update on CVN 78 construction

[Mr Quatro]

USS Ford CVN 78 is in the process of becoming the best CVN ever to sail the seas. I'll keep you informed the best I can.

a major milestone on the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) today as the ship’s crew moved aboard and ate its first meal prepared in the galley. The first-in-class carrier is in the final stages of construction and testing

The USN sure knows how to feed it's new crew: http://www.en.portnews.ru/news/204213/

The ship’s Sponsor Susan Ford Bales helped serve a meal of prime rib, crab legs, shrimp, salmon and a 7-foot-long cake made to look like an aircraft carrier. The galley and associated messing areas were redesigned for Gerald R. Ford and future Ford-class carriers, offering a new layout that provides more space and greater efficiency for sailors as they prepare for meals.
The serving lines and messing areas are arranged to offer significant quality-of-life improvements compared to Nimitz-class carriers.

[em2nought]

The ten or so "special" meals over a six year career always felt like "they" considered it pearls before swine. Of the services, I believe the USN treats it's enlisted the worst.

[Commander Wallace]

Very Impressive vessel slated to replace the Iconic carrier U.S.S Enterprise which has the distinction of being the first nuclear powered aircraft carrier.

There are debates that are ongoing as to how viable carriers are in the 21 century in light of the growing sophistication of anti ship weapons and submarine technology.

[Mr Quatro]

Maybe next year, uh? Looking forward to this being the best one yet and the first of her class too

I like this DOD buzz web site ...
http://www.dodbuzz.com/2016/07/25/na...craft-carrier/

POSTED BY: BRENDAN MCGARRY JULY 25, 2016
The U.S. Navy still plans to receive its most expensive warship in November, but has acknowledged that date “may need to be revised” if additional testing issues surface, a spokeswoman said Monday.

A couple of weeks ago, the service said the new $13 billion Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier (CVN 78) would be delayed by two months to November due to “first of class” problems, without elaborating. The ship is already two years behind schedule and more than $2 billion over budget.

A Bloomberg News article last week by Tony Capaccio cited a June 28 memo from the Pentagon’s top weapons tester, J. Michael Gilmore, to its chief weapons buyer, Frank Kendall, that concluded the ship isn’t ready for combat operations because of problems with systems to launch and recover aircraft, defend against aircraft and missiles, and move bombs and munitions.

As a result, the delivery date may slip into 2017, CNN’s Zachary Cohen reported on Monday.

[l02turner]

I worked at the Newport News Shipbuilding & drydock Co for several years after finishing high school. Theu seemed to lay me off in a Reduction in Force every 5 years or so then they'd hire me back in a month or 2.. Had enough of that and went elsewhere. Anyway, the NNS&DD has the distinction of being the only shipyard in the US wiith the facilities to build nuclear AC carriers, mostly due to the massive drydocks. The yard is now owned by another co and its name was changed to N Shipyard. It was a great place to work except for the low wages (and layoffs) but the feeling of being part of something big and important was hard to ignore. I worked on the USS Kennedy, several merchant ships, Missle Frigates and a Trident Sub in submarine nuclear design. Most of my time was working as a planner in the Nuclear Constr dept.
Man! Those carriers are HUGE! It was super easy to get lost and the distance between the arear where I was working and the pier was LONG! So we made a habit of going in early and staying til quiting time. The "new" guys were usually sent to the tool shack on the pier for blasting powder and a stud grinder as an initiation. ;-) We were a oretty tame bunch. The Big E will really be missed!

[Mr Quatro]

Update November 2016

http://www.seattletimes.com/business...craft-carrier/

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — The Navy refers to its newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, as “4.5 acres of sovereign U.S. territory.” The $12.9 billion warship — the first of the Navy’s next generation of aircraft carriers — is in the final stages of construction after cost overruns and a delay of more than one year.

This carrier and those that will follow, including the USS John F. Kennedy and the USS Enterprise, will replace the Nimitz-class carriers, which were first commissioned in 1975. Construction on the Ford started in 2009 and on the Kennedy in 2015. Construction is scheduled to start on the Enterprise in 2018, but that could be pushed back.

The Ford — sitting now at Newport News Shipbuilding, the giant Navy contractor in Virginia — will house about 2,600 sailors, 600 fewer than the Nimitz-class carriers. The Navy says that will save more than $4 billion over the ship’s 50-year lifespan. The air wing to support the Ford could add more personnel to the ship, which is designed to house more than 4,600 crew members.

The Navy had hoped to begin testing the Ford’s systems and equipment during sea trials this fall. But those tests and a delivery date have been delayed as work continues on some of the vessel’s new technology, such as its power generation system, aircraft landing equipment and advanced weapons elevators.

[Gerald]

The US Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) has concluded its 11th independent steaming event (ISE 11).

The vessel is currently more than midway through its post-delivery test and trials (PDT&T) phase of operations.

During ISE 11, USS Ford achieved multiple PDT&T milestones intended to exercise installed systems and carry out crew training.

The vessel qualified 19 pilots assigned to the Gladiators of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 and 21 pilots assigned to the Greyhawks of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 120, bringing the total number of catapult launches and arrested landings to 3,975.
A test of the SLQ-32 electronic support system was conducted by USS Ford’s intelligence department to measure sensor accuracy while operating adjacent to the Shipboard Electronic Systems Evaluation Facility range (SESEF).

https://www.naval-technology.com/new...teaming-event/

What a beauty!

[Platapus]

Wow, those new stealth fighters are pretty hard to see.

[Mr Quatro]

It's okay Vendor you didn't know, but I've been reporting on the Ford for five years now

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/sho...d.php?t=221764

USS Ford CVN 78 is in the process of becoming the best CVN ever to sail the seas. I'll keep you informed the best I can.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Wow, those new stealth fighters are pretty hard to see.

Threads merged.