April 26th 2004: The last Topgun class to use the F14 was the final 2003 class. The F14 is being replaced throughout the fleet by the F18E/F.

January 21st 2004:It has been reported that India has bought the Russian Carrier Admiral Gorshkov (45,000 tonnes) for $650m as well as a squadron of MiG-27K to go with it. It will take about 4 years to refit and will replace the INS Viraat.

March 6th 2003: Within 3 weeks Saddam will be dead. Six US carrier battlegroups are gathering in the region: In the Med: Truman and TR, In the Gulf: Lincoln, Constellation, Kitty Hawk with Nimitz due within the week, Arc Royal from Britain. Covering the Pacific is Vinson

February 24th: Countdown to War It is almost certain that Gulf War II will commence before March is finished. The new moon, with the allied advantage in night fighting is March 3rd. This is probably too early for an attack, but you never know, the next new moon is April 1st. While this may not be a consideration with the current state of Iraqi armed forces, why give them any chance to inflict casualties?

February 4th: Will Saddam Shoot First? If Saddam does not go into exile and realizes that the US will attack, will he decide to cause as many casualties as possible? If he catches the allied forces in their concentration areas with the WMD he supposedly hasn't got he may just as well let everything he has go. Fire off all the missiles and bio weapons causing as many casualties as he can, hoping that it may be enough to save his bacon.

If he is that crazy will the US be able to detect any movement of his forces that will accomplish this? Probably. But you never know, one throw of the dice and he may go for it.

January 26th 2003: TR Loses F-14. Crashed in the Caribean Sea, both Aviator and RIO recovered. The plane was from VF-213, the Black Lions.

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 9th year. Want to contribute? then mail me David 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
2002/3: JTFEX October 28 to November 6 2002. Deployed December 5 2002
Schedule:

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

...more
2002: Deployed SW Asia November 12 2001 to 28 May 2002 
Milestones: 1,898 strike missions over Afghanistan dropping 275,00 pounds bombs.
Schedule:

USS George Washington (CVN-73)
CVW-17 AA

Homeport: N.S. Norfolk
2004:Deployed January 20th
Schedule: 

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

2002: 

Schedule: WestPac Cruise June 2002

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
CVW-1 AB
Homeport: N.S. Norfolk  
2002/3:  Completed 6 month yard period October 30 2002.
Schedule:

USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)
Capt. Rick Wren
CVW-11 NH
...more
Homeport: N.S. Everett
2001/2002:  Med/SW Asia Cruise  - Homecoming January 23
Schedule:  Refuel 2004

USS Eisenhower (CVN-69)
Capt. Charles E Smith
CVW-7 AG / CCDG 8
Homeport: N.S. Norfolk

2002:  3 year RCOH 22 May 2001 to 2004
Schedule:

USS Nimitz (CVN-68)
Capt. Robert J. Gilman

2003: January 29 COMPUTEX, Deployed March 3 back at Sandig 5 November
Schedule: 

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

2003:  ESRA- Extended Selected Restricted Availability) January 2003 to October 2003 ($200m) Mayport, Atlantic 5 December, Mayport 22 December
Schedule:

USS Enterprise (CVN-65)
Capt. Eric C. Neidlinger
CVW-8 AJ
Med-Gulf Cruise 2003/4
Homeport: N.S. Norfolk
2003: Deployed 2 October, Red Sea 15 October, Nth Arabian Sea 20 October, Gulf 17 November
Schedule:  

USS Constellation (CV-64)

Decommissioned 7 August 2003

USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)
Capt. THOMAS A. PARKER
CVW-5 NF
Planned De-commissioning 2008
2004:  Phillipine Sea 8 January, Yokosuka 9 January

Admiral Kuznetsov
  Sold

HMS Invincible (R 07)
  1999: Refit Portsmouth October

HMS Illustrious (R 06)
 2000:  Deployed to Gulf January 17, Atlantic January 19

HMS Ark Royal (R08)
 1999:  Rosyth naval base major Refit October

CVF 1 / 2
100 million pounds awarded November 1999