This shot of the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) exemplifies the idea that nuclear super carriers are really fortresses at sea. Not to mention that they are some of mankind’s largest and definitely most complex inventions. Here are some “by the numbers” eye opening facts about the USS John C. Stennis:

December 9th, 1995

Naval Base Kitsap, Washington

CVW-9, the Navy’s most modern with an all Super Hornet strike fighter force, which includes the following squadrons-

Strike Fighter Squadron 192 () “Golden Dragons”Strike Fighter Squadron 97 () “Warhawks”Strike Fighter Squadron 41 () “Black Aces”Strike Fighter Squadron 14 () “Tophatters”Strike Fighter Squadron 151 () “Vigilantes”Electronic Attack Squadron 133 () “Wizards”Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 112 () “Golden Hawks”Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 8 () “Eight-Ballers”Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71 () “Raptors”Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 Detachment 4 () “Providers”

257 wide by 1,092 feet long by 244 high

103,300 tons

2 Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors tied to 4 steam turbines and 4 shafts.

260,000hp

1,000,000 miles before nuclear refueling

4 screws, each made out of bronze and measuring 22 feet across and weighing 66,200lbs

2, each 29 by 22 feet and weighing 50 tons

30 tons each

Over 30 knots, rumored to be around 35 knots

About 65 with a surge capability of over 85

Four high-speed, each over 4,000 square feet.

4 310ft stroke steam catapults capable of pushing a 80,000lb aircraft to 140 knots

4 cross-deck pendents each 2 inches thick made of braided steel and tied to a under-deck hydraulic engine

4.5 acres

Close to 55,000 tons of steel and over 1,000,000lbs of aluminum

Half a century

6,500 people

2 Mk56 Sea Sparrow launchers, 2 RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers, 3 Phalanx CIWS

3.5 million gallons

Enough food and supplies to operate for 90 days

18,600

12,000

400,000 gallons, enough for 2,000 American homes

30,000 light fixtures, 1,600 miles of cable and wiring, 2,000 phones

14,000 pillowcases and 28,000 sheets

About 3,500

3,500 tons

Photos via US Navy