The Crazy Life Inside World’s Largest $13 Billion Aircraft Carrier in Middle of the Ocean

Summary

The video script introduces the USS Gerald R Ford, the U.S. Navy's largest aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2017 at a cost of $13 billion. The carrier, 1100 feet long, is equipped with state-of-the-art navigation and communication systems. Life on board is akin to a floating city, with a crew of 4,500 maintaining readiness through drills and training. The ship's food service division caters to the culinary needs of the crew, and special events like Thanksgiving are celebrated with elaborate feasts. The video also highlights the importance of maintenance, fitness programs, and the crucial role of underway replenishment for extended missions. The flight deck operations are a testament to the carrier's dynamic environment, showcasing the teamwork and precision required for launching and recovering aircraft.

Takeaways

• 💰 The USS Gerald R Ford is the largest and most expensive aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy, costing nearly 13 billion dollars.
• 🚢 It took Newport News shipbuilding nearly four years to construct this massive 1100-foot long vessel.
• 🔗 The ship requires mooring lines as thick as a man's arm and tugboats to navigate out of shallow waters due to its size.
• 💨 The Gerald R Ford can reach speeds of over 35 miles per hour, but its rudder system is less effective at slower speeds.
• 🛳 The ship functions like a floating city with 4,500 crew members and a variety of daily operations, including meticulous deck inspections for foreign object debris (FOD).
• 🗺 The navigation bridge, situated on a 555-metric ton island, is the heart of the carrier where air control and navigation take place, equipped with traditional and modern navigation tools.
• 🍽️ The food service division on the Gerald R Ford prepares around 12,000 meals a day for the crew, focusing on customer satisfaction and meeting Navy dietary requirements.
• 🎉 The ship is known for its festive celebrations, particularly its Thanksgiving dinner, which involves extensive preparation and can include up to 50 turkeys and 25 cuts of prime rib.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Fitness is a priority on the carrier, with programs like the 77-day warrior challenge to encourage physical activity among the crew.
• 🔧 Maintenance is crucial on the ship, with crews capable of fabricating replacement parts for essential systems like air conditioning while at sea.
• ⛽ The U.S. military uses underway replenishment to supply ships at sea with fuel, water, and munitions, allowing them to stay on mission without returning to port.

Q & A

What was the significance of the USS Gerald R Ford's commissioning in July 2017?

The USS Gerald R Ford was officially commissioned as the United States military's largest aircraft carrier, marking a significant advancement in naval aviation capabilities.

How much did the USS Gerald R Ford cost and how long did it take to construct?

The USS Gerald R Ford cost nearly 13 billion dollars and took nearly four years to construct by Newport News shipbuilding.

What is the role of the mooring lines on an aircraft carrier like the USS Gerald R Ford?

Mooring lines hold the ship to the dock and can be as thick as a man's arm and weigh thousands of pounds, requiring significant time to prepare the ship to move away from the docks.

How does the USS Gerald R Ford navigate out of shallow waters?

The ship requires assistance from a team of tugboats to push and pull it until it is out in deeper water, as its traditional rudder system cannot turn effectively at slower speeds.

What is the top speed of the USS Gerald R Ford?

The USS Gerald R Ford can reach speeds of more than 35 miles per hour.

What is the significance of the foreign object debris (FOD) walks on the aircraft carrier?

FOD walks are conducted daily to meticulously inspect the deck for any foreign objects that might accidentally get stuck into an aircraft jet intake, ensuring the safety of the aircraft operations.

Where is the navigation bridge located on the USS Gerald R Ford?

The navigation bridge is located on a 555-metric ton island situated on the ship's deck, serving as the tallest part of the ship where most of the air control and navigation takes place.

How does the USS Gerald R Ford ensure navigation in case of an EMP attack or loss of satellite contact?

In such scenarios, the ship would need to navigate using traditional methods like maps, sextants, and other centuries-old navigation tools.

