The Crazy Process of Repairing US Largest Aircraft Carrier After 25 Years at Sea

Welcome back to the Fluctus Channel to explore the processes that go through the maintenance and overhaul of the enormous Aircraft Carriers.
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[@brutonano9521]

My hats off to the ship workers. I served on three aircraft carriers, and they kept us afloat.

[@varonmullis5255]

Aircraft carriers are indeed awesome constructs. However, during the mid-1970’s I had a stint at NSA watching the Soviets watching us, causing me to re-christen aircraft carriers not as CVN (Carrier Aircraft Nuclear) but LSD (Large Sitting Duck). Even back then I worried about the survivability of carriers in a major conflict. The advance of anti-ship and ocean surveillance technologies has only improved since those days, so my estimate of carrier survivability has plummeted. As nice as it is to have floating air bases for force projection, I would rather see more, smaller carriers (and destroyers and submarines) in the hope that some will survive the opening salvos of the next war. That should not detract from the work of those who maintain the fleet, who deserve more credit than they receive. You are quite right in that regard.

[@jimmycsays]

The crews at these ship yards are truly unsung heros.

[@jamesmcdonough2726]

Sorry but the term "heros" in this case is inappropriate, True heros are individuals who put themselves in danger in order to assist others,not some 25 yvr old guy doing corrosion control

[@gtc1961]

In Bremerton, while undergoing an overhaul on the Enterprise, we called them "Yardbirds".

[@MrPropanePete]

Absolutely mesmerising. Just the scale of these vessels and complexity of the maintenance equipment is eye watering.

[@GreggLeone-df3lc]

I was assigned to the USS Saratoga CV-60 in the early 80’s. The Saratoga was the first ship to go through the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) overhaul that would last 28 months at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Pretty interesting process.

[@ronjones9447]

Would have prob been 4 years if she was a nuke

[@evanfinch4987]

are you captain ron

[@ronjones9447]

@@evanfinch4987 I’m retired but keep up on things, I’m a huge history fan.

[@richanddebshawaiiadventure4340]

funny cause I was on the saratoga in the yards in va in 88 and it was fcuking HELL ON EARTH

[@ronjones9447]

@@richanddebshawaiiadventure4340 Just think about 4 years, plus Covid made it 5 on a nuke carrier. That would crush any sailors dreams I believe, it was the GW but not sure that just went thru the 25 yr process. Multiple suicides. I just looked it up 11 suicides and it was 6 freaking years due to Covid.

[@garymiller5937]

I am just in awe of the immensity of the vessels, parts and systems!!!😮😮 Thanks 👍 for the video! 😊😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤❤

[@ronjones9447]

They have a KZbin video, what it takes to be a carrier captain. Amazing. Since all US carriers are nukes, you have to be nuke certified (as in qualified to run a plant) and by law be a pilot. The dedication is amazing

[@davestir5743]

This is some old footage, CVN65 was refitted in 1994, decommissioned in 2012, and sent to the scrap year din 2017. She isn't a Nimitz class, the Big-E is her own class, she was 1 of 5; however, they never made the other 4. She is the first nuclear carrier and one of the longest ships ever made. The Nimitz class ships are next for decommissioning, the BIG-E was the first decommissioned Nuclear ship sent to the scrap yard...so it is taking a long time to figure out how to safely scrap her nuclear reactors. Most ships decommissioned are sank as target ships. That would be more horrible in my opinion. The anchors from Big-E have been sent to the new carriers which each will have one anchor from Big-E. CVN-80 a Ford class carrier Enterprise will be built using the scrap iron from CVN-65, plus one anchor will be moved over to the new ship from the old. Big-E will carry one.

[@rcstl8815]

She also had eight reactors the following class, Nimitz only have two.

[@jimdanielson272]

Ford class is biggest, not Nimitz

[@erikturner5073]

​@@jimdanielson272 yeah, a very big overpriced turd by some estimates.

[@neubauerjoseph]

@@rcstl8815it’s because their submarine reactors

[@silvernblackattach]

@@neubauerjoseph don't make nonsense. A1W was the prototype for the Enterprises Reactors. Not a submarine reactor.

