U.S. carrier to make historic Vietnam visit

The U.S. Navy is sending an aircraft carrier to Vietnam for the first time since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. The visit comes amid regional security concerns over Chinese claims in the South China Sea

USS CARL VINSON                    Displacement: 88,000 tonnes
Nimitz-class carrier               Typical aircraft capacity: Approximately 60+
Length: 333m


Propulsion: Two nuclear reactors      Speed: 30+ knots       Crew: 5,200

CHINA
TAIWAN
PACIFIC OCEAN
VIETNAM
PHILIPPINES
LAOS
SOUTH CHINA SEA
MALAYSIA
INDONESIA
BRUNEI

Paracel Islands
Scarborough Shoal
Hanoi
Spratly Islands

Da Nang Carl Vinson and two other ships due to dock in March as part of annual Pacific Partnership exercises


RIVAL CLAIMS
China
Vietnam
Taiwan 
Malaysia
Philippines 
Brunei

Manila: Carrier departs Feb 20

400km 250 miles
 

Sources: Associated Press, Stratfor, U.S. Navy        © GRAPHIC NEWS