The USA Only Has 11 Active Aircraft Carriers

The USS George Washington is not currently seaworthy. It is docked in Newport News, Virginia, for a scheduled four-year Refueling and Complex Overhaul, which is due to be completed in 2021. The vessel has had an unfortunate history with several fires and crashes on the ship or its associated planes and boats.

The USS John C. Stennis was named in honor of a Mississippi senator who served his state for more than 40 years. A staunch advocate of military spending and advancement, Stennis has been nicknamed the “father of America’s modern Navy.” The ship is 244 feet tall and has two 30-ton anchors. The USS Stennis was one of the first carriers to take part in post-Sept. 11 operations, launching strikes on Afghanistan as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom in December 2001.

The USS Harry Truman was key in the rescue and recovery operations in the wake of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. The carrier, along with numerous other ships, aircraft, and helicopters from the Coast Guard and Marines, helped rescue more than 12,500 people on 1,800 missions.

The USS Ronald Reagan is the only American aircraft carrier that does not have a homeport on U.S. soil, instead calling Yokosuka, Japan, home. This means the USS Reagan was able to help in the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and resulting tsunami in the country, sending out planes to search for survivors and deliver supplies.

Named for the 41st president and Navy veteran, the USS George H.W. Bush has the motto “Freedom at work.” The vessel and its crew helped keep Afghanistan’s democratic elections safe from those who would hope to disrupt them. The USS Bush more recently also provided humanitarian support to Iraqis fleeing violence from ISIS insurgents.