home Success stories Reagan ship. "Ronald Reagan" takes the Far East under the gun

Reagan ship. "Ronald Reagan" takes the Far East under the gun

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is the ninth in a series of ten US Navy Nimitz-class ships. Named after the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan.

The aircraft carrier was built at the Newport News Shipbuilding shipyard located in Newport News (Virginia). The construction contract was concluded on December 08, 1994. Laid down February 12, 1998. Launched on March 04, 2001. The launch ceremony was attended by former President of the United States George W. Bush and former First Lady Nancy Reagan (godmother of the aircraft carrier), Ronald Reagan himself could not attend due to Alzheimer's disease. On October 30, 2002, the crew arrived on board the aircraft carrier. Introduced into the fleet on July 12, 2003. The cost of construction was 4.5 billion US dollars. Ronald Reagan died 11 months after the introduction of the aircraft carrier into the US Navy. Homeport - San Diego, California. Since October 01, 2015, the naval base in Yokosuka, Japan has become the port of registry.

The aircraft carrier USS "Ronald Reagan" has two differences from the ships of this series. Firstly, instead of four brake cables, he has three of them. At the same time, the saved space went to the installation of more powerful brake systems, allowing to take more heavy aircraft. Secondly, to enhance the stability of the ship in heavy seas, this aircraft carrier is equipped with a bulbous bow - a stem.

The cabin of the captain of the aircraft carrier Terry Kraft is a copy of the Red Room of the White House, an office in which Ronald Reagan liked to work during his presidency. There is also a table at which Reagan worked as governor of California.

Main characteristics: Displacement 97,000 tons. Length 332.8 meters, width 76.8 meters, draft 11.3 meters. Travel speed 30 knots. Crew 3200 plus 2480 air wing.

Engines: 2 reactors, 4 turbines. Power 260,000 hp (191 MW).

Armament:

Anti-aircraft artillery: 4 × 20-mm automatic 6-barrel guns "Vulkan-Phalanx" with individual guidance.

Missile armament: 3 launchers of the NATO Sea Sparrow air defense system.

Mine-torpedo armament: 2 triple-tube 324-mm torpedo tubes.

Aviation group: 90 aircraft and helicopters.

On May 27, 2004, she left Norfolk for her home port of San Diego, where she arrived on July 23.

On January 04, 2006, she left her home port of San Diego for her first deployment in the Persian Gulf and the Western Pacific, from which she returned to her home port on October 20.

On January 27, 2007, she left San Diego for deployment in the Western Pacific Ocean in the area of responsibility of the US 7th Fleet, from which she returned to her home port on October 31.

On May 28, 2009, she left her home port for a planned deployment in the Western Pacific and the Middle East in the area of responsibility of the US 7th and 5th fleets, from which she returned to her home port on October 21.

On November 8, 20110, a fire broke out in the engine room of the cruise ship, as a result of which the ship was de-energized, which caused it to lose speed, air conditioning, and the ability to cook hot food. The water supply was limited. The aircraft carrier took over the supply of food to the 3,299 passengers and 1,167 crew members on board.

On February 02, 2011, she left her home port of San Diego for a planned deployment in the area of responsibility of the 5th and 7th US Fleets, from which she returned on September 09.

Left San Diego on January 06, 2012 for a 12-month US$210 million scheduled overhaul at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. March 21, 2013 returned to San Diego after repairs were completed.

On August 31, 2015, she left her former home port of San Diego. The new home port will be the naval base in Yokosuka, Japan. 17 September US 7th Fleet responsibility. October 01 at berth 12 at the Yokosuka Naval Base (Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan), the new home port. According to an October 18 report, Shinzo Abe has become the current Prime Minister of Japan, who visited aboard an American aircraft carrier. October 18 on board the ship in one of the hangars a fire. The incident occurred two hours before Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit on board the ship. From October 26 to 29, joint exercises with the South Korean Navy. Off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, from October 26 to 29, took place, in which the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) took part with a support group, which includes Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, missile cruiser class "Ticonderoga" ("Ticonderoga") and missile destroyers class "Arleigh Burke" ("Arleigh Burke") USS "Curtis Wilbur" (DDG 54), and USS "Mustin" (DDG 89), and the South Korean Navy. October 30 at the port of Busan, South Korea. He took part in the joint exercise "Annual Exercise 16", which began on November 16 in territorial waters in southern Japan. The US Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force are taking part in the exercises. The exercises were on November 25th. December 03 in Yokosuka, Japan, completing her first patrol after changing her home port.

