NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Kitty Hawk 1978

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
CVA63, 4.1973- CV63	Kitty Hawk	514	New York SB, Camden	27.12.1956	21.5.1960	29.4.1961	stricken 10.2017
CVA64, 6.1975- CV64	Constellation		New York N Yd, Brooklyn	14.9.1959	8.10.1960	27.10.1961	stricken 12.2003
CVA66, 6.1975- CV66	America	561	Newport News	9.1.1961	1.2.1964	23.1.1965	stricken 10.1998
CVA67, 12.1974- CV67	John F. Kennedy	577	Newport News	22.10.1964	27.5.1967	7.9.1968	stricken 10.2009

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	60005
Displacement full, t	80945
Length, m	301.8 wl 319.4 oa
Breadth, m	39.4 wl 76.7 ext
Draught, m	11.4
No of shafts	4
Machinery	4 sets Westinghouse geared steam turbines, 8 Foster Wheeler boilers
Power, h. p.	280000
Max speed, kts	33.6
Fuel, t	oil 7800
Endurance, nm(kts)	12000(20)
Armour, mm	CVA63, 64: belt summary: 150, flight deck: 45, gallery deck: 25, hangar deck: 37, main deck: 37, torpedo bulkhead: 76 CVA66, 67: belt summary: 135, flight deck: 45, hangar deck: 50, main deck: 56
Armament	CVA63: 2 x 2 Terrier SAM (80 RIM-2), ~90 aircraft (FJ, F2H, F9F, F3H, F4D, F11F, F8U, F4H fighters, AD, A3D, A4D, A3J attackers, F2H-P, F9F-P, OE, A3D-P, F8U-P, F4H-P recon planes, AD-Q, F3D-Q, A3D-Q ECM planes, AD-W, WF EW planes, S2F ASW planes, TF cargo planes, HRS, HUP, HSS, HUS, HOK, HUK, HUL, HR2S helicopters) CVA64: 2 x 2 Terrier SAM (80 RIM-2), ~90 aircraft (FJ, F2H, F9F, F3H, F4D, F8U, F4H fighters, AD, A3D, A4D attackers, F2H-P, F9F-P, OE, A3D-P, F8U-P, F4H-P recon planes, AD-Q, F3D-Q, A3D-Q ECM planes, AD-W, WF EW planes, S2F ASW planes, TF cargo planes, HRS, HUP, HSS, HUS, HOK, HUK, HUL, HR2S, HSS-2 helicopters) CVA66: 2 x 2 Terrier SAM (80 RIM-2), ~90 aircraft (F-1, MF-1, F-2, F-9, F-8, F-4 fighters, A-1, AF-9, A-3, A-4, A-5, A-6 attackers, O-1, RA-3, RF-8, RF-4, RA-5 recon planes, EA-1, EF-10, EA-3, EA-6 ECM planes, EA-1, E-1, E-2 EW planes, S-2 ASW planes, KA-3 flying tankers, C-1 cargo planes, CH-19, SH-34, UH-34, HH-34, CH-34, OH-43, UH-43, UH-13, HH-13, CH-37, SH-3, CH-3, UH-2, HH-52, CH-46, UH-46, UH-1, HH-1 helicopters) CVA67: ~90 aircraft (F-9, F-8, F-4 fighters, AF-9, A-4, A-5, A-6, A-7 attackers, O-1, RF-8, RF-4, RA-5, OV-10 recon planes, EF-10, EA-3, EKA-3, ERA-3, EA-6 ECM planes, E-1, E-2 EW planes, S-2 ASW planes, KA-3 flying tankers, C-1, C-2 cargo planes, CH-19, SH-34, UH-34, HH-34, CH-34, UH-13, HH-13, SH-3, CH-3, UH-2, HH-52, CH-46, UH-46, UH-1, HH-1, CH-53 helicopters)
Electronic equipment	CVA63, 64: SPS-37A, SPS-39, SPS-8B, SPS-10F, SPN-10, SPN-12, SPN-35, 2x SPG-55 radars, WLR-1, ULQ-6 ECM suites CVA66: SPS-37A, SPS-39, SPS-30, SPS-43A, SPS-10F, SPN-10, SPN-12, SPN-35, 2x SPG-55 radars, SQS-23 sonar, WLR-1, WLR-3, WLR-11 ECM suites CVA67: SPS-37A, SPS-48E, SPS-43A, SPS-10F, SPN-10, SPN-12, SPN-35 radars, WLR-1, WLR-3, WLR-11 ECM suites
Complement	4685

