USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier starts its refueling and overhaul.

According to a press release published by May 7, 2021, the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) arrived at Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding division today to start its refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) after years of advance planning.
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Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (Picture source: Historycentral)

Stennis is the seventh Nimitz-class carrier to undergo this major mid-life availability, representing 35% of all maintenance and modernization completed during its 50-year service life. Over the next four years, Newport News will perform hull and freeboard blast and paint, repairs to its propellers, sea chests, shafts, and rudders and defueling and refueling of its power plant.

This effort, which will continue through late 2025, will produce a recapitalized carrier capable of supporting current and future warfare doctrine while continuing to operate as the centerpiece of the Navy fleet and national defense for another 25 years.

USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) is the seventh Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the United States Navy. Instead of the gas turbines or diesel-electric systems used for propulsion on many modern warships, the carriers use two A4W pressurized water reactors which drive four propeller shafts and can produce a maximum speed of over 30 knots (56 km/h) and a maximum power of around 260,000 shaft horsepower (190 MW). As a result of the use of nuclear power, the ships are capable of operating for over 20 years without refueling and are predicted to have a service life of over 50 years.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier can carry up to 82 aircraft that could include F/A-18E/F Hornets, F/A-18 Hornets, E-2C Hawkeyes and fixed-wing and helicopters as SH-60F and HH-60H Seahawks.