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HISTORY
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is a Nimitz-class
nuclear-powered super carrier in the service of the United States
Navy. The ninth ship of her class, she is named in honor of former
President Ronald Reagan, President of the United States from 1981 to
1989. Upon her christening in 2001, she was the first ship to be
named for a still living former president.
As of May 2012 the ship is operationally part of Carrier Strike
Group Nine and administratively under the command of Commander,
Naval Air Forces Pacific/Commander, Naval Air Forces. The two
administrative titles actually refer to one command carrying out two
functions.
Ship's seal
The design of Ronald Reagan's seal was created entirely by her plank
owner crew with historical assistance provided by staff members at
the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library foundation. The red border
that rings the ship's seal is similar to the distinctive red rim
that defines the White House china designed for the Reagans during
their White House years. Four gold stars represent President
Reagan's 40th presidency and his four pillars of freedom: individual
liberty; economic opportunity; global democracy; and national pride.
"Peace through Strength" was a recurring theme of the President's
life in public service. The aircraft carrier is positioned by the
West Coast, representing President Reagan's two terms as Governor of
California and the ship's homeport in the Pacific Fleet. The three
aircraft with their patriotic contrails symbolize the three major
military operations the President directed during his tenure:
Operation Urgent Fury (Grenada/1983); Operation El Dorado Canyon
(Libya/1986); and Operation Praying Mantis (Iran/1988). The view of
the globe signifies the President's vision of global democracy, and
the center is the United States representing the country's national
pride. Colors of red, white and blue dominate the seal reflecting
the American flag
Naming
Ronald Reagan was the first nuclear-powered warship of any kind to
be named in honor of a living former president. Unlike most of the
other men honored by inclusion in this group, Reagan was not
associated with the United States Navy, apart from his term as
Commander-in-Chief, though one of his key initiatives in office was
the 600-ship Navy program.
Design and construction
The contract to build Reagan was awarded to Northrop Grumman Newport
News and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 8 December
1994, and her keel was laid down on 12 February 1998. The budget for
the ship had to be increased several times and ultimately $4.5
billion was spent on her construction. This included a redesigned
ship island. Reagan was christened by Reagan's wife Nancy on 4 March
2001 at Newport News Shipbuilding, the crew moved aboard on 30
October 2002, and the ship was commissioned on 12 July 2003 at Naval
Station Norfolk, with Captain J. W. Goodwin in command. Vice
President Dick Cheney and Lynne Cheney were both present at the
ceremony, as well as Nancy Reagan, who gave the ship's crew the
traditional first order as an active unit of the Navy: "Man the ship
and bring her to life." Ronald Reagan made her maiden voyage on 21
July 2003. President Reagan, who did not attend either the launch or
the commissioning due to Alzheimer's disease, died eleven months
later. At the end of the graveside services, the ship's commanding
officer at that time, Captain James Symonds, presented the flag that
draped the former president's casket to Mrs. Reagan at her request.
This was also the flag that had flown over Capitol Hill on 20
January 1981, when the president was inaugurated. At a later date,
Captain Symonds also presented Mrs. Reagan the flag that had been
flying over Ronald Reagan when the former president died.
Ronald Reagan conducted her maiden port visit in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida, from 11–14 November 2003.
Service history
On 8 May 2004, following her five-month post-shakedown availability
(PSA), the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan received her second flight
deck certification which encompassed all flight operations,
including aircraft launch and recovery, safety, crash and salvage,
fuel certifications, and training. Reagan then began her transit
from Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, around Cape Horn, South
America, to her new homeport of Naval Air Station North Island, San
Diego.
Carrier Air Wing Eleven, normally assigned to the USS Nimitz,
embarked only 25 percent of its total strength for the transit. The
squadrons making the transit were VFA-14 and VFA-41 flying the
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, VAW-117 flying the E-2C Hawkeye 2000, HS-6
flying the SH-60F Seahawk and VRC-30 flying the C-2A Greyhound. The
ship visited Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 5 June 2004 and during the
first evening after arrival the ship's namesake Ronald Reagan died.