May 09, 2016 for sea trials after the completion of scheduled maintenance, which began on January 12. From March 31 to June 01 was on the last sea trials before leaving for the next patrol. June 04 Yokosuka home base for the second patrol in the area of responsibility of the US 7th Fleet. On 18 June strike groups CSG 3 and CSG 5 joined forces in the Philippine Sea. June 30 as part of a strike group in the South China Sea for routine patrols. July 26 to the port of registry. September 03 left home port for routine patrols. From October 10 to 15, he took part in the Invincible Spirit 2016 two-way exercise with the Republic of Korea Navy. October 16 with a visit to the port of Busan, South Korea, which will last five days. October 30 in the bilateral exercise "Keen Sword 2017" with the participation of the US military and the Japan Self-Defense Force. On November 21, she returned to her home port, having completed an 11-week patrol.

On January 10, 2017, maintenance began on the aircraft carrier, which will last four months. According to a report dated April 17 to the area of the Korean Peninsula. May 07 home port for sea trials, completing Maintenance. May 16 for a scheduled summer patrol after a one-day delay for which no reason was given. On June 17 he arrived with a four-day visit to Singapore. On July 8, he began participating in the Talisman Saber 2017 exercise, which is held in the Coral Sea. July 23 arrived with a five-day visit to the port of Brisbane, Australia, which on July 28. 09 August returned to Yokosuka, completing a 12-week patrol. September 08 home port for routine patrols, having previously undergone a three-week repair. October 02 with a visit to Hong Kong. Since October 18, as part of the strike group, he took part in the three-day exercises "MCSOFEX-2017", which were held jointly with the South Korean Navy. October 21 with a five-day visit to the port of Busan, South Korea. December 04 returned to Yokosuka, completing a three-month patrol.

On May 11, 2018, Yokosuka began sea trials after completing a four-month scheduled repair, after which, on May 17, to the port of registry. May 29 home port for scheduled summer patrols in the Indo-Pacific, after a one-day delay due to undeclared issues. From June 07 to 16, he will take part in the Malabar 2018 exercise, which is the first time off the coast of Guam. June 26 with a scheduled visit to the port of Manila, Philippines. July 24 to the port of registry. September 24 at the Guam Naval Base after the completion of the Valiant Shield 2018 exercise. From November 28 to December 05, in a joint deployment with the destroyer-helicopter carrier of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in the Philippine Sea.

Not all maritime powers own aircraft carriers. This is due to the fact that the construction of one floating airfield requires huge financial investments. Countries that can afford it include the US, UK, Japan, Russia, France and China. America Leads this list economically developed countries, since in the arsenal of its Navy there are more than twenty such vessels. One of them is the nuclear aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan.

What does the abbreviation CVN stand for?

The aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan is a Nimitz class ship named after US Admiral Chester William Nimitz, who served in the Pacific Fleet during World War II. Another nine vessels belong to the Nimitz class. All of them are listed as aircraft carriers (CVN): multi-purpose aircraft carriers that use a nuclear power plant as an engine.

CVN-76: launch history

The USS Ronald Reagan is the ninth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. Ordinal side number vessel - CVN-76. The ship is named after the fortieth US President Ronald Reagan. The aircraft carrier began to build in February 1998.

In the early spring of 2001, the ship was completely ready for launching. The ceremony was attended by former US President George W. Bush and former First Lady Nancy Reagan. Due to Alzheimer's disease that tormented him, Ronald Reagan was not present at the solemn launching of the ship. In July 2003, the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan (a photo of the ship is presented in the article) entered service with the US Navy.