What is the role of the food service division on the USS Gerald R Ford?

The food service division, consisting of a large team of culinary specialists, is responsible for supplying three regular meals, snacks, and more to the ship's crew, focusing on customer satisfaction and meeting the Navy's dietary and health requirements.

How many meals does the culinary team on the USS Gerald R Ford prepare daily?

The culinary team on the USS Gerald R Ford is tasked with preparing around 12,000 meals a day.

What special event does the USS Gerald R Ford's culinary team prepare for Thanksgiving?

For Thanksgiving, the culinary team spends roughly two days prepping, which in 2018 included 50 turkeys, 40 hams, and 25 cuts of prime rib, with the event being open to sailors and their families.

How does the USS Gerald R Ford maintain crew readiness and familiarity with the ship?

The crew engages in various training actions, works with a wide variety of equipment and vehicles, and participates in drills such as firefighting functions to maintain readiness and maximize familiarity with every aspect of the ship.

What is the purpose of the underway replenishment system used by aircraft carriers?

The underway replenishment system allows aircraft carriers to receive fuel, water, and munitions, and offload unsafe waste while at sea, enabling them to stay on mission without having to return to port.

How does the catabar system assist in launching aircraft from the USS Gerald R Ford?

The catabar system attaches to the front wheel of an aircraft and flings it forward at speeds of around 160 miles per hour, allowing the plane to become airborne despite the limited runway space on the carrier.

What is the role of the various colored vest teams on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R Ford?

Purple vests are for fueling planes, yellow and green vests work with the catabar system and direct planes, and red vests are tasked with weapons preparation and mounting.

How is the flight deck activity on the USS Gerald R Ford coordinated?

Activity on the flight deck is observed and directed from the launch bubble, also known as the Catapult control station, which provides an eye-level view across the entire operation and monitors weather conditions.

Outlines

00:00

🚢 Commissioning of the USS Gerald R Ford

The USS Gerald R Ford, the United States' largest aircraft carrier, was officially commissioned in July 2017. This colossal vessel cost nearly 13 billion dollars and took Newport News shipbuilding nearly four years to construct. Despite its size of 1100 feet, life aboard is similar to other modern carriers. The ship requires a significant amount of time to prepare for departure due to the thick and heavy mooring lines. Once underway, tugboats assist in navigating out of shallow waters until the carrier's powerful engines can propel it at speeds over 35 miles per hour. The traditional rudder system is ineffective at slower speeds, but once clear of obstacles, the Gerald R Ford can sail independently. Commanding such a ship is considered a precious opportunity in military service, with the captain viewing it as a team effort, emphasizing the importance of every crew member's performance.

05:05

🍽 Life and Operations Aboard the USS Gerald R Ford

The USS Gerald R Ford functions as a floating city, with thousands of people living on board. The ship's culinary team is tasked with supplying three meals a day, snacks, and more to the crew, focusing on customer satisfaction while adhering to the Navy's dietary and health requirements. The carrier's commissary is equipped with state-of-the-art cooking equipment and serves more customers than any busy restaurant on land. The ship is known for its elaborate holiday meals, particularly its Thanksgiving dinner, which in 2018 included 50 turkeys, 40 hams, and 25 cuts of prime rib. Other major holidays and events, such as talent shows and fitness challenges, contribute to a sense of camaraderie and home among the crew. However, readiness remains a priority, with work shifts potentially split into 12-hour or 4-hour increments, leaving time for eating, sleeping, and recreation.

10:07

🛠 Maintenance and Emergency Preparedness on Aircraft Carriers

Aircraft carriers must be in a constant state of readiness, engaging in various training actions and working with a wide array of equipment and vehicles. Crew members train with weapons, perform duties in different conditions, and participate in firefighting drills, which are crucial for safety aboard Navy vessels. Maintenance is a critical job on board, as the carriers face the challenges of both complex nuclear-powered operations and issues similar to those in large apartment complexes. An example of this was when the USS Ronald Reagan, an aircraft carrier, faced an air conditioning unit failure in 2021. The maintenance team was able to dismantle the unit, identify the problem, and fabricate a replacement part while still at sea, ensuring the comfort and health of the crew.