Air group

Year	Fighters	Attackers	recon, EW, ECM	ASW and auxiliary	Helicopters
1964, Constellation	24 F-4B, 12 F-8E	24 A-4C, 10 A-3B, 12 A-1J/H	4 RF-8G, 3 RA-3B, 3 EA-3B, 4 E-1B	-	4 UH-2A
1974, Constellation	24 F-4J	24 A-7C, 12 A-6A	3 RA-5C, 4 EA-6B, 4 E-2C	4 KA-6D, 10 S-3A	8 SH-3H
1988, John F. Kennedy	24 F-14A	24 A-6E	5 EA-6B, 5 E-2C	4 KA-6D, 10 S-3A	8 SH-3H
1991, America	24 F-14A, 24 F/A-18A/B	12 A-6E/KA-6D	6 EA-6B, 4 E-2C	8 S-3B	8 SH-3H
1993, America	20 F-14A, 24 F/A-18A/B	12 A-6E	4 EA-6B, 4 E-2C	4 KA-6D, 10 S-3B	6 SH-3G/H
1998, Constellation	28 F-14A, 24 F/A-18C/D	8 A-6E	4 EA-6B, 4 E-2C	4 KA-6D, 8 S-3A	8 SH-3H
1999, John F. Kennedy	20 F-14A, 36 F/A-18	---	4 EA-6B, 4 E-2C	8 S-3A	4 SH-60F
2001, Kitty Hawk	8 F/A-18A/C			2 S-3B, 2 C-39B	3 SH-60F, 20 MH-60
2003, Constellation	10 F-14D, 36 F/A-18C	---	4 EA-6B, 4 E-2C	8 S-3B	6 SH-60F, 2 HH-60H
2003, Kitty Hawk	10 F-14A, 36 F/A-18C	---	4 EA-6B, 4 E-2C	8 S-3B	6 SH-60F, 2 HH-60H
2003, John F. Kennedy	20 F-14B, 24 F/A-18C	---	4 EA-6B, 4 E-2C	8 S-3B	6 SH-60F, 2 HH-60H
2006, Kitty Hawk	24 F/A-18E/F, 24 F/A-18A/C		4 EA-6B, 4E-2C	2 C-2A	6 SH-60F/HH-60H
2006, John F. Kennedy	24 F/A-18E/F, 24 F/A-18A/C		4 EA-6B, 4E-2C	2 C-2A	6 SH-60F/HH-60H

Standard scale images

Graphics

Aircraft facilities

(CV63, 64) (fd - 20,000 m², ha - 6,945 m² / 52,785 m³): Flight deck: 310.2 x 73.0m. Hangar: 225.5 x 30.8 x 7.60 m. There were 4 deck-edge elevators (40t, 21.4/25.9 x 15.9m). There were 4 C13 catapults. Aircraft fuel stowage: 353 500 l of petrol and 6 955 000 l of JP-5 jet fuel. Aviation ordnance stowage was 1800t.

(CV66, 67)(fd - 20,000 m², ha - 6,945 m² / 52,785 m³): Flight deck: 310.2x 73.0m. Hangar: 225.5 x 30.8 x 7.60 m. There were 4 deck-edge elevators (40t, 21.4/25.9 x 15.9m). There were 3 C13 and 1 C13-1 catapults. Aircraft fuel stowage: 353 500 l of petrol and 6 955 000 l of JP-5 jet fuel. Aviation ordnance stowage was 1800t.