Description

The aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan is a floating military airfield. Although it is considered a warship, its armament is insignificant. Basically, the military power of the ship is concentrated in combat aircraft and helicopters based on it. First of all, the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan, like any other Nimitz-class ship, is the base for the entire aircraft carrier strike group. This means that CVN ships are relatively vulnerable and do not sail alone without a missile cruiser, several destroyers, a nuclear-powered multi-purpose submarine, and special tanker transports. Aircraft carrier capable of delivering planes and helicopters total strength up to 78 units.

One air strike group, using reconnaissance aircraft and a radar system, is able to control the territory within 600 km. If the enemy fires an anti-ship missile at an aircraft carrier, he will only prove himself by doing this - all his actions will be immediately recorded. Then, as a target, it will be struck from the warships accompanying the aircraft carrier. The strike can also be delivered from the air - by an aviation strike group. Thus, due to the well-coordinated work of the escort warships, the radar system and the transported aircraft, the threat of an attack on an aircraft carrier is minimized.

Device

During the construction of all aircraft-carrying ships of the Nimitz class, American developers used one standard project, as a result of which the ships practically do not differ from each other. There are differences only in some details: in the arrangement of internal decks, hangars and radar systems. Unlike previous Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, the Ronald Reagan vessel has an improved deck superstructure that provides greater visibility. Since the radar equipment used to detect the enemy and protect against him is constantly evolving, the American designers decided to leave a small free space on the deck for installing the most modern systems. Despite the fact that such devices have not yet been created, according to American military experts, it is possible that they will appear in the near future. Since the term design work the aircraft carrier is 50 years old, the designers hope that the Ronald Reagan will be equipped with only the best modern developments.

Unlike previous Nimitz, the CVN-76 is equipped with not four, but three brake cables. The developers decided to remove one and focus on improving the remaining ones. Ronald Reagan is equipped with four steam catapults. The stable position of the aircraft carrier during a sharp turn and storm is ensured by a drop-shaped stem, which, unlike other aircraft carriers, is slightly advanced and is below the waterline. In addition, the bow of the vessel is characterized by great stability and is convenient for aircraft to take off from the edge of the deck.

Protection

If the destroyers and cruiser fail to stop the movement of enemy aircraft and they can approach the aircraft carrier, Ronald Reagan is able to defend himself using anti-aircraft artillery. It consists of four six-barreled 20 mm cannons and three short-range missile systems. If enemy torpedoes pose a threat, then in this case the aircraft carrier can defend itself with the help of mine torpedo weapons - two 324 mm torpedo tubes.

The composition of the strike aviation group

The standard set of "Ronald Reagan" is 78 aircraft. 56 units - fighters. Of these, 36 are capable of bombing. The aircraft carrier is equipped with six helicopters (two rescue and four anti-submarine). Electronic warfare is carried out with the help of eight airborne early warning aircraft.

The purpose of the ship "Ronald Reagan"

The characteristics of an aircraft carrier are indispensable in cases where you need to conquer and take control of the enemy's sea and airspace. To do this, it is enough for an aircraft carrier to enter neutral waters near the coast of a hostile country. Landing and receiving the air group does not require permission from the authorities of the states located in the region. Thanks to the aircraft carrier, the naval and ground forces operating in the region receive significant support. Transported by the "Ronald Reagan" air strike group contributes to the defensive or offensive operations of the US military.

According to military experts, today there is not a single state in the world that would be able to fully resist the aviation group led by Nimitz Ronald Reagan.

How Washington is building the world's most powerful naval force

Aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan. Photo: EPA

At the pier of the Yokosuka naval base, at the very entrance to Tokyo Bay, there is now a ship of fantastic dimensions, which people in uniform and civilians scurrying along the pier are not able to capture with their eyes. This is the nuclear aircraft carrier of the US Navy "Ronald Reagan" with a displacement of 97 thousand tons and a length of 333 meters. On the deck of the ship, the staff drives around in jeeps.

