Kitty Hawk is one of 12 aircraft carriers

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Kitty Hawk is one of 12 aircraft carriers in the American naval fleet and the only permanently forward deployed aircraft carrier.

The Kitty Hawk is the first in a class of three super carriers. Constructed by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation at Camden, N.J., Kitty Hawk was commissioned at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on April 29, 1961. It is the second U.S. Navy ship named after the small North Carolina town near which Orville and Wilbur Wright flew the first manned aircraft on Dec. 17, 1903.

Following commissioning, Kitty Hawk’s first commanding officer, Capt. William F. Bringle, sailed his new ship around South America to her new homeport in San Diego, Calif.

Preparations for the ship’s first extended Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment were completed and Kitty Hawk departed San Diego in September 1962, returning the following year. From 1963 to 1972, Kitty Hawk and Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN (CVW-11) completed eight extended deployments, including six in support of American forces in Vietnam. During that period, Kitty Hawk was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, a Meritorious Service Commendation, four Navy Unit Commendations, a Battle Efficiency "E" and many other unit awards. Also, Lt. C.E. Klusmann of VFP-63, Det. C., was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his participation in photo recon missions.

In January through July 1973, Kitty Hawk changed homeports from San Diego to Hunter's Point. Hawk moved into drydock January 14 of that year and work began to convert the ship from an attack (CVA) to a multi-mission carrier (CV). The "CV" designation indicated that Hawk was no longer strictly an attack carrier in that anti-submarine warfare would also become a major role. Hawk became the first Pacific Fleet carrier to carry the multi-purpose "CV" designation. The conversion consisted of adding 10 new helicopter calibrating stations, installing sonar/sonobuoy readout and analysis center and associated equipment, and changing a large portion of the ship's operating procedures.

During the yard period, the Engineering Department underwent a major change in its propulsion plant. The Navy Standard Oil (black oil) fuel system was completely converted to Navy Distillate Fuel. The Air Department added several major changes to the flight deck, including enlarging the jet blast deflectors (JBD) and installing more powerful catapults in order to handle the new Grumman F-14 Tomcat, which Hawk was standing by to receive for its next deployment. Enlarging JBD#1meant the Number One Aircraft Elevator had to be redesigned, making Hawk the only carrier at the time having an aircraft elevator which tracked from the hangar deck to the flight deck angling out six degrees. Hawk moved out of drydock on April 28, 1973 and the next day, on her 12th birthday, was named a Multi-Purpose Aircraft Carrier (CV).

Hawk stayed busy throughout the mid-1970s with numerous deployments to the Western Pacific and involvement in a large number of exercises, including RIMPAC in 1973 and 1975.

Kitty Hawk departed San Diego on March 8, 1976 and on March 12 entered drydock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash, to commence a 100-million dollar complex overhaul scheduled to last 12 and a half months. This overhaul configured Hawk to operate with the F-14 and S-3A "Viking" aircraft in a total CV sea control mode. This included adding spaces for storage, ordnance handling and maintenance facilities for the two aircraft. Also included in the work package were more efficient work areas for air frames and a repair facility for ground support equipment and the addition of avionics support capability for the S-3. The ship also replaced the Terrier Surface-to-Air missile system with the NATO Seasparrow system, and added elevators and modified weapons magazines to provide an increased capability for handling and stowing the newer, larger air launched weapons. Hawk completed the overhaul in March 1977 and departed the shipyard April 1 of that year to return to San Diego.

In 1979, the ship teamed with Carrier Air Wing FIFTEEN (CVW-15) for another WESTPAC deployment, which included Vietnamese search and assistance operations ordered by then-Commander-in-Chief President Jimmy Carter to aid Vietnamese refugees who were attempting to escape the Socialist Republic of Vietnam via small boats. During that deployment, Hawk also offered contingency support off the coast of Korea following the assassination of Republic of Korea President Park Chung Hee. The deployment was then extended two-and-a-half months to support contingency operations in the North Arabian Sea during the Iranian hostage crisis. For their actions in the region, Kitty Hawk and CVW-15 were awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal. Kitty Hawk returned to San Diego in February 1980 and was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Naval Air Force Pacific Battle Efficiency "E" as the best carrier in the Pacific Fleet.

