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USS George Washington (CVN-73)

USS George Washington (CVN-73) is a United States Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the sixth carrier in the Nimitz class and the fourth US Navy ship named after George Washington, Founding Father, commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and the first president of the United States. The contract for George Washington was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding on 27 December 1982. Her keel was laid on 25 August 1986, she was christened on 21 July 1990 by First Lady Barbara Bush, and the vessel was commissioned at Naval Station Norfolk on 4 July 1992.

USS George Washington (CVN-73)
USS George Washington transiting the East China Sea, December 2010
History
United States
NameGeorge Washington
NamesakeGeorge Washington
Ordered27 December 1982
BuilderNorthrop Grumman Shipbuilding Newport News
Laid down25 August 1986
Sponsored byBarbara Bush
Christened21 July 1990
Commissioned4 July 1992
HomeportYokosuka
Identification
MottoSpirit of Freedom
Nickname(s)GW
Statusin active service
NotesCurrently Enroute around South America through Magellan Straits to San Diego for a CVN Swap With CVN-76 then on to new Homeport FA Yokosuka, JP.
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeNimitz-class aircraft carrier
Displacement104,200 long tons (116,700 short tons)[1][2]
Length
  • Overall: 1,092 feet (332.8 m)
  • Waterline: 1,040 feet (317.0 m)
Beam
  • Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m)
  • Waterline: 134 ft (40.8 m)
Draft
  • Maximum navigational: 37 feet (11.3 m)
  • Limit: 41 feet (12.5 m)
Propulsion
Speed30+ knots (56+ km/h; 35+ mph)[5]
RangeUnlimited distance; 20–25 years
Complement
  • Ship's company: 3,532
  • Air wing: 2,480
Crew6012
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
  • AN/SPN-46 air traffic control radars
  • AN/SPN-43C air traffic control radar
  • AN/SPN-41 landing aid radars
  • 4 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems
  • 4 × Mk 95 radars
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
ArmorUnknown
Aircraft carried90 fixed wing and helicopters

In 2008, USS George Washington became the first nuclear powered aircraft carrier to be forward-deployed at naval base Yokosuka, Japan.

The carrier underwent her four-year Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) beginning in August 2017. After refueling was completed additional repairs were found to be needed and the overhaul was extended. The ship was re-delivered to the Navy in late May 2023.

Description edit

George Washington (commonly known as GW) is 1,092 feet (333 m) long, 257 ft (78 m) wide and 244 ft (74 m) high. The super carrier can accommodate approximately 90 aircraft and has a flight deck 4.5 acres (18,000 m2) in size, using four elevators that are 3,880 square feet (360 m2) each to move planes between the flight deck and the hangar bay. With a combat load, GW displaces almost 97,000 long tons (99,000 t) and can accommodate 6,250 crewmembers. Her four distilling units can make 400,000 U.S. gallons (1,500,000 L) of potable water a day; the food service divisions serve 18,000 meals per day. There are over 2,500 compartments on board requiring 2,520 refrigeration tons (8.6 MW) of air conditioning capacity (enough to cool over 2,000 homes). The warship uses two Mark II stockless anchors that weigh 30 tons[vague] each, with each link of the anchor chain weighing 360 pounds (160 kg). It is currently equipped with two 20 mm Phalanx CIWS mounts and two Sea Sparrow SAM launchers. One CIWS and one Sea Sparrow mount were removed to make way for two RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers, installed during the 2005 Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA).

Propulsion edit

The ship can reach speeds of over 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) and is powered by two Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors and has four 5-bladed propellers of 66,220 pounds (30,040 kg) each. This means that George Washington can travel more than 3,000,000 nautical miles (5,600,000 km; 3,500,000 mi) before needing refueling.

History edit

 
Barbara Bush christens USS George Washington on July 21, 1990 at Newport News Shipbuilding as President George H. W. Bush watches.

2001–2006 edit

George Washington was deployed to protect New York City after the September 11 attacks.[6]

On 20 February 2004, on a sixth deployment, George Washington entered the Gulf of Aden, and a week later, was conducting operations in the Persian Gulf.[7]

On 28 January 2005, she entered the shipyard for Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA). Many of the ship's systems were upgraded and maintenance was done to the hull. Her four jet blast deflectors were removed and upgraded to handle the increased heat generated by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. One defensive Phalanx CIWS mount and one Sea Sparrow launcher were replaced by two Rolling Airframe Missile launchers. During the 11 months she was drydocked, the crew contributed 20,000 hours of volunteer community service to the city of Newport News, Virginia. The work was completed on schedule, and George Washington returned to her home port of Norfolk on 17 December 2005.[citation needed]

 
George Washington personnel carry injured personnel across the ship's flight deck after four personnel were rescued from the burning merchant fishing vessel, Diamond Shoal.

On 1 December 2005, the United States Navy announced that George Washington would replace Kitty Hawk as the forward-deployed carrier at the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan, becoming the first nuclear-powered surface warship permanently stationed outside the continental U.S.[8] In an attempt to explain the carrier's mission to the Japanese public, the U.S. Navy printed a manga about life aboard GW, titled "CVN-73".[9][10]

 
USS George Washington on her way to Norfolk Naval Shipyard

George Washington and CVW-17 left Norfolk on 4 April for a scheduled two-month deployment to operate as part of SOUTHCOM's "Partnership of the Americas". This deployment included counter-drug operations in the Caribbean Sea, crew exchanges and exercises with Latin American and South American navies, and port visits for the carrier and strike group, which consisted of the cruiser Monterey, the destroyer Stout, and the frigate Underwood. The first of these port visits took place from 14–17 April in St. Maarten, and Antigua from 15–18 May. She returned to Norfolk on 24 May.[citation needed]

2008 fire and 2009 edit

On 7 April 2008, George Washington, with CVW-17 and Carrier Strike Group 8 embarked, departed Norfolk en route to Yokosuka, Japan to replace Kitty Hawk, taking a route around South America as she is too large for the Panama Canal; she took part there in the Gringo-Gaucho maneuvers with Argentine Naval Aviation. After the planned turnover with Kitty Hawk at NS Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, CVW-17 and Carrier Strike Group Eight were to return to their home ports in the U.S. to be replaced by Carrier Air Wing 5, based at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, and Carrier Strike Group Five based at Yokosuka Naval Base in Yokosuka, Japan.[11]

During the South American transit, the George Washington Battle Group participated in U.S. Southern Command exercises Partnership of the Americas and Unitas, a joint military exercise between the United States, Brazilian and Argentine navies. On 22 April 2008, George Washington arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for her first port visit to that country. The ship traversed the Strait of Magellan on 9–10 May.[12]

 
Firefighting in Hangar Bay 3

On 22 May 2008, while the ship was off the Pacific Coast of South America, a fire broke out and injured 37 sailors, with no fatalities, in an incident described by the Navy as "serious".[13] According to a statement from Naval Air Forces' public affairs office, the fire broke out in the ship's air-conditioning and refrigeration space and an auxiliary boiler room. The fire spread via a cableway and ventilation ducting and caused extreme temperatures in some parts of the ship. It took over twelve hours for the crew to contain and extinguish the fire,[14] one of the largest non-combat fires aboard a U.S. Naval vessel since the devastating fire on board USS Forrestal in 1967.

