New aircraft carrier John C. Stennis gets underway

US Navy Press Releases

. New aircraft carrier John C. Stennis gets underway

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- The aircraft carrier John C. Stennis got under way for builder's sea trials on Oct. 3. The ship will be at sea for approximately three days for a functional test of the ship's systems. This will be the first time more than 2,300 "plank owners" take the Navy's newest aircraft carrier to sea.

John C. Stennis was christened on Nov. 11, 1993, and is scheduled for commissioning on Dec. 9, 1995, at Naval Station Norfolk. The ship is being delivered six and a half months early, incorporating nearly 1,200 upgrades to the ship's design, systems and habitability.

The ship is named after former U.S. Senator (Miss.) John C. Stennis who served with eight presidents, beginning with Harry S. Truman in 1947 and ending with Ronald Reagan in 1988. As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee from 1969 to 1980, Stennis consistently supported a strong U.S. military and gained the honorary title "The father of America's modern Navy." (This story appeared on Navy Wire Service as NNWSA1120)