While the sailors themselves make America's Navy the best in power and humanitarian relief to every corner of the globe. the world, the has always been and continues to Steeped in historical significance for nearly 90 years, our be the backbone of this "global force for good." aircraft carriers have served the nation's interests in times of war and in times of peace, adapting to the immediate and With unprecedented technology and unmatched capabilities, ever-changing nature of our increasingly global community. the United States carriers deliver a one-of-a-kind mix of combat

October April 1954 December 1975 Hispaniola 2004 Saigon, USS (CVE 48) Southeast Asia USS Hancock (CV 19), December USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) USS Midway (CV 41) With nuclear propulsion and In 1954, USS Saipan (CVE 48) a thirty plus knot speed 1929 supported relief efforts in the In December 2004, the U.S. Tacoma, Washington Caribbean following Navy dispatched USS capability, carriers can move During normal operations, a Nimitz class USS Lexington (CV 2) hurricanes that struck the Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) to In 1975, aircraft carriers Hancock rapidly to the area of concern aircraft carrier can accommodate up to 150 island of Hispaniola. Food, assist with relief operations and Midway, along with several and provide a sustainable water, medical and other after the Southeast Asian hospital beds, a 3 bed ICU and 2 Quiet other U.S. Navy ships, aided in supplies, and personnel were tsunami. The carrier's support base for immediate Operation Frequent Wind -- the Rooms. The Medical Department has 10 all brought to the devastated surveillance aircraft USS Lexington (CV 2) was largest helicopter rescue in history. relief operations. area by the ship. In 1955, the conducted survey officers assigned: a Senior Medical officer, ordered to Tacoma after the There, during the last days of the same ship provided operations, including General Surgeon, Anesthesiologist, Nurse, city’s power system failed , over 7,000 American assistance to Mexico search-and-rescue efforts, and the area experienced a civilians and "at-risk" Vietnamese physical therapist, psychologist, and 30-33 following flooding in the and cargo planes delivered drought, which diminished were airlifted out of Saigon. Tampico area. supplies from Bangkok to corpsmen. All of this is can be augmented for water in nearby dams that affected areas. humanitarian relief. were hydroelectric sources of power to the city. For one month, the ship provided roughly 30 percent of the city’s electrical power. Nuclear-powered aircraft carriers normally carry enough supplies to remain at sea for 90 days without resupply.

A nuclear powered aircraft carrier's desalinization plants can produce more than 400,000 gallons of fresh water from sea water per day, providing a source of one of the most September critical life-saving resources necessary in most relief operations - 2005 Gulf Coast fresh drinking water. A dental clinic with five USS Harry Truman (CVN 75) March dental officers capable of caring for as many In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, USS 2011 Harry Truman (CVN 75) sailed to the Northern Coast of Japan as 70 patients per day. devastated U.S. Gulf Coast. Arriving USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) on September 4, she served as the flagship for the Naval task force, where she remained anchored for five January weeks, providing fresh, desalinated In March 2011, USS Ronald Reagan water for the relief effort via helicopter. Carriers are uniquely suited (CVN 76) arrived off the coast of 2010 Japan to provide food, water, to provide the command Haiti medicine and clothing to those and control necessary to USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) devastated by the tragic 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami. deliver humanitarian assistance to disaster The food services In January 2010, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) arrived in Haiti department is capable victims coordinating 100’s to provide medical services and humanitarian assistance of daily flights carrying in the immediate aftermath of that country’s devastating of serving 18,000 to earthquake. During the first week of the crisis Vinson was 20,000 meals each day. much needed food, water, the center of relief operations serving as hospital, delivering tons of food and medical supplies, and supplies and medical converting 400,000 gallons of sea water into drinking assistance. water through its giant desalination plant.

Sources: acibc.org | Leveraging America’s Aircraft Carrier Capabilities, Exploring New Combat and Noncombat Roles and Missions for the U.S. Carrier Fleet. by John Gordon IV, Peter A. Wilson, John Birkler, Steven Boraz, Gordon T. Lee