On 27 May, George Washington stopped at NAS North Island in San Diego, California for repairs.[15] On 20 June the Navy announced that the damage from the fire was more serious than previously thought, and that repairs would take at least until August and would cost $70 million. As a consequence, Kitty Hawk was retained in Hawaii during June and July to replace George Washington in the RIMPAC 2008 exercises, with the planned turnover to take place in San Diego instead of Hawaii.[16][17]

A Navy investigation found that the "entirely preventable" fire had been caused by unauthorized smoking in a room where 115 US gallons (440 L) of flammable refrigerant compressor oil was improperly stored. The room was near the aft auxiliary boiler. The ship's damage control team took nearly eight hours to discover the source of the smoke and flames. By that time, the fire had spread to eight decks and 80 compartments, and destroyed miles of electrical and fiber-optic cables. The damage control department had been found deficient in three inspections between June 2007 and April 2008. Although the carrier's commanding officer started a program to remedy the team's training and performance in the month before the fire, the report found those efforts to have been insufficient. Admiral Robert F. Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, noted in his investigation, "It is apparent from this extensive study that there were numerous processes and procedures related to fire prevention and readiness and training that were not properly functioning. The extent of damage could have been reduced had numerous longstanding firefighting and firefighting management deficiencies been corrected." Willard added that "Many crew members ... displayed courage and resolve in fighting the fires."[18]

On 30 July 2008, Willard announced that Captain David C. Dykhoff had been relieved of his duties as Commanding Officer citing "a loss of confidence in his ability to command and his failure to meet mission requirements and readiness standards." Executive Officer Captain David M. Dober was also relieved for "substandard performance."[19][20][21] Six other sailors were disciplined with non-judicial punishment. Four sailors were found guilty of violating a lawful order and hiding hazardous materials in direct violation of safety regulations. The Navy's Pacific Fleet refused to name the enlisted sailors disciplined. Two non-commissioned officers were found guilty of negligence and dereliction of duty for not properly supervising the workspace.[22] The Navy and Marine Corps Medal was awarded to Senior Chief Petty Officer Keith Hendrickson for leading a team that rescued four shipmates trapped by the fire deep in the interior of the ship.[23]

 
Sailors form the phrase, "Nice to meet you" in Japanese, as they arrive in Yokosuka

On 21 August, under new skipper Captain J.R. Haley and executive officer Captain Karl O. Thomas,[20][21] George Washington departed NAS North Island for Japan, with Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW 5) embarked.[24] The carrier arrived at Yokosuka, Japan on 25 September 2008, where she was met by several hundred local supporters and protesters.[25]

 
Anchored in Gage Roads Western Australia July 2009
 
An F/A-18E/F Super Hornet assigned to the Royal Maces launches from USS George Washington

In June 2009, the Navy revealed that 15 of the carrier's sailors were being expelled from the service for use of illegal designer drugs.[26] On 2 July 2009, George Washington, accompanied by USS Cowpens, anchored on the Gage Roads of Perth. Her crew visited Fremantle and Perth. Local brothels recruited extra staff to cope with the increase in business.[27] Crew members volunteered to complete community projects including cleaning, maintenance, and painting at organizations including PMH, a Salvation Army rehabilitation center, Perth Zoo and Cohunu Koala Park.[28] In mid-July the ship took part in Exercise Talisman Saber off the coast of Australia's Northern Territory.[29]

From 2 to 6 August 2009, George Washington made a port call in Singapore where sailors were granted rest and recreation leave and participated in community relations projects such as painting and landscaping at a local community center, children's center, special education school and an association for the disabled.[30]

The ship made a 4-day goodwill visit to Manila Bay, Philippines, anchoring off historic Corregidor Island from 11 to 15 August 2009.[31]

In August 2009, George Washington participated in the Indonesian Fleet Review, during "Sail Bunaken 2009", in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The parade of warships and tall ships from 40 nations included five from the George Washington Carrier Strike Group, including George Washington, Cowpens, Mustin, McCampbell, and Fitzgerald. Carrier Airwing Five, currently embarked on George Washington, also participated with a multi-aircraft fly-by of the viewing station during the parade.[32] The George Washington Carrier Strike Group returned to Japan 3 September for a maintenance upkeep period prior to her second fall patrol.[33]

On 29 October George Washington docked at Hong Kong to resupply and stayed for four to five days.[34]

2010–2016 edit

On 11 May 2010, George Washington completed maintenance and refit and departed Yokosuka for trials.[35] On 21 July 2010, she arrived at Busan, South Korea for a port visit and then participated in exercise Invincible Spirit in the Sea of Japan with the USAF, Republic of Korea Air Force and Republic of Korea Navy from 25 to 28 July 2010. Invincible Spirit was staged to improve combined operations capability and as a show of deterrence following the ROKS Cheonan sinking.[36] The exercise was conducted in the Sea of Japan to placate China's objections to military exercises being conducted in the Yellow Sea. Due in part to those objections a second exercise, in the Yellow Sea on the west coast of North Korea, was planned.[37] On 8 August 2010, George Washington stopped off the coast of Da Nang City in the South China Sea to celebrate the 15th anniversary of normalization of Vietnam-US diplomatic relations, the first Vietnam visit by a U.S. aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War.[38] In November 2010, the George Washington carrier group departed for planned exercises with the Republic of Korea Navy, partially in response to the shelling of Yeonpyeong and increased tension with North Korea.[39][40]

George Washington was one of several ships participating in disaster relief after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[41] While docked for maintenance in Yokosuka she detected radiation from the Fukushima I nuclear accidents,[42] and was ordered to leave port before schedule, with a smaller-than-normal crew, to avoid the radioactive plume. The smaller crew was unable to continue to provide aid.[43] While at sea, the carrier made two visits to United States Fleet Activities Sasebo to exchange crew members and take on maintenance equipment. The ship returned to her berth at Yokosuka on 20 April 2011.[44]

A 2011 proposal by U.S. Senator Tom Coburn (OK-R) called for the decommissioning of George Washington in 2016, before beginning her refueling and complex overhaul but after the carrier Gerald R. Ford enters service.[45]

After redeploying on another training cruise, a 25 September 2011 video from the carrier uploaded to YouTube became a viral hit. In the video, two flight deck crewmen are almost hit by a landing F/A-18, which is waved-off shortly before landing on the deck where the crewmen are walking.[46] On 22 November 2011, George Washington returned to Japan to conclude her 2011 patrol, with four port visits including Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong and two major exercises while cruising more than 50,000 nautical miles across the western Pacific Ocean.[47] During deployment, the aircraft carrier participated in joint training exercises with other service branches and regional partners, visited three Asia-Pacific nations (South Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia) to practice interoperability, and conducted dual-carrier operations with John C. Stennis.