[@darktoadone5068]

I worked many years ago at the Charleston Naval Shipyard before BRACC shut it, we worked on tons of ships throughout my 25 years there, made so many friends over the years there, I miss working there.

[@njjeff201]

Bless our Vets 🇺🇸

[@Collie1228]

I was stationed on the carrier Kitty Hawk, and actually reported on board while she was in drydock in Bremerton, WA in 1969. I believe we were overhauled over six months then. It was rough duty. Welders and steel cutters were everywhere, and the ship stank of smoke constantly. To see a ship over 1,000 feet in length resting on blocks in a drydock was quite an experience.

[@capricorn839]

Running of Newport shipyard is definitely not for the faint hearted 😢😢😢😢😜😜

[@ownSystem]

The best Navy thats ever been USA 🇺🇸 Navy

[@DanielNoblett1111]

has to be an old documentary, The Enterprise CVN-65 was taken out of service back in 2012 and decommissioned in 2017.

[@edkrach8891]

I miss the Big E (CVN 65). Can't wait for the new one (CNV 80).

[@Luis-be9mi]

I miss the original USS Enterprise, CV-6 such a shame she wasn’t preserved.

[@stanstenson8168]

The GW got one her anchors during RCOH.

[@ronjones9447]

@@Luis-be9mi absolutely

[@johnjones5354]

CVN 79 Should have been ENTERPRISE, instead of glorifying a womanizer who improperly hazarded and lost his command in WW2.

[@jeffreymcurtis]

​@@stanstenson8168 and Lincoln got the other one 😊

[@user-ks5vm8ht7v]

God, bless America!

[@user-ek6md5bq3b]

AMAZING SKILL

[@dennisleighton2812]

Interestingly, you forgot to mention one small detail - after 25 years at sea the ship needs to be refueled!

[@norseman5041]

:-) replacing the nuclear reactor, they go to DD way more often than that.

[@dennisleighton2812]

@@norseman5041Sorry, DD? US nuclear supercarriers only typically have one refuelling, and that is at the mid-life major refuel/refit. After another 25 years they MAY be taken off the active list, or engage in a short service extension of a couple of years. Most of the Nimitz class carriers are approaching this period soon and that's why the Fords are being built as rapidly as possible. It is expected that most Nimitzs will be required to do service extensions.

[@Culdcepter]

I'm assuming drydocking is DD, and you're correct. On the Carl Vinson, we went into drydock in Bremerton after every Westpac (6-month deployments at the time, for the most part). That work took at least half the next year, scraping and painting the hull, doing all the anchor stuff they showed here, resurfacing the flight deck, upkeeping the cats and arresting gear, etc....everything except the 25-year RCOH refueling. Saved that for Norfolk. @@norseman5041

[@jeffreymcurtis]

​@@dennisleighton2812thank Congress for extending the time required to build a Ford class from 7 years to 9 years, and 1 thing that I find really interesting is that Newport News had CVN 65 on active duty 4 years after her keel was laid! Whereas the Nimitz class took more than 9 years and the Ford took almost 15 years from keel laying to active duty!

[@jeffreymcurtis]

​@@norseman5041I doubt that they replaced the reactors, I think that they just pulled out the fuel rods and replaced them with new ones

[@gregmcmullen6698]

Amazing process. Amazing workers. Even sped up, the precision required to maneuver parts from under the ship so they can be refurbished was astounding. There's got to be a lot of pride doing work like this. o7 USA !!

[@richanddebshawaiiadventure4340]

hey dum dum - they cut holes in the ship to get the parts out - then weld that section back into place when they're done

[@Siko_neakO]

@@richanddebshawaiiadventure4340 and you think that doesnt require precision? I work at NNS next to overhaul as a welder and alot goes into these maneuvers. Without the shipbuilders we wouldnt have carriers.

[@ronjones9447]

20 years in the navy, I toured a carrier once. Never served on one

[@DonAbrams-hq7ln]

What rate were you? Definitely not an Airedale, must have been a yeoman or personnelman.

