The Aviation Magazine Volume 6, Issue 4, May 2015 Special Edition | Page 18
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The USS Carl Vinson (CVN‐70) is the third United
States Navy Nimitz class supercarrier and is
named after Carl Vinson, a Congressman
from Georgia, in recognition of his contributions
to the US Navy.
USS Carl Vinson was commissioned on 13 March
1982 at Newport News, Virginia, with Captain
Richard Martin commanding. Since October 2009
Carl Vinson is the flagship of the Carrier Strike
Group 1, based in San Diego. The ship, currently
under the command of Captain Karl O. Thomas.
The USS Carl Vinson’s propulsion is provided
by two Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors
and is capable of speeds of 30+ knots (35+
mph), displaces 101,300 long tons. She is
1,092 ft (332.8 m) long and 252 ft (76.8 m)
wide. The angled flight deck is 779.8 ft
(237.6 m) long