USS John C. Stennis

The Stennis (CVN-74) is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the United States Navy. It was commissioned on December 9, 1995. It's home port is San Diego.

Mission and Capabilities

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

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

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

For defense, in addition to her Air Wing and accompanying vessels, USS John C. Stennis has NATO Sea Sparrow short-range, surface-to-air missile systems, the Phalanx Close-in Weapons System (an extremely rapid firing 20mm gun) for cruise missile defense, and the SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare System.

Dimensions

 Length of flight deck: 1,092 ft 
 Width of flight deck: 257 ft 
 Height keel to mast: 244 ft (equal to 24-story building) 
 Area of flight deck: 4.5 acres 
 Weight of carrier: 97,000 tons 

Propulsion system

 Type: Nuclear reactor 
 Number of reactors: 2 
 Maximum speed: More than 30 knots 
 Number of screws: 4 (5 blades each) 
 Weight of screws: 66,200 lbs each 

Flight deck/air wing

 Number of catapults: 4 
 Number of aircraft elevators: 4 
 Size of Air Wing: 80+ tactical aircraft 

Miscellaneous

 Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Co. 
 Sponsor: Mrs. Margaret Stennis Womble 
 Contract Date: March 29, 1988 
 Keel laid: March 13, 1991 
 Christened: November 11, 1993 
 Commissioned: December 9, 1995 
 Crew size: 5,000 (including air wing) 
 Meals served daily: 16,600 
 Number of compartments: 2,700 
 Number of anchors: 2 (From USS FORRESTAL (CV-59)) 
 Weight of anchors: 30 tons each 
 A/C plant capacity: 2,900 tons (enough to service 950 homes) 
 Distillation plant capacity: 400,000 gals (enough to serve 2000 homes) 
 Number of telephones: 2,000 
 Tons of structural steel: More than 60,000 tons 
 Miles of cable and wiring: over 900 
 Number of light fixtures: more than 30,000 
 Required technical manuals: A stack as high as the Washington Monument (555 feet) 
 Bed mattresses: If lined up end-to-end, they would stretch more than nine miles. 
 Sheets: 28,000 
 Pillow Cases: 14,000 
 Cost: $3.5 billion; projected service life: 50 years