In April 1981, Kitty Hawk left San Diego for her 13th deployment to the Western Pacific. Following the cruise, the crew was awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal for the rescue of Vietnamese refugees in the South China Sea.

In January 1982, Kitty Hawk returned to Bremerton for another year-long overhaul. Following the comprehensive upgrade and a vigorous training period with Carrier Air Wing NINE (CVW-9), Kitty Hawk deployed as the flagship for Battle Group Bravo. Kitty Hawk logged over 62,000 miles on this deployment and remained on station in the North Arabian Sea for more than 60 consecutive days. The ship returned to San Diego on Aug. 1, 1984.

In July 1985, Kitty Hawk and CVW-9 deployed again as flagship for Battle Group Bravo. Kitty Hawk and CVW-9 combined to set a standard for operations, completing their second consecutive fatality-free deployment. CVW-9 crews logged more than 18,000 flight hours and 7,300 arrested landings while Kitty Hawk maintained its catapults and arresting gear at 100 percent availability.

Kitty Hawk bid farewell to San Diego on Jan. 3, 1987, as the ship departed her homeport of 25 years and set out on a six-month world cruise. During the circumnavigation, Kitty Hawk and CVW-9 again showed their commitment to safety by conducting a third fatality-free deployment. Kitty Hawk spent 106 consecutive days on station in the Indian Ocean and was again awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal and the Meritorious Unit Commendation for its service. The world cruise ended at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on July 3.

With the return of CVW-15 to its decks, Kitty Hawk began its second deployment around "the Horn" of South America to its original home port of San Diego on Dec. 11, 1991.

On Aug. 1, 1992, Kitty Hawk was appointed as Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific’s "ready carrier." The ship embarked Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group FIVE; Commander, Destroyer Squadron SEVENTEEN and Carrier Air Wing FIFTEEN for three months of work-ups before deploying to the Western Pacific on Nov. 3, 1992. While on deployment, Kitty Hawk spent nine days off the coast of Somalia supporting U.S. Marines and coalition forces involved in Operation Restore Hope. In response to increasing Iraqi violations of United Nations sanctions, the ship rushed to the Arabian Gulf on Dec. 27, 1992. Just 17 days later, Kitty Hawk led a joint, coalition offensive strike against designated targets in southern Iraq.

The Hawk set sail on its 17th deployment June 24, 1994, providing a stabilizing influence operating in the Western Pacific during a time of great tension in the Far East, particularly concerning North Korea.

Kitty Hawk began her 18th deployment in October 1996. During the six-month underway period, the ship visited ports in the Arabian Gulf and Western Pacific. The Hawk returned to San Diego April 11, 1997, immediately beginning a 15-month, $110 million overhaul, including three months in drydock in Bremerton, Wash., from January to March 1998.

The yard period included refurbishing the ship's four propellers and shafts, repainting the hull and replacing the rudders with reconditioned ones taken from the decommissioned aircraft carrier Ranger (CV 61). Over a three month period in early 1998, nearly 4,000 shipyard workers, Sailors and contractors completed $65 million in repairs (over 500 major jobs) in the Complex Overhaul of the dry-docked Kitty Hawk. All four of the Hawk’s screws were repaired (number three was replaced), and all the line shaft bearings were replaced. Containments were built around the shafts to maintain temperature and humidity levels while complex fiberglass work was completed. For the rudders, large holes were cut through the decks, and the rudders and all associated systems were removed. Refurbished rudders were then removed from the decommissioned carrier USS Ranger while that ship was in the water, to be re-machined and installed on the Hawk.

