CVN 71 USS Theodore Roosvelt

 

 

USS Theodore Roosevelt CVN-71

Propulsion: Two nuclear reactors, four shafts. Length: 1,092 feet (332.85 meters). Beam: 134 feet (40.84 meters) ; Flight Deck Width: 252 feet (76.8 meters). Displacement: Approximately 97,000 tons (87,996.9 metric tons) full load. Speed: 30+ knots (34.5+ miles per hour). Crew: Ship's Company: 3,200 - Air Wing: 2,480. Armament: Two or three (depending on modification) NATO Sea Sparrow launchers, 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts: (3 on Nimitz and Dwight D. Eisenhower and 4 on Vinson and later ships of the class.). Aircraft: 85

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) is the fourth Nimitz-class carrier. Her history began on September 30, 1980, when a contract was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding.

Construction began on October 31, 1981, when Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger authenticated the keel laying of TR by initiating the first weld. Capt. Paul W. Parcells was named Prospective Commanding Officer in February 1984, and that October, the ship was officially christened. On October 25, 1986, TR was placed in active service.

Capt. Dayton W. Ritt became TR's second Commanding Officer on October 3, 1987, and on December 30, 1988, TR started her maiden deployment, which was also the maiden deployment of the first 10-squadron air wing, Carrier Air Wing Eight. USS Theodore Roosevelt was awarded the Battle "E" from Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, on March 20, 1990.

On June 9, 1990, Capt. Charles S. Abbot became the ship's third Commanding Officer, and on December 28, TR and CVW-8 deployed for Operation Desert Shield. TR entered the war on January 9, 1991, eventually flying over 4,200 sorties (more than any other carrier) and dropping more than 4,800,000 pounds of ordnance before the cease-fire on February 28.

When Iraqi forces turned on the Kurds, TR and CVW-8 were among the first coalition forces in Operation Provide Comfort, flying patrols over northern Iraq. After a 189-day deployment, with 169 days at sea, TR returned to Norfolk on June 28, 1991. On February 14, 1992, the ship won its second Battle "E." This was followed by the award of the Battenburg Cup for 1991 as the Atlantic Fleet's premier ship.

Capt. Stanley W. Bryant became TR's fourth Commanding Officer on August 27, 1992.

TR and CVW-8 began their third deployment on March 11, 1993, teamed with the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) to test the concept of embarking a multi-purpose Marine force in a carrier. TR hosted President Bill Clinton's first visit to a U.S. Navy ship, then sailed to the Adriatic as CVW-8 planes enforced Operation Deny Flight in the U.S. no-fly zone over Bosnia. In June, on the way to only her second port visit, TR was ordered to turn around and transit the Suez Canal en route to the Red Sea to participate in Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the no-fly zone over Iraq.

Deployed for 184 days, TR spent 169 days underway. Her flight deck logged over 16,000 hours, and CVW-8 flew more sorties than during the Persian Gulf War. For its accomplishments, the ship received its second Meritorious Unit Commendation.

In November 1993, TR entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) for a Selected Restricted Availability (SRA). Heading back to sea on April 14, 1994, TR became the first nuclear carrier to complete an SRA ahead of schedule at NNSY.

Awards for 1993 continued. TR received the CINCLANTFLT Golden Anchor Award for the best retention in an Atlantic Fleet carrier. On March 10, 1994, TR received its third Battle "E." Then on June 3, TR was awarded its second Battenburg Cup as the best ship in the Atlantic Fleet.

On July 8, 1994, Capt. Ronald L. Christenson became TR's fifth Commanding Officer.

TR and CVW-8 began their fourth deployment in March 1995, operating in the Red Sea in support of Operation Southern Watch. TR also provided a "Forward... from the Sea" presence, conducting flight operations in support of Operations Deny Flight and Sharp Guard over the skies of Bosnia and in the Adriatic operating areas. Deny Flight evolved into Operation Deliberate Force, as CVW-8 aircraft led NATO strikes against strategic Bosnian Serb targets in Sarajevo-Herzegovina. During TR's transit home, Secretary of the Navy John Dalton came aboard and awarded the Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group the Navy Unit Commendation for its Bosnia operations.

In 1996, TR received its third consecutive Golden Anchor Award and Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet's first Security Excellence Award. CVW-3 joined TR in May 1996 prior to her port visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia. On November 1, 1996, Capt. David Architzel became TR's sixth Commanding Officer. TR deployed for her fifth deployment on November 25, 1996, conducting operations in the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch.

On July 8, 1997, TR entered the Newport News Shipbuilding yard for a one-year Extended Drydock and Selected Restricted Availability (EDSRA), her first major overhaul since commissioning. In February 1998, TR received her fifth Golden Anchor Award while in the shipyard. One year later, TR returned to her homeport at the Norfolk Naval Station.

Capt. David R. Bryant became TR's seventh Commanding Officer on September 22, 1998.

TR began her sixth deployment on March 26, 1999, with CVW-8. They were immediately called to duty in the Ionian Sea to support NATO's Operation Allied Force. TR and CVW-8 aircraft conducted air strikes for two months over the skies of Kosovo against the Serbians. TR and CVW-8 were then dispatched to support Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the "no-fly" zone over Southern Iraq. TR returned to her homeport of Norfolk, Va., on September 24, 1999.

On January 7, 2000, TR entered a Planned Incremental Availability at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia. This six-month maintenance period ended on June 30, 2000, when the ship departed on sea trials.

TR successfully completed her Inter-Deployment Training Cycle in August 2001.

