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So Long to ‘The Big E’(inactivated today)
PJ Media ^
| 12-1-2012
| Rick Moran
Posted on 12/01/2012 7:09:10 PM PST by smoothsailing
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To: SkyDancer
Wasp was taken from a USN ship dating back to around 1800. Not sure of the exact story without a trip to wikipedia.
41
posted on
12/01/2012 8:01:28 PM PST
by
DesertRhino
(I was standing with a rifle, waiting for soviet paratroopers, but communists just ran for office.)
To: SkyDancer
The destroyer my Dad sailed on circa 1946, The Leonard F. Mason, was sold to the Taiwan navy after Vietnam and then sunk to make a reef.
To: DesertRhino
Ya, I guess I could have done that. Getting a bit lazy. LOL
43
posted on
12/01/2012 8:07:15 PM PST
by
SkyDancer
(Live your life in such a way that the Westboro church will want to picket your funeral.)
To: SkyDancer
I read about the sea battle where the Franklin was hit over and over again with those Kamakasi planes. Although Im a bit clueless over naming one carrier the Wasp (it was sunk). What was that all about?
Franklin was the most damaged carrier to ever survive and be restored to service-worthy condition. However she never reentered full-service. The war ended and she was extraneous. Like her similarly damaged sister Bunker Hill she was retained post-war for possible conversion into what was called the "Ultimate Essex" configuration (which would have been similar to the SCB mods many of her other sisters got - but apparently with a flush-deck configuration) and as a spare parts source (part of her forward flightdeck was removed and grafted onto the USS Valley Forge after the Valley Forge's flightdeck was damaged in a storm).
Another factor was probably the USN's somewhat superstitious reticence to put a ship that much death back into service.
As to the USS Wasp: the "Wasp" name is an honored one in USN service dating back to the Revolutionary war. Along the same lines as "Hornet". The first carrier Wasp (CV-7) was sunk by a submarine during the Guadalcanal campaign. Her name was bestowed upon the Essex-class CV-18. More recently the name adorns the leader of the LHD-1 class of amphibious assault ships - which has been the class where many of the more traditional USN names have been placed (along with some of the Aegis cruisers) while CVN's have been named after leaders and politicians.
To: SkyDancer
“Although Im a bit clueless over naming one carrier the Wasp (it was sunk). What was that all about?”
The Wasp was sunk in the latter parts of 1942 buy a Japanese submarine. Another carrier was commissioned as the Wasp maybe in early 1944. Not sure about the dates.
I will say I am proud to have served on the Enterprise as part of the air wing detachment with VF-96. The years were 1967 and 1968. I just missed the big fire in early January of 1969 as I was left behind because I was getting discharged from the Navy.
To: tanknetter
What a disappointment, I was convinced the number 80 was in honor of
Jerry Rice. ;-)
To: smoothsailing
This is sad. The Big E has been a wonderful mistress of the 7 seas for about as long as I can remember. Hopefully, she will be retired to a graceful, calm port, much like Old Ironsides has been in Boston.
Thank you sweet lady for all the men you served and from all those who walked your decks.
In the meantime, where are Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhuru, Checkov and the rest of the crew going to live??
47
posted on
12/01/2012 8:16:41 PM PST
by
DustyMoment
(Congress - another name for white collar criminals!!)
To: tanknetter; DesertRhino; zot
rename Ford as Lexington
Rename Kennedy as Saratoga
back space Bush to Wasp
back space Stennis to Ranger
If there is a Carter, rename as Hornet
48
posted on
12/01/2012 8:18:33 PM PST
by
GreyFriar
(Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
To: smoothsailing
In the years to come, our Navy is going to see huge problems. In order to keep the ship numbers up to present levels, our Navy has decided to build tons of littoral combat ships. LCS’s are death traps. They might be good for patrolling the Great Lakes, but not for much else. Assuming they get the bugs worked out, which is iffy at best, those ships can’t go anywhere on their own, because they need other ships around to protect them. That whole class of ships is a bad joke, and I believe the Navy has ordered up to 80 of them. I’d rather have 10 destroyers than 80 LCS’s.
49
posted on
12/01/2012 8:20:16 PM PST
by
Sporke
(USS Iowa BB-61)
To: DesertRhino
The practice of naming ships after presidents needs to end. The next flattop should be another Enterprise. Then every carrier after that should rturn to being named after revolutionary war battles.
