Final Voyage Of U.S.S. Enterprise

[water_bug_62208]

It is most unfortunate, but the day has finally come.

U.S.S. Enterprise, the "Big E", the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the world, starts her final voyage...

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/03/10/wo ... al-voyage/

I read the article and was most impressed with all she's been through and has contributed to our nation's defense. The name, Enterprise, most certainly holds considerable significance in naval history, space travel, and science fiction.

It's sad she won't be preserved as a museum ship, but guess it's understandable. With eight nuclear reactors that must be dealt with, and all the effort no doubt required to deal with them, looks like they have no other choice but to scrap her. Perhaps they'll preserve some of her steel for the building of a future aircraft carrier named Enterprise... or, who knows, maybe even a starship.

Bon voyage, Enterprise! May your name live long and prosper!

[Duncan Edwards]

I've been waiting for someone, somewhere, to hear of this. I know I'm not the only boatnerd among us.

After fifty plus years of defending the free world the time has come for USS Enterprise CVN-65, the "Big E", the "Starship", to depart on one final major deployment. The world's first nuclear aircraft carrier sports eight reactors, four sets of turbines, the longest hull of any warship on earth at 1,102 feet, and probably the highest top speed. 3.5 acres of flight deck, 5,500 crew, and four squadrons of F-18's are a floating piece of American airbase anywhere on the world's saltwater. And she has the battle ribbons to prove it.

Now for the interesting part and how this plays into current events.

While it's a far cry from Ronald Reagan's six hundred ship navy the US still maintains eleven big deck carriers. One is always in overhaul so really there are only ten deployable at any given time. Since it generally requires two in port for every one deployed this means that keeping three carriers out there has become a bit unusual for the modern US navy. As the Enterprise departs she will head to the eastern Mediterranean and then possibly through the Suez canal to the Arabian sea and Persian Gulf region. This will give the US three carriers in that area alone at one time. She will arrive as the window opens for an Israeli attack on Iran and I can't believe the media isn't bringing up this amazing coincidence. But wait, there's more. A few weeks ago Enterprise took part in Exercise Bold Alligator 2012 off the east coast of the US. Bold Alligator was a real study all by itself. A major amphibious exercise that pulled together much of the available amphibious lift of the US Navy and Marine Corps in winter? Just the kind of tools you would need to run around the Persian Gulf cleaning out all the islands and marshes full of Iranian RGC forces around the straits of Hormuz.

Maybe I'm reaching. I don't usually like to do this but there are a lot of little pieces coming together here. She leaves tomorrow. Maybe Enterprise will go peacefully on her way and return in six or seven months for the last time. Maybe but if it happens like that I'm going to be surprised.

[Mynock]

That's all news to me but not surprising in the least. The first thing Iran will do if/when we hit them is try to screw with the oil supply to get us to back off.
I will, however, be surprised if I don't see someone come forward to offer to take her off the Navy's hands and keep her intact. I'd offer my yard as a berth (in return for a little free juice from those reactors haha) but my house and entire lot would fit comfortabley on her flight deck and still leave enough room to launch planes.

[kham]

Considering the recent stupidity of naming conventions, it would be a pleasant surprise to have CVN-80 designated as Enterprise. But since 78 is Ford and 79 is Kennedy, I wont be holding my breath.

[Mynock]

Yea....used to be they were named after real heros. Now it seems like any random flavor of the month is elegible. Case in point the U.S.S. Gabrielle Giffords. Congrats on not ducking. Here's a boat named after you.

[QuicksandMania]

Future news story:

Sailors on the U.S.S. Nancy Pelosi were forced to wait on deck until at sea before being allowed inside.

They had to pass it before they could see what was in it.

[schlamm]

-

[Duncan Edwards]

All good fun but let's please keep it generally on topic.

Thank you -

[nachtjaeger]

I read an account somewhere where a pilot had to make an emergency landing on the "Big E". They put the ship into the wind and went to flank speed- which is rumored to be faster than any CV before or since. The pilot commented that it was the easiest carrier landing he ever made, even with a damaged aircraft. Would love to see the "Big E" set some speed records before they retire her.

[kham]

Dont forget wind over the deck is wind + ship speed, so a stiff breeze say of about 20 knots, you would be looking at about 50-55 knots relative wind. Even something hot like a Viggie would have an approach speed of only a hundred knots or so. Something like an Intruder, heck, be like parking a car

USNI Blog has a nice article on her