General Characteristics:
o Awarded: January 26, 2001
o Keel laid: May 19, 2003
o Launched: October 9, 2006
o Commissioned: January 10, 2009
o Decommissioned: January 2059
o Builder: Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, Va.
o Propulsion System: two nuclear reactors
o Main Engines: four
o Propellers: four
o Blades on each Propeller: five
o Aircraft elevators: four
o Catapults: four
o Arresting gear cables: three
o Length, overall: 1,092 feet (332.85 meters)
o Flight Deck Width: 257 feet (78.34 meters)
o Area of flight deck: about 4,5 acres
o Beam: 134 feet (40.84 meters)
o Draft: 38,4 feet (11.7 meters)
o Displacement: approx. 100,000 tons full load
o Speed: 30+ knots
o Planes: approx. 85
o Crew: Ship: approx. 3,200
o Air Wing: 2,480
o Armament: two Mk 29 NATO Sea Sparrow launchers, two Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) System
o Homeport: Norfolk, Va.
Namesake
CVN-77 is named after George Herbert Walker Bush (born 1924), 41st President of the United States of America (1989-1993). As President and Commander-In-Chief Mr. Bush led the United States and a coalition of 30 nations during the Gulf War (1991) that ended Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and liberated the people of the small Persian Gulf nation. He is also a US Navy Pilot around year 1942-1945; (LT(JG) George H.W. Bush, USNR)
About USS George H.W Bush
USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) is the tenth and final Nimitz class supercarrier of the United States Navy.It is named for the 41st President of the United States George H. W. Bush, who was a naval aviator during World War II. Bush's call-sign is Avenger, after the TBM Avenger aircraft flown by then-Lieutenant George Bush in WWII.
Construction began in 2001 by the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard, at a cost of $6.2 billion USD and was completed in 2009. It is home ported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. USS George W Bush, the Final Nimitz Carrier.
Construction began in 2001 by the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard, at a cost of $6.2 billion USD and was completed in 2009. It is home ported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. USS George W Bush, the Final Nimitz Carrier.
Construction of CVN 77
An artist’s conceptual drawing of the U.S. Navy’s next aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) named in honor of the 41st President of the United States. U.S. Navy graphic.
Arlington, Va., The Pentagon, Dec. 9, 2002— Former President George H.W. Bush (center), the 41st President of the United States examines a model of CVN-77, the U.S. Navy’s 10th Nimitz-class aircraft carrier officially named USS George H.W. Bush by The Honorable Gordon England, Secretary of the Navy, at a ceremony held in the Pentagon. Photographed from left to right are Adm. Vern Clark, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Gordon England, Secretary of the Navy, former President George H.W. Bush, Senator John Warner, R-Va., and General James L. Jones, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer’s Mate Johnny Bivera.
Newport News, Va., Sep. 6, 2003— Adm. Vern Clark, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), makes remarks during the keel laying ceremony of the George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) aircraft carrier. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny Bivera
Newport News, Va., Mar. 3, 2003— The first construction unit of the Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) settles into the drydock, where the ship would be constructed. The ship would feature numerous engineering and technology improvements, and was slated to be the 10th and final Nimitz-class nuclear powered carrier. Photo by Mr. John Whalen Northrop Grumman Newport News
Newport News, Va., Sep. 6, 2003— Former President George H.W. Bush accompanied by his daughter and ship's sponsor Doro Bush Koch, wrote his initials with chalk to a plaque which was then traced by a welder’s torch and permanently affixed to the keel of the ship. During the ceremony, President George H.W. Bush authenticated the keel by announcing, “the keel has been truly and fairly laid." U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny Bivera
The rudders for the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) are in place during construction, June 17, 2004. Photo by Chris Oxley, Northrop Grumman Newport News
Newport News, VA, Dec. 8, 2004 — Construction work on the Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) at Northrop Grumman Newport News
Newport News, VA, Mar. 8, 2005 — The 700-ton bow unit, the final keel section of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush (CVN-77), is lowered into place in the dry dock at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. George H. W. Bush was built using modular construction, a process where smaller sections of the ship below the waterline are lowered into place in dry dock. CVN-77 was the second carrier to have the new bulbous bow design that provides more buoyancy to the forward end of he ship and improves hull efficiency
PCU George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) under construction, August 3, 2005. Photo by Chris Oxley, Northrop Grumman Newport News
The bow of the aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) under constuction at Northrop Grumman Newport News, August 22, 2005. Photo by Chris Oxley
The aircraft carrier PCU George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) under construction at Northrop Grumman Newport News, August 29, 2005. Photo by Chris Oxley
The island of the aircraft carrier PCU George H. W. Bush (CVN-77), under construction at Northrop Grumman Newport News, November 2005. Photo by John Whalen
The aircraft carrier PCU George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) under construction at Northrop Grumman Newport News, November 28, 2005. Photo by John Whalen
The Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush's (CVN-77) island upper levels are placed upon the lower levels to complete the island structure, March 9, 2006. Photo by Mr. John Whalen
The upper bow unit of the Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) is lifted into place at Northrop Grumman Newport News, Newport News, VA, March 15, 2006. Photo by Mr. John Whalen
