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Released by OASD(PA):
                                          No. 535-93
                                          (703) 697-5342 (Media)
                                          (703) 697-3189 (Copies)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE      November 9, 1993   (703) 697-5737 (Public/
                                                        Industry)
                                
     NAVY ANNOUNCES CHRISTENING OF THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER
                    JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74)

     The christening ceremony for the U.S. Navy's newest aircraft
carrier, John C. Stennis (CVN 74), will be held at Newport News
Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia, on
Veterans Day, November 11, 1993 commencing at noon.  Mrs. Margaret
Womble, daughter of former U.S. Senator, John C. Stennis, for whom
this ship is named, is the ship's sponsor. Mrs. Womble will break a
bottle of champagne over the bow and formally name the ship.

     Vice President Al Gore will be the ceremony's principal
speaker.

     This ship honors the remarkable public career of John
Cornelius Stennis of Mississippi, who served in the U.S. Senate for
over 40 years.  Elected in November of 1947, Stennis served through
January 1989.  During his distinguished career, Stennis served as
Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, Chairman of the
Committee on Appropriations, and President pro tempore of the
Senate.  No previous ships have borne this name.

     John C. Stennis is the seventh Nimitz class aircraft carrier.
The ship's primary mission will be to provide peacetime presence
overseas and to support and operate aircraft that can engage
airborne, afloat and shore targets virtually anywhere in the world,
"...From the Sea."  Stennis will carry approximately 70 aircraft
comprised of the F/A-18 "Hornet" strike fighter, F-14 "Tomcat"
fighter, E-2C "Hawkeye" airborne early warning aircraft, S-3
"Viking" sea control aircraft, EA-6B "Prowler" electronic warfare
aircraft and the multi-role SH-60F "Seahawk" helicopter.

     The carrier is 1,092 feet in length, has a width of 252 feet,
a waterline beam of 134 feet and combat load displacement of
approximately 95,000 tons.  The ship has four deck-edge elevators,
three on the starboard side and one on the port, and four
catapults.  Two nuclear reactors generate steam which turn the
ship's four propellers to drive the carrier through the water at
more than 30 knots.  The carrier will have a ship's company in
excess of 6,000 personnel, with its embarked air wing.
                               -USN-