 
Nimitz-class aircraft carrier George Washington is underway with the Royal Malaysian Navy Lekiu-class frigates KD Jebat and KD Lekiu (foreground) during a transit of the Andaman Sea
 
USS George Washington and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer Hyūga

On 8 February 2013, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that the scheduled mid-life complex overhaul for the carrier Abraham Lincoln would be postponed pending the resolution of the upcoming budget sequestration. The budget shortfall would affect Lincoln's refueling of her nuclear propulsion plant, the next scheduled mid-life complex overhaul involving George Washington forward-based in United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, and the de-fueling of the recently deactivated nuclear-powered Enterprise.[48] George Washington and her support vessels visited Brisbane, Australia in July.

The ship moored on 4 October 2013 in Busan, South Korea, for a regularly-scheduled liberty port visit.[49] In November 2013, she visited Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong. On 11 November 2013 George Washington and her carrier strike group were deployed for a humanitarian mission in the Philippines, Operation Damayan, after destructive Typhoon Haiyan. The carrier group arrived on 14 November, delivered relief supplies, and deployed aircraft for search and rescue missions.[50] On 6 December 2013, George Washington returned to her forward-deployed port of Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan.[51]

In January 2014, it was announced that George Washington would be replaced by Ronald Reagan at Yokosuka when the ship's Refuelling and Complex Overhaul is due.[52]

As part of the Navy's FY 2015 budget, Pentagon officials hinted at the possibility of taking George Washington out of service due to budget reductions. The ship is due for her mid-life refueling and overhaul in 2016, which will take three years and cost over $3 billion. The decision to replace George Washington with the newer Ronald Reagan in her area of operations near Japan means decommissioning the ship would not affect American carrier presence in the region. In 2011, the Congressional Budget Office had found that the elimination of a carrier and an air wing would save about $7 billion from 2012 through 2021, the time at which George Washington would be expected to return to service.[53] Nimitz is the oldest ship in the class and would be expected to be decommissioned early instead of George Washington. However, Nimitz has undergone a mid-life refuelling and is not due for decommission until the mid 2020s, whereas George Washington has yet to undergo this procedure, providing an opportunity to remove the ship from service before the planned expenditure.[54]

In February 2014, under pressure from Congress, the Obama administration was reported to have decided to request additional funds from Congress for the refueling.[55] However, if sequestration is not repealed by 2016, the Pentagon may not be able to find funding to keep George Washington operating and it may have to be retired.[56]

In the draft of the Navy's unfunded priorities list for FY 2015, a $796 million line item was included for the Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) of George Washington. Before it was approved by the Pentagon and sent to Congress, it was vetted by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and signed by Chief of Naval Operations Jonathan Greenert, after which the line item was removed.[57] In a 31 March 2014 letter to Congress, Admiral Greenert said that the decision to remove the RCOH line item from the unfunded priorities list was made to align with budget decisions over the next several years. The list was for the FY 2015, so a decision to refuel or inactivate the carrier has to be made during FY 2016 budget planning with the fiscal outlook at that time and the possibility of sequestration funding levels. The removal of the line item removes funding for advanced procurement of materials for the overhaul; another line item had funding to remove the fuel from the ship, but not to overhaul or refuel it.[57]

By July 2014, the Navy had decided it would find the $7 billion in funds needed to keep George Washington in service. This was followed by three congressional marks to fund the Refueling and Complex Overhaul if the Navy would not provide funding in the FY 2015 budget. As of July 2014, the Navy was still awaiting the fate of sequestration and the moving of funds to refueling the ship puts pressure on other programs.[58] The Navy's FY 2016 budget funds nuclear refueling and overhaul of George Washington.[59]

George Washington departed Japan in May 2015 to participate in Exercise Talisman Saber 2015 with Australia and New Zealand. She arrived at Naval Air Station North Island on 10 August. In San Diego, George Washington conducted a 10-day turn over period with Ronald Reagan before leaving the Southern California operating area for Naval Station Norfolk, where the ship is expected to begin mid-life RCOH at Newport News Shipbuilding, Huntington Ingalls Industries in fall 2016.[60]

George Washington deployed in October 2016 to Haiti to provide support after Hurricane Matthew, along with USNS Comfort and USS Mesa Verde.[61]

2017–2023 overhaul edit

On 4 August 2017, George Washington entered the Dry Dock #11 at the HII Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia, for a four-year Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH). The contract for the RCOH was worth $2.8 billion and work was expected to be completed by August 2021. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, work was planned to finish in early 2023.[62] This target date was confirmed in August 2022.[63] Sea trials and re-delivery to the Navy were completed in May 2023.[64]

2021–2022 suicides edit

On 11 April 2022, Captain Brent Gaut informed sailors on the George Washington over intercom that two sailors had died on 9 and 10 April, and that those deaths were the eighth and ninth suicides the ship had experienced in nine months. Shortly thereafter, a tenth suicide occurred on 15 April, described by Gaut to the crew as a member of the ship's security team, who had a self-inflicted wound.[65] Currently, of these reported suicides, the Navy has acknowledged seven deaths, with only five noted as suicides. Initially, the Navy's response from Russell L. Smith, the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, was that things could be worse, "at least you're not in a foxhole", and that the Navy was effectively unable to remedy the situation.[66] However, the issue gained wider media attention during the next two weeks, and by 29 April 2022, Captain Gaut announced that the ship will move 260 sailors "to an offsite barracks-type living arrangement on Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth", specifically, a Navy Gateway Inn and Suites, starting the following Monday, and the number will expand at about 50 additional beds per week. According to the commanding officer, the ship currently has 422 sailors living on board. The move has been confirmed by the Navy and will continue "until all Sailors who wish to move off-ship have done so."[67] Interviews with the crew and the crew's family have described the issue as "living at a construction site" as the George Washington has been docked at the Newport News Shipyard in Virginia since 2017, and many sailors trained for shipboard duties are relegated to maintenance or cleaning, while suffering lack of sleep. Several have claimed to sleep in their cars in preference to the ship.[68]

