It weighs over 100,000 tonnes, is nearly as long as the 102-storey Empire State Building in Manhattan and serves 18,150 meals a day to over 3,200 sailors and 2,480 airmen. Welcome to the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Nicknamed the 'Big Stick', the Nimitz Class supercarrier has a a 4.5 acre flight deck serving its 60 war planes and leads a strike group that comprises five ships.
The ultimate symbol of American naval might, USS Theodore Roosevelt is currently on an eight-month deployment during which it is expected to relieve the USS Carl Vinson strike group that has been conducting airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
Here's a glimpse of what it's like to be inside the USS Theodore Roosevelt:
Image: An SH-60F Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the Dragonslayers of Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 11, hovers over the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Katie Lash/US Navy
Image: An F/A-18C Hornet, assigned to the "Gladiators" of Strike Fighter Attack Squadron 106, prepares to take off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Recruit Alex Millar/US Navy
Image: Culinary Specialist Seaman Christopher Miller marinates ribs for dinner aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Heath Zeigler/US Navy
Image: Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Heather Kincaid sorts different mail in the post office aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). TR's post office sends and receives mail both in port and out to sea. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Heath Zeigler/US Navy
Image: Sailors take the Third Class Petty Officer Navywide advancement exam on the mess decks of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. The Navy Advancement exam is administered twice a year to give Sailors an opportunity to advance in their careers. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Alex Millar/US Navy
Image: Ship's Serviceman 3rd Class Jose Alvarez trims the hair of Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) 1st Class Craig Pasqual aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Ryan Litzenberger/US Navy
Image: Seaman Desiree Medina washes dishes in a scullery aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. Everyday thousands of meals are served onboard the ship. Sailors temporarily assigned to work in the mess decks help clean up before, during and after each meal. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Anthony N Hilkowski/US Navy
Image: Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt receive training on handling the M-16. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jenna Kaliszewski/US Navy
Image: Sailors from the Air department’s V-3 division onboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) prepare to move aircraft from one hangar bay to another. Photograph: Mass Communications Specialist Seaman Apprentice Anna Combs/US Navy
Image: Sailors conduct a scrub exercise on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). A scrub exercise cleans the flight deck of anything that might be left from flight operations. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Alex Millar/US Navy
Image: Ensign Sequoia Youngblood communicates with damage control central during a general quarters training evolution onboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Sailors train at general quarters to maintain readiness in case of a shipboard emergency. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brian Flood/US Navy
Image: Aviation Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Ian Thomas and Aviation Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Jared Brewer replace a tail rotor indexer on an SH-60F Seahawk attached to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 11 onboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Anthony N Hilkowski/US Navy
Image: USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) test fires its NATO Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile System while undergoing Combat System Ship Qualification Trials. Photograph: US Navy
Image: Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) participate in group functional fitness in the ship's hanger bay. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gregory White/US Navy
Image: Damage Controlman 3rd Class Andrew Kent (left) and Damage Controlman Fireman Mark Carroll play table tennis at a Morale, Welfare and Recreation function on the forward mess deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chris Liaghat/US Navy
Image: Seaman Marlena Peter paints a mural of Popeye in the foc'sle aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Peter painted the mural in two weeks. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Bounome Chanphouang/US Navy
