Aircraft Carrier Enterprise Sets Off On Final Journey - Direction Iran

Zero Hedge ^ | March 11, 2012 | Tyler Durden

[Fennie]

Today, at noon Eastern, the storied aircraft carrier Enterprise, aka CVN-65, left its home port of Naval Station Norfolk one final time for its final voyage with a heading: Arabian Sea, aka Iran.

There in a week it will join CVN 72 Lincoln and CVN 70 Vinson, as well as LHD 8 Makin Island, all of which are supporting any potential escalation of "hostilities" in the Persian Gulf region.

[GonzoGOP]

Those underground bunkers that we are not sure our bunker-busters could bust, could be shielding weapons other than nukes as well.

A nuke is actually what you have to worry about. A nuke is about the only thing that can one hit a super carrier and sink it. You can mission kill one fairly easily with a fire, as Enterprise herself proved. But to actually sink one you need literally hundreds of hits with missiles or a nuke. But one nuclear tipped torpedo from an Iranian Kilo class could do the job.

The problem is as I said before that leaves finger prints. Nuke a carrier and there is going to be a reaction from the other two carriers. Even Obama wouldn't be able to stop it. If he did he might as well pack his bags immediately.

That is the importance of having three battle groups in the area. You might be able to surprise and take out one carrier. However there is no way to get all three before they launch a counter attack. We may suck at nation building, but two CV battle groups can do a lot of nation wrecking.

[GonzoGOP]

remind me why the nuclear powered cruisers were decommisioned.

Expenses and flexibility. All of them needed an upgrade in their electronics to keep up with the Aegis ships. With all the regulations imposed by the greens regarding disposal of nuclear waste, you could build a new Alrigh Burke for the cost of refueling and upgrading the electronics on one of the older nuclear cruisers.

In addition with a conventional power plant you can get repairs done anyplace in the world. Look at Cole, Stark and Roberts. Major hits that could be patched up locally before sending them home for yard work. Now imagine what would have happened if Cole had been a nuke. You just handed Bin Laden and Co. the ability to Fukushima any port we entered. How soon before nobody would let us in?

We use nukes only where there is no alternative. Carriers are so big they need the power. Subs need an AIP power source. But a cruiser can get along with conventional power.

[Bob]

You can mission kill one fairly easily with a fire, as Enterprise herself proved.

I don't recall a serious fire happening on Enterprise. Are you perhaps thinking of the Forrestal fire?

Forrestal Fire

[MtBaldy]

The Cole was not swarmed. It was attacked by a single suicide bomber in a small boat. Bill Clinton was warned that Yemen was dangerous and went against the Navy and brokered the deal to refuel ships anyway. Obama is a disaster but few people realize how much damage, intentional I believe, Clinton did to this country while he was in office. In fact if anyone is responsible for allowing the terrorist attacks of 9/11 a good case can be made for Clinton through his Justice Department appointee Jamie Gorelick.

[Joe the Pimpernel]

In fact if anyone is responsible for allowing the terrorist attacks of 9/11 a good case can be made for Clinton through his Justice Department appointee Jamie Gorelick.

Jamie and her infamous "wall of separation" that kept the FBI and CIA from sharing critical information.

[GonzoGOP]

Are you perhaps thinking of the Forrestal fire?

Nope, Enterprise burned on January 14, 1968. Real bad day for the Navy, 27 dead and over 300 injured. More importantly it took the Big E out of the war for over a year.

[Mariner]

Go out with a bang, Pretty Girl.

[Bob]

Thanks for the info. I had completely forgotten about that fire. Somehow, the Forrestal fire stuck in my mind while the Enterprise fire didn’t.

[fremont_steve]

Yep - I was thinking ...recycle....into this.

[VF-51vnv]

been on her,,carrier qauls VF-121, VF-51....good ship..fond memories.May she find calm seas, fair winds and the peace of a warrior in rest.

[bobby.223]

I love it!!!!!