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Interesting Facts

COs of USS John C. Stennis

Accidents aboard USS John C. Stennis

History of USS John C. Stennis

Deployments of USS John C. Stennis

Homeports of USS John C. Stennis

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USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74)

USS JOHN C. STENNIS is 1,092 feet long and towers some 20 stories above the waterline. As a self-contained city, JOHN C. STENNIS has virtually the same amenities as any American city with a comparable population. It has a daily newspaper, radio and television stations, fire department, library, hospital, general store, laundry, two barbershops and even a post office with its own zip code.

General Characteristics:	Keel Laid: March 13, 1991
	Launched: Nov. 11, 1993
	Commissioned: Dec. 9, 1995
	Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News; Va.
	Propulsion system: two nuclear reactors
	Main Engines: four
	Propellers: four
	Blades on each Propeller: five
	Aircraft elevators: four
	Catapults: four
	Arresting gear cables: four
	Length, overall: 1,092 feet (332.85 meters)
	Flight Deck Width: 257 feet (78.34 meters)
	Area of flight deck: about 4.5 acres (18211.5 m²)
	Beam: 134 feet (40.84 meters)
	Draft: 38.4 feet (11.7 meters)
	Displacement: approx. 100,000 tons full load
	Speed: 30+ knots
	Planes: approx. 85
	Crew: Ship: approx. 3,200 , Air Wing: 2,480
	Armament: two Mk-57 Mod 3 Sea Sparrow launchers, three 20mm Phalanx CIWS Mk 15, two Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Systems
	Homeport: Norfolk, Va.

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS JOHN C. STENNIS. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

Click here to view the list.

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Click here to see which USS JOHN C. STENNIS memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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USS JOHN C. STENNIS Cruise Books:

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Interesting Facts:

If lined up end-to-end, the bed mattresses would stretch more than nine miles
Other intersting figures:
- Number of telephones: 2,000
- Tons of structural steel: about 60,000 tons
- Sheets: 28,000
- Pillow Cases: 14,000
JOHN C. STENNIS got its two anchors from the decommissioned USS FORRESTAL (CV 59).
Weight of one anchor: 30 tons.
The ship carries approximately three million gallons of fuel for its aircrafts and escorts, and enough weapons and stores for extended operations without replenishment.

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USS JOHN C. STENNIS' Commanding Officers:

Period	Name
December 9, 1995 - April 3, 1997	Captain Robert C. Klosterman, USN
April 3, 1997 - August 27, 1999	Captain Douglas R. Roulstone, USN
August 27, 1999 - November 16, 2001	Captain Richard K. Gallagher, USN
November 16, 2001 - December 10, 2003	Captain James A. McDonell, USN
December 10, 2003 - May 5, 2006	Captain David H. Buss, USN
May 5, 2006 - September 18, 2008	Captain Bradley E. Johanson, USN
September 18, 2008 - March 18, 2011	Captain Joseph W. Kuzmick, USN
March 18, 2011 - July 26, 2013	Captain Ronald Reis, USN
July 26, 2013 - February 14, 2016	Captain Michael A. Wettlaufer, USN
February 14, 2016 - August 3, 2018	Captain Gregory C. Huffman, USN
August 3, 2018 - December 31, 2020	Captain Randall W. Peck, USN
December 31, 2020 - May 18, 2023	Captain Cassidy C. Norman, USN
May 18, 2023 - present	Captain Joseph P. Thompson III, USN

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Read more about the Carrier's Name and about Senator John C. Stennis

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Accidents aboard USS JOHN C. STENNIS:

Date Where Events

August 19, 1997 Virginia Capes The pilot of a Naval Air Station Ocean, Va.-based F-14 Tomcat aircraft was safed after he was accidentally ejected from his aircraft during a landing aboard the JOHN C. STENNIS. STENNIS personnel rescued the radar intercept officer from the pilotless Tomcat as it sat on the flight deck with engines still running.
The officers, both of Virginia Beach, Va., were assigned to Fighter Squadron 143, and both were treated for minor injuries by STENNIS medical personnel. The pilot was recovered immediately astern of the carrier and rescued by a helicopter from Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 5 based at NAS Jacksonville, Fla.

November 30, 1999 Naval Air Station
North Island, San Diego, Ca The STENNIS ran aground in a shallow area adjacent to its turning basin as it attempted to maneuver near Naval Air Station, North Island (NASNI). Silt clogged the intake pipes to the cooling systems of the nuclear reactors, causing the carrier’s two nuclear reactors to be shut down (one reactor by crew, the other automatically) for a period of 45 minutes. The STENNIS was towed back to its pier for maintenance and observation for the next two days. The cleanup cost was about $2 million.

June 25, 2000 1,400 miles south-west of
Hawaii An F-14 of VF-211 stationed aboard JOHN C. STENNIS crashed into the Pacific. Both aviators ejected and were recovered half an hour later.

