Navy bids farewell to storied warship USS Enterprise

afp ^ | Nov 4 2011 | AFP

[Berlin_Freeper]

WASHINGTON — After half a century on the high seas, the oldest warship in the American fleet, the USS Enterprise, will return to port Sunday for the last time.

From the Cuban Missile Crisis to the war in Afghanistan, the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has played a part in every conflict involving the United States since she was commissioned in 1961.

But when the massive vessel glides into the US naval base in Norfolk, Virginia on Sunday morning, with sailors in white uniforms standing on deck, it will mark the end of her 25th and final deployment after an eight month tour in the Mediterranean and the Gulf, the Navy said.

"Homecoming will no doubt be a bittersweet day," said Captain William Hamilton, the ship's commanding officer.

"We are pleased to be returning to our families after a very successful deployment, but to know that it is the last time Enterprise will be underway through her own power makes our return very sentimental."

The ship will be formally retired at a ceremony on December 1 but the vessel known as the "Big E" already relinquished its ammunition and ordnance last week at sea, with helicopters ferrying more than 1,500 tonnes of missiles and bombs to cargo ships nearby.

With a length of 342 meters (1,123 feet), the Enterprise is the longest naval ship in the world, and has a displacement of nearly 95,000 tonnes. The floating base can accommodate 4,500 sailors and aviators, as well as 72 planes and helicopters.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Final trap

121102-N-JV638-340 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Nov. 2, 2012) Capt. William C. Hamilton Jr., commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), performs the last trap ever aboard the ship. Enterprise is completing its final deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Randy J. Savarese)

[Conservative4Ever]

Thank you for your explanation. Being female and never served in the military, most things military are a mystery. I will now have to call my older brother and pick his memory about the Enterprise. His career was all things military as he served as a Marine officer.

[Conservative4Ever]

The pudgy first lady, I believe

[Happy Rain]

Ah glory days...(wide ass Marines) had a thing for one at my “A” school;)

...we had a platoon of Marines on our ship for security and to run the ship’s brig.

When a sailor was sent to the brig by a Captain’s Mast it was called getting a tour of Paris Island...brig guards were recruited from the biggest meanest and most sadistic jar heads the Corps had to offer...needless to say discipline on board was not a big problem.

[ziravan]

Bfl

[A.A. Cunningham]

Written like a true nonhacker.

[NonValueAdded]

Could have used her in the Med on Sept 11th.

[Happy Rain]

Are you serious?

I am a Vietnam era veteran with an Honorable Discharge...

nonhacker indeed—whadda dope.

[Conservative4Ever]

Older brother said the ship in question was the USS Midway. She was having an open house after completion of being built in Bremerton. Maybe someone can confirm this. Thanks. Free Republic is being weird today too.

[Gorzaloon]

There is really no naval vessel useless enough to warrant being cursed with a jonah name like USS Obama.

Maybe a channel marker buoy?

[Gorzaloon]

There is really no naval vessel useless enough to warrant being cursed with a jonah name like USS Obama.

Maybe a channel marker buoy?

[Flash Bazbeaux]

Also the Hornet, which was going to be the Kearsarge, and the Wasp (CV 18) because the earlier Wasp (CV 7) was sunk around ‘42.

[Jacquerie]

Marines are the best gate guards in the world.

[Segovia]

Can’t they just name an artillery target.

[Enterprise]

If there is a heaven for the souls of valiant ships, Enterprise will be there.

[doublecansiter]

I hope not.

Mike

[Nowhere Man]

He told me that ships of the Enterprise class had EIGHT separate nuclear reactors aboard. Modern nuclear flat-tops only have two. I can't help but wonder if someday the loss of the extra redundancy may cause problems in combat.

I wonder that too. IIRC, the Enterprise's reactors are smaller, so you need 8 of them, they were designed for atomic subs. Still, I wonder if they have a backup system where they can run a diesel or diesel/electric engine like atomic subs do. I hope some former Navy mariner chimes in on that one. I've talked to a few people who served on subs and they said they have a backup diesel/electric system to limp home or wherever if need be.

[SES1066]

Is Nelson's HMS Victory of Trafalgar fame still commissioned? She was built before the USS Constitution.

You got me there, yes the HMS Victory is still commissioned and as such is the oldest such vessel. The USS Constitution is the oldest navigable commissioned vessel still afloat as the Victory is in permanent dry dock.

Shutting up now, I've exceeded my daily wordage on this one.

[topsail]

To correct your statement that the Kitty Hawk was diesel powered. It was powered by steam turbines, the steam produced by conventional oil fired boilers. It was the last conventional powered carrier and was permanently deployed to Japan for the reason you stated.
Please correct me if i’m wrong.

[SES1066]

I guess I could be OK with an Edison dollar, or a Tesla Twenty, but where does one draw the line? A Soros C-note?

Nah, Ben Franklin would go perfectly with Edison and Tesla on scientific merit alone. Also keep Lincoln as the only US President to have a granted patent in his own name. Thinking about others makes me consider John Moses Browning for the $10 note. What think ye?