When the Ronald Reagan approached the Yokosuka base earlier in the month, I was sure that this colossus would anchor in the distance, but in the harbor of unique depth, it was deftly moored to the pier like a waterbus. The crew on the occasion of the first call was dressed in all white and starched, and on the deck the American sailors lined up in the form of the Japanese phrase "Hajimemashite" - "Nice to meet you!" The greeting, filmed from helicopters and widely shown on local television, was quite appropriate - from now on, the aircraft carrier will be permanently based in Yokosuka and regularly patrol the northwestern Pacific Ocean, and, if necessary, can go to the Indian Ocean.

East Asian waters on lock

"Ronald Reagan" can carry up to 90 aircraft and helicopters, as well as convertiplanes capable of flying in aircraft-helicopter mode for landing dagger landings marines. Its main strike power is the F/A-18 Hornet multirole combat aircraft, tested in numerous US military operations. On board an aircraft carrier powered by two nuclear reactors, - more than five thousand people of the team and a strike air wing located on the ship.

In other words, this floating air base, to put it mildly, is noticeably larger Russian contingent in Syria.

However, "Ronald Reagan" does not go on campaigns alone - he is supported and covered by a battle group. In June, for example, the newest missile cruiser Chancellorsville, which is ready to fight in space, in the air, on water and under water, came to permanent basing in Yokosuka. It is equipped with the Aegis multi-purpose tracking and targeting system, capable of detecting and destroying everything that flies - from aircraft to intercontinental ballistic missiles. On board the cruiser is a wide range of interceptor missiles, ship-to-ship and ship-to-ground missiles, torpedo tubes, rapid-fire artillery, and two anti-submarine helicopters. Such a powerful cruiser, as informed in Tokyo, is located outside the United States for the first time. His the main task defense of Ronald Reagan.

The Americans have been holding the aircraft carrier group in Yokosuka since 1973, but now its build-up and modernization are proceeding at an unprecedented pace. Based on this Japanese base, Washington is creating the most powerful naval grouping in the region since its presence in the waters of East Asia.

By 2017, two more of the latest missile destroyers with Aegis missile defense systems will arrive in Yokosuka. After that, a total of 14 modern and well-equipped US Navy ships will be based there, including twelve equipped with the Aegis system. Eight of them will be able to shoot down intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Do not enter the Yellow Sea!

In Japan, they believe that this American group is already qualitatively more powerful than the outdated one. Pacific Fleet Russia - at least its surface part. However, for now the main objective the creation of a naval fist in Yokosuka is China, which is actively increasing its presence in the adjacent waters. In the East China Sea, for example, Beijing is trying, as Tokyo believes, to close to American ships zone north of the Taiwan-Okinawa line, and the Yellow Sea is generally trying to turn for the most part to your inner lake. By the way, recently American aircraft carriers have only entered the very southern part this area. Beijing is scaring off the US Navy with a constant modernization of its arsenal of anti-ship missiles - they are the ones that the Aegis systems should neutralize.

A tense situation is developing in the South China Sea - Beijing has built a network of artificial islands there, on which it is building military facilities, including full-scale runways, radar and missile bases. According to the Pentagon, at the beginning of May this year, the area of new territories of China was already 8 square kilometers - four times more than it was at the end of last year. The United States is sure that after some time Beijing will try to establish 12-mile zones of territorial waters around these artificial islands and will close the airspace above them. China already lays claim to almost 90 percent of the strategically important South China Sea. Recall that the most intense ocean transport routes in the world pass there - oil and liquefied gas to the powerful economic countries of East Asia, and they send huge masses of industrial goods along the same lines to the West.

China, of course, fears that the United States, with its mighty navy, could cut off these vital routes if something happens. Japan, for its part, is afraid that Beijing itself will do this in the event of an aggravation of the situation and deprive it of access to Middle Eastern oil. The Americans, in turn, want to maintain the status quo and maintain their dominant presence in a strategically important area.

