The USS Theodore Roosevelt Returns to San Diego After Upgrades
The USS Theodore Roosevelt, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is returning to Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego on Tuesday after an 18-month modernization process in Washington.
The process is called docking planned incremental availability (DPIA), during which the ship’s combat systems were modernized and its flight technology retrofitted to accommodate various aircraft.
The crew’s living corridors and onboard bathrooms were also redone, and the ship’s whole rudders and rudder chefs were restored.
The ship will arrive in San Diego with several upgrades, and nearly 3,000 crew members will be on board.
This return is expected to be a happy homecoming for the families of the crew members who stayed behind in San Diego.
However, during the ship’s previous deployment, in 2020, 1,200 crew members contracted COVID-19, and one sailor died.
The captain was relieved of command after he sent letters to his superiors voicing concerns over the situation.
Despite the past difficulties, the ship’s return is a cause for celebration.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt is returning to its home port in San Diego, where it will be stationed after completing the modernization process.