The Navy has opened an investigation into the command climate and culture on board the George Washington in response to the suicides.[69]

Planned 2025 deployment edit

It was announced on 3 March 2023 that following the completion of her overhaul, George Washington is expected to be forward-deployed to Japan. She will be replacing USS Ronald Reagan, which by that point will have been forward-deployed there for ten years. In 2019, federal law was enacted that limited the forward-deployment of naval vessels to ten years.[70] Departure for Japan is scheduled for 2024.[64]

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  66. ^ Ziezulewicz, Geoff (26 April 2022). "Top sailor to USS George Washington crew: at least you're not in a foxhole". Military Times. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
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  68. ^ Chan, Melissa (28 April 2022). "Navy sailors detail difficult working conditions after string of suicides". NBC News. NBC. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  69. ^ Liebermann, Oren; Starr, Barbara (21 April 2022). "Navy opens investigation after 4 deaths by suicide among aircraft carrier crew". CNN News. CNN. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  70. ^ "USS George Washington destined for Japan to replace USS Ronald Reagan, report says". stripes.com. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.

External links edit


george, washington, other, ships, with, same, name, george, washington, united, states, navy, nuclear, powered, aircraft, carrier, sixth, carrier, nimitz, class, fourth, navy, ship, named, after, george, washington, founding, father, commander, chief, continen. For other ships with the same name see USS George Washington USS George Washington CVN 73 is a United States Navy nuclear powered aircraft carrier the sixth carrier in the Nimitz class and the fourth US Navy ship named after George Washington Founding Father commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and the first president of the United States The contract for George Washington was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding on 27 December 1982 Her keel was laid on 25 August 1986 she was christened on 21 July 1990 by First Lady Barbara Bush and the vessel was commissioned at Naval Station Norfolk on 4 July 1992 USS George Washington CVN 73 USS George Washington transiting the East China Sea December 2010History United States NameGeorge Washington NamesakeGeorge Washington Ordered27 December 1982 BuilderNorthrop Grumman Shipbuilding Newport News Laid down25 August 1986 Sponsored byBarbara Bush Christened21 July 1990 Commissioned4 July 1992 HomeportYokosuka IdentificationMMSI number 368913000 Callsign NNGW Hull number CVN 73 MottoSpirit of Freedom Nickname s GW Statusin active service NotesCurrently Enroute around South America through Magellan Straits to San Diego for a CVN Swap With CVN 76 then on to new Homeport FA Yokosuka JP Badge General characteristics Class and typeNimitz class aircraft carrier Displacement104 200 long tons 116 700 short tons 1 2 LengthOverall 1 092 feet 332 8 m Waterline 1 040 feet 317 0 m BeamOverall 252 ft 76 8 m Waterline 134 ft 40 8 m DraftMaximum navigational 37 feet 11 3 m Limit 41 feet 12 5 m Propulsion2 Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors HEU 93 5 3 4 4 steam turbines 4 shafts 260 000 shp 194 MW Speed30 knots 56 km h 35 mph 5 RangeUnlimited distance 20 25 years ComplementShip s company 3 532 Air wing 2 480 Crew6012 Sensors and processing systemsAN SPS 48E 3 D air search radar AN SPS 49 V 5 2 D air search radar AN SPQ 9B target acquisition radar AN SPN 46 air traffic control radars AN SPN 43C air traffic control radar AN SPN 41 landing aid radars 4 Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems 4 Mk 95 radars Electronic warfare amp decoysAN SLQ 32A V 4 Countermeasures suite SLQ 25A Nixie Torpedo Countermeasures Armament2 Mk 57 Mod3 Sea Sparrow 2 RIM 116 Rolling Airframe Missile 3 Phalanx CIWS ArmorUnknown Aircraft carried90 fixed wing and helicopters In 2008 USS George Washington became the first nuclear powered aircraft carrier to be forward deployed at naval base Yokosuka Japan The carrier underwent her four year Refueling and Complex Overhaul RCOH beginning in August 2017 After refueling was completed additional repairs were found to be needed and the overhaul was extended The ship was re delivered to the Navy in late May 2023 Contents 1 Description 1 1 Propulsion 2 History 2 1 2001 2006 2 2 2008 fire and 2009 2 3 2010 2016 2 4 2017 2023 overhaul 2 4 1 2021 2022 suicides 2 5 Planned 2025 deployment 3 References 4 External linksDescription editGeorge Washington commonly known as GW is 1 092 feet 333 m long 257 ft 78 m wide and 244 ft 74 m high The super carrier can accommodate approximately 90 aircraft and has a flight deck 4 5 acres 18 000 m2 in size using four elevators that are 3 880 square feet 360 m2 each to move planes between the flight deck and the hangar bay With a combat load GW displaces almost 97 000 long tons 99 000 t and can accommodate 6 250 crewmembers Her four distilling units can make 400 000 U S gallons 1 500 000 L of potable water a day the food service divisions serve 18 000 meals per day There are over 2 500 compartments on board requiring 2 520 refrigeration tons 8 6 MW of air conditioning capacity enough to cool over 2 000 homes The warship uses two Mark II stockless anchors that weigh 30 tons vague each with each link of the anchor chain weighing 360 pounds 160 kg It is currently equipped with two 20 mm Phalanx CIWS mounts and two Sea Sparrow SAM launchers One CIWS and one Sea Sparrow mount were removed to make way for two RIM 116 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers installed during the 2005 Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability DPIA Propulsion edit The ship can reach speeds of over 30 knots 56 km h 35 mph and is powered by two Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors and has four 5 bladed propellers of 66 220 pounds 30 040 kg each This means that George Washington can travel more than 3 000 000 nautical miles 5 600 000 km 3 500 000 mi before needing refueling History edit nbsp Barbara Bush christens USS George Washington on July 21 1990 at Newport News Shipbuilding as President George H W Bush watches 2001 2006 edit George Washington was deployed to protect New York City after the September 11 attacks 6 On 20 February 2004 on a sixth deployment George Washington entered the Gulf of Aden and a week later was conducting operations in the Persian Gulf 7 On 28 January 2005 she entered the shipyard for Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability DPIA Many of the ship s systems were upgraded and maintenance was done to the hull Her four jet blast deflectors were removed and upgraded to handle the increased heat generated by the F A 18E F Super Hornet One defensive Phalanx CIWS mount and one Sea Sparrow launcher were replaced by two Rolling Airframe Missile launchers During the 11 months she was drydocked the crew contributed 20 000 hours of volunteer community service to the city of Newport News Virginia The work was completed on schedule and George Washington returned to her home port of Norfolk on 17 December 2005 citation needed nbsp George Washington personnel carry injured personnel across the ship s flight deck after four personnel were rescued from the burning merchant fishing vessel Diamond Shoal On 1 December 2005 the United States Navy announced that George Washington would replace Kitty