USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)

The USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) is a Nimitz-class supercarrier capable of carrying 85 aircraft and a crew complement of 5,500. She was commissioned on 13 March, 1982 and sailed 12 months later for an eight-month circumnavigation of the globe, ending at its first home port of Alameda, California.

First Deployment

The Carl Vinson participated in an international naval exercise in 1984 called RIMPAC prior to her deployment to the Western Pacific later that year. From January until April 1985, the Carl Vinson patrolled the Indian Ocean for 107 consecutive days.

Later in 1985, the Carl Vinson and her air crew were featured extras in the film Top Gun starring Tom Cruise. The following spring, the Carl Vinson participated in another RIMPAC exercise before her second deployment to the Western Pacific. On her return trip to Alameda in January 1987, the Carl Vinson became the first flattop to sail the Bering Sea between Siberia and Alaska.

The Carl Vinson's fourth overseas deployment in 1988 took her to the Persian Gulf for the protection of U.S. oil tankers. She returned to base in December of that year. In September 1989, the Carl Vinson participated in the largest peacetime naval exercise since World War II, known as PACEX '89. During this exercise, the Carl Vinson operated in the Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands, leading a three-carrier battle group operation.

The 1990s

On her fifth deployment, beginning in February 1990, the Carl Vinson and her crew made a grand tour of the Pacific, calling on Honolulu, Sasebo, Subic Bay, Diego Garcia, Perth, Singapore and Hong Kong. She returned to Alameda 8 months later before going into the Puget Sound Naval Yard in Bremerton, Washington for more than two years of refits and upgrades.

In February 1994, the carrier departed for the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. On 5 August, 1994, the Carl Vinson hosted the change of command ceremonies for the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet. The carrier returned to Alameda on 17 August 1994.

Over the next three years, the Carl Vinson made two more deployments to the Persian Gulf and participated in war game exercises in the Pacific. During that time, the Pentagon closed the Alameda Naval Air Station and the vessel was transferred to a new home port in Bremerton, Washington. In July 1999, the Carl Vinson entered the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for a year-long, $230 million dollar refit.

The Persian Gulf

The USS. Carl Vinson starred in the 2000 film Behind Enemy Lines, starring Owen Wilson and Gene Hackman. The following year, the carrier and her crew began training for its twelfth deployment overseas. In July 2001, the Carl Vinson sailed from Bremerton for the Persian Gulf On 11 September, 2001. She was rounding the tip of India when she was ordered to change course for the North Arabian Sea. For the next 9 weeks, the Carl Vinson launched over 4,000 combat sorties against suspected Al-Qaeda positions in Afghanistan.

The Carl Vinson returned to Bremerton on 23 January, 2002. In April, she underwent another overhaul, which lasted five months. In January 2005, the Carl Vinson sailed from Bremerton for the last time. Currently, she is undergoing upgrades to her reactors in Norfolk, Virginia and is scheduled to return to active duty sometime this year. She will be based in San Diego beginning in 2010.

Asbestos Risks

The use of asbestos on ships was widespread during the World War II era. It was used primarily to insulate areas on deck and to provide protection from fire. Although the Carl Vinson was constructed at a time when asbestos use was less common, some materials on board may have contained the toxic mineral. Exposure to asbestos has been linked to several illnesses, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease as a result of serving on a naval vessel, you may have legal options for compensation. For additional information about compensation and treatment options, please fill out the request form on this page to receive a free informational packet.

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