New arrival

Ok, I can understand USS George Washington. But why Ronald Reagan? Why not the USS Richard Nixon? Or the USS Bill Clinton? Will there be a future USS Barack Obama? If not, why not? What's the naming process here?

Death Star within range.

Here comes the jet noise. I hope they go out to sea soon.

Nixon left office in disgrace - won`t be a row boat named after him. Clinton? R U serious?

In future we will see JMSDF-Sinzo A

@Moonraker

Why not the USS Richard Nixon? I think it may has something to do with the way his presidency ended.

According to information on wikipedia, the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) is under construction and planned to be commissioned in 2020. Next in line wll be the PCU Enterprise (CVN-80) which is scheduled to be constructed and in operation by 2025. It will be the first U.S. aircraft carrier since 'America' was commissioned in 1966 not to be named in honor of a person.

The US Navy is planning to build more carriers so USS Bill Clinton and USS Barack Obama are likely to happen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_carriers_of_the_United_States_Navy

But why Ronald Reagan?

This ultra-modern ship has the ability to sell weapons to Iran and transfer the profits to guerrillas fighting the Sandinistas. Pretty cool feature, I think.

What's the naming process here?

I guess you'll never please everyone when you name a ship after a person who died within living memory.

Unfortunately for America, the Royal Navy has already monopolized most of the best ship names thoughout history; The (HMS) Colossus, the Falcon, the Champion, the Neptune, The Relentless, the Minataur, the Indefatigable, the Undaunted, you get the idea... I'm assuming that's why America sticks with the boring practice of naming ships after people.

This ultra-modern ship has the ability to sell weapons to Iran and transfer the profits to guerrillas fighting the Sandinistas. Pretty cool feature, I think.

But can it spell potatoe? Or remember anything, or call QE2 Your Holiness?

Fantastic piece of technology.

Surely it'll be the "USS William J. Clinton" ?

Ronnie Raygun was a shoe-in because he blew so much money on defence spending in the 1980s.

Since there is already a USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) , I guess there would not be a USS George W. Bush in the future, right? You just cannot have two carriers with such similar names.

Since there is already a USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) , I guess there would not be a USS George W. Bush in the future, right?

There will be, but It will be called the 'USS Dick Cheney' for the sake of clarity.

There will be, but It will be called the 'USS Dick Cheney' for the sake of clarity.

Surely you mean USS Donald Rumsfeld?

There will be, but It will be called the 'USS Dick Cheney' for the sake of clarity.>

If this ever happen it will be the laughing stock in the US Navy. I cannot imagine anyone will want to serve on a ship which name has the word 'Dick' in it.

@yoshisan

The USS Dick Lykes was a merchant marine ship involved in the Vietnam war....

@Moonraker

What's the naming process here?

In theory, aircraft carriers are named after people with significant connections to naval aviation or the US Navy in general. Bush Sr (CVN-77) and JFK (CVN-79) were Navy pilots. Ford (CVN-78) served on a carrier. Nimitz (CVN-68) is arguably our most famous carrier admiral from WW2. Carl Vinson (CVN-70) was a Congressman who sponsored the Navy's huge WW2-era expansion. John C Stennis (CVN-74) was a Senator on the House Armed Services committee during the Cold War. Teddy Roosevelt (CVN-71) was Assistant Secretary of the Navy and as President dispatched The Great White Fleet. And Eisenhower (CVN-69)...well, what didn't he do?

Lincoln (CVN-72), Truman (CVN-75), and Reagan (CVN-76) are the outliers....not sure what anyone was thinking there. I hope we never see ships named after Bush Jr, Clinton, or Obama: none of our 3 post-Cold War Presidents have done anything worthy of the honor IMO.

The USS Dick Lykes was a merchant marine ship involved in the Vietnam war....>

Maybe back then people had great respect for the navy. Also it was a merchant marine ship. With the internet and other social medias nowadays which allows people to mock or ridicule things so easily. I really will not take the risk.

@shonanbb, have you ever seen or heard of jets taking off/landing on a carrier in port?

Since there have been a number of posts around the naming of carriers, including the USS Ronald Reagan, I thought others would be interested in this link. Sharing the link rather than copying and pasting info from there to here.

http://news.usni.org/2013/04/23/twenty-six-us-navy-ship-naming-controversies

Laguna:

" This ultra-modern ship has the ability to sell weapons to Iran and transfer the profits to guerrillas fighting the Sandinistas. Pretty cool feature, I think. "

Stuck in the past, are we? This current version has the ability to help Iran get Allas nuclear bomb, allowing big business to trade with Iran, and at the same time supply funds to imaginary "vetted rebels", a fancy name for ISIS. Yes, pretty cool feature. I am sure you like it.