[@ronjones9447]

@@DonAbrams-hq7ln close, a storekeeper SK

[@adamrigby7409]

Should have brought up how the ruder stocks / pins looks like they are frozen with liquid nitrogen before installing to shrink them slightly cool process u can see the frost on it and everyone has gloves on handling it

[@datopperharlee2628]

How is it crazy? It looks very organised and sane to me. I have an uncle that's crazy and you wouldn't let him anywhere near a ship

[@Frederik_Berlin]

The Russian Admiral Kuznetsov doesn’t need ANY maintenance AT ALL!!

[@usaturnuranus]

This is really interesting, I love learning details of how these massive beasts are maintained and overhauled. I got to go really close to a carrier, down at the waterline, from a small motor launch in San Diego in the early sixties as a seven or eight year old kid and it really made an impression on me. She towered way up over our heads, and we noticed two poor sailors hanging down the side of her hull on a scaffold valiantly painting away. My dad said "yep, now we know who got in trouble on shore leave".

[@jeffreymcurtis]

I forget the name of it, but there was a KZbin series on the Nimitz's overhaul a few years ago

[@chrissybabe8568]

I would love to see the tofu nations equivalent of this.

[@jaybee9269]

It hasn’t gone to see OR launched an aircraft…and that’s the non-nuclear one.

[@serioustrouble63]

imagine the construction of such a beast...without CAD....😲

[@HauntedXXXPancake]

Tihi, Maybe I've been a Draughtsman too long / not long enough, but when they talked about the improved method to remove the propellers (screws), my mind came up with one amazingly complicated device, that could grab, hold & pull the prop, no matter what angle it was at. Welding a few temporary brackets to the hull would not have crossed my mind 😄

[@charlesgentry3758]

Imagine working years on these ships for it to go to war and get sunk.

[@mohamedabdurhman7438]

U.S air crafts carriers ❤🎉🎉❤

[@robertlafnear7034]

GO NAVY !

[@robertunderwood6011]

The big E is the true Queen of the 7th fleet.

[@jhr2112]

Unfortunate that it's currently being scrapped.

[@robertunderwood6011]

thats sad very sad

[@mickkruger]

Was on the Carl Vinson for RCOH …very big job!

[@riley6723]

Those blades are impressive on them! I may or may not have been part of a crew that had to remove them underwater. And get a key way repaired after it got craned on the pier

[@justdeaf-ry6bn]

The big E had 8 reactors. Today's carrier's have 2 reactors.

[@hirosetoshihiro6892]

いつの映像？　空母エンタープライズは既に解体されてるよ。

[@JenniferHudson-pi3bg]

Haha, right on Dennis

[@matgeezer2094]

The narration is a tad daft - of course fixing an anchor requires careful planning..... and specialised tools

[@BammerD]

Funny that you use the Enterprise in the beginning as an example, considering that she was taken out of service in 2012, defueling beginning in 2014, and officially decommissioned in 2017.

[@greg3095]

Enterprise, wow that's been decommissioned or inactive since 2012

[@SalehalOreef]

amazing work 👏

[@docjonez223]

WOW!! Just... WOW!!

[@paulh7589]

Wow! That was an eye opening video.

[@returnofthenative]

Nothing too complicated then!

[@theopinion9452]

Kind of like changing the oil in my car.

[@ronaldkonkoma4356]

3:00 Shows how scary it must be when a pilot does a pitching deck landing and goes around because he sees the propellers.

[@3321far]

Man, I wish they wouldn't name these great ships after politicians. It cheapens the image.

[@jhr2112]

Especially after a horrible person like the segregationist John c Stennis.

[@dwpalme2670]

Be quiet

[@toastnjam7384]

I find it hard to believe it was dry docked after 25 years at sea. The carrier I served on (USS Kitty Hawk) in the early 70's was dry docked every two Nam deployments, 1970 and 73 with a several month non dry dock refit in between.