Enough of the memorials to fat farting potentates that everyone wants to forget anyway.If I may add to your sentiment, I am of the opinion that ANYTHING built, bought or owned by the US government (aka taxpayers) should NOT be named after ANY politician. I am sick to death of these sleazebags putting their names on things that the taxpayers purchased!!
50
posted on
12/01/2012 8:22:07 PM PST
by
DustyMoment
(Congress - another name for white collar criminals!!)
To: GreyFriar
rename Ford as Lexington
I wouldn't have a problem with that.
Rename Kennedy as Saratoga
I wouldn't have a problem with that either.
back space Bush to Wasp
Renaming christened naval ships is bad juju. Sailors are a a somewhat superstitious lot (as I mentioned). CVN-75 had to overcome a rep as a jinxed ship after her name was changed post-keel laying from United States to Harry S Truman
Additionally "Wasp" is currently held by LHD-1.
back space Stennis to Ranger
See above, first paragraph only.
If there is a Carter, rename as Hornet
There is a Carter. It's a submarine. Hornet is a traditional carrier name. According to the USN the "USS Hornet" legacy is currently carried by the F/A-18 series of aircraft. Seems a silly argument to me, but that's their story and they're sticking to it.
To: tanknetter
Really grateful for all that information. Blessings, Janey
52
posted on
12/01/2012 8:42:36 PM PST
by
SkyDancer
(Live your life in such a way that the Westboro church will want to picket your funeral.)
To: Parley Baer
Great, thanks to all for your history lesson(s) Much appreciated.
53
posted on
12/01/2012 8:46:39 PM PST
by
SkyDancer
(Live your life in such a way that the Westboro church will want to picket your funeral.)
To: left that other site
I can well imagine how impressive the Big E was to you and your family.
Back in ‘66 USS ENTERPRISE arrived in Subic Bay, PI. We had a diving job work order on the Big E. Our job was on one of the 4 rudder posts. Those Rudders and Propellors were HUGE! Was a GREAT experience for my and my fellow divers.
54
posted on
12/01/2012 9:06:00 PM PST
by
Diver Dave
(Because He Lives, I Can Face Tomorrow)
To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...
Thanks smoothsailing.
Enterprise was the second oldest commissioned warship in the US Navy, superseded only by the three masted frigate Constitution.
55
posted on
12/01/2012 9:33:09 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
To: SkyDancer; Joe 6-pack; Ouderkirk; smoothsailing
I’ve read of a Zen-like joke regarding the B-52 — that when the last one is flown off to be mothballed, the flight crew will return to base...
...aboard a B-52.
The 100 or so remaining in service could really use an engine upgrade, but they were built to last.
http://www.thepepper.com/tucson_airplane_graveyard.html
56
posted on
12/01/2012 9:48:01 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
To: smoothsailing
I have mostly sad memories of the Enterprise. My husband was stationed at Hickam AFB Hawaii which is adjacent to Pearl Harbor. We saw the Enterprise at dock after the explosion and fire in January 1969. Twenty seven sailors were killed and over 300 injured. The whole back end of the ship above the waterline was mangled.
To: chronicles
To: DoughtyOne
Refitting seems like a better cost advantage than a new unit, but as you point out, 50 years is a long time. They could build a new one cheaper. To replace the reactors they would have to almost completely dismantle the ship down to the keel. Reactors or boiler are one of the first things installed very early into construction. That is why they stated it would not be economically possible to put the ship into museum status after the reactors were removed.
50 years for any carrier is a very long life and that is long long they were designed to last. The piping wears out which can be deadly. A pin hole at 1200 PSI superheated steam leak can decapitate you. You can't see it, you can't hear it, and it can dismember you and kill you. The Navy got it's full use then some likely. Thankfully in the last five years or so the piping held up.
59
posted on
12/01/2012 11:27:35 PM PST
by
cva66snipe
(Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgment? Which one say ye?)
To: SkyDancer
yet the Air Force is still flying B-52s Most of the parts on which have been replaced a number of times since 1962.
60
posted on
12/01/2012 11:55:32 PM PST
by
A.A. Cunningham
(Barry Soetoro can't pass E-verify)
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