So now this is like, the new default? Every president expected to get a carrier “just because” so the fleet carrier force is always ten presidents and an Enterprise?
Every president from FDR to W has or will have a ship except for Nixon. Nixon was actually a naval officer for nearly all of WWII but didn’t see serious action.
Probably, yes. We get a new president every 4-8 years, and new carriers arrive at a similar schedule, so the naming schedule is about right. But there is still going to be the USS Doris Miller and other non-president names. I’d guesstimate maybe one-quarter will be those folks.
I’m waiting for the USS Robert S MacNamara.
I expect the USS Bush will soon be rebranded TRUMP, the hanger will be converted into a subpar casino, featuring well done steaks.
A weekend OAN anchor will be named Captain, Lee Greenwood will be the resident artist.
The crew will get paid in chips, after deducting for their lodging in such a hugely, very well named ship.
And Donnie John, as a sign of good will to the MAGA folks; will only take $4 billion, for the naming rights.
They should build a round supercarrier and name it the USS Taft.
Taft was president when the US purchased it’s first military aircraft. It makes since for his name to be attached to an aircraft carrier. Most recent presidents, not so much.
Mmmmm, hanger steaks.
Yeah really, used to be they looked for some sort of connection.
Looking into it, it seems that the prior convention in the 50s and 60s was for presidents’ names to go to boomer subs (Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Polk, Lincoln, Grant, Teddy R in the 60s) and only rarely to carriers (FDR and JFK). Up to WW2 presidents would get a second line surface combatant (destroyer or frigate) or a support ship named after them as was the tradition until then for naming classes of vessels after people (and, up until then, no naming after living people).
Carter as part of the original nuke sub program of course got an attack sub named after him. Meanwhile Washington and Lincoln, OK, sure, you want their names on the most impressive thing you have afloat; Teddy R presided over a rebuilding of the fleet; Bush41 was a naval aviator and Ford was a ship’s officer both on carriers in the Pacific. FDR had led the nation thru war and was a former Assistant Navy Secretary so a carrier under construction at the time of his passing was promptly renamed, good optics; JFK was another decorated Navy vet and his memory was too fresh when it was time to lay down the next unit; Ike was Ike and followed Nimitz as carriers honoring the supreme commanders in their respective halves of the world; Harry S had clashes with the admiralty but he did drop the Bombs and slapped down MacArthur the last of which I’m sure pleased the Navy most of all; Ronnie presided over another big naval build-up.
Meanwhile LBJ, another WW2 Pacific Navy vet, got a Zumwalt class destroyer, damn fancy but often seen as a boondoggle.
What special connection to naval service Clinton and W have, or claim to special illustriousness, other than “they were presidents at some time and we shot things during that time”, I can’t summon from memory.
I have a sneaking suspicion this is some weird strategy by Biden to get a USS Obama, if they’re going to name both a Clinton and W Bush, obviously the next two carriers have to be Obama and Trump.
Maybe even Biden thinks his legacy is that after the Obama and Trump carriers he might still be alive for a USS Joe Biden.
The Russians tried a round ship – albeit not a CV – and it didn’t work out so good. It took 40 - 45 minutes to make a full circle and was virtually unsteerable in a storm.
There are only four carriers after George W Bush and a lot of names yet to use, so it’s doubtful he’ll get a ship. It’d be great if he lived long enough to see them at least name USS Barack Obama.
As they’ve named one Doris Miller, there’s still a lot of non Presidential heroes, admirals, etc. you could name a big boat after.
Honestly I can see his nibs pushing for USS Andrew Jackson.
There already was one (I know they repeat names). A submarine that was decommissioned in 1989
Even if it was still around, you can’t see a submarine easily. You know his nibs won’t settle for anything less that the bigliest ship around.
If Trump was making the decision the US aircraft carrier fleet would probably be named Trump, Trump II, Trump III, Trump IV…