[@ronjones9447]

A nuke carrier (which is what we have nowdays) goes in for a complete overhaul every 25 years or so depending on scheduling, timing (one out, one in) budgets and shipyard availability. This is comparable to a frame up restoration on your 55 Chevy. Everything, I mean everything is touched, replaced, repaired and updated including of course the power plant. They are routinely in the shipyard/drydock for upgrades and repairs. The difference between the 25 year and routine shipyard time is like night and day. Also did you know the kitty hawk ran over a Russian nuclear sub?

[@toastnjam7384]

@@ronjones9447 It didn't have its hull repainted in 25 years? The Kitty Hawk was in serious need of having its hull scraped and repainted after two deployments. Yep. I know about the Soviet sub incident.

[@ronjones9447]

@@toastnjam7384 it would have that and much much more done at the 25 year mark. But yes it would get that done during routine yard maintenance times

[@billsheehy1]

Excellent

[@teddy2738]

¿ Es el ENTERPRISE el que está en reparaciones ? 🤔

[@MidnightWarrior1976]

The top section is 16 tons? Not even close

[@arushashwingo]

Ay to wasn't the enterprise decommissioned

[@robertf3479]

She was. Ex-Enterprise (CVN 65) is being stored and stripped of components at Newport News. Enterprise (CVN 80) is currently under construction in the same drydock where CVN-65 was built. The old ship is moored to a pier close to where the new is being built with historic components from the old being built into the new including portholes/deadlights and such from the first carrier Enterprise (CV 6.)

[@The_Not_So_Great_Cornholio]

Is any of the work done meticulously?

[@michaelchamberlain4618]

It's called a heaving rope.

[@uclongnguyen2035]

Great!

[@acdsee1372]

미국 항공모함 러시아 극초음 미사일 한방에 미해군 5천명 사망!

[@michaeltoia9095]

I'm sure the Chinese are Watching very carefully getting many ideas

[@charlesmarkley220]

They have a lot of ideas, just incapable of making them real. How many functional aircraft carriers do they have?

[@curtekstrom9531]

Don't worry about that. Obama and Biden administration's have been doing well handing the Chinese Military Secrets.

[@bobclavile5653]

The BIG "E" Was the first Nuclear powered carrier. It was decommissioned about 5 years ago. You should be showing the difference with the USS FORD of today. This is all old news. And Yes. I am retired Navy. 1964-1995. Nam to Operation Desert Storm/Shield and 4 left.

[@geeeeeee3]

Somehow I can not see the Chinese doing this without cutting corners.

[@davebowman132]

How did they do the actual refueling? Are they swapping out rods or the entire reactor vessel?

[@Jimmy-nv7mn]

They would only be replacing fuel cell assemblies

[@hirosetoshihiro6892]

When was the video? The aircraft carrier Enterprise has already been dismantled.

[@bbaz6729]

You cant' be so ignorant as to believe after 25 years this is the US's largest aircraft carrier can you?

[@mnblkjh6757]

🇺🇸👍🙂

[@martingruffalump5484]

😊😊😊

[@robertkattner1997]

It was the largest 25 years ago. Not anymore. Get with the time, man.

[@bigbob1699]

How much, "Red Lead" did they use?

[@halfnelson6115]

Are those constant speed propellers, like on an airplane?

[@ctlancearrowlarson8237]

I don't think so. If it's nuclear the reactor heats the water to drive a steam turbine. A valve would control the amount of steam going to the turbine, to control speed. They could use constant speed propellers, but don't think so.

[@thomastully9002]

What happens to the crew when all this is happening ? Shore leave ?😊

[@graves74]

Nope, we are right there with the shipyard workers. There are things we do hand in hand with them.

[@ronjones9447]

Keep in mind the air wing and air wing crew crew are not onboard. Ships company is about 2700 plus/minus. With the air wing personnel that would bringing it up to about 5500 again plus/minus. They are with their squadrons at the various Naval air stations. The battle group commander (admiral) and staff are not onboard at this time either

[@Primaate]

USS John C. Stennis ... Omg.... I've done 1000's of F/A18-C 'Traps' on this. DCS!!! 😂

[@jvmalta081]

does an aircraft carrier even anchor at sea?