Hawk as the forward deployed carrier at the U S Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan becoming the first nuclear powered surface warship permanently stationed outside the continental U S 8 In an attempt to explain the carrier s mission to the Japanese public the U S Navy printed a manga about life aboard GW titled CVN 73 9 10 nbsp USS George Washington on her way to Norfolk Naval Shipyard George Washington and CVW 17 left Norfolk on 4 April for a scheduled two month deployment to operate as part of SOUTHCOM s Partnership of the Americas This deployment included counter drug operations in the Caribbean Sea crew exchanges and exercises with Latin American and South American navies and port visits for the carrier and strike group which consisted of the cruiser Monterey the destroyer Stout and the frigate Underwood The first of these port visits took place from 14 17 April in St Maarten and Antigua from 15 18 May She returned to Norfolk on 24 May citation needed 2008 fire and 2009 edit On 7 April 2008 George Washington with CVW 17 and Carrier Strike Group 8 embarked departed Norfolk en route to Yokosuka Japan to replace Kitty Hawk taking a route around South America as she is too large for the Panama Canal she took part there in the Gringo Gaucho maneuvers with Argentine Naval Aviation After the planned turnover with Kitty Hawk at NS Pearl Harbor Hawaii CVW 17 and Carrier Strike Group Eight were to return to their home ports in the U S to be replaced by Carrier Air Wing 5 based at Naval Air Facility Atsugi and Carrier Strike Group Five based at Yokosuka Naval Base in Yokosuka Japan 11 During the South American transit the George Washington Battle Group participated in U S Southern Command exercises Partnership of the Americas and Unitas a joint military exercise between the United States Brazilian and Argentine navies On 22 April 2008 George Washington arrived in Rio de Janeiro Brazil for her first port visit to that country The ship traversed the Strait of Magellan on 9 10 May 12 nbsp Firefighting in Hangar Bay 3 On 22 May 2008 while the ship was off the Pacific Coast of South America a fire broke out and injured 37 sailors with no fatalities in an incident described by the Navy as serious 13 According to a statement from Naval Air Forces public affairs office the fire broke out in the ship s air conditioning and refrigeration space and an auxiliary boiler room The fire spread via a cableway and ventilation ducting and caused extreme temperatures in some parts of the ship It took over twelve hours for the crew to contain and extinguish the fire 14 one of the largest non combat fires aboard a U S Naval vessel since the devastating fire on board USS Forrestal in 1967 On 27 May George Washington stopped at NAS North Island in San Diego California for repairs 15 On 20 June the Navy announced that the damage from the fire was more serious than previously thought and that repairs would take at least until August and would cost 70 million As a consequence Kitty Hawk was retained in Hawaii during June and July to replace George Washington in the RIMPAC 2008 exercises with the planned turnover to take place in San Diego instead of Hawaii 16 17 A Navy investigation found that the entirely preventable fire had been caused by unauthorized smoking in a room where 115 US gallons 440 L of flammable refrigerant compressor oil was improperly stored The room was near the aft auxiliary boiler The ship s damage control team took nearly eight hours to discover the source of the smoke and flames By that time the fire had spread to eight decks and 80 compartments and destroyed miles of electrical and fiber optic cables The damage control department had been found deficient in three inspections between June 2007 and April 2008 Although the carrier s commanding officer started a program to remedy the team s training and performance in the month before the fire the report found those efforts to have been insufficient Admiral Robert F Willard commander of the U S Pacific Fleet noted in his investigation It is apparent from this extensive study that there were numerous processes and procedures related to fire prevention and readiness and training that were not properly functioning The extent of damage could have been reduced had numerous longstanding firefighting and firefighting management deficiencies been corrected Willard added that Many crew members displayed courage and resolve in fighting the fires 18 On 30 July 2008 Willard announced that Captain David C Dykhoff had been relieved of his duties as Commanding Officer citing a loss of confidence in his ability to command and his failure to meet mission requirements and readiness standards Executive Officer Captain David M Dober was also relieved for substandard performance 19 20 21 Six other sailors were disciplined with non judicial punishment Four sailors were found guilty of violating a lawful order and hiding hazardous materials in direct violation of safety regulations The Navy s Pacific Fleet refused to name the enlisted sailors disciplined Two non commissioned officers were found guilty of negligence and dereliction of duty for not properly supervising the workspace 22 The Navy and Marine Corps Medal was awarded to Senior Chief Petty Officer Keith Hendrickson for leading a team that rescued four shipmates trapped by the fire deep in the interior of the ship 23 nbsp Sailors form the phrase Nice to meet you in Japanese as they arrive in Yokosuka On 21 August under new skipper Captain J R Haley and executive officer Captain Karl O Thomas 20 21 George Washington departed NAS North Island for Japan with Carrier Air Wing Five CVW 5 embarked 24 The carrier arrived at Yokosuka Japan on 25 September 2008 where she was met by several hundred local supporters and protesters 25 nbsp Anchored in Gage Roads Western Australia July 2009 nbsp An F A 18E F Super Hornet assigned to the Royal Maces launches from USS George Washington In June 2009 the Navy revealed that 15 of the carrier s sailors were being expelled from the service for use of illegal designer drugs 26 On 2 July 2009 George Washington accompanied by USS Cowpens anchored on the Gage Roads of Perth Her crew visited Fremantle and Perth Local brothels recruited extra staff to cope with the increase in business 27 Crew members volunteered to complete community projects including cleaning maintenance and painting at organizations including PMH a Salvation Army rehabilitation center Perth Zoo and Cohunu Koala Park 28 In mid July the ship took part in Exercise Talisman Saber off the coast of Australia s Northern Territory 29 From 2 to 6 August 2009 George Washington made a port call in Singapore where sailors were granted rest and recreation leave and participated in community relations projects such as painting and landscaping at a local community center children s center special education school and an association for the disabled 30 The ship made a 4 day goodwill visit to Manila Bay Philippines anchoring off historic Corregidor Island from 11 to 15 August 2009 31 In August 2009 George Washington participated in the Indonesian Fleet Review during Sail Bunaken 2009 in North Sulawesi Indonesia The parade of warships and tall ships from 40 nations included five from the George Washington Carrier Strike Group including George Washington Cowpens Mustin McCampbell and Fitzgerald Carrier Airwing Five currently embarked on George Washington also participated with a multi aircraft fly by of the viewing station during the parade 32 The George Washington Carrier Strike Group returned