A US Navy spokesperson stated on 16/4 that "a small fire occurred on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower earlier this week. Shipboard personnel and Norfolk shipyard employees quickly contained and extinguished the blaze."
Three injured sailors received onsite medical treatment and were able to return to duty. The cause of the incident, specific damage, and whether the fire will affect the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower's maintenance schedule remain unknown.
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower returned to Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia in January 2025 for maintenance, following a deployment to the Middle East from 2023-2024.
At that time, the US Navy stated that the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower would undergo upgrades to its propulsion equipment, combat systems, and air wing support, alongside improvements to crew living conditions.
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is the second ship of the Nimitz-class, launched in October 1975 and commissioned in October 1977. With a displacement of over 100,000 tons, the carrier is classified as a supercarrier, capable of carrying over 60 aircraft of various types and a crew of approximately 5,000 personnel.
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The aircraft carrier Eisenhower docked at Norfolk shipyard, Virginia, US in January 2025. Photo: US Navy |
The carrier is equipped with two nuclear reactors, enabling it to reach a maximum speed of over 55 km/h and requiring refueling only after approximately 20-25 years of operation.
In addition to its onboard air wing, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is also equipped with RIM-7 Sea Sparrow and RIM-116 anti-aircraft missile launchers, several Phalanx close-in weapon systems, and 12,7 mm machine guns for self-defense.
Nguyen Tien (According to USNI, Fox News, AP)