Project history

These ships actually formed three subclasses; all were improved Forrestals. An entirely new carrier design for CVA63 was foregone because of the imminence of the introduction of nuclear power, which, it was believed, would limit any new class to only two units. Kitty Hawk and Constellation differed from the Forrestals in having their islands moved aft, so that two instead of one elevator are forward of them, for improved flight deck operations. They also had a lattice radar mast aft of the island structure, and were armed with Terrier missiles (two twin Mk 10 launching systems on the port and starboard quarters, with paired SPG-55 guidance radars on the island structure). America (CVA 66) was very similar, having been built in preference to an austere nuclear carrier in FY61; she received updated Terrier, compatible with the Standard Missile. John F. Kennedy was built to a revised design, incorporating a new underwater protection system originally developed for the nuclear carriers, and, at first, without defensive weapons. Early in 1969 she was fitted with three Sea Sparrow launchers, and her three half-sisters were similarly refitted. Kennedy had her funnel angled to starboard.

America was the first attack carrier with a special integrated CIC/airborne ASW control centre (ASCAC) and, in 1981, retained SM-1 missiles and SPG-55B radar directors, as well as SPS-52 3-D radar instead of the more effective SPS-48 of her two sister-ships. America and John F. Kennedy were fitted for SQS-23 sonar in bow domes, on the theory that in a spread-out fleet formation it would be impossible to maintain a tight sonar screen, so that the carrier might have to detect submarines leaking through; SQS-23 was also fitted to some ASW carriers. Similar reasoning led to the installation of this sonar in Cleveland class missile cruisers. SQS-23 was not installed in CVA67 to reduce cost; presumably the measure lost much of its value as submarine weapon ranges increased beyond torpedo range.

Aviation ordnance and fuel capacity was slightly greater than that of the Forrestal class. Their rearranged flight decks made it far easier and safer to launch and recover aircraft simultaneously.

Ship protection

(CV63, 64): Armour protection consisted of 4 protected decks (144mm summary) and distributed vertical armour (side armour and longitudinal bulkheads, 150mm summary). Also there was a box-shaped protection of magazines and vital zones. Underwater protection included 5 longitudinal bulkheads (4th bulkhead was 76mm-thick). Bottom was also protected.

(CV66):Armour protection consisted of 4 protected decks (151mm summary) and distributed vertical armour (side armour and longitudinal bulkheads, 135mm summary). Also there was a box-shaped protection of magazines and vital zones. Underwater protection included 5 longitudinal bulkheads (4th bulkhead was 76mm-thick). Bottom was also protected.

(CV67):Armour protection consisted of 4 protected decks (151mm summary) and distributed vertical armour (side armour and longitudinal bulkheads, 135mm summary). Also there was a box-shaped protection of magazines and vital zones. Underwater protection included 5 longitudinal bulkheads (4th bulkhead was 76mm-thick). Bottom was also protected.. Underwater protection was predecessor of underwater protection of Nimitz class.

Modernizations

1960s, Kitty Hawk, Constellation: - ULQ-6 ECM suite; + WLR-3, WLR-11 ECM suites

early 1969, John F. Kennedy: + 3 x 8 Sea Sparrow SAM (24 RIM-7), 6x Mk 95, SPS-58 radars

early 1970s, Kitty Hawk, Constellation: - SPS-8B radar; + LN-66, SPS-43A radars

early 1970s, America: + LN-66 radar

late1970s, Kitty Hawk: - SPS-37A radar; + SPS-52, SPS-30 radars

late 1970s, America: - SPS-37A radar; + SPS-52 radar

late 1970s, John F. Kennedy: - SPS-37A radar; + SPS-49, LN-66 radars

1977, Kitty Hawk: - 2 x 2 Terrier SAM (80 RIM-2), 2x SPG-55 radars; + 2 x 8 Sea Sparrow SAM (16 RIM-7), 4x Mk 95, SPS-58 radars

1980, John F. Kennedy: + 3 x 6 - 20/76 Mk 15 Phalanx, 3x Mk 90 radars

1981, America: - 2 x 2 Terrier SAM (80 RIM-2), SQS-23 sonar; + 2 x 2 Standard SM-1MR SAM (80 RIM-66), 3 x 6 - 20/76 Mk 15 Phalanx, 3x Mk 90 radars

