Page 29: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 1986)

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THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71) COMMISSIONED

Milestone In Newport News Shipbuilding's 100th Anniversary Celebration

The U.S. Navy's fifth nuclear- powered aircraft carrier, Theodore

Roosevelt (CVN-71), came alive re- cently at the Newport News Ship- building yard, Newport News, Va., 16 months ahead of schedule and $80 million under budget. In a light, steady rain the ship's crew waited for the order of their new command- ing officer, Capt. Paul W. Par- cells. When he said, "USS Theo- dore Roosevelt, come alive," a crowd of some 20,000 cheered and ap- plauded.

As the crew came to attention, 16 aircraft in close, four-diamond for- mation flew directly up the center- line of the ship. The flight, repre- senting Carrier Air Wing Eight soon to be embarked on the Roosevelt, consisted of four each F-14s, FA-18s and A-6s and two each E-2s and

S-3s from Carrier Air Groups Eight and 13.

The principal offensive striking power on the Theodore Roosevelt will be shared by two attack aircraft: the A-6E Intruder all-weather at- tack aircraft and the F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter.

December, 1986

The primary air defense force for

Theodore Roosevelt and her surface escort ships will be provided by the

E-2C Hawkeye/F-14A Tomcat team, which maintains a defensive barrier of several hundred miles around the carrier battle group and ensures that no unknown ships or aircraft cross the barrier.

The S-3A Viking, the Navy's car- rier based anti-submarine warfare aircraft, and the SH-3 Sea King helicopter, working closely with the carrier's Anti-Submarine Warfare

Module, provide a highly effective sea-going weapons system to search out enemy submarines.

Airborne electronic defense will be provided by a squadron of EA-6B

Prowlers.

USS Theodore Roosevelt, named for the 26th President of the United

States, is the 15th deployable car- rier in service today and the 11th active carrier built by Newport

News Shipbuilding. She is the fourth ship in the Nimitz class, dis- places 97,000 tons and achieves speeds in excess of 30 knots powered by two nuclear reactors.

As a key element of the nation's forward defense strategy, USS The- odore Roosevelt is tasked with maintaining open sea lanes of trade and communication. With 85 tacti- cal aircraft and more than 6,200 professional Navy men aboard, she is one of the most powerful warships ever built.

Barbara Lehman, Secretary of the Navy John Lehman's wife, sponsored the ship and approved the ship's seal together with Grace

McMillan, the Matron of Honor and the first grandchild of Presi- dent Theodore Roosevelt.

Secretary of Defense Caspar W.

Weinberger was the principal speaker at the commissionary cere- mony. He said, "Theodore Roo- sevelt was a man of vision and peace, whose policies guided the

United States toward the position we now hold—the world's most powerful defender of freedom. "Nothing we as a nation might do to honor Theodore Roosevelt's legacy more appropriately captures his strength of spirit and the force of liberty than this great ship."

Mr. Weinberger continued, "this ship is being delivered to the

Navy 16 months ahead of schedule and more than $80 million under program costs."

Secretary Lehman and Carlisle

A. H. Trost, Chief of Naval Opera- tions, also spoke at the commission- ing ceremony.

Admiral Trost said of the com- missioning "... I have no doubt it will cause concern in the minds of those who might challenge us at sea.

And they might also wonder, de- spite the weather, why so many people are here this morning on this occasion. Could it be there really is a great appreciation by the citizens of our country of the need for a strong

Navy? "There is proof of that belief and

I would say to those who might chal- lenge us, you bet there is an appre- ciation. You'd better look out. We are good. We are ready and we intend to stay that way." (continued) 31