Aircraft Carriers

Much to my dismay and many other USN vets the USN has offically named CVN-78 the USS Gerald Ford. This sucks big time. Despite the cries of veterans groups to name the ship America, Lexington or Enterprise. In the US it seems politicans are always stroking each others ..well you know what.



Washington, D.C. (Jan. 16, 2006) - Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President Gerald R. Ford, speaks at the unveiling and naming of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). The ship as well as the newest class of aircraft carriers was named after the 38th president of the United States during a ceremony at the Pentagon.

bd popeye said:

Much to my dismay and many other USN vets the USN has offically named CVN-78 the USS Gerald Ford. This sucks big time. Despite the cries of veterans groups to name the ship America, Lexington or Enterprise. In the US it seems politicans are always stroking each others ..well you know what.

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Washington, D.C. (Jan. 16, 2006) - Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President Gerald R. Ford, speaks at the unveiling and naming of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). The ship as well as the newest class of aircraft carriers was named after the 38th president of the United States during a ceremony at the Pentagon.

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And for the first time since the 30's no US carrier will be named Enterprise. Maybe the next space shuttle will be named one.

Now I wonder how that class of CVNs will be named. "Ford class"? Or will every new carrier be of it's own class?

I'm a traditionalist and I dislike ships named after politicians. If they have to name it after a President then why not Thomas Jefferson or Andrew Jackson, both of whom were highly distinguished Presidents and, to the best of my knowledge, have not had a USN ship named for them?

It is really annoying when you think of all the other great US carrier names that are available such as Ranger, Saratoga, Constellation, Independence, Oriskiny, Hornet, Yorktown, Ticonderoga, Valley Forge etc. all of those names have strong history behind them and if I was to serve on a ship with one of those names I'd know I was following ina great tradition. I'm sure the USS Gerald Ford will make it's own history over it's life time, but it's a shame that they missed the opportunity to give this new ship a great name from the past.

Agreed Nutral zone...But it's too late now. Politicians have decided to name CVN's after their own kind. They know nothing and care nothing about naval tradition.

The name Indpendence has been assigned to a LCS. The other names are available. But in light of US politicans basking in their own glory I doubt if one of those majicstic names will ever grace another CVN.

There was an USS Thomas Jefferson SSBN-618 & a troop transport with the same name.

There was also an USS Andrew Jackson SSBN-619.

bd popeye said:

Agreed Nutral zone...But it's too late now. Politicians have decided to name CVN's after their own kind. They know nothing and care nothing about naval tradition.

The name Indpendence has been assigned to a LCS. The other names are available. But in light of US politicans basking in their own glory I doubt if one of those majicstic names will ever grace another CVN.

There was an USS Thomas Jefferson SSBN-618 & a troop transport with the same name.

There was also an USS Andrew Jackson SSBN-619.

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Well it seems the Aircraft Carriers are going to be named after politicians from now on. There is the George HW Bush, the Gerald Ford and less recently the John C. Stennis. I don't even know who John C. Stennis is/was! If your going to name them after political figures why not name one the Martin Luther King? But like I said, there is no hope of changing the USS Gerald Ford's name what with his recent death and all.

All this reminds me of a Simpson's episode. The Simpsons are being airlifted off of the roof of the American embassy in Australia as it falls to a mob of angry Australians (Bart insulted their national honor) and Bart turns to the helicopter pilot and says "Do we get to land on an Aicraft Carrier?! That would be cool!". The helicopter pilot says "No son we're going to land on the USS Walter Mondale...its a laundry ship."

The bro' from socal does not know who John C Stennis was. Like Carl Vinson he was a powerful career politican. 41 years elected to the US congress. In his early days in Mississippi he was a powerful racist proscutor. As southern senator he apposed civil rights legistation. But had a slight change of heart in his latter career. Yea right.

And the USN had the nerve to name a ship after this man. Shameful.



Carl Vinson had a similar career;



Why no ship named after Martin Luther King? He was an pacifist.

... I do firmly believe the USN should name it's CVN's in the former traditional manner. After famous ships, historic places & battles. And if they do name a CVN after someone name it afer a very worthy person. Like Franklin D. Roosevelt or Benjamin Franklin.

As has been pointed out already, the whole scandal of CVN names shows politicians are only interested in self glorification. CVN 77 was so named by the Navy probably to prevent a ship being named after 'Junior', as that would be a step too far!

Obi Wan Russell said:

As has been pointed out already, the whole scandal of CVN names shows politicians are only interested in self glorification. CVN 77 was so named by the Navy probably to prevent a ship being named after 'Junior', as that would be a step too far!

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You said a a mouthful Jedi Master..

For those of you that don't understand about naming ships afer politicains and why it riles us up so. Look at this self-serving bunch. Only one uniform in the batch! That is the CNO of the USN ADM Mike Mullen. The rest are what-his-name kids and politicians!!!

Some of these politicians served onboard aircraft carriers when they were younger. George Bush Sr. served on the USS San Jacinto (CVL-30), and was shot down once in World War II. Gerald R. Ford served onboard the USS Monterey (CVL-26) in World War II, and was nearly swept overboard in a storm which sunk 3 destroyers and severely damaged the carrier. Carl Vinson was the primary person responsible for modernizing the U.S. Navy before World War II, and his contributions to the Navy was invaluable because the modernization efforts allowed the U.S. Navy to match the Japanese Navy in capabilities. Pretty much everyone who has their name loaned to a U.S. Navy carrier, except for Eisenhower had some form of connection to the U.S. Navy in some fashion.