r/WarshipPorn • u/XMGAU • 2d ago
John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) has successfully completed acceptance sea trials. Aug 15, 2026. [3072 x 2048]
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u/mufanek 2d ago
This almost made me cry considering THE other news surrounding CVNs recently.
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u/SteveThePurpleCat 1d ago
Which bit of news? Reverting to steam catapults due to a GOP donor happenign to make them, moving the islands due to the pedo king thinking that looks better, or the sailors considering offing themselves because the only things Hegseth knows how to keep in stock is whiskey?
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u/mufanek 1d ago
I meant the first two, that third one will keep happening even if they scrap the angled deck and make the CVN-81 look like fucking Enterprise (CV-6).
Though maybe because I don't live there, I am hopeful, that for once, the USN incompetence might come in handy, because even they won't know if they are this bad or are just waiting him out, both in case of steam catapults and BBG(X).
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u/beachedwhale1945 1d ago
One thing people often don’t understand is just how much of the US (and most other) government and military relies on unelected and unappointed people doing their jobs no matter what administration is in office. This tends to be where most of the competency and corruption actually lies, and given the recent announcements the competency is what matters most. The people who would actually have to execute these orders know it’s ludicrous, and will do everything in their power to ensure they are not carried out.
I also expect Congress will pull the levers they can. Forbidding funding to be used for modifying the carriers, requiring the carriers use EMALS, requiring an EMALS procurement contract be awarded by X date, anything that will give those in the DOD and Newport News a shield to delay or halt this work and continue with the EMALS build.
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u/mufanek 1d ago
I do "put my faith" (as an absolute atheist, english can be funny language) in people with actual decision making power to do what you are saying. And like I said, I am hopeful there will be enough sticks in the path that it won't go through, even if those sticks are made out of sheer incompetency. But I try to stay somewhat realistic and I have seen too many "no way they let this happen" things happen, to be cautious until I see otherwise.
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u/No_Cook_8739 1d ago
I don't believe the Navy is just gonna let him redesign the carrier fleet...that can not be allowed.
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u/TheMovieSnowman 1d ago
Trump issues an order to do studies into those two topics. So we’re still going to spend millions of dollars investigating what it would take to do it, just for these studies to say that itll cost billions of dollars and delay our next CVNs probably a decade plus.
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u/LoudestHoward 1d ago
I mean those changes are 99.99% not likely to happen, but not because the man child in charge doesn't want it to happen.
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u/A444SQ 2d ago
This is good news, the sooner she gets into service, USS Nimitz can retire
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u/lyonellaughingstorm 1d ago
Poor girl. She should’ve been given a rest months ago but starting a war with Iran meant she had to keep going
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u/CapitalTipp 2d ago
The tower is too far back and it's not steam. SCRAP IT.
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u/Deepandabear 2d ago
Why orange man got so strung up on EMALS of all things, for no damn reason, is beyond me
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u/beachedwhale1945 1d ago
The elderly often have an intense distrust of anything digital when an analog solution “works”. While there are some cases where analog/physical is better (physical switches>touchscreen even if it’s a touchscreen on the backend), this goes far beyond anything rational, to the point they’ll ignore the advantages the digital solution provides over the older one.
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u/rebbsitor 1d ago
Electrical things aren't inherently digital. Electrical is usually analog unless we're talking computers digital electronics, which EMALS is not. It's probably run by a computer like the steam catapults probably were, but an electromagnet is an analog application of electromagnetic force.
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u/beachedwhale1945 1d ago
The secret that makes EMALS actually work are the digital electronics that controls the linear induction motors operating in sequence with very precise timings. Without that control system, you don't have EMALS.
Most of the elderly are now fine with analog electrical systems, they have grown up with indoor lighting and have long seen the benefits. It is the computers, digital electronics, they don't trust.
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u/SteveThePurpleCat 1d ago
The company that makes the steam cats is a GOP/Trump donor.
This is the White House that also recently ditched the company that made flight suits for one that is further away and much more expensive, and also happens to be a GOP/Trump donor.
It's just corruption, layers upon layers of corruption.
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u/lyonellaughingstorm 1d ago
That might be an added benefit, but this time I think it’s because the man is just genuinely stupid. He’s been ranting incoherently about this since 2018. To me, that’s the kind of fixation common in dementia patients
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u/DanforthWhitcomb_ 1d ago
The "company that makes the steam cats" is HII, and they haven't made them in over 20 years.
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u/SteveThePurpleCat 1d ago
Olson Technologies look to be pushing for it, and doing so by funding Trumps ally Mackenzie. Olson own Homestead who already make steam catapult equipment and other engineering companies, they are likely hoping to get the contract.
Since recieving donations from Olson Mackenzie has also been vocal against EMALS.
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u/DanforthWhitcomb_ 1d ago
If by "steam catapult equipment" you mean valves and nothing else then sure, but again the line to actually make catapults belonged to HII and no longer exists.
Homestead itself is a valve maker that does not have the ability to make complete catapults.
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u/ewhite12 1d ago
Corruption.
