ordnance Factories</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-54"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-54"><span>[</span>55<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines" title="Philippines">Philippines</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_of_the_Philippines" title="Armed Forces of the Philippines">Armed Forces of the Philippines</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_National_Police" title="Philippine National Police">Philippine National Police</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Action_Force" title="Special Action Force">Special Action Force</a> and other police and SWAT units.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-55"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-55"><span>[</span>56<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="14" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/12/Flag_of_Poland.svg/22px-Flag_of_Poland.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland" title="Poland">Poland</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GROM" title="GROM">GROM</a> special forces unit.,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-56"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-56"><span>[</span>57<span>]</span></a></sup> FORMOZA special force unit, Police, Border Guard, CBA, ABW, Financial Police, Military Police Special Unit from Warsaw</li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Flag_of_Portugal.svg/22px-Flag_of_Portugal.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal">Portugal</a>: <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grupo_de_Opera%C3%A7%C3%B5es_Especiais" title="Grupo de Operações Especiais">Grupo de Operações Especiais</a> (GOE).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-57"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-57"><span>[</span>58<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="9" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Flag_of_Qatar.svg/22px-Flag_of_Qatar.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar" title="Qatar">Qatar</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Flag_of_Romania.svg/22px-Flag_of_Romania.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania" title="Romania">Romania</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_Land_Forces" title="Romanian Land Forces">Land Forces</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Operations" title="Special Operations">Special Operations</a> battalions.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-58"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-58"><span>[</span>59<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" title="Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-worldpolicy2000_2-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-worldpolicy2000-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Flag_of_Serbia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Serbia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbia" title="Serbia">Serbia</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Flag_of_Singapore.svg/22px-Flag_of_Singapore.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore" title="Singapore">Singapore</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Armed_Forces_Commando_Formation" title="Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation">Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-59"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-59"><span>[</span>60<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Flag_of_Slovakia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Slovakia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovakia" title="Slovakia">Slovakia</a>: Various police forces.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-60"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-60"><span>[</span>61<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Flag_of_Slovenia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Slovenia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenia" title="Slovenia">Slovenia</a>: <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenian_Armed_Forces" title="Slovenian Armed Forces">Slovenian Armed Forces</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_enforcement_in_Slovenia" title="Law enforcement in Slovenia">Slovenian Police</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-61"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-61"><span>[</span>62<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Flag_of_South_Africa.svg/22px-Flag_of_South_Africa.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa" title="South Africa">South Africa</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Task_Force" title="Special Task Force">Special Task Force</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-62"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-62"><span>[</span>63<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Spain.svg/22px-Flag_of_Spain.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain" title="Spain">Spain</a>: <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grupo_Especial_de_Operaciones" title="Grupo Especial de Operaciones">Grupo Especial de Operaciones</a></i> (GEO).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-63"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-63"><span>[</span>64<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Flag_of_Sri_Lanka.svg/22px-Flag_of_Sri_Lanka.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lanka" title="Sri Lanka">Sri Lanka</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Flag_of_Sudan.svg/22px-Flag_of_Sudan.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudan" title="Sudan">Sudan</a>: Manufactured by <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Industry_Corporation_%28Sudan%29" title="Military Industry Corporation (Sudan)">Military Industry Corporation</a> as the <b>Tihraga</b>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-64"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-64"><span>[</span>65<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="14" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4c/Flag_of_Sweden.svg/22px-Flag_of_Sweden.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden" title="Sweden">Sweden</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Police_Service" title="Swedish Police Service">Swedish Police Service</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-65"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-65"><span>[</span>66<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_China" title="Republic of China">Taiwan</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Flag_of_Thailand.svg/22px-Flag_of_Thailand.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand" title="Thailand">Thailand</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Flag_of_Turkey.svg/22px-Flag_of_Turkey.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a>: Used by various services.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup> Manufactured by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_and_Chemical_Industry_Corporation_%28Turkey%29" title="Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (Turkey)">MKEK</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-66"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-66"><span>[</span>67<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates" title="United Arab Emirates">United Arab Emirates</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom">United Kingdom</a>: Produced under license.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-worldpolicy2000_2-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-worldpolicy2000-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup> Used by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Air_Service" title="Special Air Service">Special Air Service</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-miller2001_31-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-miller2001-31"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_Service_of_Northern_Ireland" title="Police Service of Northern Ireland">Police Service of Northern Ireland</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-67"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-67"><span>[</span>68<span>]</span></a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specialist_Firearms_Command" title="Specialist Firearms Command">CO19</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-68"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-68"><span>[</span>69<span>]</span></a></sup> and most <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorised_Firearms_Officer" title="Authorised Firearms Officer">Authorised Firearms Officers</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-69"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-69"><span>[</span>70<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="12" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Special_Operations_Command" title="United States Special Operations Command">Special Operations Forces</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-70"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-70"><span>[</span>71<span>]</span></a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secret_Service" title="United States Secret Service">Secret Service</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-71"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-71"><span>[</span>72<span>]</span></a></sup> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FBI_Hostage_Rescue_Team" title="FBI Hostage Rescue Team">FBI Hostage Rescue Team</a> (10mm version).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-72"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-72"><span>[</span>73<span>]</span></a></sup> Also used by various police <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWAT" title="SWAT">SWAT</a> units at federal, state, and local levels.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-diez2000_73-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-diez2000-73"><span>[</span>74<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Flag_of_Uruguay.svg/22px-Flag_of_Uruguay.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguay" title="Uruguay">Uruguay</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-22"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="20" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Flag_of_the_Vatican_City.svg/20px-Flag_of_the_Vatican_City.svg.png" width="20" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_City" title="Vatican City">Vatican City</a>: Used by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Guard" title="Swiss Guard">Swiss Guard</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-74"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-74"><span>[</span>75<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Flag_of_Zambia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Zambia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zambia" title="Zambia">Zambia</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jones2009_13-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP5#cite_note-jones2009-13"><span></span></a></sup></li>
</ul>Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-24305227897265912142012-01-15T00:40:00.000-08:002012-01-15T00:44:49.711-08:00M4 carbine (gun)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">M4 carbine</h1><br />
<table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr class="hproduct"> <th class="fn" colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Carbine, 5.56 mm, M4</th> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PEO_M4_Carbine_RAS_M68_CCO.jpg"><img alt="PEO M4 Carbine RAS M68 CCO.jpg" height="146" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/PEO_M4_Carbine_RAS_M68_CCO.jpg/300px-PEO_M4_Carbine_RAS_M68_CCO.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
An M4 with an aftermarket buttstock, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_Adapter_System" title="Rail Adapter System">Rail Adapter System</a> (RAS), flip-up rear sight, vertical forward grip with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipod" title="Bipod">bipod</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimpoint_CompM4" title="Aimpoint CompM4">Aimpoint M68 CCO</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Type</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbine" title="Carbine">Carbine</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Place of origin</th> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="12" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Service history</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">In service</th> <td>1994–present</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Used by</th> <td>See <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#Users">Users</a></i></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Wars</th> <td><ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_%282001%E2%80%93present%29" title="War in Afghanistan (2001–present)">War in Afghanistan (2001–present)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War" title="Iraq War">War in Iraq (2003–2011)</a></li>
<li><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombian_Armed_Conflict" title="Colombian Armed Conflict">Colombian Armed Conflict</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Enduring_Freedom" title="Operation Enduring Freedom">Operation Enduring Freedom</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_South_Ossetia_war" title="2008 South Ossetia war">2008 South Ossetia war</a></li>
</ul></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Production history</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Manufacturer</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt%27s_Manufacturing_Company" title="Colt's Manufacturing Company">Colt Defense</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Ordnance" title="U.S. Ordnance">U.S. Ordnance</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Produced</th> <td>1994–present</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Variants</th> <td>M4A1, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CQBR" title="CQBR">CQBR</a> (Mk. 18 Mod 0)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Specifications</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Weight</th> <td>6.36 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound_%28mass%29" title="Pound (mass)">lb</a> (2.88 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilogram" title="Kilogram">kg</a>) empty<br />
