March 29th: NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike) (CVN 69) was redelivered to the fleet March 25, after a four-year, approximately $2.5 billion dollar Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) that brought state-of-the-art equipment and technology to one of America’s premier fighting platforms.

The RCOH included the reconstruction of the ship’s island, the installation of a new antenna mast, the installation of a new radar tower, an upgrade and modernization of combat and communication systems, overhaul of the ship's hull, mechanical and electrical systems, and the refueling of her two nuclear reactors.
(US Navy)

March 21st: JFK to be Mothballed JFK costs $300M a year to run and SecNav and CNO reckons that is too much for a 37 year old ship. Naturally the folks at it's homeport of Mayport Fla. beg to differ. Work on mothballing the ship is expected to begin this September reducing the fleet to 11 ships.

When the Kitty Hawk is decommissioned in 2008, what will replace her, not a nuke as Japan wont't have any of that. So JFK may come back once again.

February 1st 2005: The USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Strike Group will depart San Diego Feb. 1 to begin an around-the-world deployment.
 

January 3rd 2005: As the CNO told Navy and Marine Corps News in a recent interview, the Navy had a banner year in 2004. One of the most notable accomplishments was execution of the Navy's Fleet Response Plan. The Fleet maintained "6+2" readiness to consistently deliver six forward-deployed or ready-to-surge carrier strike groups (CSG), plus two additional CSGs in 90 days or less. Other major accomplishments include transitioning to new mission areas including missile defense, providing more support for land forces fighting the global war on terrorism, and enhancing organizational alignment of the Navy's people, capabilities and infrastructure.


Current Readiness: "We have to get to the fight faster to seize and retain the initiative. That requires increasing the operational availability of our forces by continuing to refine and test the Fleet Response Plan (FRP)." CNO said a key word in the Navy's future is surge, adding that, "if a resource doesn't have surge capability we are not going to own it." The number one priority is taking the fight to the enemy. To accomplish this, the Navy will also improve its maritime security cooperation initiatives with allied navies and also provide homeland security and force protection.

"Positive change is the bridge to our future. The business of the Navy will always be combat, and victory is both our mission and our heritage. Therefore, my guidance to you this year is to bridge to the future, taking us from today's fight to tomorrow's victories."
 

January 2nd 2005: While the reported dead in Iraq is well reported (1,336 at present), the larger picture of over 10,000 wounded is often overlooked. A large number of those will have life long disabilities. So the war goes on...

For more news go to NewsBytes 2001/2

Welcome to Carrier Aviation News, a regular newsletter that brings you the news around the Carrier Navy now in its 10th year. Want to contribute? then mail me David 'chuckles' McCandless (take out _at_) and maybe I can publish it here. Thanks to all those who have sent me mail and suggestions.

U.S. Carrier Locations

CVNX-80 to 89
10 more ships in this class planned

CVNX-79
Planned start 2009

CVNX-78
Planned start in 2006
$110mill R&D for 1999

CVN-77: George HW Bush
Under Construction
Keel Laid 6 September 2003
Named December 9 2002
Commissioning: 2009

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)
Capt. James A. Symonds
Future Homeport: NAS North Island July 2004
Commissioned: 2002
2003: Ft Lauderdale November 11 to 14 

USS Harry S Truman (CVN-75)
...more
Capt. Leo Falardeau
CVW-3 AC
Homeport: N.S. Norfolk
2005:  Homecoming Norfolk April 18
Schedule:

USS John C Stennis (CVN-74)
Capt. David H. Buss
CVW-9 NG / CCG 7

...more
2005: Transferring to Bremerton January 2005
Milestones:
Schedule:

USS George Washington (CVN-73)
CVW-17 AA
Homeport: N.S. Norfolk
2005:
Schedule: 

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)
Capt. Kendall L. Card
CVW-14 NK

2005: Indonesia January 2005

Schedule:

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
CVW-1 AB
Homeport: N.S. Norfolk  
2005:  Bremerton January 2005
Schedule: Change of homeport Norfolk July 2005, Sea Trials after DPIA (290 days) January 2005

USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)
Capt. Rick Wren
CVW-11 NH
...more
Homeport: N.S. Everett
2005:  JTFEX January 18 - 31, Deploys Around the World Cruise February 1, Gulf April 18
Schedule: 

USS Eisenhower (CVN-69)
Capt. Charles E Smith
CVW-7 AG / CCDG 8
Homeport: N.S. Norfolk
2005:  Redelivered to Navy March 25, Atlantic April 18
Schedule:

USS Nimitz (CVN-68)
Capt. Ted N. Branch

2005: 
Schedule: 

USS John F Kennedy (CV-67)
Capt. Ronald H. Henderson, Jr.
CVW-1 AB / CCG 6

2005:  Atlantic April 18
Schedule:

USS Enterprise (CVN-65)
Capt. Lawrence Rice
CVW-8 AJ

Homeport: N.S. Norfolk
2005:
Schedule:  

USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)
Capt. THOMAS A. PARKER
Carrier Strike Group 5
CVW-5 NF
Planned De-commissioning 2008
2005:  SRA January 2005, Feb-March Winter Underway, Hong Kong March 8, Korea March 14, March 28 Yokosuka

Admiral Kuznetsov
  Sold

HMS Invincible (R 07)
  2005: Portsmouth

HMS Illustrious (R 06)
 2005:  Portsmouth

HMS Ark Royal (R08)
Extended Readiness thru 2006
 2005:  Portsmouth

Queen Elizabeth (CVF 1)
100 million pounds awarded November 1999

Prince of Wales (CVF 2)