USS George H. W. Bush CVN-77 is the tenth and last Nimitz class supercarrier of the United States Navy. The named for former President George H. W. Bush, who was a naval aviator during World War II. USS George H. W. Bush CVN-77 is the second United States aircraft carrier to be named after a naval aviator (Forrestal was the first). Other naval vessels named for aviators include frigates McClusky and Thach, and destroyer Massey, all named for aviators who commanded formations in the Battle of Midway. George H.W. Bush is also the second aircraft carrier, following Ronald Reagan, to be named after a living former President (although President Reagan died in 2004). A Nimitz class ship, George H. W. Bush differs from her predecessors even more than CVNs 71–76 did from CVNs 68–70.
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| USS George H.W Bush CVN 77 General characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Class and type: | Nimitz-class aircraft carrier |
| Displacement: | Approximately 101,000 long tons (103,000 t) full load |
| Length: | Overall: 1,092 feet (332.8 m) Waterline: 1,040 feet (317.0 m) |
| Beam: | Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m) Waterline: 134 ft (40.8 m) |
| Draft: | Maximum navigational: 37 ft (11.3 m) Limit: 41 ft (12.5 m) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors 4 × steam turbines 4 × shafts 260,000 shp (194 MW) |
| Speed: | 30+ knots (56+ km/h; 35+ mph) |
| Range: | Essentially unlimited |
| Complement: | Ship's company: 3,200 Air wing: 2,480 |
| Sensors and processing systems: | SPS-48E 3-D air search radar SPS-49A(V)1 2-D air search radar SPQ-9B fire control radar 2 × SPN-46 air traffic control radars SPN-43C air traffic control radar SPN-41 instrument landing system radar 3 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems 3 × Mk 95 radars |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: | SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures |
| Armament: | 2 × Mk 29 ESSM launcher 2 × RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile |
| Armor: | Classified |
| Aircraft carried: | 90 fixed wing and helicopters |
Construction of USS George H.W. Bush CVN-77 US Navy Aircraft Carrier began in 2001 by the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard, at a cost of $6.2 billion. The USS George H.W. Bush CVN-77 US Navy Aircraft Carrier was christened on 7 October 2006, and delivery was set for late 2008. She left Northrop Grumman Ship Building for the first time on 23 December 2008 and was commissioned 10 January 2009 at Norfolk Naval Station prior to her completion. The USS George H.W. Bush CVN-77 US Navy Aircraft Carrier completed her acceptance sea trials on 10 April 2009 and was delivered to the Navy on May 11. The first fixed-wing flight made history May 19, 2009, after safely landing an F/A-18F Super Hornet. The Hornet was flown by Lt. Patrick McKenna and Cmdr. Beau Duarte, from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. And, the first arrested landing, known as a "trap," was made at 2:07 p.m.EDT. This launch and trap is part of the flight deck certification process going on in the Atlantic Ocean.
USS George H.W. Bush CVN-77 US Navy Aircraft Carrier is the final Nimitz class aircraft carrier with the Gerald R. Ford class of aircraft carriers succeeding the Nimitz class.
Several features differentiate USS George H.W. Bush CVN-77 US Navy Aircraft Carrier from other ships in the Nimitz class. The island is smaller to improve flight deck access and reduce signature and electronic self-interference. Curved flight deck edges and an enclosed antenna farms also reduce radar signature. The hull is made more efficient with new coatings and a bulbous bow, which also adds buoyancy. The USS George H.W. Bush CVN-77 US Navy Aircraft Carrier has a new propeller design. The passive jet blast deflector has been redesigned with materials that reduce maintenance. Semi-automated refueling and servicing with a new deck location provides faster, more efficient air wing pit stops and requires fewer people. The redesigned hangar bay has less clutter. New electronics and communications technology, space rearrangement, operational procedure changes, advanced sensor technologies and condition-based maintenance systems reduce manning costs. A new zonal electrical distribution systems will keep problems from affecting other parts of the ship. An automation insertion plan consisting of material movement devices, semi-autonomous, gravity compensated weapons handling devices, damage control automation systems and components will reduce the ship's crew and costs. Other improvements of USS George H.W. Bush CVN-77 US Navy Aircraft Carrier will include Vacuum Collection / Marine Sanitation Device (VC/MSD): Most ships in the U.S. Navy utilize a Collection Holding and Transfer (CHT) system to handle sewage waste. Several ships add a vacuum collection capacity or VCHT. Septic systems, when used aboard ships, are referred to as Marine Sanitation Devices, often used in U.S. Coast Guard ships. Bush is the first and only aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy to combine the two technologies. The "VC/MSD" system onboard CVN 77 is one of a kind. The next class of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers are likely to use plasma arc waste disposal systems.