[@ronjones9447]

I believe the chain to the anchor is about 1200 feet. The carrier being so large, a lot of times has to set anchor in the bay and the crew rides barges to and from shore. Especially overseas, most of the other ships in the group tie up directly to the pier.

[@mrdebris1217]

Hi, I know these underwater front bulges are there due to fluid dynamics, but what‘s inside?

[@njjeff201]

Stuff

[@dgmcmurdie]

Typically that is where the sonar equipment is located.

[@ghostmofo5829]

Nuclear Weapons

[@robertf3479]

Voids and tanks, normally empty but can be flooded with water if necessary.

[@robertf3479]

@@dgmcmurdie American carriers normally do not mount sonar like you would find on destroyers or cruisers. To my knowledge the last carrier to have a sonar suite was the USS John F Kennedy (CV 67.)

[@user-tv4gb3zx1r]

😮😮❤❤❤♥️♥️♥️

[@pauleverson8408]

What happens to the crew during this process?

[@ronjones9447]

That has been a major problem especially over the last few years. One of the more recent carriers going thru a 4 year plus major overhaul ( when I say major, it’s compared to a complete frame up restoration of a 55 Chevy) well this one lasted like 5 plus years due to Covid. The ship suffered 4 plus suicides (don’t know the exact number) anyways it’s a absolutely terrible place to be. The crew does things they don’t normally do, the water is off in certain areas, it’s very hot/cold, noisy, grinding, dusty, toilets don’t work. A true nightmare especially for a 19 year joining the navy to see the world. So they are looking at some sort of housing allowance barracks, barge what ever they can do to help out. From what I’ve read, this is at the highest levels in the navy.

[@finemLudum]

Noice

[@joshwalrath9518]

Screws, dammit! Not props!

[@robertf3479]

Screw propellors is the proper term.

[@ronalddavis]

we called it a wheel in the shipyards

[@george9983]

Please excuse my knowledge about this as not being an American , but I always thought that all USS Carries were named after previous US Presidents ? I had to look up to see this ship was named after a Senator . He must had been a great representative to the country .

[@douglasthompson201]

Many carriers were named for Presidents, but not all. They have also been named after important battles as well as older ships. Saratoga and Oriskany were named for battles, Ranger and Enterprise after older ships. Nimitz was named for a World War 2 US Navy admiral.

[@toastnjam7384]

There's a carrier to be built in 2026 named after a navy enlisted man who was a hero during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Doris Miller.

[@george9983]

I must say I admire how America respects its military personnel and traditions. How well known is Doris Miller to the American public ? I did a quick search to find more about him . For a start a Christian name with Doris has me intrigued to find out more. Thank you in informing me to him . @@toastnjam7384

[@george9983]

Thank you . I just had to look up the history of the service man Doris Miller. For a start this the first time I ever seen the use of Doris as a Christian first name . Amazing bravery, I hope others are inspired by him .@@toastnjam7384

[@daniellarge9784]

Stennis was a huge supporter of the Navy and was instrumental is ensuring the Navy budget was protected from its enemies - the Army and Airforce.

[@karloyu3484]

❤

[@rickybobby7285]

Can we find an un blurred version on the patreon? Lol

[@user-pr9bl1dx2h]

how manny aircraft carrier we have us navy, please answer me,thank you😊

[@Siko_neakO]

11 carriers from cvn 68-78, with 3 more being built. The kennedy 79, enterprise 80, dorris miller 81

[@ronjones9447]

@@Siko_neakO can’t wait for the enterprise to join the fleet. Our navy will always have an enterprise

[@CharlesFosterMalloy]

Enterprise is retired and being scrapped, if they can figure out what to do with the radioactive waste products of such a process.

[@ronjones9447]

Probably the same a spent fuel from a land based nuke plant. Do they use that place in Az ?

[@robertf3479]

@@ronjones9447 There is a site near Bremerton in Washington state where old Navy nuclear reactor components are sent and stored. One day they may be safe, about 100,000 years from now.

[@CharlesFosterMalloy]

@@ronjones9447 I don't think they know yet. Enterprise is the first one.

