USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69, nicknamed "Ike", is the second of 10 Nimitz-class super carriers in the United States Navy, named after the thirty-fourth President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Originally, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier was named Eisenhower, much like her sister, Nimitz. On 25 May 1970, the name was lengthened to Dwight D. Eisenhower. On commissioning, Ike replaced the aged World War II-era carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt in the fleet. | |
| USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN 69 General characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Class and type: | Nimitz-class aircraft carrier |
| Displacement: | Approximately 101,000 long tons (103,000 t) full load |
| Length: | Overall: 1,092 feet (332.8 m) Waterline: 1,040 feet (317.0 m) Overall Length: 1,115 feet (340 m) |
| Beam: | Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m) Waterline: 134 ft (40.8 m) |
| Draught: | Maximum navigational: 37 ft (11.3 m) Limit: 41 ft (12.5 m) |
| Draft: | 37.7 feet (11.3 meters) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors 4 × steam turbines 4 × shafts 260,000 shp (194 MW) |
| Speed: | 30+ knots (56+ km/h; 35+ mph) |
| Range: | Essentially unlimited |
| Complement: | Ship's company: 3,200 Air wing: 2,480 |
| Sensors and processing systems: | AN/SPS-48E 3-D air search radar AN/SPS-49(V)5 2-D air search radar AN/SPQ-9B target acquisition radar 2 × AN/SPN-46 air traffic control radars AN/SPN-43B air traffic control radar AN/SPN-44 landing aid radars 4 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems 4 × Mk 95 radars |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: | SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures |
| Armament: | 2 Sea Sparow & 2 RAM launchers |
| Armor: | Classified |
| Aircraft carried: | 90 fixed wing and helicopters |
As a result of the tensions in the area, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier stayed on station off the coast of Iran for over 8 months, and was at sea for a total of 254 days. During that period, Sailors and Marines enjoyed 2 beers (1 time) after 45 days without a port call. As a result of being at sea for 154 days, they subsequently enjoyed this on two more occasions. This was the first legal consumption of alcohol by US Sailors while underway aboard a US Navy vessel in decades.
Sailors on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier affectionately dubbed the areas they patrolled in the Indian Ocean as "Gonzo" and "Kermit" station, after the popular Muppets characters. At one point, she spent 152 days (or 5½ months) at sea without a port call, a new record. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier was relieved by the USS Independence. She returned home to Norfolk on 22 December 1980, just in time for her air wing and crew to celebrate Christmas with their families. 29 days after Ike's return home, the hostages were freed. In total, she has completed eight deployments, including two to the Indian Ocean in 1980 and 1991.
For over 20 years, she held the record for the longest peacetime deployment for an aircraft carrier in history. Prior to this, her sister ship, the USS Nimitz, was the previous record holder. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier record was broken by another of her "sister ships," the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
On her third deployment in 1982, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier returned to the Mediterranean Sea, and spent a number of days at sea once again. Her new Commanding Officer was Captain E.W. Clexton, who was formerly her Executive Officer several years earlier under Captain W.E. Ramsey.
After her fourth deployment USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier went into Newport News and Drydock in October 1985 for a major overhaul. The 18-month yard period included the addition of the Close-in Weapons System, NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System, Naval Tactical Data System, anti-submarine warfare module, communications upgrades and rehabilitation of 1,831 berths in 25 compartments. Ike re-entered the fleet in April 1987.
During workup cruises in the fall of 1987, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier stopped for liberty in Caracas, Venezuela, St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, and Montego Bay, Jamaica.
On 29 February 1988, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier started her fifth deployment to the Mediterranean. She stopped for liberty in Palma De Mallorca, Spain; Toulon, France; Marseille, France; Cannes, France; Naples, Italy; Livorno, Italy; Sigonella, Sicily, Italy; Antalya, Turkey; and Haifa, Israel. While returning to Norfolk, on 29 August 1988, she collided with an anchored Spanish coal ship while entering the harbor to dock at Norfolk Naval Station when wind and currents pushed the carrier off course. Damage was minor to both ships. The commanding officer, Captain Gary Beck was relieved of duty a month later.
