USS George Washington (CVN-73)

For other ships with the same name, see USS George Washington.
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
HomeportCFAY Yokosuka JP
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
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
ArmorUnknown
Aircraft carried90 fixed wing and helicopters

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 with that name, 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.

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.

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "CVN-68: NIMITZ CLASS" (PDF).
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Gibbons, Tony (2001). The Encyclopedia of Ships. London, United Kingdom: Amber Books. p. 444. ISBN 978-1-905704-43-9.