China is building aircraft carriers

In addition to Yokosuka, by the way, the United States intends to use the former Soviet base of Cam Ranh in Vietnam, which is in conflict with Beijing over the rights to islands and water spaces in the South China Sea. In short, the United States sets itself very serious tasks in East Asia and is confident that, together with the Japanese naval forces, they will continue to be stronger than both China and Russia. By the way, the United States now has eleven aircraft carrier strike groups and only one permanently based abroad - in Japan, which indicates their special interest in this area.

However, Beijing is also not lost - the military magazine Jane's Defense Weekly just reported that satellite intelligence received images of the first Chinese aircraft carrier, which is now being built in Dalian in the northeast of China. The Taiwan Ministry of Defense believes that its displacement is 60,000 tons. Another such aircraft carrier, as they say, is being built in Shanghai. However, the Dalian ship in the pictures does not yet have an upper deck. So, in theory, it may still turn out not to be an aircraft carrier, but, say, a very large landing assault ship of a new type. But in general, it is expected that Beijing will put into operation its purely Chinese aircraft carriers by 2020.

So far, he has only the Liaoning, the former unfinished Soviet aircraft-carrying cruiser Varyag. After the collapse of the USSR, he remained at the shipyard in Nikolaev, and in 1998 the Chinese bought the ship from Ukraine, at first, apparently for scrap, and then decided to use it as a floating casino. But it turned out that the Peking comrades had military goals in mind.

The former "Varyag" is used for training and is not yet ready for combat. Especially for those who are ready to instantly start in the region a powerful group led by "Ronald Reagan", who is now standing at the entrance to Tokyo Bay.

Ronald Reagan - (English USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)) - American aircraft carrier, the ninth Nimitz-class ship. Named after the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. Laid down on February 12, 1998, launched on March 4, 2001, commissioned on July 12, 2003.

Aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan – video

The aircraft carrier "Ronald Reagan" became one of the few ships US Navy named after a living person, and the first named after a living president. The launch ceremony was attended by former President of the United States George W. Bush and former First Lady Nancy Reagan, Ronald Reagan himself could not attend due to Alzheimer's disease. Ronald Reagan dies 11 months after aircraft carrier commissioned into US Navy

Differences

The aircraft carrier has two differences from the ships of this series. Firstly, instead of four brake cables, he has three of them. At the same time, the saved space went to the installation of more powerful braking systems, allowing them to take heavier aircraft. Secondly, to enhance the stability of the ship in heavy seas, this aircraft carrier is equipped with a bulbous bow - a stem.

The aircraft carrier's home port is San Diego, California. The cabin of the captain of the aircraft carrier Terry Kraft is a copy of the Red Room of the White House, an office in which Ronald Reagan liked to work during his presidency. There is also a table at which Reagan worked as governor of California.

Joint Task Force Exercise 06-2

During the exercises, in December 2005, the Swedish nuclear submarine Gotland was involved, the submarine managed to conditionally sink the aircraft carrier and at the same time go unnoticed.

Notes

The USS Ronald Reagan appears in the computer game Prototype as the location of the game's final scene. The aircraft carrier "Ronald Reagan" starred in the film "Battleship" as the flagship of the squadron at the Rimpac-2012 exercises.

Not all "sea" powers have aircraft carriers. Building even the latest floating airfield requires hundreds of millions of dollars. And such as the aircraft carrier "Ronald Reagan" - several billion. Allow such expenses can only economically developed powers: Japan, Spain, Italy, India, Great Britain, France, China, Russia. But they also have ships of this class - a few.

The United States of America leads the list of powers with heavy aircraft carriers in the arsenal of the navy. The total number of such ships they have is more than twenty combat units. Of this number, half of the aircraft carriers are with a displacement of up to 100 tons and a nuclear propulsion system. One of them is the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan. Its onboard serial number is CVN-76.

The purpose of such a huge floating airfield is to gain a dominant position both at sea and in airspace. An aircraft carrier can stop near the coast of any state in neutral waters and receive and land military aircraft of a certain class without the consent of the authorities of the countries of the region. This can greatly expand the capabilities of the grouping of sea and land forces due to the significant support of defensive and offensive operations from the air.