The upper bow unit of Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) is lifted into place at Northrop Grumman Newport News, Newport News, VA, March 15, 2006. Photo by Mr. Rick Thompson
The upper bow unit of Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) is lifted into place at Northrop Grumman Newport News, Newport News, VA, March 15, 2006. Photo by Chris Oxley
The propellers of the Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) are installed, April 26, 2006. Photo by Mr. John Whalen
CVN-77 island, painted and sitting on platen at dry dock 12, June 23, 2006. Photo by Mr. Chris Oxley
The completion of the last of 162 super lift evolutions scheduled during the construction of the tenth and last Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, George H.W. Bush (CVN-77). The lift placed the ship's 700-ton island superstructure in position on the flight deck, July 8, 2006. Photo by Mr. John Whalen
The 41st President of the United States George H.W. Bush, left, and the prospective commanding officer for the aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush (CVN-77), Captain Kevin E. O'Flaherty, both place a personal set of Naval Aviator wings under the 700-ton island superstructure, July 8, 2006. The aviator wings were used to symbolize a naval custom, called "stepping the mast," which dates from antiquity and consists of placing coins under the step or bottom of a ship's mast during construction. One belief from Greek mythology is that should the ship be wrecked during passage, the coins would ensure payment of the crew's wages for their return home. Since at least the construction of USS Constitution in the 1790s, this tradition of placing coins or other items of significance has been passed on as a symbol of good luck for U.S. Navy ships. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Robert J. Stratchko
Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Admiral John B. Nathman, left; the 41st President of the United States, George H.W. Bush, center; and the prospective commanding officer for the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), Captain Kevin E. O'Flaherty, attend the last of 162 super lift evolutions scheduled during the construction of the ship. Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard, Newport News, Va., 8 July 2006. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Robert J. Stratchko
Aboard Pre Commissioning Unit George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), the ship's namesake and 41st President of the United States, George H.W. Bush, left, observes the super lift Island landing ceremony, the last of 162 super lifts scheduled during the construction of the ship, placing the 700-ton superstructure on the ship's flight deck. Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard, Newport News, Va., 8 July 2006. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Robert J. Stratchko
PCU George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) with island house. Photo by Chris Oxley
Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) shown in dry dock, September 12, 2006. Photo by Mr. Chris Oxley
This is a picture of CVN-77's (PCU George H. W. Bush) island the day of her Christening at Newport News, VA, October 7, 2006
Pictured left to right, President of the United States George W. Bush, former President and ship's namesake George H. W. Bush, and President of Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard Mr. Mike Petters, look on as ship's Sponsor Doro Bush Koch christens CVN-77, the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush, October 7, 2006. "I would like to join my father, my brother, my family in saluting not only the men and women who built this remarkable ship, but also the courageous men and women who will soon man it," Koch said before christening the ship. Photo by Mr. Chris Oxley
PCU George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) afloat, October 9, 2006. Northrop Grumman Newport News photo by Chris Oxley
PCU George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) move from Dry Dock 12 to OB1, October 9, 2006. Northrop Grumman Newport News photo by Ricky Thompson.
Fitting out
Newport News, Va., January 25, 2008 — Former President George H.W. Bush prepares to signal the launch of two "dead loads" off the flight deck of the Precommissioning Unit (PCU) George H. W. Bush (CVN-77). "Dead Load" launches test the ship's catapult systems ability to launch aircraft. U.S. Navy photo By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Susan Caraballo
Airman Ryan Miller (left) Quartermaster 1st Class Christopher Dorner and Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Airman Ryan Jones, assigned to the Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) prepare to be the first crewmembers to hoist the American flag over the fantail of the ship, at Norfolk, Virginia, 8 August 2008. Sailors had recently began eating and sleeping aboard the 10th and last Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, under construction at Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicholas Hall
CAPT Kevin O'Flaherty, commanding officer of the Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), addresses the crew during a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the ship's galley and crew's mess, at Newport News, Virginia, 11 August 2008. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Lawrence M. Shannon
CU George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) docked at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va., 20 August 2008. (Carl Vinson was undergoing her only refueling and complex overhaul in a 50-year life span.)
Operations Specialist Seaman Apprentice Steven J. O'Conner stands lookout while the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) transits to Naval Station Norfolk, 23 December 2008, in preparation for her commissioning. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeffrey M. Richardson
Boatswain's Mate Seaman Apprentice Charles Norris polishes a bell aboard the ceremonial quarterdeck of the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), Norfolk, Va., 7 January 2009. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan A. Bailey
Active, In Commission, 2009
Northrop Grumman Newport News completed builder's trials of USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) on 16 February 2009. Photo by John Whalen, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding.
NOB Norfolk, VA, 2 October 2010.
