Navy Names New Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford

**ZeoBandit** · 01.17.07, 02:28 PM

Ugh. I was hoping for the America or a new Enterprise.

Navy Names New Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford
Story Number: NNS070116-08
Release Date: 1/16/2007 4:01:00 PM

From the Department of Defense

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter announced Jan. 16, the selection of Gerald R. Ford as the name of the first aircraft carrier in what will be the Gerald R. Ford class of carriers.

The selection honors the 38th President of the United States and pays tribute to his lifetime of service in the Navy, in the U.S. government and to the nation.

"President Gerald R. Ford provided the United States great leadership at a time of constitutional crisis," said Winter. "I am honored to have the opportunity to name the first ship in the new class of aircraft carriers after this great Sailor, this great leader, this great man."

Born in Omaha, Neb., in 1913, Ford grew up in Grand Rapids, Mich. He starred on the University of Michigan football team where he was a center and team most valuable player in 1934. After graduation he attended Yale Law School, where he served as assistant football coach while earning his law degree.

During World War II he attained the rank of lieutenant commander in the Navy, and served on the light carrier, the USS Monterey. After the war he returned to Grand Rapids, where he began the practice of law, and entered political life.

Ford was the first Vice President chosen under the terms of the Twenty-fifth Amendment and, in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, succeeded the first President ever to resign; serving as the 37th Vice President (1973-1974) and the 38th President of the United States (1974-1977). Prior to becoming Vice President, he served for more than eight years as the Republican Minority Leader of the House of Representatives as a representative from Michigan's 5th congressional district.

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) will be the premier forward asset for crisis response and early decisive striking power in a major combat operation. The carrier and the carrier strike group will provide forward presence, rapid response, endurance on station, and multi-mission capability.

Gerald R. Ford and subsequent Ford class carriers will provide improved war fighting capability, quality of life improvements for sailors and reduced acquisition and life cycle costs.

**Thai Boxer 9901** · 01.17.07, 03:46 PM

Arent they already coming out with a new class of carriers? I was watching somethin about it on the military channel and it said that the USS Bush is going to be the last of the Nimiz class carriers but it will be the most advanced of all of them.

**VAREB** · 01.17.07, 04:56 PM

How about one called the USS Taxpayer

**ZeoBandit** · 01.17.07, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by Thai Boxer 9901

Arent they already coming out with a new class of carriers? I was watching somethin about it on the military channel and it said that the USS Bush is going to be the last of the Nimiz class carriers but it will be the most advanced of all of them.

Yes they are. The Ford is the first carrier of what is now called the "Ford" class. The Ford will be pretty cool with all the new technology on it. It'll have electromagnetic catapults and a new cable-less landing arresting system.

**Axxman300** · 01.17.07, 06:59 PM

I'm sorry, I just picture this this aircraft carrier bumping into things and guys falling down the gangway.

I know, bad Axxman! Bad! Bad!

Anyway, here's a link with pictures and other links so you can learn everything you want to know about the Ford Class:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...vx-gallery.htm

**ZeoBandit** · 01.17.07, 08:59 PM

Somethings not kosher there, Axx. CVN 77 is the Bush. The Ford will be CVN 78.

**Axxman300** · 01.18.07, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by ZeoHalen

Somethings not kosher there, Axx. CVN 77 is the Bush. The Ford will be CVN 78.

Dey all looks alike to me.

Also, it was on the same page with a bunch of other CVN 78 art. Check the link and see for yourself.

**WinterlessIceness** · 01.18.07, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by Axxman300

Dey all looks alike to me.

*They all *look alike to me

Meh but they actually do, same CVN-65 with less superstructure. Marines shud go for those starships which could take off wherever and hit the target wherever and then get back home. Carriers are so damn expensive plus you yanks have like 5 times more of them than the rest of the global militaries combined anyway.

**sisca** · 01.18.07, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by WinterlessIceness

you yanks have like 5 times more of them than the rest of the global militaries combined anyway.

thats why we kick ass, mish!!

**Axxman300** · 01.18.07, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by WinterlessIceness

*They all *look alike to me

Meh but they actually do, same CVN-65 with less superstructure. Marines shud go for those starships which could take off wherever and hit the target wherever and then get back home. Carriers are so damn expensive plus you yanks have like 5 times more of them than the rest of the global militaries combined anyway.

Carriers project power. We found out the hard way when Japan used theirs to attack Pearl Harbor. Then we became believers after our carriers - alone -kicked ass on their fleet. Carriers are the sharp end of US foriegn policy, they also are usually the first on scene after an international disaster such as the tsunami. Carriers were able to provide more help than the combined indiginous forces could (and our guys didn't loot or steal, unlike many local forces did).

We are simply replancing our old carriers with new ones. The Enterprise (CVN-65) has been in service since November 25th, 1961, the Kittyhawk (CV-63) did her first tour a year later. The Navy plans to replace the Kittyhawk with the George Washington (CVN-73) and they plan to decomission the John F Kennedy (CV-67) some time in 2008.

That will give us 11 carriers.

**Axxman300** · 01.18.07, 07:34 PM

I think Enterprise is good for another 10 years. She just had her reactor replaced and all of her systems have been updated.

**FORD** · 01.18.07, 07:56 PM

Surprised that they named one after Ford since his presidency was brief. Absolutely SICKENED that they named one after Poppy Bush.

**fast98dodge** · 01.18.07, 08:02 PM

Maybe the Bush will puke on the Japanese...

**Axxman300** · 01.18.07, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by FORD

Surprised that they named one after Ford since his presidency was brief. Absolutely SICKENED that they named one after Poppy Bush.

Unlike his son, GHR actually flew off of one in a real honest to goodness war, so he actually kind of earned that one.

I'm waiting for the day the USS Hillary Rodham Clinton sails into the Sea of Japan and launches the decisive raid on Beijing, only to be sunk by missle technology that Bill Clinton sold to the Chinese.

**FORD** · 01.18.07, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by Axxman300

Unlike his son, GHR actually flew off of one in a real honest to goodness war, so he actually kind of earned that one.

I'm waiting for the day the USS Hillary Rodham Clinton sails into the Sea of Japan and launches the decisive raid on Beijing, only to be sunk by missle technology that Bill Clinton sold to the Chinese.

That would make a good Tom Clancy plotline, but there are too many fictional elements in there to be presented as reality.

1) Hillary will never be President, so I doubt she will have a carrier named after her.

2) The satellite technology which a private company sold to a Chinese company during the Clinton administration isn't going to sink anything. However, weapons provided by the Carlyle Group just might.