March 8, 2002 North Arabian Sea An F-14 of VF-211 crashed into the North Arabian Sea as it was attempting to land aboard USS STENNIS. Both aviators were recovered and did not suffer serious injuries. The F-14 was operating in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

April 24, 2009 Singapore A sailor died after sustaining injuries while performing maintenance on the exterior of the ship moored at Changi Pier, Singapore. The sailor was aboard a small boat conducting a routine procedure to secure drains from the ship's catapult system when he was crushed between the small boat and the ship's hull. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

March 30, 2011 off southern California 10 sailors are injured when one of the engines of a Marine Corps F/A-18C assigned to VMFAT-101 catches fire. The sailors were working on the flight deck near the aircraft when it suffered the engine failure. Four of the injured sailors were medevaced to Naval Medical Center San Diego.

Date	Where	Events
August 19, 1997	Virginia Capes	The pilot of a Naval Air Station Ocean, Va.-based F-14 Tomcat aircraft was safed after he was accidentally ejected from his aircraft during a landing aboard the JOHN C. STENNIS. STENNIS personnel rescued the radar intercept officer from the pilotless Tomcat as it sat on the flight deck with engines still running. The officers, both of Virginia Beach, Va., were assigned to Fighter Squadron 143, and both were treated for minor injuries by STENNIS medical personnel. The pilot was recovered immediately astern of the carrier and rescued by a helicopter from Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 5 based at NAS Jacksonville, Fla.
November 30, 1999	Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, Ca	The STENNIS ran aground in a shallow area adjacent to its turning basin as it attempted to maneuver near Naval Air Station, North Island (NASNI). Silt clogged the intake pipes to the cooling systems of the nuclear reactors, causing the carrier’s two nuclear reactors to be shut down (one reactor by crew, the other automatically) for a period of 45 minutes. The STENNIS was towed back to its pier for maintenance and observation for the next two days. The cleanup cost was about $2 million.
June 25, 2000	1,400 miles south-west of Hawaii	An F-14 of VF-211 stationed aboard JOHN C. STENNIS crashed into the Pacific. Both aviators ejected and were recovered half an hour later.
March 8, 2002	North Arabian Sea	An F-14 of VF-211 crashed into the North Arabian Sea as it was attempting to land aboard USS STENNIS. Both aviators were recovered and did not suffer serious injuries. The F-14 was operating in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
April 24, 2009	Singapore	A sailor died after sustaining injuries while performing maintenance on the exterior of the ship moored at Changi Pier, Singapore. The sailor was aboard a small boat conducting a routine procedure to secure drains from the ship's catapult system when he was crushed between the small boat and the ship's hull. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
March 30, 2011	off southern California	10 sailors are injured when one of the engines of a Marine Corps F/A-18C assigned to VMFAT-101 catches fire. The sailors were working on the flight deck near the aircraft when it suffered the engine failure. Four of the injured sailors were medevaced to Naval Medical Center San Diego.

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USS JOHN C. STENNIS comes alongside the USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62) March 30, 1998, in the Arabian Gulf where both ships were deployed in support of UN-mandated sanctions against Iraq and enforcement of the "No-Fly Zone" under OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH.

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USS JOHN C. STENNIS History:

USS JOHN C. STENNIS was commissioned at Naval Station Norfolk on 9 December 1995 after construction at Newport News Shipbuilding. Through 1996-1997 the carrier completed carrier qualifications and early test periods. On 18 January 1997, a F/A-18 Super Hornet made its first ever carrier landing aboard JOHN C. STENNIS during East Coast workups.

The ship began its maiden deployment on 26 February 1998, transited to the Arabian Gulf to enforce Operation Southern Watch, and concluded the cruise at San Diego on 26 August 1998 - a homeport shift that followed a long Western Pacific/Indian Ocean itinerary with routine Gulf logistics stops (e.g., Jebel Ali) and a Pacific return via Pearl Harbor. JOHN C. STENNIS then entered a post-deployment maintenance period at North Island in October 1998 and returned to sea in spring 1999.

In late November 1999, the carrier ran aground in the San Diego turning basin, prompting inspections and cleanup before resuming the training cycle. JOHN C. STENNIS deployed again on 7 January 2000, entered the Persian Gulf on 28 February, wrapped up Southern Watch tasking on 24 May, and returned to San Diego on 3 July 2000. Port calls across the 2000 cruise included Hong Kong, Pusan (ROK), Port Klang (Malaysia), Jebel Ali/Bahrain, Fremantle/Hobart (Australia/Tasmania), and Pearl Harbor.