Kitty Hawk departed San Diego on July 6, 1998 to assume new duties as America's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier from USS Independence (CV 62). Hawk also welcomed aboard Carrier Air Wing FIVE, operating from Atsugi, Japan. Kitty Hawk arrived at her new homeport of Yokosuka, Japan, on Aug. 11, 1998. Less than a week after arriving in her new homeport, civilian contractors from US Naval Ship Repair Facility (SRF), working with Kitty Hawk Sailors, began over 150 separate jobs. Projects range from repairing water-tight doors and hatches to replacing corroded deck drains. While a majority of the tasks are taking place in out-of-the-way areas, the largest job was replacing non-skid on the Flight Deck. Non-skid is an epoxy/sand compound used to protect the metal decking from corrosion and to provide traction for aircraft and personnel.

Kitty Hawk became the oldest active ship in the United States Navy upon the decommissioning of USS Independence on September 30, 1998. Kitty Hawk is only the second aircraft carrier ever to hold the honor of flying the First Navy Jack.

An important issue to keep in mind is that as the Kitty Hawk is the only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier in the fleet, that its deployments are not typical of what one might expect from a MED or WESTPAC deployment by CONUS based carrier. The Kitty Hawk tends to leave port for a few weeks and take part in various activities in the Pacific region. The Kitty Hawk will rarely make a deployment to the Gulf and does so usually under extreme circumstances.

The Hawk set sail for a planned three-month deployment March 2, 1999, that included Exercise Tandem Thrust off Guam. Following the exercise, the Hawk/FIVE team was ordered to the Arabian Gulf to enforce the No-Fly Zone over Southern Iraq. CVW-5 pilots flew over 8,800 sorties in 116 days, including 1,300 combat sorties, dropping more than 20 tons of ordnance.

On the return trip to Japan, Kitty Hawk made port visits to Perth, Australia, and Pattaya, Thailand. Hawk returned to Yokosuka Aug. 25, 1999. She then deployed to the Sea of Japan Oct. 22 to participate in Exercises FOAL EAGLE and ANNUALEX 11G.

On April 11, 2000, Hawk departed Yokosuka, Japan for routine local area operations and to participate in Exercise Cobra Gold with the navies of Singapore and Thailand. USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) and USS O’Brien (DD 975) also got underway to form the rest of Kitty Hawk’s Battle Group. Shortly after leaving Yokosuka, the 86,000-ton warship underwent a large-scale Command Assessment of Readiness and Training (CART). Afloat Training Group (ATG) Western Pacific and ATG San Diego embarked the ship to evaluate the crew while operating near Guam. Through simulations and drills, the ship’s damage control, combat systems, aviation, seamanship, engineering and medical areas were evaluated during the assessment. The skills of the Kitty Hawk team were more than evaluated during the underway period. They were put into use during Exercise Cobra Gold 2000, an annual joint exercise between the U.S., Thailand, and Singapore from May 9-23. One of the largest Far East exercises of the year, Cobra Gold was a major reason for Kitty Hawk’s deployment.

USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), USS O’Brien (DD 975) and USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) returned to Yokosuka 05 June 2000 after a routine spring deployment. While traveling a total of 19,440 nautical miles during this underway period, the 4,800 Sailors of Kitty Hawk and Carrier Air Wing FIVE (CVW-5) maintained an ambitious underway schedule, conducting 3,146 aircraft landings on the carrier’s flight deck, demonstrating their abilities for various inspection teams, and exercising with the militaries of Thailand and Singapore.

USS Kitty Hawk departed Yokosuka 26 September 2000 and was soon joined by Carrier Air Wing FIVE (CVW-5) to ramp up for Exercise Foal Eagle, Annual Exercise (ANNUALEX) 12G and Exercise Keen Sword. Several other Navy units participated in the exercises, including the staffs of Battle Force Seventh Fleet and Destroyer Squadron 15, USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), USS Cowpens (CG 63), USS Vincennes (CG 64), USS Vandegrift (FFG 48), USS Gary (FFG 51), USS Cushing (DD 985), USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), USS Honolulu (SSN 718), USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204), USNS Pecos (T-AO 197), USNS Kiska (T-AE 35) and USNS Victorious (T-AGOS 19).