15:07

✈️ Flight Operations and Underway Replenishment on Aircraft Carriers

The flight deck on an aircraft carrier is a hub of activity, with between 50 and 75 planes and helicopters on board at any given time. Planes use a catapult system known as the catabar for launch, which flings them forward at speeds of around 160 miles per hour to become airborne within a short runway space. Multiple teams, each wearing colored vests to denote their roles, work on the flight deck. Purple-vested personnel fuel planes, while those in yellow and green work with the catabar system and direct the planes. Red-vested crew members are responsible for weapons preparation and mounting. The launch bubble, or Catapult control station, oversees the entire operation, coordinating the deck crew and monitoring weather conditions. The Gerald R Ford, like other carriers, conducts multiple aircraft launches and recoveries daily to ensure readiness for any mission. Additionally, underway replenishment allows carriers to stay at sea for extended periods by transferring fuel, water, and munitions from replenishment tankers, enabling them to remain on mission without returning to port.

Keywords

💡USS Gerald R Ford

The USS Gerald R Ford is the largest aircraft carrier commissioned by the United States military in July 2017. It is a central figure in the video, symbolizing modern naval power and technological advancement. The carrier is 1100 feet long and cost nearly 13 billion dollars to construct by Newport News shipbuilding, making it the most expensive and one of the largest warships in the world. The video discusses various aspects of life and operations aboard this vessel.

💡Moiring lines

Moiring lines are thick and heavy ropes used to secure a ship to the dock. In the context of the USS Gerald R Ford, these lines are described as being as thick as a man's arm and weighing thousands of pounds, emphasizing the scale of the ship. The process of removing mooring lines is the first step in setting the massive carrier in motion, as mentioned in the script.

💡Tugboats

Tugboats are smaller vessels that assist larger ships in navigation, especially in shallow waters or when leaving the dock. The script mentions that a team of tugboats helps the Gerald R Ford by pushing and pulling it until it reaches deeper water. This is crucial because, despite its powerful engines, the aircraft carrier's traditional rudder system is not effective at slower speeds.

💡Foreign Object Debris (FOD)

Foreign Object Debris, or FOD, refers to any unwanted items or debris on the aircraft carrier's deck that could potentially be ingested into an aircraft's engine, causing damage or catastrophic failure. The video script describes daily FOD walks where the crew meticulously inspects the deck to ensure there are no foreign objects that could endanger the aircraft.

💡Navigation bridge

The navigation bridge is the command center of the ship, located on a 555 metric ton island on the USS Gerald R Ford's deck. It is where most of the air control and navigation activities take place, housing the radar and communication antennas. The bridge is essential for traditional navigation methods, which could be critical if the ship were to lose digital or satellite capabilities.

💡Culinary specialists

Culinary specialists are the personnel responsible for preparing and serving food on the aircraft carrier. The USS Gerald R Ford has a food service division with a large team of these specialists who focus on providing meals that meet both the Navy's dietary requirements and the tastes of the crew. The video script highlights their efforts, especially during major holidays like Thanksgiving, where they prepare large quantities of food for the crew and their families.

💡Underway replenishment

Underway replenishment is a process used by navies worldwide to resupply ships at sea without having to return to port. The script describes how a replenishment tanker pulls alongside the carrier and establishes a connection to transfer fuel, water, and munitions. This system is vital for maintaining the operational readiness of the ship over extended periods at sea.

💡Catabar system

The Catabar system, short for Catapult Assisted Take-Off Barrier Arrested Recovery, is a crucial component for launching aircraft from the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. The script explains that planes are attached to the catapult system, which accelerates them to around 160 miles per hour, allowing them to take off within the limited runway space on the carrier.