[@ronjones9447]

@@CharlesFosterMalloy very excited to see a new Enterprise in a few years. USN retired

[@CharlesFosterMalloy]

@ronjones9447 Yeah, me, too, always had a special appreciation for Enterprise. I'm wondering why they are scrapping it so soon with all the global unrest. What's the updated timeline on delivery of the next Enterprise ?

[@IIISentorIII]

I had to do the same on my boat, still paying off the bill.

[@DSAK55]

the Stennis should have been strapped

[@robertf3479]

"Strapped?" Assuming you mean "scrapped" I have to ask why?

[@ronjones9447]

@@robertf3479 same here. Why?

[@Siko_neakO]

the stennis is being overhauled right now

[@ronjones9447]

@@Siko_neakO what a nightmare

[@user-rc1gd7pk5x]

Отличный фильм! Очень хорошо показано, что нет ничего более грандиозного и одновременно более бестолкового, чем американский авианосец. Что-то вроде чемодана без ручки. Братская могила для 5000 человек...

[@dennisnguyen8105]

If Boeing builds our ships, we don't have to worry about 25 years overhauling of ships.

[@cleverusername9369]

Boeing only builds a whole shitload of our military aircraft. No big deal, right?

[@dennisnguyen8105]

@@cleverusername9369 sorry if you are unable to understand my sarcasm.

[@dule9076]

Yes, if Boeing built our carrier, we don't have to overhaul it every 25 years. We need to overhaul it every other year.

[@dennisnguyen8105]

@@dule9076 No, they would all have sunk in calm seas before they ever reaches 25 years of service.

[@raulduke6105]

😂😂😂

[@donaldcarey114]

TURN OFF THE ANNOYING MUSIC!!!!!

[@7071t6]

Noticed that the rudder stock shaft was frozen, via massive dry ice storage at the 14:50 mark before installing it, that way when installing it the steel and metal will expand to the point and hold the rudder in place, but removal of the rudder shaft to removal the rudder. They dont show how they put the keyway in the rudder stock and shaft, plus notice it has around 6 large bolts and the keyway which keeps the rudder shaft from not moving around as part of the rudder movement when in the water. Removing the Rudder Shaft, would be in reverse of installing it & j ust use the massive crane. ⚓⚓⚓⚓👍👍🦘🦘👌👌

[@kuehnel16]

The enterprise is being scrapped

[@chafik77]

Waw😂😂

[@xisotopex]

apparently we barely have the capability to maintain these in peacetime... any conflict that would happen to involve all of our carrier assets would mean losing capability in a very short time, with no way to recoup it ....

[@Raf-gr1sn]

Wow they are really selling shipyard services... Fun fact, ALL SHIPS leave drydock with more problems than they went in with 😂

[@rochus_wagner]

Throw it in the junkyard, the Hutis will easily make a reef out of it if we are not careful..

[@norseman5041]

We do this in 4 weeks on a cruise ship same size. I guess it is the difference between companies depending on making money to stay alive and government contractor depending on keeping a ship in DD to make money. My fastest exchange of a LM2500+ gas turbine is 9,5 hours. Ask the Navy how long time they use for this on a war ship :-) I served on the subs for many years, i believe I have a bit of insight on how the difference is plying out. Tax payers are suffering. Trump should hire me (when he is back in the boss chair) to oversee the repair of our most important assets. I would be on time and under budget every time.

[@yamabiru4553]

You remove the flight deck of a cruise ship? How many f18s on ur cruzeship?

[@f88ohashi81]

After 25 years at sea, this aircraft carrier has burned quite a bit of American money

[@fredrikhotanen2580]

Combat ready to illegally invaded another country!

[@roboticroom7283]

what a waste of money

[@stevejones1318]

Agreed, these ships are only used to interfere in wars that have nothing to do with the US.

[@judyleitner3475]

Philly Shipyard SLEP program to completely overhaul 4 Forrestal class carriers, I did Saratoga CV60 engineering and A gang

[@7071t6]

@ the 5:04 mark there goes most of the protective paint on the anchor ? ⚓⚓⚓⚓👍👍🦘🦘👌👌