6.9 lb (3.1 kg) with 30 rounds</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Length</th> <td>33 in (840 mm) (<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_%28firearm%29" title="Stock (firearm)">stock</a> extended)<br />
29.75 in (756 mm) (stock retracted)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_barrel" title="Gun barrel">Barrel</a> length</th> <td>14.5 in (370 mm)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartridge_%28firearms%29" title="Cartridge (firearms)">Cartridge</a></th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.56%C3%9745mm_NATO" title="5.56×45mm NATO">5.56×45mm NATO</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_action" title="Firearm action">Action</a></th> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas-operated" title="Gas-operated">Gas-operated</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotating_bolt" title="Rotating bolt">rotating bolt</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rate_of_fire" title="Rate of fire">Rate of fire</a></th> <td>700–950 round/min cyclic<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-coltm4_0-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-coltm4-0">[1]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_velocity" title="Muzzle velocity">Muzzle velocity</a></th> <td>2900 ft/sec (884 m/sec)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-1">[2]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Effective range</th> <td>500 m for a point target and 600 m for an area target<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Army_fact_file_2-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Army_fact_file-2">[3]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Feed system</th> <td>30 round box magazine or other <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STANAG_Magazine" title="STANAG Magazine">STANAG Magazines</a>.</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Sights</th> <td>Iron or various optics</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>The <b>M4 carbine</b> is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbine" title="Carbine">carbine</a> versions of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle" title="M16 rifle">M16</a>, all based on the original <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AR-15" title="AR-15">AR-15</a> designed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Stoner" title="Eugene Stoner">Eugene Stoner</a> and made by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ArmaLite" title="ArmaLite">ArmaLite</a>. It is a shorter and lighter variant of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle" title="M16 rifle">M16A2</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_rifle" title="Assault rifle">assault rifle</a>, with 80% parts commonality.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-3">[4]</a></sup><br />
It is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas-operated_reloading" title="Gas-operated reloading">gas-operated</a>, air-cooled, magazine-fed, selective fire, shoulder-fired weapon with a telescoping stock. A shortened variant of the M16A2 rifle, the M4 has a 14.5 in (370 mm) barrel, allowing its user to better operate in close quarters combat. The <b>M4</b> has <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_fire" title="Selective fire">selective fire</a> options including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-automatic_firearm" title="Semi-automatic firearm">semi-automatic</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burst_mode_%28firearm%29" title="Burst mode (firearm)">three-round burst</a> (like the M16A4), while the <b>M4A1</b> has the capability to fire <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_firearm" title="Automatic firearm">fully automatic</a> instead of three-round burst. The carbine is also capable of mounting an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M203_grenade_launcher" title="M203 grenade launcher">M203 grenade launcher</a>, the M203A1 with a 9-inch barrel as opposed to the standard 12-inch barrel of the M203 used on the M16 series.<br />
The M4 carbine is heavily used by the U.S military. It is slated to eventually replace the M16 rifle for most combat units in the United States Army.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Small_Arms.E2.80.93Individual_Weapons_4-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Small_Arms.E2.80.93Individual_Weapons-4">[5]</a></sup> The winner of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individual_Carbine" title="Individual Carbine">Individual Carbine</a> competition might replace the M4 carbine in U.S. Army service, If budgets allow. This is for the US Army only while all other services will continue to use the M-4 carbine and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-16_rifle" title="M-16 rifle">M-16 rifles</a>. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ICC_5-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-ICC-5">[6]</a></sup><br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="History">History</span></h2><table class="metadata plainlinks ambox mbox-small-left ambox-content"><tbody>
<tr> <td class="mbox-image"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg"><img alt="[icon]" height="14" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg/20px-Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg.png" width="20" /></a></td> <td class="mbox-text">This section requires <a class="external text" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=M4_carbine&action=edit">expansion</a> with:<br />
background and info on carbine development.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>The M4 was intended to replace selected M9 pistols and M16 rifle series with most Army units (this plan was thought to be changed with the development of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM29_OICW" title="XM29 OICW">XM29 OICW</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM8_rifle" title="XM8 rifle">XM8 carbine</a>; however, both projects were canceled.)<br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps" title="United States Marine Corps">United States Marine Corps</a> has ordered its officers (up to the rank of lieutenant colonel) and Staff Non-commissioned officers to carry the M4 carbine instead of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M9_pistol" title="M9 pistol">M9</a> handgun. This is in keeping with the Marine Corps doctrine, "Every Marine a rifleman." The Marines however chose the full-sized <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16A4" title="M16A4">M16A4</a> over the M4 as its standard infantry rifle. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">United States Navy</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corpsmen" title="Corpsmen">corpsmen</a> E5 and below will also be issued M4s instead of the M9.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-6">[7]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Improved_M4">Improved M4</span></h3>On July 1, 2009, the U.S. Army took complete ownership of the M4 design.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Army_acquires_rights_to_M4_7-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Army_acquires_rights_to_M4-7">[8]</a></sup> This will allow companies besides Colt to compete with their own M4 designs. The Army planned on fielding the last of its M4 requirement in 2010.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Army_acquires_rights_to_M4_7-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Army_acquires_rights_to_M4-7">[8]</a></sup> On October 30, 2009, Army weapons officials proposed a series of changes to the M4 to Congress. Requested changes include an electronic round counter that records the number of shots fired, a heavier barrel, and possibly replacing the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_impingement" title="Direct impingement">direct impingement</a> system with a <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gas_piston&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Gas piston (page does not exist)">gas piston</a> system, the benefits of this, however, have come under scrutiny from both the military and civilian firearms community.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Major_revamp_possible_for_M4_carbine_8-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Major_revamp_possible_for_M4_carbine-8">[9]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Direct_Impingement_Myth_9-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Direct_Impingement_Myth-9">[10]</a></sup> It should also be pointed out that, according to a PDF detailing the M4 Carbine improvement plans released by PEO Soldier, the direct impingement system will only be replaced after reviews are done comparing the direct impingement system to commercial gas piston operating system to find out and use the best available operating system in the US Army's improved M4A1. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Dual_Path_Strategy:_M4_PIP_10-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Dual_Path_Strategy:_M4_PIP-10">[11]</a></sup><br />
As of September 2010 the Army has announced it will buy 12,000 M4A1s from Colt Firearms by the end of 2010 and will by early 2011 order 25,000 more M4A1s. The Army announced also to have open competition for the newly designed M4 bolt carrier and gas piston operation system, which will be fitted to the newly bought M4A1 carbines. The service branch plans to buy 12,000 of these conversion kits in early 2011. In late 2011 the Army plans to buy 65,000 more conversion kits. From there the Army will decide if it will upgrade all of its M4s.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Army_upgrades_to_M4_11-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Army_upgrades_to_M4-11">[12]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Future_replacement">Future replacement</span></h3><div class="rellink boilerplate seealso">See also: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle#Future_replacement" title="M16 rifle">M16 Future Replacement</a></div>The carbine variant of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM8_rifle" title="XM8 rifle">XM8 rifle</a> was canceled in 2005.<br />
On November 13, 2008, the U.S. Army hosted an invitation-only Industry Day regarding a potential future replacement for the M4 carbine. Nineteen companies provided displays and briefings for military officials. The weapons displayed included the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett_REC7" title="Barrett REC7">Barrett REC7 PDW</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushmaster_ACR" title="Bushmaster ACR">Bushmaster ACR</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_SCAR" title="FN SCAR">FN SCAR</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_HK416" title="Heckler & Koch HK416">Heckler & Koch HK416</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_XM8" title="Heckler & Koch XM8">Heckler & Koch XM8</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LWRC_SRT#M6A4" title="LWRC SRT">LWRC M6A4</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_Arms_XCR" title="Robinson Arms XCR">Robinson Arms XCR</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIG_556" title="SIG 556">SIG 556</a>, as well as Colt's own improved version of the M4, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Colt_Carbine-Monolithic" title="Advanced Colt Carbine-Monolithic">Colt ACC-M</a>. The goal of the Industry Day was to provide officials with knowledge as to the current state of the art, which will assist the writing of a formal requirements document.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-12">[13]</a></sup><br />
The possible successor to the M4 carbine in the U.S. Army is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individual_Carbine" title="Individual Carbine">Individual Carbine</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ICC_5-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-ICC-5">[6]</a></sup> This program is to provide a new carbine for the Army, while the USMC has decided to stay with the M4 for carbine use.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Army_upgrades_to_M4_11-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Army_upgrades_to_M4-11">[12]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Design">Design</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colt_M4_MWS_Carbine_Iraq.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="175" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Colt_M4_MWS_Carbine_Iraq.jpg/220px-Colt_M4_MWS_Carbine_Iraq.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colt_M4_MWS_Carbine_Iraq.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>M4 with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimpoint_CompM2" title="Aimpoint CompM2">M68 Close Combat Optic</a> and AN/PAQ-4</div></div></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SAJ_M4_rifle.JPG"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="165" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/SAJ_M4_rifle.JPG/220px-SAJ_M4_rifle.JPG" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SAJ_M4_rifle.JPG" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Colt Model 933, a variant of the M4 with a shorter 11.5-inch barrel, seen here fitted with an M68 CCO</div></div></div>The M4 and its variants fire <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.56%C3%9745mm_NATO" title="5.56×45mm NATO">5.56×45mm NATO</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammunition" title="Ammunition">ammunition</a> (and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.223_Remington" title=".223 Remington">.223 Remington</a> ammunition) and are <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas-operated" title="Gas-operated">gas-operated</a>, air-cooled, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_%28firearm%29" title="Magazine (firearm)">magazine</a>-fed, selective fire <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearms" title="Firearms">firearms</a> with either a multi-position <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telescoping_stock" title="Telescoping stock">telescoping stock</a> or a fixed A2 or LE tactical stock.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-13">[14]</a></sup> Original M4 models had a flat-ended telescoping <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_%28firearm%29" title="Stock (firearm)">stock</a>, but newer models are now equipped with a redesigned telescoping stock that is slightly larger with curvature at the end.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-14">[15]</a></sup> The M4 is similar to much earlier compact M16 versions, such as the 1960s-era <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAR-15#CAR-15_Commando_.28XM177.2FGAU-5_series.29" title="CAR-15">XM177</a> family. Some of those visual designs are obvious in both weapons, however most of the similarities are not very noticeable.<br />