💡Flight deck

The flight deck is the working surface on an aircraft carrier used for the takeoff, landing, and parking of aircraft. The video script describes the flight deck as a place of constant activity, with multiple teams wearing colored vests to perform various tasks such as fueling planes, directing takeoffs, and preparing weapons. The deck is a symbol of the dynamic and complex operations that define an aircraft carrier's mission.

💡General quarters

General quarters is a term used in the military to refer to the designated battle stations of all personnel aboard a ship during combat. In the context of the video, it highlights the readiness and preparedness of the crew, as they must be able to quickly assume their roles and responsibilities in the event of an engagement. This concept underscores the military function and operational preparedness of the aircraft carrier and its crew.

💡Maintenance

Maintenance is a critical aspect of life aboard an aircraft carrier, as it ensures the functionality of the ship's complex systems and the comfort of its crew. The script mentions the example of the USS Ronald Reagan's air conditioning units, which require regular maintenance to serve the entire crew. The maintenance team's ability to fabricate replacement parts and repair systems at sea demonstrates the self-sufficiency and resilience of the carrier.

Highlights

The USS Gerald R Ford was commissioned in July 2017 as the largest aircraft carrier by the U.S. military.

The carrier cost nearly 13 billion dollars and took four years to construct by Newport News shipbuilding.

Despite its size, life aboard the Gerald R Ford is similar to other modern aircraft carriers.

The 1100-foot-long vessel requires significant preparation to move away from the dock, including removing heavy mooring lines.

Tugboats assist the carrier in navigating out of shallow waters due to the traditional rudder system's limitations at slow speeds.

Commanding the Gerald R Ford is considered a precious opportunity in military service, emphasizing teamwork.

Daily foreign object debris (FOD) walks are conducted to ensure the safety of aircraft operations.

The navigation bridge, located on a 555-metric-ton island, is the heart of the carrier's air control and navigation.

In case of an EMP attack or satellite disconnection, traditional navigation tools like maps and sextants are essential.

The Gerald R Ford functions as a floating city, with a culinary team supplying over 12,000 meals a day.

The ship's commissary is equipped like a state-of-the-art restaurant, serving a larger number of customers than most restaurants on land.

The carrier is known for its elaborate Thanksgiving dinners, prepared by the culinary team over two days.

Crew members engage in various recreational activities and events to maintain morale and camaraderie.

Fitness programs like the 77-day warrior challenge encourage physical fitness among the crew.

Crew members train with weapons, perform duties, and participate in emergency scenarios like firefighting drills.

Maintenance is crucial on aircraft carriers, addressing issues like broken air conditioning units while at sea.

Underway replenishment allows carriers to receive fuel, water, and munitions while at sea, extending their operational time.

The flight deck is a hub of activity with multiple teams working in coordination for aircraft launch and recovery.

The catapult control station, or launch bubble, provides a clear view for directing flight deck operations.

Aircraft practice takeoff and landing to maintain readiness for potential missions.

Transcripts

hello everyone and welcome back to the

fluctus channel

in July 2017 the United States military

officially commissioned its largest

aircraft carrier the USS Gerald R Ford

[Music]

this massive carrier costs nearly 13

billion dollars and took nearly four

years for Newport News shipbuilding to

construct

[Music]

though this 1100 foot long vessel is the

biggest in the world

life aboard the Gerald R Ford will be

quite similar to any other modern

aircraft carrier

for the 4 500 crew members assigned to

the ship things start with removing The

Mooring lines that hold it to the dock

for a ship of this type Mooring lines

can be as thick as a man's arm and weigh

thousands of pounds

for this reason it can take a

significant amount of time to prepare

the ship to move away from the docks

once underway the ship requires

assistance in order to navigate out of

the shallow water

Miss is typically performed by a team of

tugboats who push and pull the larger

ship until it is out in deeper water

despite the powerful engines being able

to push the Gerald R Ford up to speeds

of more than 35 miles per hour its

traditional Rudder system cannot turn

effectively when moving at slower speeds

once clear of the docks and any

underwater obstacles the aircraft

carrier can continue out to sea under

its own power

[Music]