Type

The aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. The name comes from the first ship in the series with the serial number CVN-68, named after the admiral of the US Pacific Fleet during World War II (Chester William Nimitz). The abbreviation (CVN) is deciphered as a multi-purpose aircraft-carrying ship with a nuclear power (propulsion) plant. In total, 10 combat units were produced by such floating airfields. CVN-76 is the ninth in a row, it was launched in 2001.

Aircraft carriers of this type replaced similar ships of the Enterprise series. It was planned to produce at least five units, but as a result, only CVN-65, commissioned in 1961, was launched. He completed his combat duty in 2012. It was the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The fuel in its reactor was enough for 12 years of operation without restarting. The construction of the largest warship (343 m) was too expensive for those times, and the project had to be closed.

Nuclear aircraft carrier "Ronald Reagan" - "Peace by force"

It was decided to name the next series of ships after the most famous US figures. The first was the Nimitz, followed by two more ships: Dwight Eisenhower, Carl Vinson. Then there were improvements and a new subtype of the series: "Theodore Roosevelt", "Abraham Lincoln", "George Washington", "John Stennis", "Harry Truman". CVN-76 - the aircraft carrier "Ronald Reagan" (photo above), was named after the fortieth president of the United States. His motto was - "Peace - strength." Each of the ships at the time of launching was the most advanced floating airfield in its class. Newer in its class is only the aircraft carrier George W. Bush (CVN-77), commissioned in 2009. This ship was the final one in the Nimitz-class series.

The continuation of the design idea was the already launched, but not yet tested, new-generation aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78). This is an improved sample with a new type nuclear installation and various additions. Its price, according to various sources, is $13 billion. According to US military doctrine, at present, at least 11 heavy aircraft carriers should be present in the fleet. The construction of the next ship of this series continues.

All ships of the series were built according to a standard design and differ only in details: radar systems, wing hangars, internal decks. The CVN-70, for example, has additional systems and equipment for training the coordination of actions of ships in formations and groups. The basic characteristics of aircraft carriers of the Nimitz type are: 333 m in length, 77 m in flight deck width, displacement - 97 thousand tons, draft - 11 meters.

The CVN-76 differs from its predecessors in an improved superstructure with a large view of the runway. The development of radar equipment and new types of electronic protection and detection obliged the designers to mount this part of the ship with a margin for mounting new systems that have not even been invented yet, but may appear before the end of the ship's design life (50 years).

Also, this aircraft carrier has not four brake cables, but three. The designers removed one, but at the expense of the space saved, they significantly improved the remaining ones in order to improve the trapping system and force absorption when landing heavier aircraft. The number of steam catapults (four) has not changed.

The stem of the ship below the waterline protrudes forward and has a drop-shaped appearance. Due to this, a vessel with a wide deck (for CVN-76 its upper dimension is almost twice as large as at water level) ensures stability in rough seas and sharp turns. In addition, this shape of the keel allows you to develop greater speed and provides better stability for the bow of the ship at the time the aircraft takes off from its edge.

Armament

The aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan is a floating military airfield. Despite the fact that the CVN-76 is a combat ship, it has so many weapons in its arsenal. Its main power is concentrated on based aircraft and helicopters. In addition, an aircraft carrier of this type, as a rule, is the core of an aircraft carrier strike group (AUG). One such ship does not go on a campaign. He is somewhat vulnerable. A reliable escort team is usually nearby: a missile cruiser, several destroyers, a nuclear-powered multi-purpose submarine, high-speed escort and maintenance transports, tankers.

Nevertheless, to repel the threat from a possible breakthrough of enemy aircraft, there is anti-aircraft artillery (four six-barreled guns) with a caliber of 20 mm and three missile systems close response. To protect against enemy torpedoes going in the wake, there is a mine-torpedo armament (two triple-tube torpedo tubes) with a caliber of 324 mm.

Wing

The main weapon of the CVN-76 is its aircraft. The nuclear aircraft carrier "Ronald Reagan" can have on board, depending on the goals and objectives, up to 90 aircraft and helicopters at the same time. Considering own systems radar, as well as the capabilities of intelligence officers, one AUG can control a territory up to 600 km.