<div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US-_Solder.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/US-_Solder.jpg/220px-US-_Solder.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US-_Solder.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The M4 with the newer, redesigned telescoping <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_%28firearm%29" title="Stock (firearm)">stock</a></div></div></div>As with many <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbine" title="Carbine">carbines</a>, the M4 is handy and more convenient to carry than a full-length <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifle" title="Rifle">rifle</a>. The price is slightly inferior ballistic performance compared to the full-size M16, with its nearly 6" (15 cm) longer barrel. This becomes most apparent at ranges of 300 yards and beyond. Statistically, however, most small-arms engagements occur within 100 yards.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from December 2009">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> This means that the M4 is very much an adequate weapon for the majority of troops. The marginal sacrifice in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_ballistics" title="Terminal ballistics">terminal ballistics</a> and range, in exchange for greatly improved handling characteristics, is usually thought to be a worthwhile compromise.<br />
While the M4's maneuverability makes it a candidate for non-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infantry" title="Infantry">infantry</a> troops (vehicle crews, clerks and staff officers), it also makes it ideal for <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_Quarters_Battle" title="Close Quarters Battle">close quarters battle</a> (CQB). The M4 was developed and produced for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_government_of_the_United_States" title="Federal government of the United States">United States government</a> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt%27s_Manufacturing_Company" title="Colt's Manufacturing Company">Colt Firearms</a>, which had an exclusive contract to produce the M4 family of weapons through 2009;<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from April 2010">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> however, a number of other manufacturers offer M4-like firearms. The M4, along with the M16A4, have mostly replaced the M16A2 in the Army and Marines. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force" title="United States Air Force">U.S. Air Force</a>, for example, has transitioned completely to the M4 for Security Forces squadrons, while other armed personnel retain the M16A2. The US Navy uses M4A1s for Special Operations and by vehicle crews.<br />
Some features of the M4 and M4A1 compared to a full-length M16-series rifle include:<br />
<ul><li>Compact size</li>
<li>Shortened barrel 14.5 in (370 mm), which includes the shorter carbine gas system.</li>
<li>Telescoping buttstock</li>
</ul>However, there have been some criticisms of the carbine, such as lower <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_velocity" title="Muzzle velocity">muzzle velocities</a> and louder report due to the shorter barrel, additional stress on parts because of the shorter gas system, and a tendency to overheat faster than the M16A2.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Accessories">Accessories</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:M4FiringWithCasingInAir.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="147" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/M4FiringWithCasingInAir.jpg/220px-M4FiringWithCasingInAir.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:M4FiringWithCasingInAir.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>An M4A1 just after firing, with an ejected <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartridge_%28firearms%29" title="Cartridge (firearms)">case</a> in mid-air; the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M203_grenade_launcher" title="M203 grenade launcher">M203</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimpoint_CompM2" title="Aimpoint CompM2">M68 CCO</a> are attached.</div></div></div>Like all the variants of the M16, the M4 and the M4A1 can be fitted with many accessories, such as night vision devices, suppressors, laser pointers, telescopic sights, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipod" title="Bipod">bipods</a>, either the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M203_grenade_launcher" title="M203 grenade launcher">M203</a> or <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M320" title="M320">M320</a> grenade launchers, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M26_Modular_Accessory_Shotgun_System" title="M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System">M26 MASS</a> shotgun, forward hand grips, and anything else compatible with a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail.<br />
Other common accessories include the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/PEQ-2" title="AN/PEQ-2">AN/PEQ-2</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Combat_Optical_Gunsight" title="Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight">Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight</a> (ACOG), and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimpoint_CompM2" title="Aimpoint CompM2">M68 CCO</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EOTech" title="EOTech">EOTech</a> holographic weapon sights are part of the SOPMOD II package. Visible and IR (infrared) lights of various manufacturers are also commonly attached using various mounting methods. As with all versions of the M16, the M4 accepts a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blank-firing_attachment" title="Blank-firing attachment">blank-firing attachment</a> (BFA) for training purposes.<br />
<h4><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Feedramps">Feedramps</span></h4>M4 feedramps are extended from the barrel extension into the upper receiver. This can help alleviate feeding problems which may occur as a result of the increased pressure of the shortened gas system of the M4. This problem is primarily seen in full-auto applications. While some feel they are unnecessary, their perceived or real utility to others has led to the increasing availability of this feature on civilian AR-15 products.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from January 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Variants">Variants</span></h2><div class="rellink boilerplate seealso">For more details on M4 carbine variants, see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AR-15_variants" title="AR-15 variants">AR-15 variants</a>.</div>Except for the very first delivery order, all U.S. military-issue M4 and M4A1 carbines possess a flat-top <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO" title="NATO">NATO</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picatinny_rail" title="Picatinny rail">M1913-specification (Picatinny) rail</a> on top of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Receiver_%28firearms%29" title="Receiver (firearms)">receiver</a> for attachment of optical sights and other aiming devices — <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trijicon" title="Trijicon">Trijicon</a> TA01 and TA31 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Combat_Optical_Gunsight" title="Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight">Advanced Combat Optical Gunsights</a> (ACOG), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EOTech" title="EOTech">EOTech 550 series</a> holographic sights, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimpoint_AB" title="Aimpoint AB">Aimpoint</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimpoint_CompM2" title="Aimpoint CompM2">M68 Close Combat Optic</a> (M68 CCO) being the favorite choices — and a detachable rail-mounted carrying handle. Standards are the Colt Model <i>920</i> (M4) and <i>921</i> (M4A1).<br />
Variants of the carbine built by different manufacturers are also in service with many other foreign special forces units, such as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia" title="Australia">Australian</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Special_Air_Service_Regiment" title="Australian Special Air Service Regiment">Special Air Service Regiment</a> (SASR). While the SASR uses weapons of essentially the same pattern built by Colt for export (Colt uses different models to separate weapons for the U.S. military and those for commercial/export purposes), the British <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Air_Service" title="Special Air Service">SAS</a> uses a variant on the basic theme, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Canada" title="Colt Canada">Colt Canada</a> (formerly <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diemaco" title="Diemaco">Diemaco</a>) <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C8_Rifle#C8SFW" title="C8 Rifle">C8SFW</a>.<br />
The M4 carbine is slated to eventually replace the M16 rifle in the United States Army.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Small_Arms.E2.80.93Individual_Weapons_4-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Small_Arms.E2.80.93Individual_Weapons-4">[5]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="M4_MWS_.28Modular_Weapon_System.29">M4 MWS (Modular Weapon System)</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:M4w-att.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="120" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/M4w-att.jpg/220px-M4w-att.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:M4w-att.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>M4 MWS (Modular Weapon System) shown with various accessories including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M203_grenade_launcher" title="M203 grenade launcher">M203 grenade launcher</a>, RIS foregrip, removable carry handle/rear sight assembly, <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AN/PEQ-4&action=edit&redlink=1" title="AN/PEQ-4 (page does not exist)">AN/PEQ-4</a> laser system, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimpoint_CompM2" title="Aimpoint CompM2">M68 CCO</a> reflex sight, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/PVS-4" title="AN/PVS-4">AN/PVS-4</a> night vision optics</div></div></div>Colt Model <i>925</i> carbines were tested fitted with the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight%27s_Armament_Corporation" title="Knight's Armament Corporation">Knight's Armament Corporation</a> (KAC) M4 RAS under the designation <b>M4E2</b>, but this designation appears to have been scrapped in favor of mounting this system to existing carbines without changing the designation. The U.S. Army Field Manual specifies for the Army that adding the Rail Adapter System (RAS) turns the weapon into the <b>M4 MWS</b> or <i>Modular Weapon System</i>.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="M4A1">M4A1</span></h3>The <b>M4A1</b> carbine is a fully automatic variant of the basic M4 carbine intended for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_forces" title="Special forces">special operations</a> use. The M4A1 has a "S-1-F" (safe/semi-automatic/fully automatic) trigger group, while the M4 has a "S-1-3" (safe/semi-automatic/3-round burst) trigger group. The M4A1 is used by almost all U.S special operation units including, but not limited to, the Army <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Rangers" title="United States Army Rangers">Rangers</a>, Army <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Special_Forces" title="Army Special Forces">Special Forces</a>, Navy <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_seals" title="Navy seals">SEALs</a> and Air Force <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Controller" title="Combat Controller">Combat Control Teams</a>. The M4A1 is especially favored by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-terrorism" title="Counter-terrorism">counter-terrorist</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_forces" title="Special forces">special forces</a> units for close quarters combat because of the carbine's compactness and firepower.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from November 2010">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> These features are also very useful in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_warfare" title="Urban warfare">urban warfare</a>. It has a maximum effective range of about 500 to 600 meters (550–660 yd).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Army_fact_file_2-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Army_fact_file-2">[3]</a></sup><br />
All U.S. Army forces will begin replacing their basic M4 carbines and all 600,000 M16 rifles with the M4A1 variant in 2014. The M4A1 in turn would likely be replaced with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individual_Carbine" title="Individual Carbine">Individual Carbine</a>. Replacement of the M16 would come from the Individual Carbine instead of the M4A1 if procurement was attained.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-pure_fleet_option_15-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-pure_fleet_option-15">[16]</a></sup><br />