A ceremony in his honor was held onboard later that evening, soon
after the US national anthem was publicly played. After leaving Rio,
Reagan transited the Strait of Magellan on 20–21 June and
subsequently made port visits to Valparaíso, Chile, and Callao, Peru
before arriving in San Diego on 23 July 2004. From 1 October 2004,
Reagan was assigned to Carrier Strike Group Fifteen.
2006 maiden deployment
USS Ronald Reagan departed San Diego on 4 January 2006, on her
maiden deployment to conduct naval operations in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as
to conduct maritime security operations (MSO) in the Persian Gulf.
On 28 January 2006, an F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter attempting a
night landing aboard Reagan crashed into the ship's flight deck
about 200 km (120 miles) southeast of Brisbane, Queensland. The
aircraft struck the ramp at a low angle, caught fire and skidded
overboard. The pilot ejected safely, but the aircraft was lost. The
ship entered the Gulf on 22 February 2006, and returned from
deployment on 6 July 2006
2007 surge deployment
USS Ronald Reagan and the Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) departed
North Island, Coronado in San Diego on 27 January 2007 on an
unscheduled surge deployment to the Western Pacific, fulfilling the
role of the forward deployed carrier Kitty Hawk while it underwent
maintenance in Japan. On 20 April 2007, Ronald Reagan and her CSG
returned to Coronado. The "surge deployment" was part of the Navy's
Fleet Response Plan (FRP), which provides the U.S. with the ability
to respond to any global commitment with flexible and sustainable
forces and the ability to rapidly respond to a range of situations
on short notice.
In January 2007, it was announced that Ronald Reagan had earned the
2006 Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific Carrier Battle Efficiency
"E" award for the West Coast, the first Battle "E" ever for the
carrier.
Reagan returned to Naval Air Station North Island on 20 April 2007,
following the three-month deployment in support of operations in the
Western Pacific.
On 15 December 2007, the carrier answered a distress call from a
cruise ship off the coast of Baja California. An Illinois teenager
whose appendix had ruptured while on a Mexican cruise was airlifted
by an SH-60 helicopter to Ronald Reagan, where an emergency
appendectomy was performed by the ship's surgeon
2008 deployment
USS Ronald Reagan, with CVW-14 embarked, departed San Diego on 19
May 2008, for a scheduled 7th Fleet and 5th Fleet deployment.
The Reagan Carrier Strike Group performed humanitarian assistance
and disaster relief operations in the Philippines on 24 June 2008
after that country was devastated by Typhoon Fengshen, killing
hundreds from the central island regions and the main island of
Luzon. The typhoon also capsized the passenger ferry MV Princess of
the Stars. Working in support of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, Reagan and her escorts of Carrier Strike Group 7
focused their efforts on the island of Panay in the Central Visayas.
For eight days, SH-60 Seahawk helicopters and C-2A Greyhound
aircraft of the Ronald Reagan Strike Group helped deliver more than
519,000 lbs. of rice, fresh water and other supplies to areas of
Panay, which were not reachable via truck due to flooded roads. The
mission in Panay would earn the entire strike group the Navy's
Humanitarian Service Medal.
The Strike Group arrived in the U.S. Fifth Fleet area on 28 August
2008, where she launched more than 1,150 sorties into Afghanistan in
support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Reagan returned to San Diego
on 25 November 2008.
USS Ronald Reagan received word in February 2009 that the ship had
won its second Battle Effectiveness Award
2009 deployment
On 28 May 2009, Reagan deployed with Carrier Air Wing 14 to the 7th
and 5th Fleet Areas of Responsibility. Reagan relieved the
Eisenhower CSG and launched its first sorties in support of OEF on 6
July. Reagan returned to homeport on 21 October after a five-month
deployment
2010
In early 2010, Reagan was awarded the 2009 Chief of Naval Operations
Afloat Safety "S" Award. and the 2009 Pacific Fleet Battle "E" for
combat efficiency. The Battle "E" award was Reagan's second
consecutive and third in four years
On 19 May 2010, Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) completed the
six-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) maintenance cycle
on the Reagan. This PIA project came in under budget, and it marked
both Norfolk Naval Shipyard's largest off-site availability as well
as the largest public sector work package ever performed on an
aircraft carrier berthed at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI)
located near Coronado, California (pictured). During the maintenance
period, Ronald Reagan received technological upgrades that prepared
it for its next deployment and subsequent operations. Refurbishments
included hi-tech combat systems and firefighting equipment to
improved ship's laundry services and living spaces. This PIA
maintenance project was an example of the 'One Shipyard' concept
wherein the U.S. Navy mobilizes its work force across its various
shipyards to better meet fleet readiness requirements as well as to
stabilize a vital workforce base for the U.S. defense industry.
