Posted on 05/03/2006 6:20:27 PM PDT by SandRat
USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW)1 departed Naval Station Norfolk, Va., May 2 for a regularly scheduled six-month deployment.
Enterprise is the flagship for the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, which includes the USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), USS McFaul (DDG 74), USS Nicholas (FFG 47), all based in Norfolk, the USS Alexandria (SSN 757), homeported in Groton, Conn., and USNS Supply (T-AOE-6), homeported in Earle, N.J.
The nearly 7,500 Sailors in the strike group will conduct operations in the Middle East in support of the global war on terrorism.
“There’s tremendous pressure as always in the Middle East, and the Enterprise Strike Group has worked hard to be able to go out there and conduct any mission, from combat to humanitarian aid,” said CMDCM Paul Declercq, Enterprise command master chief.
Enterprise spent the last six months preparing for this underway by completing various carrier qualifications.
“We’ve trained long and hard to be the next strike group to participate in the global war on terror,” said Capt. Larry Rice, Enterprise commanding officer.
This is Enterprise’s first six-month deployment since returning from a deployment in February 2004.
For related news, visit the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cvn65/.
The Enterprise now has a "Nimitz-style" tower. The aerial photo of "E=MC2" shows her with the original tower.
The Enterpise is a bit longer than the Nimitz-class carriers, but she has a smaller displacement.
As I remember it: A "boat" is a vessel that can be carried aboard a "ship"! The big E is a ship. I also was aboard her a few years earlier than you – in 1965 when she transferred to the 7th fleet for duty on Yankee station in the Gulf of Tonkin during Vietnam. She was the first Nuclear Carrier and her designation was CVAN 65, I believe. Sure brings back loads of memories. I agree Good Luck and be safe Big E.
Yep. Budget cuts: that's why the Five Year Mission is now just a 6-month deployment (grin)
As I remember it: Fellow Squids call it a "boat". Sometimes the Jarheads can too, but that's frowned upon.
Anyone else gets their nose smashed.
steer clear of the neutral zone!
To the crew: I hope the books arrived safely :)
Go Mobile Chernobyl.
But....isn't the Savannah moored somewhere in South Carolina as a museum ???
According to a Wikipedia article, she is now in the James River Reserve Fleet near Newport News, VA. That article references her stint as a museum ship at an earlier time.
Yep!
Pay Grade O-6
Collar Rank 
Sleeve Rank 
Shoulder Board 
Enterprise, no prouder ship name in US Navy. The WW2 Enterprise, one of the most famous fighting carriers of the war. I think she was in just about every major engagement.
I might add, as every sailor knows, she is a "ship" not a "boat." Subs are boats.
VF-96 - 'The Fighting Falcons', during the later 1960's.
Hmmm...
Perhaps you might have known of my late Father, he would have been LCDR DON V WELLS at that time. He had two tours to Vietnam flying with VF-96. Departed the squadron sometime in 1967 to head to Virginia Beach to become X.O. of VF-41. A few years before Duke Cunningham's time...
dvwjr
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