In the last few years, M4A1 carbines have been refit or received straight from factory with barrels with a thicker profile under the handguard. This is for a variety of reasons such as heat dissipation, which is useful due to the complaints of high-heat production from test soldiers, which occurs during full-auto and accuracy as a byproduct of barrel weight. These heavier barrel weapons are also fitted with a heavier buffer known as the H2. Out of three sliding weights inside the buffer, the H2 possesses two tungsten weights and one steel weight, versus the standard H buffer, which uses one tungsten weight and two steel weights. These weapons, known by Colt as the Model 921HB (for <i>Heavy Barrel</i>), have also been designated M4A1, and as far as the government is concerned the M4A1 represents both the <i>921</i> and <i>921HB</i>.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Mark_18_CQBR">Mark 18 CQBR</span></h3><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_Quarters_Battle_Receiver" title="Close Quarters Battle Receiver">Close Quarters Battle Receiver</a></div>Current contractor for the Mark 18 is Colt and Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT) NSN 1005-01-527-2288. It is equipped with a 10.3" barrel.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from March 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="SOPMOD_Block_I">SOPMOD Block I</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SOPMOD_2-2005.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="165" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/SOPMOD_2-2005.jpg/220px-SOPMOD_2-2005.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SOPMOD_2-2005.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>SOPMOD (Special Operations Peculiar Modification) Block I</div></div></div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Special_Operations_Command" title="United States Special Operations Command">USSOCOM</a> developed the Special Operations Peculiar Modification (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOPMOD" title="SOPMOD">SOPMOD</a>) Block I kit for the carbines used by units under its jurisdiction. The kit features an M4A1, a Rail Interface System (RIS) handguard developed by Knight's Armament Company, a shortened quick-detachable <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M203_grenade_launcher" title="M203 grenade launcher">M203 grenade launcher</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sight_%28device%29" title="Sight (device)">leaf sight</a>, a KAC <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suppressor" title="Suppressor">sound suppressor</a>, a KAC back-up rear sight, an Insight Technologies <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/PEQ-2" title="AN/PEQ-2">AN/PEQ-2</a>A visible <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser" title="Laser">laser</a>/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared" title="Infrared">infrared</a> designator, along with Trijicon's ACOG and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_dot_sight" title="Red dot sight">Reflex sights</a>, and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_vision_device" title="Night vision device">night vision sight</a>. This kit was designed to be configurable (modular) for various missions, and the kit is currently in service with special operations units.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="SOPMOD_Block_II">SOPMOD Block II</span></h3>A second-generation SOPMOD kit (now known as <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SOPMOD_II&action=edit&redlink=1" title="SOPMOD II (page does not exist)">SOPMOD II</a>) includes innovative optics, such as the Elcan Specter DR and the Eotech 553. Block II uses the RIS II rails manufactured by Daniel Defense in both a 9.5 and 12.5 length.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="SOPMOD_Block_III">SOPMOD Block III</span></h3>2012-XXXX SOPMOD 1 & 2 Compatible with both M4A1 Carbine & SCAR SOPMOD 2 Compatibilities with all SOF Weapons<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from March 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Performance">Performance</span></h2><h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="2007_dust_test">2007 dust test</span></h3>In the fall 2007, the Army tested the M4 against three other carbines in "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_storm" title="Dust storm">sandstorm</a> conditions" at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdeen_Proving_Ground" title="Aberdeen Proving Ground">Aberdeen Proving Ground</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a>: the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch" title="Heckler & Koch">Heckler & Koch</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM8_rifle" title="XM8 rifle">XM8</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabrique_Nationale_de_Herstal" title="Fabrique Nationale de Herstal">Fabrique Nationale de Herstal</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_SCAR" title="FN SCAR">SOF Combat Assault Rifle</a> (SCAR) and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_HK416" title="Heckler & Koch HK416">Heckler & Koch HK416</a>. Ten of each type of rifle were used to fire 6,000 rounds each, for a total of 60,000 rounds per rifle type.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-16">[17]</a></sup> The M4 suffered far more stoppages than its competitors: 882 stoppages, 19 requiring an armorer to fix. The XM8 had the fewest stoppages, 116 minor stoppages and 11 major ones, followed by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_SCAR" title="FN SCAR">FN SCAR</a> with 226 stoppages and the HK416 with 233.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-17">[18]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-18">[19]</a></sup> The Army was quick to point out that even with 863 minor stoppages—termed "class one" stoppages which require 10 seconds or less to clear and "class two" stoppages which require more than ten seconds to clear—the M4 functioned well, with over 98 percent of the 60,000 total rounds firing without a problem. The Army said it planned to improve the M4 with a new cold-hammer-forged barrel to give longer life and more reliable magazines to reduce the stoppages. Magazine failures caused 239 of the M4's 882 failures. Army officials said the new magazines could be combat-ready by spring if testing went well.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-19">[20]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Gas_Piston">Gas Piston</span></h3>Complicating the Army search for higher reliability in the M4 is a number of observations of M4 gas piston alternatives that suffer unintended design problems. The first is that many of the gas piston modifications for the M4 isolate the piston so that piston jams or related malfunction require the entire weapon be disassembled, such disassembly cannot be performed by the end user and requires a qualified armorer to perform out of field, where as any malfunction with the direct-impingement system can be fixed by the end user in field. The second is that gas piston alternatives use an off-axis operation of the piston that can introduce carrier tilt, whereby the bolt carrier fails to enter the buffer tube at a straight angle resulting in part wearing. The third is that the use of a sound suppressor results in hot gases entering the chamber, regardless of a direct-gas impingement or gas piston design choice. The gas-piston system also causes the firearm to become proprietary to the manufacturer, making modifications and changes with parts from other manufacturers difficult.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-20">[21]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Direct_Impingement_Myth_9-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Direct_Impingement_Myth-9">[10]</a></sup> The argument for a gas piston is that it would reduce fouling; the argument against is that is would increase weight and reduce accuracy. The issue remains contentious and unresolved.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from August 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Trademark_issues">Trademark issues</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Marshals_knock_and_announce.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="164" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/U.S._Marshals_knock_and_announce.jpg/220px-U.S._Marshals_knock_and_announce.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Marshals_knock_and_announce.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marshals_Service" title="United States Marshals Service">U.S. Marshal</a> covers a doorway with an M4.</div></div></div>Colt previously held a U.S. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trademark" title="Trademark">trademark</a> on the term "M4".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-21">[22]</a></sup> Many manufacturers have production firearms that are essentially identical to a military M4. Civilian models are sometimes colloquially referred to as "M4gery"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-22">[23]</a></sup> (<span class="nowrap"><span title="pronunciation:"><img alt="play" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/11px-Loudspeaker.svg.png" width="11" /></span> <span class="IPA" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English">/</a></span><span class="IPA"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dotted;" title="short 'e' in 'bed'">ɛ</span></a></span><span class="IPA"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dotted;" title="'m' in 'my'">m</span></a></span><span class="IPA"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dotted;" title="primary stress follows">ˈ</span></a></span><span class="IPA"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dotted;" title="'f' in 'find'">f</span></a></span><span class="IPA"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dotted;" title="'ore' in 'bore'">ɔər</span></a></span><span class="IPA"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dotted;" title="'j' in 'jam'">dʒ</span></a></span><span class="IPA"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dotted;" title="'er' in 'finger'">ər</span></a></span><span class="IPA"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dotted;" title="'y' in 'happy'">i</span></a></span><span class="IPA" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English">/</a></span></span>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-23">[24]</a></sup> a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portmanteau" title="Portmanteau">portmanteau</a> of "M4" and "forgery"). Colt had maintained that it retains sole rights to the M4 name and design. Other manufacturers had long maintained that Colt had been overstating its rights, and that "M4" had now become a generic term for a shortened AR-15. In April 2004, Colt filed a lawsuit against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch" title="Heckler & Koch">Heckler & Koch</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushmaster_Firearms,_Inc." title="Bushmaster Firearms, Inc.">Bushmaster Firearms</a>, claiming acts of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trademark_infringement" title="Trademark infringement">trademark infringement</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_dress" title="Trade dress">trade dress</a> infringement, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trademark_dilution" title="Trademark dilution">trademark dilution</a>, false designation of origin, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_advertising" title="False advertising">false advertising</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_infringement" title="Patent infringement">patent infringement</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfair_competition" title="Unfair competition">unfair competition</a>, and deceptive trade practices. Heckler & Koch later settled out of court, changing one product's name from "HK M4" to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_HK416" title="Heckler & Koch HK416">"HK416"</a>. However, on December 8, 2005, a District court judge in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine" title="Maine">Maine</a> granted a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summary_judgment" title="Summary judgment">summary judgment</a> in favor of Bushmaster Firearms, dismissing all of Colt's claims except for false advertising. On the latter claim, Colt could not recover monetary damages. The court also ruled that "M4" was now a generic name, and that Colt's trademark should be revoked.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-24">[25]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Users">Users</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Special_Action_Force_US_Embassy_guards.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="332" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/98/Special_Action_Force_US_Embassy_guards.jpg/220px-Special_Action_Force_US_Embassy_guards.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Special_Action_Force_US_Embassy_guards.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>A member of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine" title="Philippine">Philippine</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Action_Force" title="Special Action Force">Special Action Force</a> holding a M4 Carbine while guarding the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embassy_of_the_United_States,_Manila" title="Embassy of the United States, Manila">U.S. Embassy in Manila</a>.</div></div></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Upload&wpDestFile=Detasemen_Khusus_88_operators.jpg" title="File:Detasemen Khusus 88 operators.jpg">File:Detasemen Khusus 88 operators.jpg</a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption">Indonesian police unit, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detachment_88" title="Detachment 88">Detachment 88</a></div></div></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SAJ_ACUPAT_camo.