Improved Forrestal class

   Built to an Improved Forrestal-class design, these four carriers in reality constitute three sub-classes that are easily distinguished from their predecessors by the fact that their island superstructures are set farther aft. in addition, two of their four aircraft elevators are forward of the islands, the Forrestals having only one in this location. A lattice radar mast is also carried abaft of the island.

   The USS America (commissioned in January 1965) was very similar to the first two ships (USS Kitty Hawk and USS Constellation, commissioned in June 1961 and January 1962), and was built in preference to an austere-version nuclear-powered carrier. It was, however, the only US carrier of post-war construction to be fitted with a sonar system. The last unit, the USS John F. Kennedy, was built to a revised design incorporating an underwater protection system developed originally for the nuclear carrier programme, and was commissioned in September 1968. All four were built with steam catapults and carried some 2 150 tons of aviation ordnance plus about 7.38 million liters (1.95 million US gallons) of aviation fuel for their air groups. These are again similar in size and composition to those of the Nimitz class. The tactical reconnaissance element in each of the air wings is usually provided by a handful of Grumman F-14 Tomcats equipped with a digital TARPS (tactical airborne reconnaissance system) pod. Replacement of the Tomcat in all its roles by the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet multi-role fighter and strike aircraft is under way, although this aircraft has initially deployed on units of the Nimitz class.

   The ships were all fitted with full Anti-Submarine Classification and Analysis Center (ASCAC), Navigational Tactical Direction System (NTDS) and Tactical Flag Command Center (TFCC) facilities, America being the first carrier to be fitted with the NTDS. THe ships all had the OE-82 satellite communications system, and were the first carriers able simultaneously to launch and recover aircraft easily; on previous carriers this was considered a tricky operation. Three of the ships passed through a SLEP (service life extension programme), but America was retired in the early 1990s without SLEPing. Constellation and Kitty Hawk were due to remain with the Pacific Fleet until 2003 and 2008, respectively. JFK is scheduled to remain on Atlantic Fleet strength until at least 2018.