Following 9/11, JOHN C. STENNIS accelerated her next cruise and departed 12 November 2001 for a deployment focused on Operation Enduring Freedom, returning 28 May 2002. En route and during the deployment the ship called at Hong Kong and Singapore, with repeated logistics stops in Bahrain/Jebel Ali and a Southern Hemisphere liberty at Hobart before the Pacific transit back to San Diego. A seven-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) followed from June 2002 to January 2003.

From 24 May to 1 November 2004, JOHN C. STENNIS conducted a Pacific deployment built around Exercise Northern Edge (Gulf of Alaska) and RIMPAC (Hawaii), plus operations with USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63) in Japan. Port activity included Pearl Harbor, Sasebo, Port Klang, and Fremantle. On 19 January 2005 the Navy shifted her homeport to Bremerton, Washington for an 11-month dry-docking PIA that included mast and island upgrades, followed by post-yard training through 2006.

JOHN C. STENNIS deployed 16 January - 31 August 2007 to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf. She joined the Fifth Fleet on 19 February 2007, operated with coalition units, and returned to Bremerton on 31 August after routine Gulf logistics periods and calls such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Pearl Harbor. A dry-dock period ran September 2007-February 2008.

The next deployment ran 13 January-10 July 2009. After exercises with Japan and Korea and participation in Northern Edge 2009, the ship made port calls including Singapore (arrived 24 April), Laem Chabang, Busan, Sasebo, and Pearl Harbor before returning to Bremerton on 10 July 2009.

A closely spaced pair of cruises followed. JOHN C. STENNIS deployed 25 July 2011-2 March 2012 to the Arabian Sea for OEF/New Dawn, with planned visits to Bahrain/Jebel Ali and other regional hubs. After a short turnaround, she deployed again 27 August 2012-3 May 2013 for an eight-month Fifth/Seventh Fleet cycle that included Valiant Shield 2012 and port calls at Kota Kinabalu, Phuket, Bahrain/Jebel Ali, Singapore (arrived 1 April 2013), and Pearl Harbor, returning to Bremerton on 3 May 2013.

A Docking PIA at Puget Sound ran 27 June 2013-November 2014, followed by sea trials and basic phase. On 15 January 2016, JOHN C. STENNIS deployed for seven months, spending more than 60 days in the South China Sea, participating in Foal Eagle, Malabar, and RIMPAC, and making calls at Apra Harbor (Guam), Busan, Singapore (19-23 April 2016), Manila, and Pearl Harbor. A planned Hong Kong visit was denied by China on 29 April 2016. The ship returned to Bremerton on 14 August 2016 and later completed an overhaul in 2017.

To set conditions for mid-life work, the Navy announced a homeport change to Norfolk in 2018. JOHN C. STENNIS left Bremerton on 15 October 2018 for a world-cruise deployment spanning Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Fleets, with visits including Jebel Ali (multiple), Laem Chabang (10 February 2019), Bahrain, and Marseille (arrived 27 April 2019). The ship embarked more than 1,000 family members for a tiger cruise from Mayport (13-14 May) and arrived at her new homeport Norfolk on 16 May 2019.

JOHN C. STENNIS began Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding in May 2021. The ship undocked in early April 2024, moving to an outfitting berth with the Navy noting the overhaul was >65% complete and tracking toward redelivery in October 2026. Through 2025, JOHN C. STENNIS has remained pier-side at Newport News completing system installations, testing, and crew training typical of the second half of an RCOH.

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Click here to get a view of the deployments of USS JOHN C. STENNIS

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Homeports of USS JOHN C. STENNIS:

Period	Homeport
commissioned at Norfolk, Va.
1995 - 1998	Norfolk, Va.
1998 - 2005	San Diego, Calif.
2005 - 2019	Bremerton, Wash.
2019 - present	Norfolk, Va.

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USS JOHN C. STENNIS Patch Gallery:


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USS JOHN C. STENNIS Image Gallery:



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The photos below were taken by Ian Johnson on April 29, 2002, and show the USS JOHN C. STENNIS anchored in Gage Roads off the port of Fremantle, Australia. This was the carrier's third visit to Western Australia

The photos below were taken by Ian Johnson on September 30, 2004, and show the USS JOHN C. STENNIS anchored in Gage Roads off the port of Fremantle, Australia. This was the carrier's fourth visit to Western Australia

The photos below were taken by me on March 23, 2010, and show the USS JOHN C. STENNIS at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, Calif.. The first two photos show her just a few hours before departing for Bremerton, Wash. The third photo shows the carrier during sunset while getting underway.

The photos below were taken by me on May 12, 2012, and show the USS JOHN C. STENNIS at her homeport of Bremerton, Wash.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the USS JOHN C. STENNIS at Bremerton, Wash., on October 13, 2017.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the USS JOHN C. STENNIS during Fleet Fest 2019 at Naval Base Norfolk, Va., on October 19, 2019.



			Click here for more Photos.

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