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="293" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/SAJ_ACUPAT_camo.jpg/220px-SAJ_ACUPAT_camo.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SAJ_ACUPAT_camo.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Members of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbia" title="Serbia">Serbian</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAJ_%28Special_Anti-terrorist_Unit%29" title="SAJ (Special Anti-terrorist Unit)">SAJ</a>, the one in the center holding a Colt Model 933 while the one on the left holds a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIG_SG_550#SG_552" title="SIG SG 550">SIG SG 552</a>.</div></div></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PMERJ-BOPE4.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="140" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/PMERJ-BOPE4.jpg/220px-PMERJ-BOPE4.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PMERJ-BOPE4.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Officers of the Police Special Operations Battalion of Rio de Janeiro (<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BOPE" title="BOPE">BOPE</a>-RJ) Using the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_933" title="Colt 933">Colt 933</a> assault rifle while doing an operation in a favela in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_de_Janeiro" title="Rio de Janeiro">Rio de Janeiro</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil" title="Brazil">Brazil</a></div></div></div><ul><li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="14" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Flag_of_Argentina.svg/22px-Flag_of_Argentina.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina" title="Argentina">Argentina</a>: All the forces.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from December 2011">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Afghanistan.svg/22px-Flag_of_Afghanistan.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan" title="Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a>: Used only by <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANA_Commando_Battalion" title="ANA Commando Battalion">Afghan Army commandos</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-25">[26]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-26">[27]</a></sup> M4s sold as part of a 2006 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_Military_Sales" title="Foreign Military Sales">Foreign Military Sales</a> package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2006_27-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2006-27">[28]</a></sup> Additional M4s sold as a 2008 Foreign Military Sales package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2008_28-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2008-28">[29]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b9/Flag_of_Australia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Australia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia" title="Australia">Australia</a>: Used by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Operations_Command_%28Australia%29" title="Special Operations Command (Australia)">Special Operations Command</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-29">[30]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clearance_Diving_Team_%28RAN%29" title="Clearance Diving Team (RAN)">Clearance Divers</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-30">[31]</a></sup> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_Tactical_Group" title="Police Tactical Group">Police Tactical Groups</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-31">[32]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Flag_of_Bangladesh.svg/22px-Flag_of_Bangladesh.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh" title="Bangladesh">Bangladesh</a>: Used by Bangladesh Paracommandos, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWAT_%28Bangladesh%29" title="SWAT (Bangladesh)">Dhaka Metropolitan Police SWAT teams</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Warfare_Diving_And_Salvage" title="Special Warfare Diving And Salvage">Special Warfare Diving And Salvage</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-32">[33]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Flag_of_Bahrain.svg/22px-Flag_of_Bahrain.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrain" title="Bahrain">Bahrain</a>: M4A1s sold as a 2008 Foreign Military Sales package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2008_28-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2008-28">[29]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Flag_of_Belize.svg/22px-Flag_of_Belize.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belize" title="Belize">Belize</a>: M4s/M4A1s sold as part of a 2006 Foreign Military Sales package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2006_27-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2006-27">[28]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/05/Flag_of_Brazil.svg/22px-Flag_of_Brazil.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil" title="Brazil">Brazil</a>: Used by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Police_of_Rio_de_Janeiro_State" title="Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State">Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-33">[34]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cf/Flag_of_Canada.svg/22px-Flag_of_Canada.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada" title="Canada">Canada</a>: <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C7_rifle#C8" title="C7 rifle">C8 rifle</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-hogg2002_34-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-hogg2002-34">[35]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_Republic" title="Czech Republic">Czech Republic</a>: The M4 Karabin A3 is used in small numbers by specialized units of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_the_Czech_Republic" title="Military of the Czech Republic">Czech Army</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-35">[36]</a></sup> Known to be in use by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/601st_Special_Forces_Group" title="601st Special Forces Group">601st Special Forces Group</a> in 2006 to replace the Sa vz.58.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-36">[37]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Flag_of_Colombia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Colombia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombia" title="Colombia">Colombia</a>: M4A1s as part of a 2008 Foreign Military Sales.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2008_28-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2008-28">[29]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Flag_of_Ecuador.svg/22px-Flag_of_Ecuador.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuador" title="Ecuador">Ecuador</a>: M4s sold as a 2008 Foreign Military Sales package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2008_28-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2008-28">[29]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="12" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Flag_of_El_Salvador.svg/22px-Flag_of_El_Salvador.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Salvador" title="El Salvador">El Salvador</a>: M4s sold as part of a 2007 Foreign Military Sales package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2007_37-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2007-37">[38]</a></sup> Additional M4s sold as a 2008 Foreign Military Sales package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2008_28-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2008-28">[29]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Flag_of_Georgia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Georgia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28country%29" title="Georgia (country)">Georgia</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian_Armed_Forces" title="Georgian Armed Forces">Georgian Armed Forces</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-38"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-38">[39]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-39">[40]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Flag_of_Greece.svg/22px-Flag_of_Greece.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece" title="Greece">Greece</a>: Used by <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Anti-Terrorist_Unit" title="Special Anti-Terrorist Unit">EKAM</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-astymonia2004_40-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-astymonia2004-40">[41]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Flag_of_Hong_Kong.svg/22px-Flag_of_Hong_Kong.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong" title="Hong Kong">Hong Kong</a>: M4A1 by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Duties_Unit" title="Special Duties Unit">Special Duties Unit</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Police_Force" title="Hong Kong Police Force">Hong Kong Police Force</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-41">[42]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Flag_of_Hungary.svg/22px-Flag_of_Hungary.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungary" title="Hungary">Hungary</a>: M4A1 SOPMOD by Hungarian Special Force <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-42">[43]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg/22px-Flag_of_India.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India" title="India">India</a>: M4A1s as part of a 2008 Foreign Military Sales.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2008_28-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2008-28">[29]</a></sup> M4A1 is also used by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mizoram_Armed_Police" title="Mizoram Armed Police">Mizoram Armed Police</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_One" title="Force One">Force One</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai_Police" title="Mumbai Police">Mumbai Police</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-43">[44]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-44">[45]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Flag_of_Indonesia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Indonesia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia" title="Indonesia">Indonesia</a>: Used by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detachment_88" title="Detachment 88">Detachment 88 Counter-terrorism Police Squad</a> operators.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-45">[46]</a></sup> Also used by <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopaska" title="Kopaska">Komando Pasukan Katak</a></i> (Kopaska) tactical diver group and <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopassus" title="Kopassus">Komando Pasukan Khusus</a></i> (Kopassus) special forces group.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-idnvojnik_46-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-idnvojnik-46">[47]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Flag_of_Iraq.svg/22px-Flag_of_Iraq.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a>: Used by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_Army" title="Iraqi Army">Iraqi Army</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-47">[48]</a></sup> Main weapon of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_National_Counter-Terrorism_Force" title="Iraqi National Counter-Terrorism Force">Iraqi National Counter-Terrorism Force</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-48">[49]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="16" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Flag_of_Israel.svg/22px-Flag_of_Israel.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel" title="Israel">Israel</a>: Sold as part of a January 2001 Foreign Military Sales package to Israel.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-49"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-49">[50]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/03/Flag_of_Italy.svg/22px-Flag_of_Italy.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy" title="Italy">Italy</a>: Only Special Forces<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-50"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-50">[51]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Flag_of_Jamaica.svg/22px-Flag_of_Jamaica.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica" title="Jamaica">Jamaica</a>: M4s sold as part of a 2007 Foreign Military Sales package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2007_37-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2007-37">[38]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9e/Flag_of_Japan.svg/22px-Flag_of_Japan.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japan</a>: M4A1s as part of a 2008 Foreign Military Sales package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2008_28-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2008-28">[29]</a></sup> M4A1 SOPMOD rifles are in use by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Forces_Group_%28Japan%29" title="Special Forces Group (Japan)">Japanese Special Forces Group</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-51"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-51">[52]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Flag_of_Jordan.svg/22px-Flag_of_Jordan.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan" title="Jordan">Jordan</a>: M4s sold as part of a 2007 Foreign Military Sales package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2007_37-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2007-37">[38]</a></sup> Additionals M4s sold as a 2008 Foreign Military Sales package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2008_28-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2008-28">[29]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Flag_of_Lebanon.svg/22px-Flag_of_Lebanon.