USS Kitty Hawk and Carrier Air Wing FIVE (CVW5) and other U.S. Navy ships officially commenced operations in the 39th annual Foal Eagle exercise 24 October 2000 in the Sea of Japan. Foal Eagle is an annual exercise designed to provide training for U.S. forces and improve interoperability with South Korea. During the exercise, which ran through 01 November, approximately 25,000 U.S. forces personnel trained with their Republic of Korea allies, testing rear area protection and major command, control and communications systems. The exercise provides an opportunity for the (Kitty Hawk) battlegroup to operate with other forces in the Western Pacific region. The exercise began with a simulated attack that sank a US warship. In response, the U.S. Seventh Fleet deployed units and forces around and inside the Korean peninsula. The units include Kitty Hawk and CVW5, USS John McCain (DDG 56), USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), USS Cowpens (CG 63), USS Vincennes (CG 49), and the attack submarines USS Kamehameha (SSN 642) and USS Honolulu (SSN 718), amphibious units operating off the west coast of Korea and several South Korean surface and subsurface units. There were also Marine, Army and Air Force units on the Korean shore, but these units were not all working together. From day to day, depending on the exercise events, some units played the "good guys" while others played the aggressors.

USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), embarked Carrier Air Wing FIVE (CVW-5), and the ships underway in the carrier battle group joined elements of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) 10 November 2000 to mark the beginning of Hawk’s participation in Annual Exercise (ANNUALEX) 12G. Other US ships participating in ANNUALEX include Chancellorsville, USS Cowpens (CG 63), USS Gary (FFG 51), USS Cushing (DD 985), USS John S. MaCain (DDG 56), USS Honolulu (SSN 718), USNS Rappahannok (TAO 204) and USNS Victorious (T-AGOS 19). Approximately 8,000 personnel from the US participated in the yearly exercise, which focuses on improving the military-to-military relationship between the US and Japan. ANNUALEX 12G, which continued through 17 November 2000 in the waters around Japan, combined air, undersea and surface warfare components to enhance bilateral U.S. and Japan skills that would be required to jointly defend Japan against outside aggression.

Following a brisk pace of underway operations that included three exercises and two port visits in 55 days, USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) returned to Yokosuka, Japan, 20 November 2000, completing its regularly scheduled fall deployment.

The USS Kitty Hawk left Yokosuka on Sept. 30th. It departed with only a portion of its Carrier Air Wing (CVW 5) and instead deployed to support helicopters used to support Army special operations units. The ships in the Kitty Hawk Battle Group include the USS Vincennes (CG 49), the USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), the USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), the USS Cushing (DD 985), the USS Gary (FFG 51), and the USS Rappahanock (T-AO 204) and the submarine USS Bremerton (SSN 698).

The USS Kitty Hawk Battle Group participated in Enduring Freedom, though it did not have its full Carrier Air Wing and carried an unspecified number of helicopters that are being used for Special Operations. Reportedly the Kitty Hawk carried a total of eight F-14 Tomcats and F/A-18C/D strike aircraft, which eventually flew about 100 strike missions. Over 1,000 Special Operations Forces personnel were on the carrier, including the Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Navy SEALS, and Air Force Special Operations forces. Aircraft included a dozen special operations MH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, a half-dozen MH-47 Chinook medium-lift helicopters and several MH-53 Pave Low helicopters. The Kitty Hawk reportedly departed the north Arabian Sea for its home port in Japan on or about 08 December 2001. She returned to port on Dec 23.

World events changed some of the 7 th Fleet’s operational commitments and allowed USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) to spend the summer of 2002 in port and receive additional work. The amount and scope of that work was unexpected. Previous forward-deployed carriers received about 60,000 man-days of effort. This time, Kitty Hawk started her availability in excess of 70,000 man-days and by the end of September 2002 the number of man-days expended had already exceeded 95,000. This was been a strain on all involved, the ships, SRF and even the contractors. The final result of this impressive undertaking was that Kitty Hawk was better equipped to fulfill her mission, and her crew can operate equipment in safety and with confidence. Since returning from an underway period in June 2002, the engineering department worked extended hours and recently wrapped up a more than weeklong “port and starboard” duty section with half of the department working throughout each night. All of this in order to keep the Navy’s most-seasoned steam powered ship prepared to steam for years into the future.