At the same time, any launch of anti-ship missiles that could damage the group will be recorded at a considerable distance. The target will be captured and destroyed by means of destruction from the air or escort ships. The danger to an aircraft carrier with the coordinated work of all components of the AUG is minimal. There is an opinion that not a single power with its military potential on this moment cannot resist a full-fledged grouping with a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier at the head.

Air wing standard equipment of 78 aircraft has 56 fighters, 36 of them with the ability to deliver bombing strikes (F / A-18). There are 6 helicopters (2 rescue and 4 anti-submarine). Electronic warfare is provided by 8 aircraft (4 electronic warfare and early warning). Protection from enemy submarines is provided by 8 anti-submarine aircraft.

On hangers, the air wing can carry missiles: anti-ship, tactical, supersonic anti-radar, air-to-air missiles. And bombs: planning, guided aviation, cluster, laser-guided. Aircraft may have guidance modules and additional electronic warfare systems on board.

Autonomy and staff

The US Navy aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan can take on board provisions for the crew and personnel for 3 months of continuous work at sea. The usable area of all its decks is 1.8 hectares. There are more than 4,000 rooms on the ship, there are eleven warehouses, three churches, two shops, a hairdresser's, a gym, a post office. The kitchen is open almost around the clock and closes for one hour - for cleaning. Ordinary money on the ship is not in use. Each boarding receives a special card to pay for additional goods and services.

One refueling in two reactors will be enough for 20 years of autonomous operation. Their capacity is 260 thousand liters. with. (or 191 MW). Four turbines can provide speeds up to 56 km/h (30 knots). The floating airfield is operated by a staff of 3,200 people, an air group - 2,800 people. Up to 11 million liters of aviation fuel can be loaded on board the ship. Up to 450 people can work on the flight deck at the same time. In order not to be confused when performing work, they are dressed in a special uniform of different colors: the red ones are responsible for arming the aircraft, the green ones service the braking systems, the yellow ones regulate traffic, the white ones monitor general security works.

Purpose and application

In addition to exercises and combat missions, the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan participated in rescue operations. So, in 2010, during an emergency on the American cruise ship Carnival Splendor with 4.5 thousand people on board, CVN-76 provided them with food and basic necessities.

In 2011, he participated in the aftermath of the earthquake in Japan. Helicopters from the aircraft carrier delivered medicines, equipment and food to the disaster zone.

Combat duty

In 2006, CVN-76 participated in the resolution of the conflict in the Persian Gulf. One of the fighters of his air wing crashed into the deck during a night landing, caught fire and was lost. The pilot managed to eject during the incident and survived.

According to the latest information from open sources, the US Navy nuclear aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan is in good working order. technical condition. At the end of 2015, he arrived at one of the military bases of the Japanese Navy. There he must replace on duty the nuclear aircraft carrier "George Washington", which, as planned, should return to its home base.

Deck irrigation in trials

The performance characteristics of the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan

Home Port: San Diego
Manufacturer: Newport News Shipbuilding
Construction started: February 12, 1998
Launched: March 4, 2001
Commissioned: July 12, 2003

Displacement of the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan

97,000 tons

Dimensions of the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan

Length: 332.8 m, waterline - 317 m
- Width: 76.8 m, waterline - 40.8 m

US aircraft carriers

In the list of powers that have heavy aircraft carriers in their arsenal, they are in the lead. The total number of such ships they have is more than twenty combat units. Of this number, half of the aircraft carriers are with a displacement of up to 100 tons and a nuclear propulsion system. One of them is the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan. Its onboard serial number is CVN-76.

Type

Nuclear aircraft carrier "Ronald Reagan" - "Peace by force"

It was decided to name the next series of ships after the most famous US figures. The first was the Nimitz, followed by two more ships: Dwight Eisenhower, Carl Vinson. Then there were improvements and a new subtype of the series: "Theodore Roosevelt", "Abraham Lincoln", "George Washington", "John Stennis", "Harry Truman". CVN-76 - the aircraft carrier "Ronald Reagan" (photo above), was named after the fortieth president of the United States. His motto was - "Peace - force." Each of the ships at the time of launching was the most advanced floating airfield in its class. Newer in its class is only the aircraft carrier George W. Bush (CVN-77), commissioned in 2009. This ship was the final one in the Nimitz-class series.