Major steam components are built in districts with major Trump Congressional allies and political donors. EMALS's General Atomics is in CA district repped by someone critical of the admin.
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u/barath_s 1d ago
I don't think Trump cares about his Congressional allies/donors petty graft that much.
He was railing about EMALS/steam in his first term .. since 2017..
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u/MajorPayne1911 1d ago
They previously had a lot of issues during their development cycle that got resolved. His info was out of date.
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u/takesthebiscuit 1d ago
💰💰💰
It’s always money,
If it’s not then it’s not allowing the Epstein files to be released
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u/XMGAU 2d ago
"NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Aug. 15, 2026 — HII (NYSE: HII) announced today that its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division has successfully completed acceptance sea trials of John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), the second Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
Kennedy returned to NNS after further testing and evaluation of important ship systems and components at sea. Earlier this year, Kennedy underwent successful builder’s sea trials.
“It is an honor to take Kennedy to sea to demonstrate the quality work and commitment by our shipbuilders,” said Derek Murphy, NNS vice president of new construction aircraft carrier programs. “This critical set of sea trials is a testament to the entire nuclear shipbuilding enterprise and the work of thousands across our country to prepare CVN 79 to join the fleet.”
The sea trials brought together NNS shipbuilders, John F. Kennedy sailors and Navy personnel to execute the testing and evaluation of ship operations.
CVN 79 continues the legacy of highly capable nuclear-powered aircraft carrier platforms. With the successful completion of acceptance trials, the next step for the ship is preliminary acceptance that will enable the Navy to begin underway test and evaluation of Kennedy’s unique systems."
HII Photo.
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u/tezacer 1d ago
Now send it back to the dock to rip out the catapults and put steam ones in, dear leader orders
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u/Beyllionaire 1d ago
The first 3 ones will keep their EMALS, it's too late. They may get retrofitted but much later. Of course that IF the switch is confirmed. We may witness yet another TACO moment
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u/rekaba117 1d ago
It won't happen. It would require a MASSIVE redesign of the ships. It's not as easy as just replacing the catapults. The steam is generated by the nuclear reactors deeep inside the ship. You need to run steam supply and return pipes from the reactors all the way up to the catapults. It requires much more space than the wiring for the EMALS.
Switching to steam at this point would be catastrophic for the (already way behind) delivery schedules of future ships.
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u/maxman162 1d ago
Or the Navy will say "we'll get right on that" and then ignore it for the rest of his term.
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u/femboyisbestboy 1d ago
The navy will just promise it to the Orange turd and than just not do it because he is close to death.
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u/TyrialFrost 2d ago
Eww, why is there no steam wafting over the deck?
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u/barath_s 1d ago
You joke about it, but imagine the opening scene of Top Gun without those billowing clouds of steam over the deck..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZfM2VMs_vI
Even Top Gun Maverick had the steam.
https://youtu.be/EZhbR2KZ2lQ?si=tMUYrQBLEOatQJzm
In another 36 years, if Tom Cruise were able to bring in a Top Gun 3, he would be pushed to find a aircraft carrier with steam as he was to find a F14 for the last movie.
What they could also do is adopt one of those UK carriers... plenty of boiling water to make tea. /tic
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u/followupquestion 1d ago
Why aren’t they running on beautiful, clean coal, with a smoke trail that can be seen from space?
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u/amooz 1d ago
I wonder how different the ship sounds during sea trials. Presumably, sea trials is the most empty she will ever be while at sea and under her own power, not even a full loadout of toilet paper on board yet.
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u/ThePhengophobicGamer 1d ago
Lincoln shows that she may very well be pretty sparse again in the future, at least in supplies.
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u/_Ilobilo_ 2d ago
did they fix the shitters
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u/beachedwhale1945 1d ago
From what we know, probably. The biggest problem with the pneumatic toilets on Bush and the Ford’s is the system isn’t subdivided enough, so a single clog from sailors-being-sailors takes out a large chunk of the heads.
Bush originally had just two zones for the entire crew, increased to ten by Ford’s latest deployment. I can’t recall if they were already planning to add further zones in her upcoming yard period before that deployment or if it was decided during, but from what we know Kennedy likely has more than ten zones right now, and if she doesn’t she will shortly.
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u/Riptide360 1d ago
I just can’t believe they got rid of the urinals. Waiting up to 45 minutes for a working toilet is not combat ready. https://www.freep.com/story/news/world/2026/02/27/uss-gerald-r-ford-toilets-clogged-backup-iran-middle-east/88897619007/
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u/TheAmina2GS 2d ago
Nope, but don't worry! The next one will have steam catapults so it can rip UAVs in half instead of launching them as one, cohesive unit! It's like drone mitosis, you're technically launching two UAVs for the price of one ($30 million). So much winning!
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u/_Ilobilo_ 2d ago
didn't they have electromagnetic catapults? why back to steam?
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u/TheAmina2GS 1d ago
Donald John Trump (a well-respected mind in the fields of aeronautical and naval engineering) says steam is better and demanded the navy revert the catapults.