USS Kitty Hawk’s (CV 63) Selective Restricted Availability (SRA) period came to an end in late September 2002. Kitty Hawk Sailors reclaimed their home through a new command program. The program is based on the simple philosophy that one takes more pride in property that one owns than that which one borrows or rents. For more than three months, Ship Repair Facility (SRF) workers had been on board Kitty Hawk repairing and maintaining America’s only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier. As Kitty Hawk prepared to return to sea for training, its crew returned the shine to the spaces affected by SRF work. The months of labor during SRA limited the crew’s access to some areas of the ship and prevented Sailors from maintaining Kitty Hawk’s high cleanliness standards. Kitty Hawk’s leadership started the ownership program to ensure that every space on the ship is “owned” and taken care of with pride by a Sailor. That Sailor is responsible for the space’s cleanliness and upkeep with the help and guidance of their chain of command. A new slogan, “own a piece of the Kitty Hawk,” was circulating through the crew.

USS Kitty Hawk left Yokosuka on Oct. 15, 2002 after a four-month inport period. In port since June 5, the carrier will conduct routine operations while at sea. The USS Kitty Hawk headed to sea for the first time under its new captain, leaving Yokosuka for a crucial period of under way readiness tests. The 41-year-old carrier, which saw a major upheaval in command just over a month earlier, had fallen into disrepair and was not sea-ready, Navy officials said in September.

Fall 2002 Underway Period
On October 25, 2002 the USS Kitty Hawk and its battle group departed Japan for a deployment period. Its schedule, though initially unclear, appears to consist of exercises off of Japan until mid-November at which point it would be available for other assignments. As of early November it is unclear whether or not the Hawk will be sent to Southwest Asia.

In preparation for this at-sea period, the Hawk/5 team completed training designed to ensure every department within Hawk is 100 percent ready to contribute to the ship's mission. Personnel from Afloat Training Group Western Pacific and Naval Air Forces Pacific assessed the effectiveness of that training, during a four-day sea trials period conducted Oct 15-18.

Sea trials resulted in COMNAVAIRPAC certifications of the ship's flight deck, air traffic controllers, and the engineering plant fuel systems. Sea trials also resulted in positive feedback from ATG on the crew's ability to train itself, according to Lt. Cmdr. David Scott, Kitty Hawk training officer.

As Hawk completed a major replenishment of ordnance during her first day at sea with USNS Flint (T-AE 32), the crew shifted its focus to the training opportunities that lie ahead.

On November 11-22 the Kitty Hawk Battle Group and other shps from 7th Fleet and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force took park in an exercise called ANNUALEX 14G, designed to improve both naval forces’ capabilaity for coordinated and bilateral operations in the defense of Japan. In particular, ANNUALEX 14G is focusing on enhancing military-to-military relationships, improving command and control as well as air, undersea and surface warfare. It has been reported that during this exercise, the Kitty Hawk Battle Group passed through the Taiwan Straits conducting carrier operations.

On November 18, 2002 reports began to surface that indicated that the Kitty Hawk would be making a port call at Hong Kong on November 29 through December 3.

Articles from both the South China Morning Post and the Associated Press dated November 19 and November 18, 2002, respectively, report that the USS Kitty Hawk and elements of her Battle Group will make a port call at Hong Kong on November 29 through December 3, at which point it is believed that she will depart for the Persian Gulf. An Associated Press story, dated November 22, reports that the USS Rainier, currently attached to the Constellation Battle Group will remain in Hong Kong following the departure of the Connie, and will depart with the Kitty Hawk on December 3. The Kitty Hawk made the port call accompanied by the USS Curtis Wilbur and the O'Brien.