The continuation of the design idea was the already launched, but not yet tested, new-generation aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78). This is an improved model with a new type of nuclear installation and various additions. Its price, according to various sources, is $13 billion. According to the United States, at present, at least 11 heavy aircraft carriers should be present in the fleet. The construction of the next ship of this series continues.

Aircraft carrier "Ronald Reagan": characteristics

Armament

The aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan is a floating military airfield. Despite the fact that the CVN-76 is a warship, there are so many weapons in its arsenal. Its main power is concentrated on based aircraft and helicopters. In addition, an aircraft carrier of this type, as a rule, is the core of an aircraft carrier strike group (AUG). One such ship does not go on a campaign. He is somewhat vulnerable. A reliable escort team is usually nearby: a missile cruiser, several destroyers, a nuclear-powered multi-purpose submarine, high-speed escort and maintenance transports, tankers.

Nevertheless, to repel the threat from a possible breakthrough of enemy aircraft, there is anti-aircraft artillery (four six-barreled guns) with a caliber of 20 mm and three short-range missile systems. To protect against enemy torpedoes going in the wake, there is a mine-torpedo armament (two triple-tube torpedo tubes) with a caliber of 324 mm.

Wing

The main weapon of the CVN-76 is its aircraft. The nuclear aircraft carrier "Ronald Reagan" can have on board, depending on the goals and objectives, up to 90 aircraft and helicopters at the same time. Given its own radar systems, as well as the capabilities of intelligence officers, one AUG can control a territory up to 600 km.

At the same time, any launch of anti-ship missiles that could damage the group will be recorded at a considerable distance. The target will be captured and destroyed by means of destruction from the air or escort ships. The danger to an aircraft carrier with the coordinated work of all components of the AUG is minimal. There is an opinion that not a single power with its military potential at the moment can resist a full-fledged grouping with a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier at the head.

The standard equipment of the air wing of 78 aircraft includes 56 fighters, of which 36 are capable of delivering bombing strikes (F / A-18). There are 6 helicopters (2 rescue and 4 anti-submarine). provides 8 aircraft (4 electronic warfare and early warning radar). Protection from enemy submarines is provided by 8 anti-submarine aircraft.

Autonomy and staff

The US Navy aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan can take on board provisions for the crew and personnel for 3 months of continuous work at sea. The usable area of all its decks is 1.8 hectares. There are more than 4,000 rooms on the ship, there are eleven warehouses, three churches, two shops, a hairdresser's, a gym, a post office. The kitchen is open almost around the clock and closes for one hour - for cleaning. Ordinary money on the ship is not in use. When boarding, everyone receives a special card for paying for additional goods and services.

One refueling in two reactors will be enough for 20 years of autonomous operation. Their capacity is 260 thousand liters. with. (or 191 MW). Four turbines can provide speeds up to 56 km/h (30 knots). The floating airfield is operated by a staff of 3,200 people, an air group - 2,800 people. Up to 11 million liters can be loaded on board the ship. Up to 450 people can work on the flight deck at the same time. In order not to be confused when performing work, they are dressed in a special uniform of different colors: the red ones are responsible for arming the aircraft, the green ones service the braking systems, the yellow ones regulate traffic, the white ones monitor the overall safety of the work.

Purpose and application

In 2011, he participated in the aftermath of the earthquake in Japan. Helicopters from the aircraft carrier delivered medicines, equipment and food to the disaster zone.

Combat duty

According to the latest information from open sources, the US Navy nuclear aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan is in good technical condition. At the end of 2015, he arrived at one of the military bases of the Japanese Navy. There he must replace on duty the nuclear aircraft carrier "George Washington", which, as planned, should return to its home base.