It should be SS Dick Lykes. The source you may have gotten the name from is in error. A look at a photo of the ship shows it in civilian black, not the navy grey. It was chartered by the USN. The naming of some classes of USN ships has become very political and depends on who controls the White House and Congress. For large aircraft carriers, in practice the naming alternates between icons or patrons of both parties or the Navy Department. The U.S. can't make them Knights or Dukes to honor their service. The name Ronald Reagan still has lots of good will in Japan. I personally believe that he doesn't deserve it.

@zones2surf

A big thumb up for your link, mate. I cannot help but laugh when I read that one time US Navy almost gave their ships Russian names during the cold war period. Also who the hell will name a new ship after someone who sanked one of your ships in battle?

@Kapuna I think Shonan is referring to air wing landings/departures at Atsugi, which if you're living around the Shonan area can get kinda noisy.

Ok, I can understand USS George Washington. But why Ronald Reagan? Why not the USS Richard Nixon? Or the >USS Bill Clinton? Will there be a future USS Barack Obama? If not, why not? What's the naming process here?

Don't fret, Moonraker. We may well have USS Donald Trump.

"The U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan" Its actually a small city...waiting for CHINA...

The Reagan's a great ship that should be welcomed in Japan where it contributed so much to the post-disaster response/recovery efforts during Operation Tomodachi. Trapped and launched from her a handful of times. I'd never trapped with three wires vice four so that took a little getting used to but it's now the norm for all of the new carriers so no choice but to adapt...

Noble713 -

In theory, aircraft carriers are named after people with significant connections to naval aviation or the US Navy in general. Bush Sr (CVN-77) and JFK (CVN-79) were Navy pilots.

JFK wasn't a pilot. He was CO of a torpedo boat (PT-109).

@USNinJapan2

JFK wasn't a pilot. He was CO of a torpedo boat (PT-109).

Ah, you are correct! Not sure where that brain fart came from....

Imagine if they name it the USS George Bush and Having it base it here in Tokyo. What a insult that would be to the Japan Government. All I can remember about this old President is the fact that he spewed all over the Japanese Prime Minister Wife during a televised dinner ceremony.

@John-San

All I can remember about this old President is the fact that he spewed all over the Japanese Prime Minister Wife during a televised dinner ceremony.

There's already a USS George H.W Bush, but I'm not sure if it's ever visited Japan? Also, the Japanese ate his friends for dinner during the war. He was probably thinking about that when he threw up.

She is a beauty.

All we need now is a USS Donald Trump which would be made out of Gold.

@Moonraker, Reagan was responsible for the "600-ship Navy" program, so the relevance of his contribution to the USN is decent precedent.

Those big US carriers are amazing machines, small floating towns complete with every possible amenity, fascinating.

I wonder if a carrier named George W Bush will be "nukyulah" powered, remembering his pronunciation.

M3M3M3

Unfortunately for America, the Royal Navy has already monopolized most of the best ship names thoughout history; The (HMS) Colossus, the Falcon, the Champion, the Neptune, The Relentless, the Minataur, the Indefatigable, the Undaunted, you get the idea...

You Brits compensating much? Be that as it may, prefer the naming schemes like America and Enterprise rather than echoes of presidential foreign policy fiascoes

That is one mighty piece of technology right there.

Power Projection! If you don't believe me go and get up close to one of these ships. Every time I see them I'm proud to be an American.

It looks a bit rusty. Someone should deal with that before the rust spreads.

gmat441 is correct about the SS Dick Lykes, it was owned by The Lykes Bros. Steamship Line of New Orleans. All Lykes Bros. ships are named after a member of the Lykes family.

During WWII and for a while thereafter carriers were named after famous battles (i.e. Yorktown, Ticonderoga, Midway).

Well they could name an oiler after either Bush or Clinton, seeing as how they liked sticking things in people.

Naming process.. .well most important thing is the respect and memory of that person people have on them.

I am not much fan of what the Regan presidencies did, but he has gained the respect of its people (the US citizens) so that should be enough explanation.

I bet, any of those who are complaining here will be very pleased if a ship (warship, spaceship, cruise ship, etc.) is named after you, you will be jumping in one leg... HMS Yubaru, or USS in_japan or even NCC Moonraker