USS Kitty Hawk returned to its port of Yokosuka, Japan, Dec. 13 after seven weeks of mission-oriented training.

Early 2003 Underway Period
On January 20, 2003 the Kitty Hawk departed Yokosuka for carrier qualifications off Iwo Jima, some 1,200 kilometers south of Tokyo. The qualifications are believed to have focused on night landings by the air wing. It is not clear just how many ships departed with the Kitty Hawk.

On January 21 the Kitty Hawk returned to port to onload elements of the Air Wing. She departed the next day, on January 23, to conduct operations off the Korean Peninsula in response to increased tensions between the United States and North Korea. For a period of time it looked as if the Kitty Hawk would not participate in an invasion of Iraq as the situation in Korea did not appear to be easing.

However, on February 7 various media reports indicated that the Kitty Hawk had been ordered to deploy to the Persian Gulf and that the USS Carl Vinson and her Battle Group would be moved into the Western Pacific to deter North Korea.

On February 16, 2003 the Kitty Hawk passed through the Strait of Malacca.

In early March, Kitty Hawk and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 joined other Navy carrier battle groups, in conducting operations in support of Operation Southern Watch.

On March 20 the Kitty Hawk began providing support to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On April 13, she was ordered to return to Yokosuka and she departed the Persian Gulf on April 16.

She returned to Yokosuka on May 6 and is scheduled to begin an extended Yard period on May 12 through October 2003.

During her underway period the Kitty Hawk expended 864,000 pounds of ordnance during 5,375 aircraft sorties. She had thirty-seven underway replenishments and travelled nearly 30,000 miles since departing Yokosuka on January 20. Two aircraft from the Kitty Hawk were lost.

Late 2003 Underway Period
Since the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet has replaced the F-14 Tomcat as the primary fighter interceptor aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), a new, highly advanced engine test cell has been installed in the ship's jet shop to facilitate the transition. As the Navy gradually phases out the Tomcats and replaces them with Super Hornets, carriers such as Kitty Hawk have installed the JETI to deal with the new engine’s complexity. Kitty Hawk’s AIMD is still in the process of certifying its JETI and is running tests on it using engines such as the F-414.

Spring 2004 Deployment
The Kitty Hawk and elements of her Strike Group departed Yokosuka on February 18, 2004.

Early on in the deployment, the Kitty Hawk conducted a two-day missile exercise, called MISSILEX. During this exercise, CVW-5 trained in handling, loading and firing live ordnance.

Following the MISSILEX, the Kitty Hawk Strike Group had the opportunity to be ambassadors during a four day port visit to Hong Kong. On the first day of the Hong Kong port visit, March 6, the Battle Cat hosted a reception for approximately 800 military, government and civilian officials.

USS Kitty Hawk made a five-day port visit to Busan, Korea, March 15, 2004. Kitty Hawk last visited Korea in November 2000.

After leaving Busan on March 19, Kitty Hawk participated in the annual Foal Eagle exercise. In Foal Eagle, the Kitty Hawk Strike Group joined forces with the Air Force, Marines and the ROK to practice integration and operability in real life scenarios.

The Battle Cat’s next port of call took place in Singapore for a four-day visit beginning on April 12.

The strike group arrived in Fremantle April 22, 2004 for a scheduled port visit while conducting its spring cruise. The visit included a short rest and relaxation break, routine voyage maintenance and administrative activities. The Kitty Hawk Strike Group departed the port of Fremantle, on April 27.

USS Kitty Hawk turned 43 years old on April 29, 2004 with an under way cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate the beginning of another year in the life of America's oldest active Navy ship.

Following the visit to Australia, the Battle Cat headed north and crossed the equator for a second time, performing an ages-old Navy tradition, Wog Day, the crossing-the-line ceremony. The achievement is celebrated by naval forces, and some civilian vessels, around the world, commemorating the ship’s crossing of the equator. Sailors who have never crossed the line before, called “pollywogs,” go through a series of events to prove that they are worthy of becoming “shellbacks,” or those who have “crossed the line.”