1982, America: - 2 x 2 Standard SM-1MR SAM (80 RIM-66), 2x SPG-55, SPS-52, SPS-30, SPS-39, SPS-43A, SPN-10, SPN-12 radars, WLR-1, WLR-3 ECM suites; + 3 x 8 Sea Sparrow SAM (24 RIM-7), 4x Mk 95, SPS-48C, SPS-49, SPN-41, 2x SPN-42, SPN-43A radars, WLR-1H, WLR-8, SLQ-17 ECM suites (forming SLQ-29 complex), 4x Mk 36 SRBOC decoy RL, NTDS CCS

1983, Kitty Hawk: - SPS-39, SPS-43A, SPS-52, SPS-30, SPS-58, SPN-10, SPN-12 radars, WLR-1, WLR-3 ECM suites; + 1 x 8 Sea Sparrow SAM (8 RIM-7), 3 x 6 - 20/76 Mk 15 Phalanx, SPS-48C, 3x Mk 90, SPN-41, 2x SPN-42, SPN-43A radars, WLR-1H, WLR-8, SLQ-17 ECM suites (forming SLQ-29 complex), 4x Mk 36 SRBOC decoy RL, NTDS CCS

2/1984, Constellation: - 2 x 2 Terrier SAM (80 RIM-2), SPS-37A, SPS-39, SPS-43A, 2x SPG-55, SPN-10, SPN-12 radars, WLR-1, WLR-3 ECM suites; + 3 x 8 Sea Sparrow SAM (24 RIM-7), 3 x 6 - 20/76 Mk 15 Phalanx, 4x Mk 95, SPS-48C, 3x Mk 90, SPN-41, 2x SPN-42, SPN-43A radars, WLR-1H, WLR-8, SLQ-17 ECM suites (forming SLQ-29 complex), 4x Mk 36 SRBOC decoy RL, NTDS CCS

10/1985, John F. Kennedy: - SPS-43A, SPS-58, SPN-10, SPN-12 radars; + 1 x 6 - 20/76 Mk 15 Phalanx, SPS-49, SPN-41, 2x SPN-42, SPN-43A, SPN-44, Mk 90, Mk 23 TAS radars, SLQ-26, SLQ-17 ECM suites, 4x Mk 36 SRBOC decoy RL, NTDS CCS

late 1980s, America: - SPS-58, SPS-48C, LN-66, SPS-49, SPS-10F, SPN-35, 2x SPN-42 radars, SLQ-29 (WLR-8, SLQ-17) ECM suite; + SPS-73, SPS-48E, SPS-64(v)9, SPS-67(v)1, SPS-49(v)5, Mk 23 TAS, 2x SPN-46 radars, SLQ-32(v)4 ECM suite, 4x Mk 36 SRBOC decoy RL, SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo decoy

2/1991, Kitty Hawk, early 1993, Constellation: - LN-66, SPS-10F, SPN-35, SPS-48C, 2x SPN-42 radars, SLQ-29 (WLR-8, SLQ-17) ECM suite; + SPS-73, SPS-48E, SPS-64(v)9, SPS-67(v)1, SPS-49(v)5, Mk 23 TAS, SPN-46 radars, SLQ-32(v)4 ECM suite, 4x Mk 36 SRBOC decoy RL, SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo decoy, NTDS CCS updated

9/1995, John F. Kennedy: - LN-66, SPS-10F, SPS-49, SPN-35, 2x SPN-42, SPN-43A radars, WLR-1, WLR-3, WLR-11, SLQ-26, SLQ-17 ECM suites; + SPS-73, SPS-64(v)9, SPS-67(v)1, SPS-49(v)5, SPN-43C, 2x SPN-46 radars, NTDS updated, SLQ-32(v)4 ECM suite, 4x Mk 36 SRBOC decoy launchers, SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo decoy

8/2001, Kitty Hawk: - 3 x 8 Sea Sparrow SAM, 4x Mk 95 radars; + 2 x 21 RAM SAM (42 RIM-116)

Naval service

No significant events.