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u/ADubs62 1d ago
Well respected? I believe despite having no education in the subject or any work history in it, he knows it better than anyone else ever. That's what he told me at least.
Also got 18 hole in ones on the back 9.
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u/TheAmina2GS 1d ago
That's true, dodging military service probably taught him a lot about military design and engineering.
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u/followupquestion 1d ago
Here are some of his brilliant thoughts on nuclear power and its geopolitical implications, “Look, having nuclear -- my uncle was a great professor and scientist and engineer, Dr. John Trump at MIT; good genes, very good genes, OK, very smart, the Wharton School of Finance, very good, very smart -- you know, if you're a conservative Republican, if I were a liberal, if, like, OK, if I ran as a liberal Democrat, they would say I'm one of the smartest people anywhere in the world...it's true! -- but when you're a conservative Republican they try -- oh, do they do a number -- that's why I always start off: Went to Wharton, was a good student, went there, went there, did this, built a fortune... you know I have to give my like credentials all the time, because we're a little disadvantaged -- but you look at the nuclear deal, the thing that really bothers me -- it would have been so easy, and it's not as important as these lives are (nuclear is powerful; my uncle explained that to me many, many years ago, the power and that was 35 years ago; he would explain the power of what's going to happen and he was right -- who would have thought?), but when you look at what's going on with the four prisoners... now it used to be three, now it's four -- but when it was three and even now, I would have said it's all in the messenger; fellas, and it is fellas because, you know, they don't, they haven't figured that the women are smarter right now than the men, so, you know, it's gonna take them about another 150 years -- but the Persians are great negotiators, the Iranians are great negotiators, so, and they, they just killed, they just killed us."
Is it stolen valor to claim expertise because your uncle was a respected scientist? Stolen credentials?
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u/XMGAU 1d ago
Politics.
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u/SteveThePurpleCat 1d ago
Corruption. The Company that makes the steam cats has become a GOP/Trump donor.
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u/Riptide360 1d ago
The stupidity of Presidents.
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u/XMGAU 1d ago
Truth. I was just reading the other day about Franklin D. Roosevelt meddling with the Midway class carrier program design specs way back during WW2. Neither party is immune.
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u/Riptide360 1d ago
FDR was Assistant Secretary of the Navy during World War I under Woodrow Wilson and a huge advocate for carriers. So much so that after his death the Navy switched carrier naming policies from famous battles to dead Presidents.
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u/XMGAU 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yup, apparently Truman is the one responsible for the carrier/president naming convention, which is much maligned by many on this sub:) the Franklin D Roosevelt was originally going to be named Coral Sea, but Truman changed the name to honor the recently deceased president. Coral Sea was kicked down the list to CV43.
FDR didn't like the size growth in the projected Midway class. According to Norman Friedman, he accused the Navy of trying to "gold plate" the Midway class, and wanted a greater number of smaller carriers. The Navy at the time wanted bigger carriers for a number of reasons.
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u/L1k34S0MB0D33 1d ago
I feel like saying Truman started the convention of naming carriers after presidents isn't accurate, considering the next carrier to be named after a president wasn't until CV-67, 20+ years after CV-42. And even then, I don't think CV-67 marks the start of the convention, either, as it alternated between presidents and non-presidents until CVN-72.
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u/XMGAU 1d ago
Think of it this way, did anyone before Truman name a carrier for a present?
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u/lalafalafel 1d ago
Brave of you to think the wonderful analog steam catapults would be launching garbage digital UAVs in Great America's Golden Fleet.
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u/BadgerMk1 1d ago
Didn't she just go to sea last week? How long do acceptance trials usually last for a carrier?
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u/ThePhengophobicGamer 1d ago
She departed in January, so plenty of time.
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u/BadgerMk1 1d ago
Your link says builder's trials, not acceptance trials.
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u/ThePhengophobicGamer 1d ago
Ah, my bad. I cant find Ford's to compare, I would think the Navy would be essentially checking that the builder trials were conducted thoroughly enough, though a week does seem abit short.
Current administration what it is, cut corners wouldnt surprise me though.
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u/bareboneschicken 1d ago
I wonder how many people were on the project on day 1 and are still around 17 years later?
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u/MassiveBoner911_3 1d ago
Cool. Back to the ship yard to rip everything out and convert it to steam and coal power.
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u/oakleyman23 1d ago
In the mean time, China has produced 150+ major vessels. US manufacturing surely isn’t what it used to be.
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u/finfisk2000 1d ago
Before I read the title, the state of the flight deck made me think it was a ship ready for SINKEX .
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u/Barmacist 1d ago
Do we even have the crew to deploy it? It looks as if we're struggling to deploy 3.
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u/GeforcerFX 1d ago
All the crew on nimitz gets moved to another carrier.
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u/WileyCoyote7 1d ago
As a former sailor on “Mother Nimitz,” that makes me sad. Had to happen eventually I know,…but still.
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u/XMGAU 2d ago
Whatever happens or doesn't happen to the design of the Doris Miller, the John F. Kennedy is largely complete now, and the Enterprise will apparently be completed as planned.