Ford and Truman alongside each other

Devil Doc

Devil Doc

Teufel Doc
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The USS Gerald R. Ford first of her class and USS Harry S. Truman eighth of the Nimitz class steaming, or fissioning alongside each other. The size difference is remarkable. The Ford is a monster with close to 700 fewer crew than other flat tops.fordtru.jpg
 
The Ford looks like it could only launch one fixed-wing aircraft and a couple of helos, and the Truman can only put one helo in the air on short notice.
That seems unprepared, to me.
 
that pic is a little distorted and give the impression there is a big diff in size between the Ford and Nimitz class

they are actually almost identical is size,

Ford vs Nimitz

length - 1106' vs 1092'
beam - 134' vs 134'
flight deck width 256' vs 252'
displacement - ~100 tons vs ~100 tons

Ford has a much smaller island, and it's positioned much farther aft than Nimitz
the big differences are the ones you can't see.
Ford produces about 3x as much electricity as Nimitz and uses it for all the technology is needs (EMALS, elevators, etc) and maybe someday Railguns and lasers :)

and there are only 3 arresting wires instead of 4
 
Dang, just a couple feet difference all the way around but the pic makes it look like much more.
 
I'm going to add three zeros to that displacement and call it long tons, @A6E Dad ;)
 
Great photo — awesome display of American Naval might.
First thing I notice is the nearly-all F18 Airwing — but the venerable E2 and SH60s are hanging in there. Commissioned in 1976, the Nimitz was home to now retired: A3, A4, A7, A6, EA3, EA6, ES3, F4, F14, H3, RA5, RF8, and S3. Let me know if I missed one! (Truth in lending — I typed this on tablet and was too lazy to spell out all the dashes and model numbers...)
 
I got so excited thinking about the first of the line Nimitz that I forgot it's the Truman fissioning alongside Ford in this photo. :cool:
 
not sure about Nimitz, but on TR we also had Marine Corps CH-53s, and H1 Hueys for a period of time
 
long before the Nimitz was built, my first ship, USS Forrestal, recovered and launched something no other carrier ever did....

 
On my first Med I escorted a snipe ashore for treatment and had to catch a ride back to the ship.

I got on a C-2 in Sigonella for a long and dizzying ride to the J.F.K. I was in a backward facing seat all strapped in with cranial in place. I kept getting hot and cold and the plane was moving around so much I almost hurled. We finally got to the ship and missed the wire on the first try. Came around and caught it and we stopped just like in the movies. I guess. I felt us rolling and then sitting still for a short while but it seemed like a long time. I spent a couple days on the carrier and then hitched a ride to my destroyer on a CH-3. I was lowered on the hoist and was never so glad to see anything in my life.
 
A6E Dad said:
long before the Nimitz was built, my first ship, USS Forrestal, recovered and launched something no other carrier ever did....

Click to expand...
That really doesn't look like it should have been possible. Incredible.
 
Herky Birds are cool. They are capable of a landing speed just over 100 knots. Watch one get its LAPES on:


Of course, there's a lot of videos where this goes horribly wrong, too.
 
Then there are “Boot Shoots,” using the catapult to launch someone’s flight boots on a special occasion.
Look for the videos.
 
I saw a car launched from a French carrier catapult, once.

They "Launched the Alert Buick" off Big E once as well:
1591817452002.png
 
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