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon" title="Lebanon">Lebanon</a>: M4 components being sold to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanese_Special_Operations_Command" title="Lebanese Special Operations Command">Lebanese special forces</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-52"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-52">[53]</a></sup> M4/M4A1s sold as a 2008 Foreign Military Sales package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2008_28-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2008-28">[29]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Flag_of_Macedonia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Macedonia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Macedonia" title="Republic of Macedonia">Macedonia</a>: M4s sold as a 2008 Foreign Military Sales package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2008_28-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2008-28">[29]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Flag_of_Malaysia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia" title="Malaysia">Malaysia</a>: Made under license by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SME_Ordnance" title="SME Ordnance">SME Ordnance</a> Sdn Bhd.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Rifle_53-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Rifle-53">[54]</a></sup> To be used by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_Armed_Forces" title="Malaysian Armed Forces">Malaysian Armed Forces</a>, special forces of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_Maritime_Enforcement_Agency" title="Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency">Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Malaysian_Police" title="Royal Malaysian Police">Royal Malaysian Police</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-54"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-54">[55]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" height="20" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Flag_of_Nepal.svg/16px-Flag_of_Nepal.svg.png" width="16" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepal" title="Nepal">Nepal</a>: Sold as part of a 2005 Foreign Military Sales package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-55"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-55">[56]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Flag_of_New_Zealand.svg/22px-Flag_of_New_Zealand.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand" title="New Zealand">New Zealand</a>: Used by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_Special_Air_Service" title="New Zealand Special Air Service">NZSAS operators</a> and the police <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Offenders_Squad" title="Armed Offenders Squad">Armed Offenders Squad</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-56"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-56">[57]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Stuff.co.nz_1387878_57-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Stuff.co.nz_1387878-57">[58]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Flag_of_Panama.svg/22px-Flag_of_Panama.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama" title="Panama">Panama</a>: M4A1s sold as a 2008 Foreign Military Sales package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2008_28-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2008-28">[29]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines" title="Philippines">Philippines</a>: M4/M4A1s sold as a 2008 Foreign Military Sales package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2008_28-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2008-28">[29]</a></sup> Two variants of the M4 carbine are made by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floro_International_Corporation" title="Floro International Corporation">Floro International Corporation</a>, consisting of the M4A1 5.56MM RIFLE and the M4A1 Model-C 5.56MM RIFLE.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-58"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-58">[59]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-59"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-59">[60]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="14" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/12/Flag_of_Poland.svg/22px-Flag_of_Poland.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland" title="Poland">Poland</a>: Used by Polish special forces unit <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GROM" title="GROM">Grupa Reagowania Operacyjno-Manewrowego</a> (GROM).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-60"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-60">[61]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Flag_of_Portugal.svg/22px-Flag_of_Portugal.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal">Portugal</a>: Used by Marines <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Actions_Detachment" title="Special Actions Detachment">special forces</a> DAE (Destacamento de Acções Especiais).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-61"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-61">[62]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Flag_of_Serbia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Serbia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbia" title="Serbia">Serbia</a>: Used by various police units.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-62"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-62">[63]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Flag_of_Singapore.svg/22px-Flag_of_Singapore.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore" title="Singapore">Singapore</a>: Used by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Armed_Forces_Commando_Formation" title="Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation">Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-63"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-63">[64]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_China" title="Republic of China">Taiwan</a>: Used by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Police_Agency_%28Republic_of_China%29" title="National Police Agency (Republic of China)">National Police Agency (Republic of China)</a> <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-64"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-64">[65]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Flag_of_Thailand.svg/22px-Flag_of_Thailand.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand" title="Thailand">Thailand</a>: M4A1s sold as part of a 2006 Foreign Military Sales package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2006_27-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2006-27">[28]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Tonga.svg/22px-Flag_of_Tonga.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonga" title="Tonga">Tonga</a>: M4/M4A1s sold as a 2008 Foreign Military Sales package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2008_28-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2008-28">[29]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Flag_of_Turkey.svg/22px-Flag_of_Turkey.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a>:Used by <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Forces" title="Special Forces">Special Forces</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Colt_65-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Colt-65">[66]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates" title="United Arab Emirates">United Arab Emirates</a>: Purchased 2,500 M4 carbines in 1993.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-66"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-66">[67]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="12" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-hogg2002_34-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-hogg2002-34">[35]</a></sup></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Flag_of_Yemen.svg/22px-Flag_of_Yemen.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemen" title="Yemen">Yemen</a>: M4s sold as part of a 2006 Foreign Military Sales package.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guns_2006_27-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#cite_note-Guns_2006-27">[28]</a></sup></li>
</ul><h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="U.S._citizen_ownership">U.S. citizen ownership</span></h3>Sales of select-fire or full automatic M4s by Colt are restricted to military and law enforcement agencies. Only under special circumstances can a private citizen own an M4 in a select-fire or fully automatic configuration. While many machine guns can be legally owned with a proper tax stamp from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Alcohol,_Tobacco,_Firearms_and_Explosives" title="Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives">Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_Owners_Protection_Act#Machine_Gun_Ban:_The_Hughes_Amendment" title="Firearm Owners Protection Act">an amendment</a> to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_Owners_Protection_Act" title="Firearm Owners Protection Act">Firearm Owners Protection Act</a> of 1986 barred the transfer to private citizens of machine guns made or registered in the U.S. after May 19, 1986. The only exception was for Special Occupational Taxpayers (SOT): licensed machine gun dealers with demonstration letters, manufacturers, and those dealing in exports and imports. As such, only the earliest Colt M4 prototypes built prior to May 19, 1986 would be legal to own by civilians not in the categories mentioned. However, US firearms law considers the lower receiver of a M16/M4 type rifle to be the "firearm" (the serial numbered and, in the case of machine guns, registered under federal law, part of the weapon).<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from January 2010">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> Therefore the more common registered Colt M16 may be configured as an M4 by replacing the M16 upper receiver/barrel assembly with an M4 upper half, and replacing the fixed rifle stock with a 4 or 6 position telescoping M4 stock.Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458343171941697072.post-54548238159983905332012-01-15T00:19:00.000-08:002012-01-15T00:19:46.050-08:00K2 Black Panther (tank)<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">K2 Black Panther</h1><table class="metadata plainlinks ambox ambox-style ambox-More_footnotes"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mbox-image"><br />
</td><td class="mbox-text"><small><i></i></small></td> </tr>
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<tr> <td> <table class="infobox" style="border-spacing: 2px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr class="hproduct"> <th class="fn" colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">K2 Black Panther</th> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:K2_black_panther.jpg"><img alt="K2 black panther.jpg" height="225" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/K2_black_panther.jpg/300px-K2_black_panther.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
The K2 Black Panther on static display</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Type</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_battle_tank" title="Main battle tank">Main battle tank</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Place of origin</th> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Flag_of_South_Korea.svg/22px-Flag_of_South_Korea.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea" title="South Korea">Republic of Korea</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Unit cost</th> <td>₩7.8 billion (production batch 1)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K2_Black_Panther#cite_note-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollar" title="United States dollar">US$</a>8.5 million</span> (constant 2009 USD)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; font-size: 110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Specifications</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Weight</th> <td>55 t (54 long tons; 61 short tons)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Length</th> <td>Overall: 10.8 m (35 ft 5 in)<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chassis" title="Chassis">Chassis</a> only: 7.5 metres (24 ft 7 in)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Width</th> <td>3.6 metres (11 ft 10 in)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Height</th> <td>2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Crew</th> <td>3 (commander, gunner, driver)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2"> <hr /></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_armour" title="Vehicle armour">Armor</a></th> <td>Classified type of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_armour" title="Composite armour">composite armour</a> with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactive_armour" title="Reactive armour">ERA and NERA</a> modular add-on armour in addition to soft-kill/hard-kill anti-missile defense systems</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="line-height: 11pt; padding-right: 1em;">Main<br />
armament</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheinmetall_120_mm_gun" title="Rheinmetall 120 mm gun">120 mm (4.72 in) 55 caliber</a> smoothbore gun (40 rounds)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="line-height: 11pt; padding-right: 1em;">Secondary<br />
armament</th> <td>1× <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.50_BMG" title=".50 BMG">12.7 mm (.50 caliber)</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M2_Browning_machine_gun" title="M2 Browning machine gun">K6 heavy machine gun</a> (3,200 rounds)<br />
1× <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62x51mm_NATO" title="7.62x51mm NATO">7.62 mm (.30 caliber)</a> coaxial <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_gun" title="Machine gun">machine gun</a> (12,000 rounds)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Engine</th> <td>4-cycle, 12-cylinder water-cooled diesel<br />
