USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is a , nuclear-powered supercarrier in the service of the United States Navy. The ninth ship of her class, she is named in honor of Ronald Reagan, President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. She was built at Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia, and was commissioned on 12 July 2003.
Ronald Reagan made five deployments to the Pacific and Middle East between 2006 and 2011 while based at Naval Air Station North Island. In October 2015, Ronald Reagan replaced as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, the only forward-based carrier strike group homeported at Yokosuka, Japan, as part of the United States Seventh Fleet. Since 2016, Ronald Reagan has embarked on short annual summer patrols of the Western Pacific in the United States Seventh Fleet area of operation.
Design and construction
The contract to build Ronald Reagan was awarded to Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipbuilding 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 was increased several times and ultimately $4.5 billion was spent on her construction, including a redesigned ship island. Ronald 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 Second Lady Lynne Cheney were both present at the ceremony, along with 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 his Alzheimer's disease, died 11 months later. At the end of the graveside services, the ship's commanding officer at that time, Captain James Symonds, at Mrs. Reagan's request presented her the flag that draped the former president's casket. This particular flag had flown over Capitol Hill on 20 January 1981 for Reagan's first inauguration. At a later date, Captain Symonds also presented Mrs. Reagan the flag that had been flying over Ronald Reagan when the former president died.
Naming Ronald Reagan is the first aircraft carrier and first nuclear-powered warship of any type to be named in honor of a living former president.USS George Washington (1798) was the first ship to be named for any U.S. president, and one who was still alive at the time. USS John Adams (1799) was the first USN ship to be named for a president while he was serving in office, and remained in commission for several years afterwards. Unlike most of the men honored by inclusion in this group, Reagan was not associated with the United States Navy, apart from his term as Commander-in-Chief, although one of his key initiatives in office was the 600-ship Navy program.
Ship's seal The Ronald Reagans seal was designed entirely by her plankowner crew with historical assistance from staff members at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. The seal's red border is similar to the distinctive red rim on the White House china designed for the Reagans during their White House years. Four gold stars represent Reagan as 40th US president and his four pillars of freedom: individual liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy, and national pride. "Peace through Strength" was a recurring theme of Reagan's life in public service. The aircraft carrier is positioned on the West Coast, representing Reagan's two terms as governor of California and the ship's Pacific Fleet homeport. The three aircraft's patriotic contrails symbolize the three major military operations during Reagan's presidency: Operation Urgent Fury (Grenada/1983), Operation El Dorado Canyon (Libya/1986), and Operation Praying Mantis (Iran/1988). The view of the globe signifies Reagan's vision of global democracy, and the center is the United States, representing the country's national pride. Red, white, and blue dominate the seal, reflecting the American flag.
Service history On 8 May 2004, following a five-month post-shakedown availability, Ronald Reagan received her second flight deck certification covering all flight operations, including aircraft launch and recovery, safety, crash and salvage, fuel certifications, and training. Ronald Reagan then transited from Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, through the Strait of Magellan to her new homeport, Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, with Captain James A. Symonds in command.
Carrier Air Wing Eleven, normally assigned to , embarked 25% 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. During the first evening after arrival, the ship's namesake, former President Reagan, died. A ceremony in his honor was held onboard later that evening, after the US national anthem was publicly played. Upon leaving Rio, Ronald Reagan transited the Strait of Magellan on 20–21 June and subsequently visited Valparaíso, Chile, and Callao, Peru, before arriving in San Diego on 23 July 2004. From 1 October 2004, Ronald Reagan was assigned to Carrier Strike Group Fifteen.
During an anti-submarine warfare exercise in 2005, HSwMS Gotland, on loan from the Swedish Navy, managed to score multiple simulated attacks on Ronald Reagan while undetected, showcasing that the submarine was in a position to sink the carrier. This prompted the U.S. Navy to extend their lease of the submarine following the exercise, for further study.
2006 maiden deployment
Ronald Reagan, with Terry B. Kraft in command, departed San Diego on 4 January 2006 on her maiden deployment conducting naval operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf. On 28 January 2006, an F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter attempting landing aboard Ronald Reagan crashed into the ship's flight deck while the ship was about southeast of Brisbane, Queensland. The aircraft struck the ramp, missed the third cable, and skidded overboard. The pilot ejected safely, but the aircraft was lost. While in Brisbane, the carrier's main condensers became clogged with of jellyfish, causing problems in the main machinery rooms and hindering cooling of the main reactors. The ship entered the Persian Gulf on 22 February 2006, and returned from deployment on 6 July 2006.
2007 surge deployment Ronald Reagan and her Carrier Strike Group (CSG) departed North Island, Coronado in San Diego on 27 January 2007 on an unscheduled surge deployment to the Western Pacific, in place of the forward deployed carrier while she 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, which provides the US 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, Ronald Reagan 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.
Ronald Reagan returned to Naval Air Station North Island on 20 April 2007, following a 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 SH-60 helicopter airlifted an Illinois teenager whose appendix had ruptured while on a Mexican cruise to Ronald Reagan, where the ship's surgeon performed an emergency appendectomy.
2008 deployment Ronald Reagan, with CVW-14 embarked, departed San Diego on 19 May 2008, for a scheduled 7th Fleet and 5th Fleet deployment.
The Ronald Reagan CSG performed humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in the Philippines on 24 June 2008 after that country was devastated by Typhoon Fengshen, that killed 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, Ronald Reagan and her escorts of CSG 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 CSG helped deliver more than of rice, fresh water, and other supplies to areas of Panay, which were not reachable by truck due to flooded roads. The mission in Panay earned the entire strike group the Navy's Humanitarian Service Medal.
The CSG 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 (OEF). Ronald Reagan returned to San Diego on 25 November 2008.
On 25 September 2008, Ronald Reagan, while underway in the Gulf of Oman, played host to the rock band Creed. Over 1500 members of the ship's crew crowded the flight deck to watch the band perform.
Ronald Reagan received word in February 2009 that the ship had won her second Battle Efficiency Award.
2009 deployment On 28 May 2009, Ronald Reagan deployed with Carrier Air Wing 14 to the 7th and 5th Fleet Areas of Responsibility. Ronald Reagan relieved the CSG and launched her first sorties in support of OEF on 6 July. Ronald Reagan returned to homeport on 21 October after a five-month deployment.
2010 In early 2010, Ronald 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 Ronald Reagans second consecutive and third Battle E in four years.
On 19 May 2010, Norfolk Naval Shipyard completed the six-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) maintenance cycle on Ronald Reagan. This PIA project was under budget, and 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, Coronado, California. During the maintenance period, Ronald Reagan received technological upgrades for her next deployment and subsequent operations. Refurbishments included high-tech combat systems and firefighting equipment, improved ship's laundry services and living spaces. This PIA maintenance project was an example of the 'One Shipyard' concept wherein the US Navy mobilizes its work force across its various shipyards to better meet fleet readiness requirements and to stabilize a vital workforce base for the US defense industry. While Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) was the project lead, significant work was done by its partners: Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS), Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SRMC), and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB). During peak manning, about 1,400 worked the project on a daily basis. This included rough 625 NNSY personnel, 165 PSNS employees, and 600 from SWRMC/NGSB.
On 18 May 2010, Ronald Reagan departed Naval Air Station North Island for sea trials. This was the final phase of the PIA, and was conducted to assess the carriers material readiness to return to the operational fleet. Ronald Reagan pulled into Naval Air Station North Island on 19 May 2010 after completing her two-day sea trial, marking the official end to the ship's six-month PIA maintenance period.