the opportunity to command is probably

one of the most precious opportunities

we have in the military service

and to command such a fine crew that has

worked very very hard and over 2 600

folks that all kind of look uh to me but

I also look to them

um to do all the great things that

they've been trained to do so I look at

it as truly a team effort proudly to be

uh so to speak the captain of the team

but uh for the team to function every

member of the team has to perform

for as long as jet planes have been

operating from aircraft carriers it has

been up to the carrier Crews to

meticulously inspect the deck for what's

known as a foreign object debris

these fod walks take place daily and

involve checking all parts of the deck

for anything that might be accidentally

stuck into an aircraft jet intake

daily operations aboard a carrier Flight

Deck can knock bolts pieces of metal and

various other objects free from Planes

machinery and more

any of these items could disable a

multi-million dollar plane in seconds if

it passes through one of the engines

unexpectedly

the only solution to such a problem is

to carefully search every inch of the

deck and turn in any loose items to crew

leaders

the heart of any aircraft carrier is the

navigation bridge

as with previous carrier designs the USS

Gerald R Ford's bridge is located on a

555 metric ton Island situated on the

ship's deck

as the tallest part of the ship this is

where most of the air control and

navigation takes place it is also where

the radar and communication antennas are

situated

despite many advances in digital and

satellite navigation it is essential

that teams know how to do things the

traditional way

where the USS Gerald R Ford to suffer an

EMP attack or be cut off from satellite

contact it would need to find its way

using maps sextants and other

centuries-old navigation tools come

right here of course 146.

though it's tempting to think of

aircraft carriers solely as weapons of

war they are actually more akin to

floating cities

[Music]

with thousands of people living on board

at any given time it is imperative that

the ship's culinary team be able to

supply three regular meals snacks and

more to their Shipmates

[Music]

the USS Gerald R Ford has a food service

division that features a huge team of

culinary specialists

these people take a very customer

focused approach to their job aiming to

produce delicious meals that also fit

the Navy's dietary and health

requirements

foreign

[Music]

carrier commissary is equipped with the

same sorts of cooking equipment as a

state-of-the-art restaurant but has many

more customers than even the busiest

restaurant on land

[Music]

on the Gerald R Ford there are around 98

people tasked with putting out around 12

000 meals a day

holidays are major events for the cruise

of aircraft carriers over the years

since its launch the Gerald R Ford has

earned quite the reputation for its

Thanksgiving dinner

The Culinary team aboard the ship spends

roughly two days prepping for the event

in 2018 this event included 50 turkeys

40 hams and 25 cuts of prime rib that

year the event was open to Sailors and

their families and the entire mess hall

was decorated with an upscale

Thanksgiving motif

[Music]

other major holidays on board U.S naval

ships include the 4th of July and

Christmas each with its unique

celebratory customs

[Music]

thank you

but aircraft carriers do not only come

alive on special days crew members often

throw talent shows with musical acts

magic and more as well as other events

that give Crews a chance to mingle and

feel more at home

[Music]

that said Readiness is still a priority

depending on the ship and the conditions

work shifts may be split up into 12

hours or 4 Hour increments

at home

this generally leaves about half the day

for eating sleeping and Recreation

in order to make sure their crew members

stay in fighting shape cruise on

carriers around the world often set up

special fitness programs such as the

77-day warrior challenge

the goal is to encourage the men and

women on board to invest at least some

of their free time in physical fitness

[Music]

five eight

nine in many cases these fitness

challenges evolve into a stiff

competition between crew members looking

to outdo one another

this not only increases the general

camaraderie among the crew but helps

keep everyone in shape for the mission

[Applause]