1,500 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower" title="Horsepower">hp</a> (1,100 kW)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Power/weight</th> <td>27.2 hp/tonne</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Suspension</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_suspension" title="Air suspension">Hydropneumatic</a> suspension system</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="line-height: 11pt; padding-right: 1em;">Operational<br />
range</th> <td>450 kilometres (280 mi)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Speed</th> <td>Paved road: 70 km/h (43 mph)<br />
Cross country: 50 km/h (31 mph)<br />
Acceleration from 0–32 km/h (0–20 mph) in 7 seconds</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><table cellspacing="0" class="navbox" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; margin: 0; width: 315px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="padding: 2px;"> <table cellspacing="0" class="nowraplinks hlist collapsible autocollapse" id="collapsibleTable0" style="background: transparent; color: inherit; width: 100%;"><tbody>
<tr> <th class="navbox-title" colspan="2" scope="col" style="background-color: lightsteelblue;"><span class="collapseButton">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K2_Black_Panther#" id="collapseButton0">hide</a>]</span> <div class="noprint plainlinks hlist navbar"> <ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Post-Cold_War_tanks" title="Template:Post-Cold War tanks"><span style="background-color: lightsteelblue; background: none transparent; border: none;" title="View this template">v</span></a></li>
<li class="nv-talk"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Post-Cold_War_tanks" title="Template talk:Post-Cold War tanks"><span style="background-color: lightsteelblue; background: none transparent; border: none;" title="Discuss this template">d</span></a></li>
<li class="nv-edit"><a class="external text" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Post-Cold_War_tanks&action=edit"><span style="background-color: lightsteelblue; background: none transparent; border: none;" title="Edit this template">e</span></a></li>
</ul></div><div class="" style="font-size: 110%;">Post-Cold War tanks</div></th> </tr>
<tr style="height: 2px;"> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2" style="background-color: gainsboro;"> <div> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_modern_armoured_fighting_vehicles" title="List of modern armoured fighting vehicles">List</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Tanks_of_the_post-Cold_War_period" title="Category:Tanks of the post-Cold War period">Category</a></li>
</ul></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 2px;"> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" colspan="2" style="padding: 0px; width: 100%;"> <div style="padding: 0em 0.25em;"> <b>Under 120 mm gun</b><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chonma-ho" title="Chonma-ho">Ch'ŏnma-ho</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramses_II_tank" title="Ramses II tank">Ramses II</a></li>
</ul></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 2px;"> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even" colspan="2" style="padding: 0px; width: 100%;"> <div style="padding: 0em 0.25em;"> <b>Under 50 tonnes</b><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Zarrar" title="Al-Zarrar">Al-Zarrar</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Khalid_tank" title="Al-Khalid tank">Al-Khalid</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokpung-ho" title="Pokpung-ho">P'okpoong-Ho</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PT-91_Twardy" title="PT-91 Twardy">PT-91 Twardy</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-84" title="T-84">T-84</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-90" title="T-90">T-90</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_10" title="Type 10">Type 10</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_96" title="Type 96">Type 96</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulfiqar_%28tank%29" title="Zulfiqar (tank)">Zulfiqar</a></li>
</ul></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 2px;"> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" colspan="2" style="padding: 0px; width: 100%;"> <div style="padding: 0em 0.25em;"> <b>Over 50 tonnes</b><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariete" title="Ariete">Ariete</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arjun_%28tank%29" title="Arjun (tank)">Arjun</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_2" title="Challenger 2">Challenger 2</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K1_88-Tank" title="K1 88-Tank">K1A1 88</a></li>
<li><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leclerc" title="Leclerc">Leclerc</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_2" title="Leopard 2">Leopard 2</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Abrams" title="M1 Abrams">M1 Abrams</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkava" title="Merkava">Merkava</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabra_%28tank%29" title="Sabra (tank)">Sabra</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_90_Ky%C5%AB-maru" title="Type 90 Kyū-maru">Type 90</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_99" title="Type 99">Type 99</a></li>
</ul></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 2px;"> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even" colspan="2" style="padding: 0px; width: 100%;"><br />
</td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 2px;"> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2" style="background-color: gainsboro;"><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table></td> </tr>
</tbody></table></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><b>K2 Black Panther</b> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_language" title="Korean language">Hangul</a>: K2 '흑표', <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanja" title="Hanja">hanja</a>: K2 '黒豹') is a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Korea" title="Republic of Korea">Republic of Korea</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_battle_tank" title="Main battle tank">main battle tank</a> that will replace the various models of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M48_Patton#South_Korean_variants" title="M48 Patton">M48 Patton</a> tanks and complement the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K1_88-Tank" title="K1 88-Tank">K1</a> series of main battle tanks currently fielded by the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Korea" title="Republic of Korea">Republic of Korea</a>. Full-scale mass-production is currently under way.<br />
The K2 Black Panther features state-of-the-art technology and is certified as the world's most expensive tank by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinness_World_Records" title="Guinness World Records">Guinness World Records</a>, costing over <span style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollar" title="United States dollar">US$</a>8.5 million</span> per unit.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K2_Black_Panther#cite_note-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Development">Development</span></h2>Although the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K1_88-Tank" title="K1 88-Tank">K1</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K1_88-Tank" title="K1 88-Tank">K1A1</a> have been considered to be more than adequate to counter opposing North Korean tanks, most of which are <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-55" title="T-55">T-55s</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_59" title="Type 59">Type 59s</a>, development was started in 1995 for a new main battle tank with emphasis upon utilization of domestic technologies. The plan was to further modernize the South Korean military, and allow the proposed vehicle to enter the export market without problems from foreign nations relating to licensing issues.<br />
In 1995, the Korean Agency for Defense Development (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_language" title="Korean language">Hangul</a>: 국방과학연구소) was given the task of developing a modern <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armored_fighting_vehicle" title="Armored fighting vehicle">armored fighting vehicle</a> with state-of-the-art technology. The design became production-ready in 2006, following 11 years in development and a research budget expenditure of approximately <span style="white-space: nowrap;">US$230 million</span>.<br />
Two principal designs were considered during early development: One fitted with a manned turret, and another fitted with an unmanned turret. The latter was scrapped in favour of the former at the early design stage. It was also planned for the K2 to field <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheinmetall" title="Rheinmetall">Rheinmetall</a>'s experimental 140 mm smoothbore gun, though this had to be abandoned when Rheinmetall ceased development upon the rationale that its current weapon, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheinmetall_120_mm_gun" title="Rheinmetall 120 mm gun">120 mm / L55</a> would be more than adequate to counter prospective armored threats for the foreseeable future. The K2's gun was subsequently reconfigured to the L55, along with necessary modifications for ammunition capacity. The vehicle is capable of mounting the 140 mm gun with minimum modifications should the need arise. The gun's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoloader" title="Autoloader">autoloader</a> is similar to that of the French <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leclerc" title="Leclerc">Leclerc</a>.<br />
The Black Panther reached its production phase on March 2, 2007, when the first of three production models rolled out of the assembly line in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changwon" title="Changwon">Changwon</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea" title="South Korea">South Korea</a>. Several media sources erroneously speculated at the time that the K2's main gun was the L52 (6.24 m) main gun, similar to the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leclerc" title="Leclerc">Leclerc</a>'s main gun.<br />
<br />
The South Korean Army currently fields approximately 2,300 tanks, many of which will are planned for replacement by the K2 and K1A1 main battle tanks.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Weapons_Systems">Weapons Systems</span></h2>The K2's main armament is the L55 120 mm smoothbore gun, developed under license by ADD and manufactured by World Industries Ace Corporation. It also deploys a 12.7 mm <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K6_HMG" title="K6 HMG">K-6 heavy machine gun</a> and a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun. The ammunition for the main gun is loaded in a 16-shell magazine, with a total ammunition capacity of 40.<br />
The autoloader enables the tank to fire up to 15 rounds per minute<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from July 2010">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup>, or one round every four seconds, without being affected by the gun's angle. It has recently been confirmed by <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIAT" title="GIAT">GIAT</a> that the K2 autoloader's design is derived from that of GIAT's <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leclerc" title="Leclerc">Leclerc</a>. Despite the similarity of the two autoloaders, many of the components of the two designs are not interchangeable.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Fire_Control_System_and_Optics">Fire Control System and Optics</span></h3>The K2 is equipped with an advanced <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_Control_System" title="Fire Control System">Fire Control System</a> (FCS) linked to a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millimeter_band" title="Millimeter band">millimeter band</a> radar system deployed on the frontal arc of the turret, along with a traditional laser range-finder and crosswind sensor. The system is capable of a "lock-on" mode, which can acquire and track specific targets up to a range of 9.8 km using thermal optics. This allows the crew to fire accurately while moving as well as effectively engage low-flying aircraft. The FCS is also linked to an advanced gun stabilizer and trigger-delay mechanism to optimise accuracy while moving in uneven terrain. Should the trigger on the main gun be pulled at the moment the tank encounters an irregularity in the terrain, oscillation of the gun barrel will cause temporary misalignment between a laser emitter at the top of the barrel and a sensor at the base. This will delay the FCS from activating until the beam is re-aligned, improving the chances of hitting the intended target.<br />
The KGPS (<b>K</b>orean <b>G</b>unner's <b>P</b>rimary <b>S</b>ight) and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Commander%27s_Panoramic_Sight" title="Korean Commander's Panoramic Sight">KCPS</a> (<b>K</b>orean <b>C</b>ommander's <b>P</b>anoramic <b>S</b>ight) are present in the Black Panther as in the original series of K1A1 tanks. The optics system on the Black Panther, however, will be further modified to utilize the advantages of the sensors and armaments offered on the new vehicle.<br />
The commander of the tank has the ability to override the command to take control of the turret and gun from the gunner. Moreover, unconfirmed reports state that, in the event of an emergency, the vehicle can be operated by only two, or even a single, crew member. It is speculated that the FCS can automatically spot and track visible targets, compare them using the data link established with other friendly vehicles to prevent redundant target engagements, and fire its main gun without manual input.<br />