to Japan 3 September for a maintenance upkeep period prior to her second fall patrol 33 On 29 October George Washington docked at Hong Kong to resupply and stayed for four to five days 34 2010 2016 edit On 11 May 2010 George Washington completed maintenance and refit and departed Yokosuka for trials 35 On 21 July 2010 she arrived at Busan South Korea for a port visit and then participated in exercise Invincible Spirit in the Sea of Japan with the USAF Republic of Korea Air Force and Republic of Korea Navy from 25 to 28 July 2010 Invincible Spirit was staged to improve combined operations capability and as a show of deterrence following the ROKS Cheonan sinking 36 The exercise was conducted in the Sea of Japan to placate China s objections to military exercises being conducted in the Yellow Sea Due in part to those objections a second exercise in the Yellow Sea on the west coast of North Korea was planned 37 On 8 August 2010 George Washington stopped off the coast of Da Nang City in the South China Sea to celebrate the 15th anniversary of normalization of Vietnam US diplomatic relations the first Vietnam visit by a U S aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War 38 In November 2010 the George Washington carrier group departed for planned exercises with the Republic of Korea Navy partially in response to the shelling of Yeonpyeong and increased tension with North Korea 39 40 George Washington was one of several ships participating in disaster relief after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami 41 While docked for maintenance in Yokosuka she detected radiation from the Fukushima I nuclear accidents 42 and was ordered to leave port before schedule with a smaller than normal crew to avoid the radioactive plume The smaller crew was unable to continue to provide aid 43 While at sea the carrier made two visits to United States Fleet Activities Sasebo to exchange crew members and take on maintenance equipment The ship returned to her berth at Yokosuka on 20 April 2011 44 A 2011 proposal by U S Senator Tom Coburn OK R called for the decommissioning of George Washington in 2016 before beginning her refueling and complex overhaul but after the carrier Gerald R Ford enters service 45 After redeploying on another training cruise a 25 September 2011 video from the carrier uploaded to YouTube became a viral hit In the video two flight deck crewmen are almost hit by a landing F A 18 which is waved off shortly before landing on the deck where the crewmen are walking 46 On 22 November 2011 George Washington returned to Japan to conclude her 2011 patrol with four port visits including Thailand South Korea Singapore and Hong Kong and two major exercises while cruising more than 50 000 nautical miles across the western Pacific Ocean 47 During deployment the aircraft carrier participated in joint training exercises with other service branches and regional partners visited three Asia Pacific nations South Korea Hong Kong Malaysia to practice interoperability and conducted dual carrier operations with John C Stennis nbsp Nimitz class aircraft carrier George Washington is underway with the Royal Malaysian Navy Lekiu class frigates KD Jebat and KD Lekiu foreground during a transit of the Andaman Sea nbsp USS George Washington and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force helicopter destroyer Hyuga On 8 February 2013 the U S Department of Defense announced that the scheduled mid life complex overhaul for the carrier Abraham Lincoln would be postponed pending the resolution of the upcoming budget sequestration The budget shortfall would affect Lincoln s refueling of her nuclear propulsion plant the next scheduled mid life complex overhaul involving George Washington forward based in United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka Japan and the de fueling of the recently deactivated nuclear powered Enterprise 48 George Washington and her support vessels visited Brisbane Australia in July The ship moored on 4 October 2013 in Busan South Korea for a regularly scheduled liberty port visit 49 In November 2013 she visited Victoria Harbour Hong Kong On 11 November 2013 George Washington and her carrier strike group were deployed for a humanitarian mission in the Philippines Operation Damayan after destructive Typhoon Haiyan The carrier group arrived on 14 November delivered relief supplies and deployed aircraft for search and rescue missions 50 On 6 December 2013 George Washington returned to her forward deployed port of Fleet Activities Yokosuka Japan 51 In January 2014 it was announced that George Washington would be replaced by Ronald Reagan at Yokosuka when the ship s Refuelling and Complex Overhaul is due 52 As part of the Navy s FY 2015 budget Pentagon officials hinted at the possibility of taking George Washington out of service due to budget reductions The ship is due for her mid life refueling and overhaul in 2016 which will take three years and cost over 3 billion The decision to replace George Washington with the newer Ronald Reagan in her area of operations near Japan means decommissioning the ship would not affect American carrier presence in the region In 2011 the Congressional Budget Office had found that the elimination of a carrier and an air wing would save about 7 billion from 2012 through 2021 the time at which George Washington would be expected to return to service 53 Nimitz is the oldest ship in the class and would be expected to be decommissioned early instead of George Washington However Nimitz has undergone a mid life refuelling and is not due for decommission until the mid 2020s whereas George Washington has yet to undergo this procedure providing an opportunity to remove the ship from service before the planned expenditure 54 In February 2014 under pressure from Congress the Obama administration was reported to have decided to request additional funds from Congress for the refueling 55 However if sequestration is not repealed by 2016 the Pentagon may not be able to find funding to keep George Washington operating and it may have to be retired 56 In the draft of the Navy s unfunded priorities list for FY 2015 a 796 million line item was included for the Refueling and Complex Overhaul RCOH of George Washington Before it was approved by the Pentagon and sent to Congress it was vetted by the Office of the Secretary of Defense OSD and signed by Chief of Naval Operations Jonathan Greenert after which the line item was removed 57 In a 31 March 2014 letter to Congress Admiral Greenert said that the decision to remove the RCOH line item from the unfunded priorities list was made to align with budget decisions over the next several years The list was for the FY 2015 so a decision to refuel or inactivate the carrier has to be made during FY 2016 budget planning with the fiscal outlook at that time and the possibility of sequestration funding levels The removal of the line item removes funding for advanced procurement of materials for the overhaul another line item had funding to remove the fuel from the ship but not to overhaul or refuel it 57 By July 2014 the Navy had decided it would find the 7 billion in funds needed to keep George Washington in service This was followed by three congressional marks to fund the Refueling and Complex Overhaul if the Navy would not provide funding in the FY 2015 budget As of July 2014 update the Navy was still awaiting the fate of sequestration and the moving of funds to refueling the ship puts pressure on other programs 58 The Navy s FY 2016 budget funds nuclear refueling and overhaul