TR began her seventh deployment on September 19, 2001, with Carrier Air Wing One. After a routine transit of the Atlantic Ocean, TR and CVW-1 were called to support Operation Enduring Freedom. Receiving support from around the country, TR and CVW-1 led coalition forces in creating a more stable government in Afghanistan and hunting down members of al-Qaeda. After breaking the record for the longest period underway since WWII, TR's crew only hit two ports after 159 days at sea. TR was again awarded the Battenberg Cup, Naval Unit Commendation, and Battle E. TR returned on March 17, 2002.

On February 19, 2004, TR made its way up the Elizabeth River to start a Docked Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) in Portsmouth, VA. TR entered its slot at Dry Dock 8 and the aft dock wall closed behind it. As the river slowly began draining the massive concrete void, Sailors observing must have wondered exactly how such a seemingly insurmountable task would be possible to complete. Several extensive evolutions awaited the several thousand people making up the TR project team, consisting of its own Sailors, shipyard workers, and contractors. The mission of transforming an 18-year-old, 1,092-foot-long, 97,000-ton aircraft carrier into what was essentially a brand new ship was no small one. She entered the shipyard with the most extensive work package ever attempted within the allotted time period. The purpose of the DPIA was to ensure TR maintained its material condition as well as kept up with technological advances to maximize mission capability.

USS Theodore Roosevelt conducted a "fast cruise" from December 6-10, 2004, marking the end of the ship's Docked Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) in Portsmouth, VA. Although sea trials do not officially begin until TR leaves NNSY and gets underway, the fast cruise was meant to showcase more of a change from one evolution to the other. It also showed that TR was ready for tasking. The ship was next expected to return home to Naval Station Norfolk upon completion of sea trials before the ship’s first holiday leave period.

USS Theodore Roosevelt (TR) (CVN-71) met its goal of completing its Docked Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) in Portsmouth, VA, and sea trials, as well as delivering the ship back to the fleet on December 17, 2004. During the ship's DPIA, everything from converters for hot water heaters and improved head facilities, to upgrades for the elevators and major work on two of the four catapults, was overhauled or replaced. A major project while in dry dock was the removal, repair, and reinstallation of the ship’s propellers (or screws). Two of the four were replaced altogether.

By mid-January 2005, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) were underway again, and the flight deck was back in business. TR conducted carrier flight deck certifications, which took a tremendous amount of manpower to make this evolution happen. Certifications became a necessity for aircraft carriers coming out of dry-docking planned incremental availability (DPIA). Every job performed by personnel from the hangar bay and flight deck to those in Supply and Medical was observed and evaluated.

By April 2005, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and Carrier Air Wing Eight (CAG-8) were underway for Tailored Ship Training Availability and Final Evaluation Problem (TSTA/FEP) in the Atlantic Ocean.

A ceremony held aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) on May 4, 2005, recognized the ongoing friendship between Spain and the United States with the joining of a Spanish ship to the TR Carrier Strike Group. Alvaro de Bazan (F-101), a medium-sized Spanish frigate, officially became a part of Carrier Strike Group 2.

By May 19, 2005, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) was underway off the coast of Virginia, conducting carrier qualifications in the Atlantic Ocean.

In September 2005, USS Theodore Roosevelt deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and maritime security operations. During this deployment, the carrier's air wing flew numerous sorties, providing close air support to coalition forces and conducting surveillance missions. The deployment lasted until March 2006, when TR returned to its homeport in Norfolk, Virginia.

USS Theodore Roosevelt underwent another maintenance period in 2007, which included upgrades to its systems and infrastructure to ensure continued operational readiness. In September 2008, TR deployed again to the Persian Gulf, participating in Operation Enduring Freedom and conducting maritime security operations. The carrier's air wing played a crucial role in providing air support to ground forces in Afghanistan.

In March 2009, TR returned to Norfolk after completing its deployment. Later that year, the carrier underwent another Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) to address maintenance needs and enhance its capabilities.

In May 2011, USS Theodore Roosevelt entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a major mid-life Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH). This extensive maintenance period, which lasted over three years, included refueling the ship's reactors, upgrading combat systems, and refurbishing living quarters and other essential areas. The RCOH was completed in August 2013, significantly extending the carrier's service life.

After completing the RCOH, USS Theodore Roosevelt began sea trials and post-overhaul certifications. In March 2015, TR deployed to the Middle East to support Operation Inherent Resolve, conducting airstrikes against ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria. The deployment demonstrated the carrier's enhanced capabilities following its overhaul.

In January 2017, TR deployed again to the Western Pacific and the Middle East. The carrier conducted freedom of navigation operations, participated in joint exercises with allied navies, and provided a forward naval presence to deter regional threats. The deployment reinforced the U.S. commitment to maintaining stability and security in key regions worldwide.

In October 2018, USS Theodore Roosevelt returned to its homeport in San Diego, California, after a successful deployment. The carrier continued to participate in various training exercises and underwent routine maintenance to maintain its readiness.

In January 2020, USS Theodore Roosevelt deployed to the Indo-Pacific region. However, the deployment was interrupted by a significant outbreak of COVID-19 among the crew, leading to a port visit to Guam for quarantine and medical treatment. The situation highlighted the challenges of maintaining operational readiness during a global health crisis.

In February 2021, TR returned to San Diego after completing its deployment. The carrier underwent further maintenance and upgrades to prepare for future missions.

In April 2022, USS Theodore Roosevelt participated in a large-scale naval exercise in the Pacific, demonstrating its capabilities in joint operations with allied forces. The exercise aimed to enhance interoperability and strengthen regional security partnerships.

By mid-2023, USS Theodore Roosevelt was again deployed to the Western Pacific, where it continued to play a vital role in maintaining maritime security and stability. The carrier conducted numerous exercises with partner navies and provided a forward presence to deter potential adversaries.