<h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Munitions">Munitions</span></h3>The K2's primary anti-tank munition is an indigenously-developed, improved tungsten APFSDS <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_energy_penetrator" title="Kinetic energy penetrator">kinetic energy penetrator</a>. This new munition offers significantly greater penetration than the current generation of tungsten rounds<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from July 2010">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> through better <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_treatment" title="Heat treatment">heat treatment</a> of the tungsten alloy<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from July 2010">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> and a technique referred to as the "self-sharpening process"<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from November 2010">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup>. The latter works by making the tungsten core sharpen rather than deform during the penetration of armor. For attacking unhardened targets, the K2 can use a multi-purpose <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_explosive_anti-tank_warhead" title="High explosive anti-tank warhead">HEAT</a> chemical energy round, similar to the U.S. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M830" title="M830">M830A1 HEAT MP-T</a>, providing good offensive capabilities against personnel, unarmored and lightly armored vehicles on the ground as well as low-flying helicopters.<br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KSTAM" title="KSTAM">KSTAM</a> (<b>K</b>orean <b>S</b>mart <b>T</b>op-<b>A</b>ttack <b>M</b>unition) is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire-and-forget" title="Fire-and-forget">fire-and-forget</a>, top-attack anti-tank munition with an effective operating range of 2-8 km, developed specifically for use with the Black Panther. It is launched as a kinetic energy projectile, fired from the main gun in a high trajectory profile comparable to that of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortar_%28weapon%29" title="Mortar (weapon)">mortar</a>. Upon reaching its designated target area, a parachute deploys, giving onboard <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millimeter_band" title="Millimeter band">millimeter band</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar" title="Radar">radar</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared" title="Infrared">IR</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiometer" title="Radiometer">radiometer</a> sensors time to seek and acquire stationary or moving targets. When a target is acquired, an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explosively_formed_penetrator" title="Explosively formed penetrator">explosively formed penetrator</a> is fired from a top-down position, to exploit the weaker top armor of tanks. Target acquisition can also be directed manually by the tank crew via a remote-link. These characteristics allow the launch vehicle to remain concealed behind cover while firing successive rounds towards the known location of an enemy, or provide effective indirect fire support against targets hidden behind obstacles and structures.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Defensive_capability">Defensive capability</span></h2>Details of the composite armor of the Black Panther are classified. The frontal armor has been proven to be effective at defeating the 120 mm APFSDS round fired from the L55 gun. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactive_armour" title="Reactive armour">Explosive Reactive Armor</a> blocks are also present, with the addition of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactive_armour" title="Reactive armour">Non-Explosive Reactive Armor</a> planned for the <b>K2 PIP</b> version (See below).<br />
Defense against incoming missiles is currently provided by a soft-kill anti-missile system. The <b>K2 PIP</b> will likely deploy a hard-kill anti-missile defense system when it is released within the next few years.<br />
The millimeter band radar system mounted on the turret is capable of operating as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missile_Approach_Warning" title="Missile Approach Warning">Missile Approach Warning System</a> (MAWS). The vehicle's computer in turn can triangulate incoming projectiles, immediately warn the vehicle crew and fire off <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoke_screen" title="Smoke screen">Visual and Infrared Screening Smoke</a> (VIRSS) grenades, which can effectively block optical, infrared and radar signatures. Once the hard-kill AMS is installed, the radar system will also be responsible for tracking and targeting the incoming missiles for the AMS. The K2 also has a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_Warning_Receiver" title="Radar Warning Receiver">Radar Warning Receiver</a> (RWR) and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_jammer" title="Radar jammer">radar jammer</a>. Four all-bearing <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_warning_receivers" title="Laser warning receivers">Laser warning receivers</a> (LWR) are also present to alert the crew should the vehicle become "painted", and the computer can also fire off VIRSS grenades in the direction that the beam is coming from.<br />
An automatic fire-suppression system is programmed to detect and put out any internal fires that may occur, and atmospheric sensors alert the crew if the tank enters a hazardous environment.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Mobility_and_maneuverability">Mobility and maneuverability</span></h2>The K2 can travel at speeds of up to 70 km/h on road surfaces, accelerate from 0 to 32 km/h within 7 seconds, and maintain speeds of up to 52 km/h in off-road conditions. It can also climb 60 degree slopes and vertical obstacles 1.3 meters in height. Due to the relatively compact design of the engine, the designers were able to fit an additional Samsung Techwin gas-turbine engine into the remaining compartment space. This is capable of producing 100 horsepower (75 kW), and intended to act as an auxiliary power unit with which the tank may power its on-board systems when its main engines are turned off. It will also allow the tank to conserve fuel when idling and minimise the vehicle's thermal and acoustic signatures.<br />
The vehicle can cross rivers as deep as 4.1 meters using a snorkel system, which also serves as a conning tower for the tank commander. The system takes approximately 30 minutes to prepare. The turret becomes watertight while fording, but the chassis can take in 440 liters (116 gallons) of water to prevent excessive buoyancy from air inside the vehicle and keep the tracks planted firmly on the ground. Furthermore, the tank can enter combat-ready status as soon as it resurfaces.<br />
The Black Panther fields an advanced suspension system, called the In-arm Suspension Unit (ISU), which allows for individual control of every bogie on the tracks. This allows the K2 to "sit", "stand" and "kneel", as well as "lean" towards one side or a corner. "Sitting" gives the tank a lower profile and offers superior handling over roads. "Standing" gives the vehicle higher ground clearance for maneuverability over rough terrain. "Kneeling" augments the angular range in which the tank's gun barrel can elevate and depress, allowing the vehicle to fire its main gun downhill as well as engage low-flying aircraft more effectively. The suspension unit also cushions the chassis from vibrations when travelling over uneven terrain, as the bogies can be adjusted individually on-the-fly.<br />
It was originally planned for the K2 to feature a powerpack comprising a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doosan_Corporation" title="Doosan Corporation">Doosan Infracore Corporation</a> 1,500 horsepower (1,100 kW) 12 cylinder diesel engine and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%26T_Dynamics" title="S&T Dynamics">S&T Dynamics</a> transmission. However, this was not ready for service during early stages of prototype testing, during which the MTU-890 was used as a temporary stopgap. When it was finally implemented, the domestic powerpack encountered recurrent technical problems in testing, necessitating the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to delay operational deployment of the K2 until 2013.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K2_Black_Panther#cite_note-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Network-centric_considerations">Network-centric considerations</span></h2>The K2 houses the following features which help to improve situational awareness for the crew:<br />
<ul><li><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C4I" title="C4I">C4I</a> (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence) uplink.</li>
<li><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPS" title="GPS">GPS</a> (Global Positioning Satellite) uplink.</li>
<li><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identification_Friend_or_Foe" title="Identification Friend or Foe">IFF/SIF</a> (Identification Friend or Foe/Selective Identification Feature) system compliant with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STANAG" title="STANAG">STANAG 4579</a>. Located on the main gun mantlet, just above the gun, the system fires a 38 GHz beam in the direction of the gun for a response from the targeted vehicle. If a proper response signal is shown by the target, the fire control system automatically identifies it as a friendly. If the target fails to respond to the identification signal, it is then declared as a hostile.</li>
<li>Battle Management System (Similar to the Inter-Vehicular Information System used in the United States military) allows the vehicle to share its data with friendly units, including other armored vehicles and helicopters.</li>
</ul>Work is also under way to integrate the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XAV" title="XAV">XAV</a> unmanned wheeled reconnaissance vehicle into the Black Panther's systems, giving the tank's crew the ability to remotely scout an area without exposing its position.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="K2_product_improvement_program">K2 product improvement program</span></h2>The K2 PIP is an improved version of the initial production model of the K2 that will be released within the next few years. Improvements will include:<br />
<ul><li>Upgrading the Semi-Active In-arm Suspension Unit to an Active In-arm Suspension Unit</li>
<li>Integration of a high-resolution terrain-scanning system to the vehicle's suspension system. This is purported to allow the vehicle to "plan ahead" by scanning nearby terrain up to 50 meters away in all directions and calculate the optimal position of the bogies in order to improve vehicle handling over uneven terrain.</li>
<li>Integration of a hard-kill anti-missile system.</li>
<li>Addition of Non-Explosive Reactive Armor (NERA).</li>
<li>Potentially replacing the 120 mm / L55 gun with an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrothermal-chemical_technology" title="Electrothermal-chemical technology">electrothermal-chemical gun</a>, which will significantly increase the vehicle's firepower and potential payload.</li>
</ul><h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Technical_Issues">Technical Issues</span></h2>In March, 2011, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has stated that the mass production of K2 Black Panther MBT, which the Army was expecting to deploy in 2012, will not happen until 2013 due to mechanical problems involving the tank's engine and transmission.<br />
Mass production of the new-generation MBTs, which are set to replace the aging K1 and largely obsolete US-built M48 tanks, was originally planned to begin in 2009, but faulty indigenous engines and transmission of the tanks halted the production.<br />
Production of the K2 tank has been suspended since then as the homegrown engine and transmission, known as a “power pack,” was found to be defective, the Associated Press reports.<br />
“Given the circumstance of development for the domestically built power pack, a deployment date of the K2 tank was delayed to 2013 from 2012,” DAPA spokesman Jeong Jae-un was quoted as saying.<br />
The “power pack” of Black Panther, based on the German-made MTU-890, is made up of a 1,500-horsepower diesel engine and transmission. According to DAPA spokesperson Jeong Jae-un, Korea will replace the defective Korean-made parts with German-made parts if the defects are not corrected by October 2011.<br />
<h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Exports">Exports</span></h2><div class="rellink boilerplate seealso">See also: <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%B0T%C3%9CP_Altay" title="MİTÜP Altay">MİTÜP Altay</a></div>After competing against the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leclerc_tank" title="Leclerc tank">Leclerc</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_2" title="Leopard 2">Leopard 2</a>, the K2 finally established its first export customer in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a>. In June 2007, South Korea and Turkey successfully negotiated an arms deal contract worth ₩500 billion (approximately US$540 million) licensing the design of the K2, as well as exporting 40(+15) <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KT-1" title="KT-1">KT-1</a> trainer planes, to Turkey.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K2_Black_Panther#cite_note-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
On July 30, 2008, South Korea's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotem" title="Rotem">Rotem</a> and Turkey's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otokar" title="Otokar">Otokar</a> signed a contract worth $540 million for technological and design assistance, also technology transfer of some of the parts of the K2. The technology is to be incorporated to Turkey's own indigenous future main battle tank, dubbed <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%B0T%C3%9CP_Altay" title="MİTÜP Altay">MİTÜP Altay</a>. As of May, 2009, no design details of the Altay tank have been made public. Despite sharing many subsystems with the K2, such as protective armor and main gun, it is expected to feature a different look and have different performance characteristics.<br />
In July 2011, the Indonesian Army expressed interest in the purchase of K-2's for the MEF, with the deal to be finalized by 2014.Moch Fikri Hidayathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364455094075247753noreply@blogger.com0