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When the Bridge pipes "Man the Rail" there is a lot of rail to man on this monster. Shoulder to shoulder around 4 acres. Her
displacement is about 100,000 tons with full complements.
Capability
Top speed exceeds 30 knots
Powered by two nuclear reactors that can operate
for more than 20 years without refueling
Expected to operate in the fleet for about 50 years
Carries over 80 combat aircraft
Three arresting cables can stop a 28-ton aircraft &
going 150 miles per hour in less than 400 feet
Size
Towers 20 stories above the waterline
1092 feet long; nearly as long as the Empire
StateBuilding is tall
Flight deck covers 4.5 acres
4 bronze propellers, each 21 feet across,
weighing 66,200 pounds
2 rudders, each 29 by 22 feet and weighing 50 tons
4 high speed aircraft elevators, each over 4,000 square feet
Dates
Dec. 8, 1994 Contract awarded to Newport
News Shipbuilding Feb 12, 1998 Keel laid
Oct 1, 2000 Pre-commissioning Unit established
March 4, 2001 Christened by Mrs. Nancy Reagan
May 5, 2003 First underway
July 12, 2003 Commissioned
July 23, 2004 Arrived at home port in San Diego, CA
Capacity
Home to about 6,000 Navy personnel
Carries enough food and supplies to operate
for 90 days 18,150 meals served daily
Distillation plants provide 400,000 gallons of
fresh water from sea water daily, enough for 2000 homes
Nearly 30,000 light fixtures and 1,325 miles of cable and wiring 1,400 telephones, 14,000 pillowcases and 28,000 sheets Costs the Navy approximately $250,000 per day for pier side operation Costs the Navy approximately $2.5 million per day for underway operations (Sailor's salaries included).
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