of George Washington 59 George Washington departed Japan in May 2015 to participate in Exercise Talisman Saber 2015 with Australia and New Zealand She arrived at Naval Air Station North Island on 10 August In San Diego George Washington conducted a 10 day turn over period with Ronald Reagan before leaving the Southern California operating area for Naval Station Norfolk where the ship is expected to begin mid life RCOH at Newport News Shipbuilding Huntington Ingalls Industries in fall 2016 60 George Washington deployed in October 2016 to Haiti to provide support after Hurricane Matthew along with USNS Comfort and USS Mesa Verde 61 2017 2023 overhaul edit On 4 August 2017 George Washington entered the Dry Dock 11 at the HII Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News Virginia for a four year Refueling and Complex Overhaul RCOH The contract for the RCOH was worth 2 8 billion and work was expected to be completed by August 2021 However due to the COVID 19 pandemic work was planned to finish in early 2023 62 This target date was confirmed in August 2022 63 Sea trials and re delivery to the Navy were completed in May 2023 64 2021 2022 suicides edit On 11 April 2022 Captain Brent Gaut informed sailors on the George Washington over intercom that two sailors had died on 9 and 10 April and that those deaths were the eighth and ninth suicides the ship had experienced in nine months Shortly thereafter a tenth suicide occurred on 15 April described by Gaut to the crew as a member of the ship s security team who had a self inflicted wound 65 Currently of these reported suicides the Navy has acknowledged seven deaths with only five noted as suicides Initially the Navy s response from Russell L Smith the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy was that things could be worse at least you re not in a foxhole and that the Navy was effectively unable to remedy the situation 66 However the issue gained wider media attention during the next two weeks and by 29 April 2022 Captain Gaut announced that the ship will move 260 sailors to an offsite barracks type living arrangement on Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth specifically a Navy Gateway Inn and Suites starting the following Monday and the number will expand at about 50 additional beds per week According to the commanding officer the ship currently has 422 sailors living on board The move has been confirmed by the Navy and will continue until all Sailors who wish to move off ship have done so 67 Interviews with the crew and the crew s family have described the issue as living at a construction site as the George Washington has been docked at the Newport News Shipyard in Virginia since 2017 and many sailors trained for shipboard duties are relegated to maintenance or cleaning while suffering lack of sleep Several have claimed to sleep in their cars in preference to the ship 68 The Navy has opened an investigation into the command climate and culture on board the George Washington in response to the suicides 69 Planned 2025 deployment edit It was announced on 3 March 2023 that following the completion of her overhaul George Washington is expected to be forward deployed to Japan She will be replacing USS Ronald Reagan which by that point will have been forward deployed there for ten years In 2019 federal law was enacted that limited the forward deployment of naval vessels to ten years 70 Departure for Japan is scheduled for 2024 64 References edit Polmar Norman 2004 The Naval Institute guide to the ships and aircraft of the U S fleet Naval Institute Press p 112 ISBN 978 1 59114 685 8 Archived from the original on 24 March 2017 CVN 68 NIMITZ CLASS PDF Kuperman Alan von Hippel Frank 10 April 2020 US Study of Reactor and Fuel Types to Enable Naval Reactors to Shift from HEU Fuel International Panel on Fissile Materials Archived from the original on 5 October 2021 Retrieved 26 February 2022 Hanlon Brendan Patrick 19 May 2015 Validation of the Use of Low Enriched Uranium as a Replacement for Highly Enriched Uranium in US Submarine Reactors PDF MSc Massachusetts Institute of Technology Archived PDF from the original on 9 October 2021 Retrieved 26 February 2022 Gibbons Tony 2001 The Encyclopedia of Ships London United Kingdom Amber Books p 444 ISBN 978 1 905704 43 9 September 11 Chronology of terror CNN 12 September 2001 Retrieved 6 June 2020 USS George Washington CVN 73 www historycentral com Retrieved 1 February 2022 USS George Washington to Replace USS Kitty Hawk as U S Navy s Forward Deployed Carrier United States Navy 2 December 2005 Archived from the original on 25 October 2006 Stokky U S Navy Manga Set To Invade Japan Animekon Archived from the original on 28 December 2014 Retrieved 6 June 2020 CVN 73 Manga MangaPark Archived from the original on 12 March 2017 Retrieved 6 June 2020 USS George Washington Departs United States Navy 7 April 2008 Archived from the original on 29 June 2011 Retrieved 6 June 2020 GW Sailors Transit the Strait of Magellan to Arrive in the Pacific United States Navy 15 May 2008 Archived from the original on 29 June 2011 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Starr Barbara 23 May 2008 Sailor treated for burns after fire on carrier CNN Archived from the original on 22 October 2014 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Fire Aboard USS George Washington Causes Injury Damage XETV 23 May 2008 Archived from the original on 11 December 2008 Retrieved 27 May 2008 USS George Washington Stops in San Diego to Repair Fire Damage SanDiego6 27 May 2008 Archived from the original on 11 December 2008 Retrieved 27 May 2008 Liewer Steve 21 June 2008 Damaged aircraft carrier to stay in port for repairs San Diego Union Tribune Archived from the original on 11 December 2008 Kakesako Gregg K 4 July 2008 Kitty Hawk remains in Hawaii for RIMPAC Honolulu Star Bulletin Archived from the original on 11 October 2008 Retrieved 11 January 2015 Liewer Steve 7 October 2008 Crew Faulted In Blaze On Carrier San Diego Union Tribune Archived from the original on 25 November 2011 Retrieved 15 January 2015 U S fires captain of Japan bound nuclear warship Reuters 30 July 2008 Archived from the original on 12 January 2009 Retrieved 6 June 2020 a b Eisman Dale 31 July 2008 Two Top Navy Officers Fired Over 70 Million Carrier Blaze Norfolk Virginian Pilot Archived from the original on 6 June 2020 Retrieved 6 June 2020 a b USS George Washington Investigation Complete Senior Leadership Relieved United States Navy 30 July 2008 Archived from the original on 16 October 2011 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Tritten Travis J 29 August 2008 Sailors Disciplined For Roles in Fire Aboard George Washington Stars and Stripes Archived from the original on 6 June 2020 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Wiltrout Kate 18 October 2009 Sailor Receives Medal Honoring Him For Saving Shipmates Norfolk Virginian Pilot Archived from the original on 6 June 2020 Retrieved 6 June 2020 USS George Washington Departs for Japan United States Navy 21 August 2008 Archived from the original on 8 January 2012 Retrieved 6 June 2020 George Washington Arrives Sept 25 Kyodo News Japan Times 13 September 2008 Slavin Erik 3 July 2009 Navy to separate 15 sailors in drug probe Stars and Stripes Archived from the original on 18 November 2018 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Brothels put on staff for US navy 3 July 2009 Archived from the original on 10 July 2010 Cardy Todd 5 July 2009 5000 US sailors on USS George Washington prepare for Perth PerthNow Archived