Ships & Equipment
Aircraft Carriers
Aircraft carriers play a vital role for the U.S. Navy. They are deployed worldwide in order to maintain “forward presence” on behalf of the United States. Forward presence supports U.S. interests and encourages peace around the globe. Aircraft carriers usually travel in battle groups and can operate in international waters without having to obtain permission for landing or overflight rights. In other words, they are self-sustained floating airports which are sovereign U.S. territory.
Crew size is approximately 5,500 people including the onboard air wing — which embarks only when the ship is at sea for extended periods of time.
A carrier operates as a small city with its own zip code, hospital, dental clinic, post office, barbershops, athletic facilities, and chapels. Over 18,000 meals are prepared daily and all crewmembers have email access.
When underway, there are always Sailors on watch — 24 hours/day, seven days/week. They man the engine room, guide the ship and maintain a watch for air, surface and subsurface threats to the battle group.
The air wing is the aircraft carrier’s primary offensive and defensive weapon. Nearly 2,600 air wing officers and enlisted men and women on a carrier maintain and fly the most technologically advanced aircraft in the world.
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