USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 aircraft carrier is the seventh Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the United States Navy, named for Senator John C. Stennis of Mississippi. She was commissioned on 9 December 1995. Her home port is Bremerton, Washington. The mission of USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier and her embarked Air Wing (CVW-9) 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 Navy and Marine F/A-18 Hornet, EA-6B Prowler, MH-60R, MH-60S, and E-2C Hawkeye.The Air Wing can engage enemy aircraft, submarines, and land targets, or lay mines hundreds of miles from the ship. USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy 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 upon USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carriers and consisting of four to six other ships.
USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier two nuclear reactors give her virtually unlimited range and endurance and a top speed in excess of 30 knots (56 km/h, 34.5 mph). The ship's four catapults and four arresting gear engines enable her to launch and recover aircraft rapidly and simultaneously. The USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier carries approximately three million gallons (11,000 m³) of fuel for her aircraft and escorts, and enough weapons and stores for extended operations without replenishment. USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier 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 CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier has NATO RIM-7 Sea Sparrow and Rolling Air Missile (RAM) surface-to-air missile systems, the Phalanx Close-in Weapons System for cruise missile defense, and the SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare System.
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| USS John C. Stennis CVN 74 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) |
| Draught: | 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 |
| Capacity: | 6500 officers and crew (with embarked airwing) |
| Complement: | Ship's company: 3,200 Air wing: 2,480 |
| Sensors and processing systems: | AN/SPS-48E 3-D air search radar AN/SPS-49(V)5 2-D air search radar AN/SPQ-9B target acquisition radar 2 × AN/SPN-46 air traffic control radars AN/SPN-43B air traffic control radar AN/SPN-44 landing aid radars 4 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems 4 × Mk 95 radars |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: | SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures |
| Armament: | 2 × Mk 57 Mod3 Sea Sparrow 2 × RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile 3 × Phalanx CIWS |
| Armour: | Classified |
| Aircraft carried: | 90 fixed wing and helicopters |
In October 1998, USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier entered a 6-month Phased Incremental Availability for maintenance and upgrades at North Island, returning to sea in April 1999. During the maintenance period, a Jet Blast Deflector collapsed, severely injuring two Sailors.
On 30 November 1999, USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier ran aground in a shallow area adjacent to the turning basin near North Island. Silt clogged the intake pipes to the steam condensing systems for the nuclear reactor plants, causing the carrier’s two nuclear reactors to be shut down (one reactor by crew, the other automatically) for a period of 45 minutes. USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier was towed back to her pier for maintenance and observation for the next two days.
On January 7, 2000, USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier deployed to the Arabian Gulf to relieve USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) in Operation Southern Watch. During the deployment, the ship made port visits to South Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Australia, before returning to San Diego on 3 July 2000. Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier conducted Noble Eagle missions off the U.S. West Coast.
On November 12, 2001, two months earlier than scheduled, the USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier left on her third deployment to the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of responsibility in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, returning to San Diego on May 28, 2002. From June 2002 to January 2003, JCS underwent a seven-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA).
From May 24 to November 1, 2004, USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier conducted her fourth major overseas deployment, participating in Exercise Northern Edge 2004 in the Gulf of Alaska, Rim of the Pacific (RimPac) Exercise off Hawaii, exercises with Kitty Hawk off Japan and goodwill visits to Japan, Malaysia and Western Australia. Shortly after returning from deployment to San Diego, JCS changed her home port to Naval Station Bremerton, Washington on19 January 2005. Once at Bremerton, USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier underwent an 11 month Docking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA), the first time she had been dry-docked since commissioning. Upgrades included a new mast.
On 20 January 2007, USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier set sail for the Persian Gulf as part of an increase in US military presence within the Middle East. USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier arrived in the area on 19 February 2007, joining USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the United States Fifth Fleet area of operations. This marked the first time since 2003 that there were two aircraft carrier battle groups in the region simultaneously.
On 23 May 2007 USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier, along with eight other warships including the aircraft carrier Nimitz and amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard, passed through the Strait of Hormuz. US Navy officials said it was the largest such move since 2003. On 31 August 2007 USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier returned to Bremerton.
USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier departed Bremerton for a 6-month deployment to the Western Pacific on January 13, 2009. On April 24, the ship arrived in Singapore. That same day, one of the ship's sailors was crushed and killed while working from a small harbor boat to secure a drain that discharges oily water from Stennis’ aircraft catapults.
On April 29, the ship's executive officer, Commander David L. Burnham, was relieved by Rear Admiral Mark A. Vance over unspecified personal conduct. Burnham was reassigned to a base in San Diego, pending an investigation.
After participating in operations in the Arabian Gulf, exercises with Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and the Republic of Korea, as well as joint exercise Northern Edge 2009, USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier returned from deployment in early July 2009. Carrier Air Wing 9 debarked on July 6 at NAS North Island, prior to the ship's arrival at her homeport of Bremerton, Wash., on July 10.The JCS battlegroup (or Carrier Strike Group 3, CSG-3) is equipped and trained to work as a forward deployed force providing a deterrent force as well as serving to protect U.S. interests abroad.
The USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier is the flagship of the battlegroup, and commands the group's air wing Carrier Air Wing 9. The USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 US Navy aircraft carrier is also home to the commander of Destroyer Squadron 21 (DESRON 21).
Ships of DESRON 21
- USS Halsey (DDG-97)
- USS Howard (DDG-83)
- USS Jarrett (FFG-33)
- USS Preble (DDG-88)
- USS Rentz (FFG-46)
Other elements of JCS Battle Group
- USS Antietam (CG-54)
- USS O'Kane (DDG-77)
- USNS Bridge (T-AOE-10)
Squadrons of CVW-9
- Strike Fighter Squadron 154 (VFA-154) "Black Knights"
- Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA-323) "Death Rattlers"
- Strike Fighter Squadron 146 (VFA-146)"Blue Diamonds"
- Strike Fighter Squadron 147 (VFA-147) "Argonauts"
- Electronic Attack Squadron 138 (VAQ-138) "Yellow Jackets"
- Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 112 (VAW-112)"Golden Hawks"
- Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 8 (HSC-8) "Eight-Ballers"
- Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71 HSM-71 "Raptors"
- Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 Detachment 4 (VRC-30)"Providers"
