U.S.S.+America-APG

U.S.S America

The U.S.S America was one of the most respected ships in the Navy. It was the third out of four in the Kitty Hawk Class. This vessel was like a city on the water. Traveling at 30 plus knots and at the weight of 60,1000-61,000 tons standard and 79,724-81,773 tons fully loaded. The U.S.S America was built in 1956 through 1968 and was commissioned on January 23, 1965.This ship was decommissioned on August 9, 1996.This monsterouss machine was run by 4,582 men .The flight deck is 252 feet in width and the length could hold up to 70 aircrafts, that is the equivalent to 4.5 acres. Costing around 400 million in 1961,it was one of the Navy’s most costly aircraft carriers ever built. The weapons on this massive ship consisted of: SAM, Mk 29 launchers for NATO Sea Sparrow Guns, 20mm Phalanx Mk 15 CIWS. Most of these launchers and guns were used for the ships protection against enemy aircraft and when necessary, they were used in land assaults. The 20mm Phalanx Mk 15 CIWS is used for a missile destroyer that shoots a 20mm bullet. General Dynamics Corporation designed it. It is use by the Navy and is on every class of surface combat ships. The aircraft aboard this vessel included: F-4 Phantom, F-14 Tomcat, Corsair II and the F/A-18 Hornet. The Phantom II could climb four miles in 48 seconds. Mostly used to intercept enemy planes, the Phantom II was also capable of being a ground support bomber. The F/A-18 Hornet is an all weather carrier that is also used by several other nations beside the United States .The Corsair II tactical aircraft first arrived in Vietnam, brought in by the US Navy followed by the US Marines, then in 1970 with the U.S. Air Force. It was a valuable light attack aircraft. In the 1960’s the America was operating in the Indian Ocean, when an F-14 plane crashed on the flight deck causing more than $500,000 in damage although no one was harmed. Four huge propellers propelled this ship. Aircraft were lifted onto the flight deck by 4 separate aircraft elevators. Planes were constantly launched and deployed around the clock. The America was first launched on February 1, 1964.The ship traveled to many countries consisting of: Mediterranean, Livorno, Italy, Cannes, France; Genoa, Italy; Toulon, France; Athens, Greece; Istanbul, Turkey; Beirut, Lebanon; Valletta, Malta, Taranto, Italy; Palma, Majorca, Spain; and Pollensa Bay, Spain and many more.

The U.S.S America is still remembered as one of the most respected ships in the US Navy.

Sources 1.Modern Navel Combat By David Miller and Chris Miller 2.http://navysite.de/cvn/cv66.htm 3.http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/carriers/histories/cv66-america/cv66-america.html 4.http://www.answers.co m/topic/f-a-18-hornet-1 5.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS 6.http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/carriers/histories/cv66-america/cv66-america.htm