While Norfolk Naval Shipyard was the project lead, significant work
was done by its partners: Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate
Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF), Southwest Regional Maintenance
Center (SWRMC), Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB).
During peak manning, approximately 1,400 worked the project on a
daily basis. This included approximately 625 NNSY personnel, 165
PSNS & IMF employees, and 600 from SWRMC/NGSB.
On 18 May 2010, the Reagan departed Naval Air Station North Island
for sea trials. The sea trial was the final phase of the PIA, and it
was conducted to assess the Reagan's material readiness to return to
the operational fleet. The Reagan pulled into Naval Air Station
North Island on 19 May 2010 after completing its two-day sea trial,
marking the official end to its six-month planned incremental
availability (PIA) maintenance period
On 2 June 2010, the Reagan, with Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14)
embarked, departed Naval Air Station North Island to conduct flight
deck certifications. The first CVW-14 aircraft to land on the
Reagan's flight deck was from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 4
(HS-2). Other embarked squadrons included: Marine Fighter Attack
Squadron 323 (VMFA-323), Strike Fighter Squadron 154 (VFA-154),
Strike Fighter Squadron 147 (VFA-147)* Strike Fighter Squadron 146
(VFA-146), Airborne Early Warning Squadron 113 (VAW-113), Fleet
Logistics Squadron 30 (VRC-30) The certification included a full
evaluation of the arresting gear, steam catapults, and flight deck
personnel. The Reagan's air department was assessed on its ability
to maintain a fully operational flight deck and respond to simulated
mishaps.
During the summer of 2010 the Reagan participated in Exercise RIMPAC,
departed from Naval Air Station North Island, California, for a
Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) assessment on 25 August
2010, and departed its homeport to conduct routine operations off
the coast of southern California in preparation for its 2011 Western
Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment. In November 2010, Reagan provided
emergency supplies and assistance to passengers stranded in the
Pacific Ocean aboard the Carnival Splendor, which had lost power by
an engine fire
2011
The ship departed for an Asian deployment on 2 February 2011. On 11
March 2011, Reagan was in the Korean peninsula region for a
long-planned exercise off Korea, but was redirected towards Japan to
provide support after the massive 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and
tsunami. The ship, stationed off Sendai, was used as a floating
refueling station for Japanese military and coast guard helicopters
flying relief missions in the area. US Navy helicopters also flew
relief missions from the carrier. On 13 March 2011, the ship
measured 0.6 mR/hr direct gamma shine from clouds 130 miles from
Fukushima Daiichi. Members of the crew blamed their cancers on the
event. On 14 March 2011, the ship was forced to relocate to avoid a
radioactive plume from the Fukushima I nuclear accidents which had
contaminated 17 crewmembers of three helicopter crews. On 23 March,
the Reagan's crew performed radiation decontamination by scrubbing
down any surface that could have been contaminated, including the
flight deck and aircraft to remove any removable radiation hazards.
On 4 April 2011, Japan's minister of defense, Toshimi Kitazawa,
accompanied by US ambassador to Japan John Roos, visited the ship to
thank its crew for its assistance as part of Operation Tomodachi.
Said Kitazawa, "I have never been more encouraged by and proud of
the fact that the United States is our ally." The ship returned to
San Diego on 9 September 2011. In January 2011, the Navy announced
that the USS Ronald Reagan would be transferred to the Puget Sound
Naval Ship Yard in Bremerton, WA for scheduled repair and
maintenance beginning January 2012.
2012 and 2013
On 10 January 2012 the Reagan's official home port was changed to
Bremerton, Washington, where she stayed for a little over a year
until returning to her home port of San Diego on 21 March 2013.
2014
On 14 January 2014, the Navy announced that the USS Ronald Reagan
would replace the USS George Washington as the only forward deployed
carrier at Yokosuka, Japan. This move will occur sometime in 2015.
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