Login
Login

Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carrier

{{Short description|Class of U.S. supercarriers}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}

{{Infobox ship begin

| infobox caption = yes

}}

{{Infobox ship image

|Ship image=US Navy 060526-N-8591H-164 USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) departs Yokosuka, Japan, to conduct sea trials in the Western Pacific Ocean.jpg

|Ship caption=USS Kitty Hawk conducting sea trials in the Western Pacific Ocean, May 2006

}}

{{Infobox ship class overview

|Name=Kitty Hawk class

|Builders=* New York Shipbuilding

|Operators={{naval|United States}}

|Class before={{sclass|Forrestal|aircraft carrier|4}}

|Class after={{sclass|Enterprise|aircraft carrier|4}}

|Subclasses=John F. Kennedy class (variant)

|Cost=

|Built range=

|In service range=

|In commission range=21 April 1961 – 31 January 2009

|Total ships building=

|Total ships planned=

|Total ships completed=3 plus 1 variant

|Total ships cancelled=

|Total ships active=

|Total ships laid up=1

|Total ships lost=

|Total ships scrapped=2 plus 1 scuttled

|Total ships preserved=

}}

{{Infobox ship characteristics

|Hide header=

|Header caption=

|Ship class=

|Ship type=Aircraft carrier

|Ship displacement= *{{convert|60933|LT|MT|abbr=on}} light

  • {{convert|81780|LT|MT|abbr=on}} full load

|Ship length= *{{convert|1069|ft|m|abbr=on}} overall

  • {{convert|990|ft|m|abbr=on}} waterline

|Ship beam= *{{convert|130|ft|m|abbr=on}} waterline

  • {{convert|282|ft|m|abbr=on}} extreme

|Ship height=

|Ship draft={{convert|38|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|Ship power={{cvt|280000|shp|MW}}

|Ship propulsion=* 8 × steam boilers with Westinghouse geared steam turbines

  • 4 × shafts

|Ship speed={{convert|32|kn|abbr=on}}

|Ship range={{cvt|12000|mi}}

|Ship fuel=7800 tons

|Ship aviation fuel={{cvt|5882|LT}}

|Ship ammunition= up to {{cvt|1600|LT}}

|Ship endurance=

|Ship boats=

|Ship capacity=

|Ship complement= 5,624

|Ship sensors=

|Ship EW=

|Ship armament=

|Ship armor=

|Ship aircraft=Up to 90 aircraft

|Ship aircraft facilities=

|Ship notes=

}}

The Kitty Hawk-class supercarriers of the United States Navy were an incremental improvement on the {{sclass|Forrestal|aircraft carrier|0}} vessels. Three were built, all in the 1960s, {{USS|Kitty Hawk|CV-63|3}} (1961–2009), {{USS|Constellation|CV-64|3}} (1961–2003), and {{USS|America|CV-66|3}} (1965–1996), as well as the variant {{USS|John F. Kennedy|CV-67|3}} (1967–2007). All are now decommissioned.

Improved ''Forrestal'' carriers

The biggest differences from the Forrestals are greater length, and a different placement of elevators; two are forward of the island, one is aft of the island and another on the portside stern. The movement of the No. 4 elevator from the forward to the aft end of the angle made it useful for aircraft movement, since the forward-end elevator in the Forrestals was sited in both the landing path and in the launch path of the waist catapults.

Three different shipyards were used to construct the ships. Kitty Hawk was built at New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Constellation at New York Naval Shipyard, America and John F. Kennedy at Newport News Shipbuilding. John F. Kennedy is similar to the earlier units in flight deck arrangement and propulsion, but has enough differences that she is placed in her own class. Propulsion consisted of four Westinghouse geared turbines, {{convert|280000|shp|lk=in}}, four shafts with eight {{convert|1200|psi}} Foster Wheeler boilers.