With a ship full of shellbacks, the Kitty Hawk Strike Group went on to conduct War-At-Sea Exercises (WASEX).

The Kitty Hawk returned to Yokosuka on May 24, 2004 for the first time since she began her Spring deployment Feb. 18. During this deployment the Kitty Hawk had used approximately 12 million gallons of fuel and having traveled more than 25,000 nautical miles.

Decommissioning
USS Kitty Hawk is slated for replacement by CVN-77 in 2008.

Departments
Kitty Hawk requires an infrastructure similar to a city. The duties of the commanding officer (CO) parallel those of a mayor. The CO is ultimately responsible and accountable for the welfare of the ship and its crew, and establishes the guidelines under which the ship operates. Next comes the executive officer (XO), similar in many respects to a city manager. The XO ensures the CO’s guidelines are implemented and the ship runs smoothly. The ship is further divided into 17 departments that provide the range of services required to support our large population and mission.

The Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) plays a key role in the repair/maintenance of aircraft parts. AIMD capabilities extend from the repair of engines, airframes, hydraulics, ordnance launching systems to the most complicated avionics and electrical systems. AIMD can x-ray an aircraft to check structural integrity, sample oil or oxygen for purity, pack parachutes and support all aviators' life support systems and provide calibration services. AIMD is also the battle group repair coordinator for providing emergent repair and technical assistance for all ships operating with the Kitty Hawk at sea.

Air Department is run by the air boss, whose responsibilities include overseeing the movement of aircraft on board and in the immediate airspace of the ship. Personnel assigned to Air Department launch, recover and fuel the aircraft as well as move them on the Flight Deck and in the Hangar Bay. The most notable features of the department are the colored jerseys worn by its personnel at sea. Yellow shirts are worn by catapult officers and plane directors, purple by refueling crews, red by ordnance handlers and crash and salvage crews, blue by plane movers and white by safety and medical personnel.

Kitty Hawk's Chaplain Department strives to enhance the spiritual well being, morale, and personal wellness of all Hawk Sailors. The Chaplain Department provides a wide range of worship and religious education opportunities, counseling services and training. Additionally, the department operates the chapel, crew’s lounge, personal development center and the ship’s 3,000-volume library. All emergency communications through the American Red Cross are coordinated through the Chaplain's Office.

Keeping Kitty Hawk in touch with the rest of the world is Combat Systems Department. The department’s technicians operate computers, radio and electronic receivers, decoding services and high-powered transmitters putting the captain and embarked commanders in touch with almost anyone on the world via satellite and shore-based stations. The primary means of communication at sea are electronically transmitted messages. Combat Systems also maintains automated data processing support as well as email and internet capabilities.

Deck Department oversees the traditional seafaring responsibilities on board and is manned by the “oldest rate in the Navy” -- the boatswain’s mates. On board Kitty Hawk, the department maintains the exterior decks below the flight deck, anchors the ship at sea, moors the ship to the pier in port, and rescues anyone falling overboard by piloting two rigid-hull inflatable boats. The department’s biggest responsibility, however, is underway replenishment of the ship. Along Kitty Hawk’s starboard side are the primary receivers for fuel transferred from supply ships that steam alongside. Mail, weapons, food and people also can be transferred in that fashion. But the most evident of boatswain’s mate duties to visitors is the tradition of “piping” of ship’s announcements and the ringing of the ship’s bell to tell time.

Kitty Hawk personnel have available around-the-clock, state-of-the-art, comprehensive dental services, including all specialty care. The Dental Department's highly trained team is capable of providing everything from routine examinations and cleanings to complex oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures out of its five fully-equipped operators. An onboard, full-service dental prosthetic laboratory is capable of fabrication of all types of crowns, bridges and dentures that might be required by its patients.