there are many different jobs assigned

to aircraft carrier crew members however

each person on board is still a sailor

[Music]

during General quarters drills All Hands

aboard the ship must assume Battle

Stations these are the positions

assigned to them whenever the vessel is

in a combat scenario

throughout the course of a given day a

carrier will launch and retrieve

multiple aircraft engage in various

training actions and work with a wide

variety of equipment in vehicles

[Music]

the purpose of this is to keep the crew

in a constant state of Readiness and

maximize their familiarity with every

aspect of their ship

crew members will train with weapons and

perform various duties in multiple types

of conditions they even participate in

firefighting functions which is

generally considered a worst case

scenario when a fire breaks out aboard a

Navy vessel

perhaps one of the most important jobs

aboard a Navy ship is maintenance

after all not only do these massive

vessels have all the problems of a

complex nuclear-powered boat but they

also have the same issues one might

associate with living in a massive

apartment complex

for instance the USS Ronald Reagan a

nimitz-class carrier has just six air

conditioning units to serve the entire 5

000 person crew

[Music]

if one of these breaks as it did in 2021

it would pose a huge problem for the

comfort and health of the people on

board

though each unit generally weighs more

than four thousand pounds a team of

Maintenance Personnel was able to take

the air conditioner apart identify the

problem and fabricate a replacement part

while remaining out at sea

so the problem we faced with the number

one AC uh chill water pump was a

mechanical issue with the motor which

turned off the AC on the floor down the

ship

what we did was we fabricated and

machined a shaft collar for the pump

which then restored AC back on the port

another ship

I guess being in this part of the world

AC is really important it also put a big

strain on the other AC pumps not having

one AC up

so allowing 1ac to come back online

relieved a little bit of stress on the

AC pumps

aircraft carriers and other large

warships will often spend months at sea

at a time

in order to ensure they don't run out of

food fuel or supplies

the US military has developed a system

known as underway replenishment

this is when a special replenishment

tanker pulls up alongside the carrier

and establishes a connection by shooting

a line between the two ships

these lines are then used to set up

various hoses and conveyors moving fuel

water and Munitions on board and

offloading anything that's unsafe to

dispose of on the ship

navies around the world have utilized

this replenishment system for decades

allowing their ships to stay on Mission

and preventing them from having to

return to Port

[Music]

foreign

the flight deck is perhaps the only

place on an aircraft carrier where

something is almost always going on

a standard carrier will have between 50

and 75 planes and helicopters on board

at any given time

though the helicopters can simply take

off vertically the planes must utilize a

special catapult system known as the

catabar

foreign

before launch an aircraft's front wheel

will be attached to the cater bar

which then flings the aircraft forward

at speeds of around 160 miles per hour

this ensures the plane can become

airborne despite having just a few

hundred feet of Runway space

multiple teams work on the flight deck

each identified by their colored vests

thank you

[Music]

those wearing purple are responsible for

fueling planes while those in yellow and

green work with the catabar system and

help direct the planes

finally those in red are tasked with

weapons prep and mounting

[Music]

all of this activity is observed and

erected from the launch bubble

also known as the Catapult control

station the bubble is located inside the

ship's deck

which gives the Personnel working inside

an eye level view across the entire

operation

[Music]

these men and women informed the green

and yellow deck crew members where and

when to direct the planes while

monitoring weather conditions for

potential problems

if conditions are optimal and the flight

deck Crews have done their jobs the

plane will be cleared for takeoff

on a given day an aircraft carrier like

the Gerald R Ford will launch and

recover multiple aircraft

[Music]

though it is not always necessary to

have planes in the air it is necessary

to ensure the pilots Flight Deck Crews

and other crew members are well

practiced and ready for whatever the

ship might encounter while on its

mission

[Music]

foreign

that's the end of this video I hope you

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