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard (Portsmouth, VA) in September 1988, she returned to the fleet in April 1989. During two of the work-up cruises in Fall 1989, Ike stopped for liberty in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
In 1990, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier completed her sixth Mediterranean deployment. The deployment became a commemorative event in the worldwide 'Dwight D. Eisenhower Centennial,' celebrating the 100th anniversary of the late president's birth. During D-Day anniversary ceremonies off the coast of Normandy, President Eisenhower's son John Eisenhower and D-Day veterans embarked in the ship, while Carrier Air Wing Seven conducted a memorial flyover of the American cemetery at Omaha Beach.
In response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier became the first carrier to conduct sustained operations in the Red Sea, and only the second nuclear-powered aircraft carrier ever to transit the Suez Canal. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier served as a ready striking force in the event Iraq invaded Saudi Arabia, and participated in maritime interception operations in support of a United Nations embargo against Iraq.
After completion of an extensive shipyard period and work ups, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier deployed 26 September 1991 to the Persian Gulf to continue multi-national operations with coalition forces in support of Operation Desert Storm. Ike returned to Norfolk 2 April 1992, and on 12 January 1993, entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for overhaul and conversion, returning to the fleet 12 November 1993.
In September 1994, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier and elements of the U.S. 10th Mountain Division first tested the concept of adaptive force packaging. The division's soldiers and equipment were loaded on board, and the Ike Army/Navy team headed for Port-au-Prince to lead Operation Uphold Democracy, the U.S.-led effort to restore the elected government of Haiti.
One month later, in October 1994, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier departed for a six-month deployment which included flying missions in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Deny Flight. This deployment marked the first time that women had deployed as crew members of a U.S. Navy combatant. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier, Carrier Wing Three, and COMCRUDESGRU Eight team included more than 400 women.
On 3 October 2006 with Carrier Air Wing 7 (CVW-7), USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier returned to sea as the flagship of Rear Admiral Allen G. Myers, commanding Carrier Strike Group 8. CSG-8 also includes the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG-68), guided-missile destroyers Ramage (DDG-61) and Mason (DDG-87), and the fast-attack submarine Newport News (SSN-750).[2] She visited Naples, Italy and then Limassol, Cyprus for three days in October 2006 before departing to the east. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier entered the Persian Gulf in December 2006.
On 8 January 2007, a US AC-130 gunship based out of Djibouti was dispatched to target Al-Qaeda operatives located in Somalia. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier was deployed in the Indian Ocean to provide air cover for the operation and, if needed, to evacuate downed airmen and other casualties". USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier joined other US and allied vessels from Bahrain-based Combined Task Force 150 The US spokesperson did not say what particular ships comprised the cordon, but the task force includes vessels from Canada, France, Germany, Pakistan, the UK and the US. US ships of Combined Task Force 150 include the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Ramage (DDG-61) and the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG-52).
In March 2007, following the Iranian seizure of Royal Navy personnel, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 US Navy aircraft carrier began battle group exercises off the Iranian coastline. In April 2007, the USS Eisenhower was relieved by the USS Nimitz, who will assume the air support missions in the Iraqi theater.
In May 2007, she was seen near the city of Lisbon in Portugal. A total of 70 sailors were involved in charitable work. The volunteer projects were organized by the US Embassy in Lisbon.
On 21 February 2009, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower deployed for the Arabian Sea and environs rotating into the forward-deployed forces there. The "Ike" serves as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 8 commanded by Rear Admiral Kurt W. Tidd. Also embarked are Carrier Air Wing 7 and the staff of Commander, Destroyer Squadron 28. Other ships of Strike Group 8 are USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), USS Halyburton (FFG 40), USS Scranton (SSN 576), USS Vicksburg (CG 69), and USS Gettysburg (CG 64). In addition to supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, the strike group will conduct maritime security operations including anti-piracy operations.
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