‘Unfair’ to compare new class to Nimitz carriers, says Ford commanding officer

USS
Gerald R Ford
returned to Norfolk, Virginia, after an eight-month deployment that tested the ship’s new technologies.
(Janes/Michael Fabey)

During its eight-month deployment that included operations in the Mediterranean, aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) met operational expectations for a new carrier class meant to eclipse the Nimitz-class ships the new vessels are replacing, according to Captain Rick Burgess, Gerald R Ford commanding officer.

“It’s not a fair comparison,” Capt Burgess said on 17 January during a pierside briefing with the media, moments after Gerald R Ford docked in its Norfolk, Virginia, home port following its deployment, which had to be extended by 75 days to support operations in the Mediterranean Sea in the wake of the conflict in Israel.

During its 239 days under way, the ship and its crew conducted 43 underway replenishments, logged at least 17,826 flight hours and 10,396 sorties, sailed at least 83,476 n miles, and safely transferred 20.7 million gallons (78.4 million litres) of fuel with no mishaps.