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USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)

2009 MODERN NAVY

History of USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)

After commissioning in 2009, the USS George HW Bush (CVN-77) was the last of ten Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers to serve with the United States Navy (USN). The vessel was ordered on January 26, 2001, and its construction was managed by Newport News, Virginia, of Northrop Grumman. The keel was laid on September 6, 2003, and the carrier launched on October 9, 2006. She officially entered service on January 10, 2009, with a home port outside of NS Norfolk, Virginia. She fought under the motto "Freedom at Work" and was nicknamed "The Avenger." It is named after the 41st President of the United States, George H.W.

Bush.

Like other Nimitz-class ships, the Bush had a traditional American truss arrangement with a stern-set island superstructure on the starboard side of the stern and a large surface area reserved for the flight deck. Four hangar lifts bring the plane to the flight deck from below, and the airline is equipped with four steam catapults for launch. The recovery of fixed-wing aircraft is accomplished by means of tethers spread over the sloping receiving deck. The vessel can also support and sustain helicopter operations.

The total crew of the ship is 5,680, including 2,480 as part of the aviation wing.

Propulsion is provided by 2 Westinghouse A4W series nuclear reactors, allowing the launcher to have essentially unlimited range. Each reactor has a useful life of 20 to 25 years before needing replacement/disposal. Their machine also includes 4 steam turbines driving 4 shafts, outputting 260,000 shaft horsepower.

That's enough to reach speeds of up to 30 knots, though the massive vessel has a barrel length of 1,092 feet, a beam of 252 feet and a draft of 37 feet.

The USS George H.W. Bush has a combined air force of general-purpose, special-mission, and transport aircraft. These include McDonnell Douglas/Boeing F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet types as well as Airborne Early Warning (AEW) and Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EWA) platforms.

Search and rescue (SAR) operations may include their helicopter components, and the cost of transporting both rotary and fixed-wing systems for the U.S. Navy service is included in the cost.

While usually defended by her entourage and her air force, Bush has long-range and point defense weapons, with airframes provided by 2 x Mk 29 Evolved Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile launchers and 2 x RIM-116 Rolling (RAM) short-range surface-to-air missile. Additionally, the RAM assembly can be replaced with multiple CNC Gatling 20mm Phalanx cannons.

Armor protection on its most critical fairing is up to 2.5 inches thick.

The Nimitz class is equipped with various processing systems and sensor equipment, led by the SPS-48E 3D and SPS-49A(V)1 2D air search radar suites. The SPQ-9B is used for fire control, and a pair of SPN-46 and one SPN-43C systems are used for air traffic control.

The SPN-41 was used as a landing aid for incoming aircraft. Three Mk 91 NSSM systems play a leading role, while three Mk 95 radars also play a role. Electronic warfare is handled by the SLQ-32A(V)4 series countermeasure units, and torpedo decoys are provided by the SLQ-25A "Nixie" system.

Bush's first deployment was in May 2011, when she sailed the Atlantic for joint exercises with the British during Saxon Warriors. In June 2011, the ship sailed from the UK to Naples, Italy. In August, his squadron supported operations related to Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) before returning to Norfolk in December. An upgrade followed from July 2012, and the systems were commissioned in December.

On May 14, 2013, the USS George H.W. Bush recorded the first catapult-assisted carrier launch of a drone as a Northrop Grumman X-47B was launched from her bow catapult. Then, on July 10 of the same year, a stop landing was recorded, which helped advance the groundbreaking program.

In March 2014, Bush was transferred to Turkish waters to oversee the development of the Ukrainian civil war that culminated in the takeover of the Crimean peninsula by Russian troops. Bush then crossed the Suez Canal to join the Fifth Fleet in the waters of the Persian Gulf.

Beginning in June, she formed a naval task force off the coast of Iraq as ISIS forces advanced toward Baghdad. Airstrikes then continued from August to September and into October. Finally, since ISIS has reached far beyond Iraq, it has added targets in Syria.