Construction and design differences

The initial design for the class was known as SCB 127, and Kitty Hawk and Constellation were completed to design SCB 127A.{{cite book |title=U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History |first=Norman |last=Friedman |pages=274–280, 317 |location=Annapolis, Maryland |publisher=United States Naval Institute |date=1983 |isbn=0-87021-739-9}}

The first three units were constructed with a Terrier surface-to-air missile system. The supporting missile launchers and AN/SPG-55 radars consumed a large amount of space, while at the same time duplicating the capabilities of the air defence escorts, and were later removed. John F. Kennedy did not have Terrier and was built with the shorter ranged Sea Sparrow, Basic Point Defense Missile System (BPDMS). All were eventually equipped with NATO Sea Sparrow (NSSM) and Phalanx CIWS for self-defense.{{cite book |title=Modern Naval Combat |first1=David |last1=Miller |first2=Chris |last2=Miller |pages=116–17 |location=London, New York |publisher=Salamander Books |date=1986 |isbn=0-86101-231-3}} In 2001, Kitty Hawk received two Rolling Airframe Missile launchers replacing the forward Sea Sparrow and Phalanx CIWS equipment.{{cite web|first=Doug |last=Huddy |url=http://www.stripes.com/01/jul01/ed072501f.html |title=USS Kitty Hawk gets upgrade with Rolling Airframe Missile weapon system |work=Stars and Stripes |date=25 July 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211005248/http://www.stripes.com/01/jul01/ed072501f.html |archive-date=11 December 2008 }} The SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare Suite was added as part of the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) on Kitty Hawk and Constellation.{{cite web |url=http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/weaps/an-slq-32.htm |title=AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare (EW) system |website=fas.org |date=30 June 1999 |access-date=4 May 2016}}

America was designed under project SCB 127B and so had several differences from the lead units of the class. Instead of two forward anchors, one on each side, America had no port side anchor and an additional anchor astern, a change made to accommodate the AN/SQS-23 sonar. America was the only post-World War II U.S. carrier to be built with sonar, which was however removed in the early 1980s. She also had a narrow smokestack compared to prior units.

=''John F. Kennedy'' class=

{{USS|John F. Kennedy|CV-67|2}} was originally scheduled to be the fourth Kitty Hawk-class carrier,{{cite press release |url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=49825 |title=Navy Announces Availability of ex-John F. Kennedy for Donation |publisher=US Navy |number=NNS091123-04 |author=Naval Sea Systems Command Office of Corporate Communications |date=23 November 2009 |access-date=4 May 2016 |archive-date=29 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629190149/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=49825 |url-status=dead }} but because she received so many modifications under project SCB 127C, she formed her own ship class and is often listed as a single-vessel class. Kennedy had similar design changes regarding the anchors to accommodate a sonar array, but the sonar was never installed. There was also a proposal to make her nuclear powered under competing project SCB 211A, but since Congress would not authorize it, Kennedy was constructed as a conventionally powered carrier. Her smokestack is also different and tilts outboard to send stack gas away from the flight deck. The angled end of the waist is also different from the other Kitty Hawks, bearing a closer resemblance to that of the {{sclass|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|4}}. Kennedy is also {{convert|17|ft|m}} shorter in length than the other Kitty Hawk-class carriers.

Decommissioning

From 1987 to 1991 Kitty Hawk was overhauled for $785 million under the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.{{cite news |title=A somber farewell to the Kitty Hawk; the job done, the carrier leaves. But clouds hang over the yard |first=Laurie |last=Hollman |newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |date=31 July 1991 |pages=B.1}} From 1990 to 1992, Constellation received her $800 million service life extension also in Philadelphia.{{cite news |title=Revamped Aircraft Carrier Sails For 10-Day Sea Trial |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |location=Orlando, Florida |date=7 November 1992 |pages=A.14}} The program was intended to add 15 years to the life of the ships. John F. Kennedy was not overhauled as part of SLEP. Instead, from 1993 to 1995, she received a $491 million overhaul. It was the final project of Philadelphia Naval Shipyard prior to its closing.{{cite news |title=Shipyard's Closing Uproots 4,400 Workers: Philadelphia Naval Shipyard Scheduled To Close Sept. 15 |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |date=2 May 1995 |pages=12.C}} America had been scheduled to be overhauled under the service life extension program after Constellation, but she was decommissioned 9 August 1996 instead, during a time of budget cuts after the Cold War. America was in very poor condition when she was decommissioned, and therefore despite her historical significance was not held as a donation asset. She was expended as a live-fire target and sunk on 14 May 2005.