from the original on 5 July 2009 Mike John L 29 July 2009 GW Completes Participation in Talisman Saber United States Navy Archived from the original on 6 June 2020 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Brandt Danielle A 13 August 2010 USS George Washington Sailors Reach out to Disadvantaged Children in Singapore United States Navy Archived from the original on 6 June 2020 Retrieved 6 June 2020 USS George Washington in Manila for goodwill visit ABS CBN News 11 August 2009 Archived from the original on 6 June 2020 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Mike John J 20 August 2009 GW Carrier Strike Group Participates In Indonesian International Fleet Review United States Navy Archived from the original on 6 June 2020 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Oki Charles 3 September 2009 GW CSG Completes Inaugural Summer Deployment Returns to Yokosuka USS George Washington Official Press Release Archived from the original on 7 October 2012 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Rebecca 2 November 2009 U S Aircraft Carriers Stopped over in Hong Kong Shenzhen Post Archived from the original on 16 July 2011 Mike John J 11 May 2020 GW Starts Sea Trials Completes SRA United States Navy Archived from the original on 6 June 2020 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Jung Sung ki 20 July 2010 F 22 Raptor to join naval drill in Korean seas The Korea Times Archived from the original on 12 November 2014 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Pomfret John 30 July 2010 U S takes a tougher tone with China The Washington Post Archived from the original on 11 August 2010 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Mason Margie 8 August 2010 Former enemies US Vietnam now military mates USA Today Archived from the original on 17 October 2015 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Dogyun Kim Steward Phil 24 November 2010 U S aircraft carrier heads for Korean waters Reuters Archived from the original on 30 December 2010 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Sanger David E McDonald Mark 23 November 2010 Korean Clash Forces the U S to Weigh Options The New York Times Archived from the original on 13 March 2013 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Warships Supporting Earthquake in Japan Seawaves Archived from the original on 23 March 2011 Agency Damaged container may be causing smoke radiation spike CNN 16 March 2011 Archived from the original on 17 April 2015 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Lawerence Chris 22 March 2011 U S military considers mandatory evacuations in Yokosuka Japan CNN Archived from the original on 12 November 2014 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Carrier returns to Yokosuka as concerns ease Kyodo News Japan Times 21 April 2011 Archived from the original on 17 October 2015 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Reducing the Deficit Spending and Revenue Options PDF Congressional Budget Office p 106 Archived PDF from the original on 12 January 2019 Slavin Erik 6 October 2011 Sailors won t face discipline for close call with fighter jet Navy says Stars and Stripes Archived from the original on 3 September 2014 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Avery Tatiana 22 November 2011 USS George Washington Returns to Japan to Conclude 2011 Patrol United States Navy Archived from the original on 29 October 2017 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Lack of Funding Affects USS Lincoln Refueling and Complex Overhaul United States Navy 8 February 2013 Archived from the original on 13 December 2014 Retrieved 11 January 2015 Kennedy Liam 7 October 2013 George Washington Bids Farewell to The Land of Morning Calm United States Navy Archived from the original on 1 February 2014 Retrieved 6 June 2020 MacLeod Calum 14 November 2013 Filipinos without food water for days see aid arrive USA Today Archived from the original on 6 March 2015 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Guzman Ricky George Washington Strike Group Completes 2013 Patrol United States Navy Archived from the original on 1 February 2014 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Reagan replacing Washington in Japan CNN 15 January 2014 Archived from the original on 2 April 2015 Retrieved 11 January 2015 Cavas Christopher P 26 January 2014 Carrier cut could be back on table Militarytimes com Archived from the original on 12 November 2014 Freeburg Jr Sydney J 28 January 2014 The Navy s Carrier Crunch Even Without Budget Cuts Deployments Will Drop Breakingdefense com Archived from the original on 3 January 2015 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Pentagon drops plan to retire USS George Washington Stars and Stripes 7 February 2014 Archived from the original on 18 January 2015 Retrieved 11 January 2015 Osborn Kris 26 February 2014 Carrier Fleet Still Vulnerable to Sequestration Military com Archived from the original on 12 November 2014 Retrieved 6 June 2020 a b LaGrone Sam 3 April 2014 Navy Decision to Pull Unfunded Carrier Refueling Request was CNO s Choice U S Naval Institute Archived from the original on 9 January 2015 Retrieved 6 June 2020 LaGrone Sam 10 July 2014 Stackley Navy Plans to Refuel Carrier George Washington U S Naval Institute Archived from the original on 17 January 2015 Retrieved 11 January 2015 Kreisher Otto 2 February 2015 Navy 2016 Budget Funds V 22 COD Buy Carrier Refuel Breakingdefense com Archived from the original on 10 May 2015 Retrieved 6 June 2020 George Washington to Arrive in San Diego Three Carrier Swap Continues Press release United States Navy 7 August 2015 NNS150807 10 Archived from the original on 8 August 2015 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Lamothe Dan 4 October 2016 How the U S military is responding to Hurricane Matthew The Washington Post Archived from the original on 5 October 2016 VIDEO Carrier USS John C Stennis Arrives at Newport News for Mid Life Overhaul Refueling USNI News 7 May 2021 Retrieved 29 November 2021 Fabey Michael 11 August 2022 Carrier Washington redelivery confirmed for 2023 Janes a b Wilson Alex 26 May 2023 USS George Washington redelivered to Navy after delayed 6 year overhaul Stars and Stripes Retrieved 27 May 2023 Toropin Konstantin 29 April 2022 10 Deaths in 10 Months String of Suicides on a Single Aircraft Carrier Military com Monster Retrieved 1 May 2022 Ziezulewicz Geoff 26 April 2022 Top sailor to USS George Washington crew at least you re not in a foxhole Military Times Retrieved 1 May 2022 Toropin Konstantin 29 April 2022 Hundreds of Sailors Being Moved Off Carrier After Surge of Suicides Captain Tells Crew Military com Retrieved 1 May 2022 Chan Melissa 28 April 2022 Navy sailors detail difficult working conditions after string of suicides NBC News NBC Retrieved 1 May 2022 Liebermann Oren Starr Barbara 21 April 2022 Navy opens investigation after 4 deaths by suicide among aircraft carrier crew CNN News CNN Retrieved 1 May 2022 USS George Washington destined for Japan to replace USS Ronald Reagan report says stripes com 3 March 2023 Retrieved 5 March 2023 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS George Washington CVN 73 Official website Story Archive U S Navy USS George Washington CVN 73 USS George Washington CVN 73 command histories Naval History amp Heritage Command Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS George Washington CVN 73 amp oldid 1222055225, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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