NAVY FACT FILE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS MISSION: Support and operate aircraft that engage in attacks on airborne, afloat and ashore targets which threaten our use of the sea; and engage in sustained operations in support of other forces. COMMENTARY: The aircraft carrier continues to be the centerpiece of the forces necessary to execute the Maritime Strategy. Aircraft carriers are deployed worldwide in support of U.S. national interests and commitments. They are capable of executing response options ranging from peacetime presence through general war. Together with their embarked air wings, the carriers have vital roles in strike, anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare across the full conflict spectrum. Three Nimitz class CVN's are presently under construction. The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) will join the fleet in 1990 as, concurrently, USS Coral Sea (CV 43) is to be decommissioned. CVN 73, 74 and 75 will replace conventionally powered carriers as they retire in the 1990s. The number of deployable carriers will continue at 14 for the forseeable future. The Congress authorized full funding in 1988 for CVN 74 and 75, agreeing that the acquisition strategy made good business sense and will provide these carriers at a significant cost savings compared to single ship buys. These ships will be modified repeats of CVN 73. The Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard adds 15 years of service life to our conventional carriers. The USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) is currently in SLEP and should complete in 1991. The USS Constellation (CV 64) SLEP is scheduled for a FY 1990 start. The FY 1989 budget includes $62.7 million to procure long lead materials for the USS Constellation SLEP. NIMITZ CLASS (CVN-68) Displacement: 91,487 tons full load (CVN-71, 96,358) Length: 1,040 feet Beam: 134 feet Flight Deck Width: 252 feet Speed: 30-plus knots Power Plant: Two nuclear reactors, four geared steam turbines, four shafts Aircraft: 85 Armament: Sea Sparrow missiles, Phalanx close-in weapons systems-three on Nimitz and Eisenhower, four on Vinson, four to be installed on later ships of class Complement: 3,200 ship's company; 2,480 in air wing Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Units: USS Nimitz (CVN-68); Bremerton, Washington USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69); Norfolk, VA USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70); Alameda, CA USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71); Norfolk, VA ENTERPRISE CLASS (CVN-65) Displacement: 89,600 tons full load Length: 1,040 feet Beam: 133 feet Flight Deck Width: 252 feet Speed: 30-plus knots Power Plant: Eight nuclear reactors, four geared steam turbines, four shafts Aircraft: Approximately 85 Armament: Sea Sparrow missiles; three Phalanx close-in weapons systems Complement: 3,350 ship's company; 2,480 in air wing Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Units: USS Enterprise (CVN-65); Alameda, CA JOHN F.KENNEDY CLASS (CV-67) Displacement: 82,000 tons full load Length: 1,052 Beam: 130 feet Flight Deck Width: 252 feet Speed: 30-plus knots Power Plant: Eight boilers, four geared steam turbines, four shafts, 280,000 shaft horsepower Aircraft: Approximately 85 Armament: Sea Sparrow missiles; three Phalanx close-in weapons systems Complement: 3,117 ship's company; 2,480 in air wing Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Units: USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67); Norfolk, VA KITTY HAWK CLASS (CV-63) Displacement: 80,800 tons full load Length: 1,046 feet Beam: 130 feet Flight Deck Width: 252 feet Speed: 30-plus knots Power Plant: Eight boilers, four geared steam turbines, four shafts, 280,000 shaft horsepower Aircraft: Approximately 85 Armament: Terrier missiles in Constellation tobe replaced by Sea Sparrow missiles; Sea Sparrow missiles in Kitty Hawk and America; three Phalanx close-in weapons systems Compliment: 3,150 ship's company; 2,480 in air wing Builders: CV-63, New York Shipbuilding; 64, New York Naval Shipyard; 66, Newport News Shipbuilding Units: USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63); Philadelphia, PA USS Constellation (CV-64); San Diego, CA USS America (CV-66); Norfolk VA FORRESTAL CLASS (CV-59) Displacement: 75,900 to 79,300 tons full load Length: 1,063 to 1,086 Beam: 129 feet Flight Deck Width: 252 feet Speed: 30-plus knots Power Plant: Eight boilers, with Forrestal's plant approximately 50 percent lower in pounds per square inch than those of other ships in class; four geared steam turbines, four shafts 260,000 shaft horsepower for Forrestal, 280,000 for others Aircraft: Approximately 75 Armament: Sea Sparrow missiles; three Phalanx close-in weapons systems being installed in each during SLEP overhauls Complement: 3,019 ship's company; 2,480 in air wing Builders: CVs 59, 61, Newport News Shipbuilding; 60, 62, New York Naval Shipyard Units: USS Forrestal (CV-59); Mayport, FL USS Saratoga (CV-60); Mayport, FL USS Ranger (CV-61); San Diego; CA USS Independence (CV-62); San Diego, PA MIDWAY CLASS Displacement: 62,000 tons full load Length: 979 feet Beam: 121 feet Flight Deck Width: 238 feet Speed: 30-plus knots Power Plant: 12 boilers, four geared steam turbines, four shafts, 212,000 shaft horsepower Aircraft: Approximately 65 Armament: Sea Sparrow missiles; three Phalanx close-in weapons systems Complement: 2,533 ship's company; 2,239 in air wing Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Units: USS Midway (CV-41); Yokosuka, Japan USS Coral Sea (CV-43); Norfolk, VA SOURCE: Department of the Navy (OP-553); Washington, DC 20350-2000; (202) 697-9360