Engineering Department serves as Kitty Hawk’s utility company and public works center. The engineers provide fresh water, electricity, heating, air conditioning, interior communications and repair services -- all at no charge. The engineers also ensure all eight boilers are on-line, powering the ship’s four propellers, four steam catapults and other ship’s systems. Another of Engineering Department’s many responsibilities is protecting the ship from damage by ensuring the ship’s compartmentalization system is intact, and that fires and floods are prevented.

Executive/Administrative Department is similar to the city hall staff. Office clerks, known as yeoman and personnelmen, maintain the records and files that enable the ship to operate. All official correspondence is routed through and distributed by this department. The Exec/Admin staff also includes lithographers, journalists and career advisors. The ship’s television, radio and newspaper are produced by this department. Executive Department also coordinates educational programs, ranging from Navy advancement tests to college courses.

Providing the ship’s court system and police force is the Legal Department. The Uniform Code of Military Justice details the conduct expected of Navy people. As legal assistants, the department tends to the special needs of Sailors by helping them draft powers of attorney and wills so their families and property are taken care of.

Ensuring the ship stays in top fighting shape is the Maintenance Department. The ship’s Preventive Maintenance System ensures that every piece of equipment on board is inspected regularly for wear and tear. The department schedules and documents these checks according to Navy standards, and provides guidance for obtaining replacement parts.

Taking care of the health needs of the 5,500 Sailors on board and the hundreds of Sailors in the task group is Kitty Hawk’s Medical Department. This small "hospital at sea" is equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and a full staff of health care professionals. The 65 inpatient beds, ICU, pharmacy, X-ray, laboratory and operating and emergency room capabilities enable the Medical Department to effectively manage minor to major illnesses and injuries. When the ship is at general quarters, six battle dressing stations, or triage areas, provide on-the-scene medical care.

Navigation Department is charged with safely getting Kitty Hawk to where it needs to be. The ship’s navigator and quartermasters use satellite and celestial navigation as aids to determine the ship’s location. With the help of an extensive library of charts and maps, they can plot out the best direction of travel for the ship. In close maneuvers with other ships, the quartermasters take over steering the ship. The department is also responsible for signal flags you see on the yardarm. This age-old way mariners communicated is still carried out on board this modern warship today. The department’s signalmen can communicate Kitty Hawk’s intentions to other ships in close proximity by semaphore, mast lights or signal flags.

Operations Department is responsible for collecting, analyzing and distributing combat information to the captain, the admiral and the air wing to accomplish offensive and defensive missions. Through its different warfare and intelligence modules, the department monitors world events to give Kitty Hawk and the air wing the most accurate information available. Department personnel plan the ship’s movements, forecast weather conditions, provide photographic intelligence, operate the ship’s defensive weapons systems, maintains radar detection equipment, and controls aircraft operating within 60 miles of the ship.

Safety Department has the huge task of ensuring that the most dangerous place in the world -- the Flight Deck -- is also the safest, as well as every other space on board. Safety enforces the Navy’s occupational safety regulations on board and helps the crew focus on safety ashore.

Security is charged with ship’s physical security and law enforcement. More than 50 Sailors, trained in police techniques, are assigned to guard entrances to the ship, direct traffic in restricted areas, and operate the ship’s brig.

It takes $9 million in ship support and another $22 million in airwing support each year to enable KITTY HAWK to perform its mission. Overseeing this budget and a $200 million inventory system is the Supply Department. From procuring needed parts to feeding the crew, the Supply Department sustains the crew and equips the ship. Divided into 10 customer service branches, the department runs seven dining facilities, the ship’s post office, maintains the crew's payroll, operates the ship's laundry and retail stores and arranges recreational activities at sea and ashore.

The offensive and defensive capability of KITTY HAWK is provided by the Weapons Department. Hawk has over 2,000 tons of ordnance on board, ranging from air- and surface-launched missiles to the state-of-the-art precision-guided weapons. Weapons storage is provided in 54 weapons magazines, accessed by 11 weapons elevators. Ordnancemen maintain strict accounting and handling of their explosive load.