USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) facts for kids
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John F. Kennedy on 29 October 2019
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States |
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| Name | John F. Kennedy |
| Namesake | John F. Kennedy |
| Builder | Huntington Ingalls Industries |
| Cost | $11.341 billion |
| Laid down | 20 July 2015 |
| Launched | 29 October 2019 |
| Sponsored by | Caroline Kennedy |
| Christened | 7 December 2019 |
| Identification | CVN-79 |
| Motto | "Serve with courage" |
| Status | Fitting out |
| Badge | _crest.png) |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier |
| Displacement | About 100,000 long tons (100,000 tonnes) (full load) |
| Length | 1,106 ft (337 m) |
| Beam |
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| Draft | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Installed power | Two A1B nuclear reactors |
| Propulsion | Four shafts |
| Speed | In excess of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
| Range | Unlimited distance; 20–25 years |
| Complement | 4,660 |
| Sensors and processing systems |
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| Armament |
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| Aircraft carried | More than 80, can hold up to 90 combat aircraft |
| Aviation facilities | 1,092 ft × 256 ft (333 m × 78 m) flight deck |
The USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) is a giant aircraft carrier being built for the United States Navy. It is the second ship in the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier class. Aircraft carriers are like floating airfields that can carry many airplanes and helicopters. This powerful ship was launched into the water on October 29, 2019, and officially named in a special ceremony on December 7, 2019.
Contents
Naming the Ship: A Presidential Honor
The ship is named after John F. Kennedy (1917–1963), who was the 35th President of the United States. He also served in the navy during World War II.
- In 2007, a lawmaker suggested naming the ship USS Arizona.
- Later, another lawmaker proposed naming it Barry M. Goldwater.
- However, in 2011, the Department of Defense decided to name the ship after President Kennedy.
This is the third navy ship named after someone from the Kennedy family. It is also the second aircraft carrier to be called John F. Kennedy. The first one, USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), served from 1968 to 2007.
Building a Giant: The Construction Process
Building a ship as big as the John F. Kennedy takes many years and a lot of work.
- On January 15, 2009, a company called Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) received a contract to start designing and preparing for the ship's construction.
- The official start of construction, called the "First Cut of Steel" ceremony, happened on February 25, 2011, in Newport News, Virginia. This is where the ship is being built.
The ship was first expected to be finished in 2018. But the building plan was changed to take five years instead of four. This was done to help manage the costs better. This meant the ship's completion date moved to 2020. Later, there were more delays, and the Navy looked into extending the building time even more.
Key Milestones in Construction
The construction of the John F. Kennedy involved many important steps:
- Keel Laying: The ship's keel, which is like its backbone, was laid on August 22, 2015. During this ceremony, the initials of the ship's sponsor, Caroline Kennedy, were welded into the ship's hull. Caroline Kennedy is President Kennedy's daughter.
- Structural Completion: By June 2017, half of the ship's structure was complete. By February 2018, 70% of the structures were built.
- Island Installation: On May 30, 2019, the huge 588-ton "island" (the ship's control tower) was placed on the deck. Special items, including a Kennedy half dollar coin, were placed under the island as part of a tradition.
- Final Sections: The ship reached 100% structural completion on July 11, 2019. This happened when the upper bow and launch deck, which hold the ship's catapults, were installed.
Getting Ready for Water
- On October 1, 2019, the ship's crew officially started their duties.
- On October 29, 2019, the dry dock where the ship was built began to fill with over 100 million gallons of water. This process took several days. It was the first time the ship floated in water.
- The ship was officially christened (named in a ceremony) on December 7, 2019. Caroline Kennedy performed the christening, just as she did for the first John F. Kennedy carrier 50 years earlier.
Future Capabilities
In November 2020, the builders received more funding to make sure the John F. Kennedy can operate the new F-35C fighter jets. This is important for the ship to be ready for its missions when it joins the fleet.
See also
In Spanish: USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) para niños