Constellation was decommissioned 7 August 2003. John F. Kennedy was decommissioned on 23 March 2007. Only Kitty Hawk remained in service as of early 2008 and was replaced by {{USS|George Washington|CVN-73|6}} as the forward-deployed carrier in Japan. Kitty Hawk returned to the United States after the turnover.United States Navy. [https://archive.today/20041205175655/http://www.kitty-hawk.navy.mil/command/faq.html Kitty Hawk Command FAQ]. Accessed 12 January 2008. She was decommissioned on 12 May 2009.{{cite news |newspaper=Fox News |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,359065,00.html |title=USS Kitty Hawk, Navy's Oldest Active Ship, Leaves Japan to Be Decommissioned |date=28 May 2008 |access-date=4 May 2016}}

Ships in class

class="sortable wikitable"

! Name

! Hull Number

! Photo

! Builder

! Ordered

! Laid Down

! Launched

! Commissioned

! Decommissioned

! Fate

! Source

colspan=11|Kitty Hawk class
{{USS|Kitty Hawk|CV-63|2}}

| CV-63

| 200px

| New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey

1 October 195527 December 195621 May 196029 April 196112 May 2009Broken up at Brownsville Texas 2024[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=CV63}}]
{{USS|Constellation|CV-64|2}}

| CV-64

| 200px

| New York Naval Shipyard, New York City

1 July 195614 September 19578 October 196027 October 19617 August 2003Broken up at Brownsville Texas 2015[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=CV64}}]
{{USS|America|CV-66|2}}

| CV-66

| 200px

| Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, Virginia

25 November 19609 January 19611 February 196423 January 19659 August 1996Sunk as target, 14 May 2005[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=CV66}}]
colspan=11|John F. Kennedy class variant
{{USS|John F. Kennedy|CV-67|2}}

| CV-67

| 200px

| Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, Virginia

30 April 196422 October 196427 May 19677 September 196823 March 2007Undergoing scrapping[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=CV67}}]

Gallery

File:USS John F Kennedy (CV 67) island outboard 2004.jpg|John F. Kennedy{{'}}s smokestack tilts outboard to send stack gas away from the flight deck.

File:USS America (CV-66) island 1976.jpg|America{{'}}s island in the mid 1970s, still equipped with AN/SPG-55 radar for Terrier.

File:USS Constellation (CV-64) starboard amidships.jpg|Constellation{{'}}s island in the early 1980s, note the different stack configuration from America and John F. Kennedy and alternate mounting of Terrier fire control radars

File:USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) bow 2007.jpg|2007 bow view of Kitty Hawk. Note the position of forward anchors and Rolling Airframe Missile launchers on either side instead of CIWS and NSSM.

File:USS America (CV-66) low view of stbd bow.jpg|America showing bow anchor which previous units did not have.

File:USS Constellation (CV-64) aerial Battle E.jpg|Aerial view of Constellation showing flightdeck shape and arrangement.

File:USS John F Kennedy (CV-67) port stern view 2004.jpg|Stern view of the port side of John F. Kennedy showing the elevator and self-defense AAW equipment.

File:USS Independence (CV-62) and USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) at Pearl Harbor crop.jpg|{{USS|Independence|CV-62|2}}, left, a Forrestal-class carrier next to Kitty Hawk (right)

File:USS John F Kennedy (CV-67) and USS Saratoga (CV-60) underway crop.jpg|{{USS|John F. Kennedy|CV-67|2}} and {{USS|Saratoga|CV-60|2}}, a Forrestal-class carrier. Note the differences in island and aircraft elevator configuration.

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category|Kitty Hawk class aircraft carriers}}

  • [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/cv-63.htm Federation of American Scientists – Kitty Hawk Class]

{{Kitty Hawk class aircraft carrier}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Aircraft carrier classes

Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carriers

Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carriers