The USS George Washington (CVN-73) is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in service with the United States Navy. She represents the sixth such vessel of her type in the Nimitz-class of "supercarriers" and is named after the first president of the United States, George Washington. A handful of deployments have had her show the strength and might of the US Navy in oceans and seas around the world, becoming an integral part of the offense and defense of the United States "show of force" in their stand for liberty in the Global War on Terror.
A full complement of 5,680 personnel operate the various systems and subsystems of the George Washington. This includes a powerful air arm of up to 2,480 managing the air wing of fighters, strike aircraft, specialist aircraft, transports and helicopters. Like her sister ships, power is derived from her twin Westinghouse brand A4W nuclear reactors that power her 4 x steam turbines to 4 x shafts producing 260,000 shaft horsepower. A top speed of 30 knots is listed.
To compliment her offensive armament, the George Washington is fitted with several defensive systems in the case an enemy aircraft should make it past her umbrella of fighters and fleet support ships. This includes 2 x Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile launchers, 2 x RIM-166 RAM (Rolling Airframe Missiles) launchers and 3 x 20mm Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS). Electronic warfare is handled by way of an SLQ-25A(V)4 Countermeasures system and torpedo countermeasures as needed. Radars include a bevy of systems like the AN/SPS-48E 3-D air search, AN/SPQ-9B target acquisition and twin AN/SPN-46 air traffic control radars.
The USS George Washington was first ordered in 1982 and laid down in 1986. She was launched in 1990 and officially commissioned in 1992. Interestingly enough, she makes her homeport at Yokosuka Naval Base in Yokosuka, Japan and is affectionately known by the nickname of "GW". She is currently in active service with the United States Navy.
The USS George Washington is the only American carrier which makes its home port outside of the United States.
In November of 2010, the USS George Washington was called to waters near South Korea to undertake a joint military naval exercise with the South, this in response to an artillery shelling of a South Korean island by the North which left two South Korean marines and two civilians dead.
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one sea-going vessel design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for USS George Washington (CVN-73).
2 x Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors and 4 x steam turbines developing 260,000 horsepower and driving 4 x Shafts under stern. Propulsion
30.0 kts 34.5 mph Surface Speed
Essentially Unlimited Range
Structure The bow-to-stern, port-to-starboard physical qualities of USS George Washington (CVN-73).
5,680 Personnel Complement
1,092.0 ft 332.84 meters O/A Length
252.0 ft 76.81 meters Beam
41.0 ft 12.50 meters Draught
97,000 tons Displacement
Armament Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of USS George Washington (CVN-73).
2 x Sea Sparrow Mk 57 Mod 3 surface-to-air missile launchers
2 x RIM-166 RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) launchers
3 x 20mm Phalanx CIWS
Air Arm Available supported fixed-wing / rotary-wing aircraft featured in the design of USS George Washington (CVN-73).
Up to 90 aircraft of various types including light- and medium-lift helicopter types.
Ships-in-Class (10) Notable series variants as part of the USS George Washington (CVN-73) family line as relating to the Nimitz-class group.
USS Nimitz (CVN 69); USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69); USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70); USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71); USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72); USS George Washington (CVN 73); USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74); USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75); USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76); USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77)
Operators Global operator(s) of the USS George Washington (CVN-73). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national naval warfare listing.
[ United States ]
1 / 10
High-angled bow view of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier at speed
2 / 10
High-angled portside stern view of the USS George Washington in calm waters
3 / 10
Bow portside view of the USS George Washington at speed
4 / 10
High-angled bow view of a fully-loaded USS George Washington in port
5 / 10
Starboard side view of the USS George Washington in open waters
6 / 10
High-angled bow view of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier
7 / 10
High-angled portside stern view of the USS George Washington
8 / 10
An FA-18 Hornet comes in for a landing onboard the USS George Washington
9 / 10
Bow view of the USS George Washington at speed
10 / 10
Tug boats push the USS George Washington into position
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.
