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Old 12-28-2021, 05:52 AM
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Arrow After 1,000,000 Nautical Miles and 51 Years at Sea, USS Enterprise (CVN 65) is Decomm

After 1,000,000 Nautical Miles and 51 Years at Sea, USS Enterprise (CVN 65) is Decommissioned
By: Rob Almeida - gCaptain News 12-01-12
Re: https://gcaptain.com/1000000-nautical-miles-years/

This is an old post but it may be of interest to those who may ask:

Old photo link: https://gcaptain.com/wp-content/uplo...kForce_One.jpg
Operation Sea Orbit: On 31 July 1964, USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) (bottom), USS Long Beach (CGN-9) (center) and USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25) (top) formed “Task Force One,” the first nuclear-powered task force, and sailed 26,540 nmi (49,190 km) around the world in 65 days. Accomplished without a single refueling or replenishment, “Operation Sea Orbit” demonstrated the capability of nuclear-powered surface ships.
(There's a few more on site you may want to view?)

In the Fall of 2001, Enterprise aborted her transit home from a long deployment after the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington D.C., on Sept. 11, and steamed overnight to the North Arabian Sea. In direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Big ‘E’ once again took its place in history by becoming one of the first units to respond in a crisis with its awesome striking power. Enterprise expended more than 800,000 pounds of ordnance during the operation. The ship returned to home port at Naval Station Norfolk November 10, 2001.

Following several more deployments and an extended shipyard period that began in 2008, Enterprise embarked on its 21st deployment in January 2011, during which the carrier supported operations Enduring Freedom, New Dawn and multiple anti-piracy missions. During its six-month tour of duty, Big ‘E’ made port visits to Lisbon, Portugal, Marmaris, Turkey, the Kingdom of Bahrain and Mallorca, Spain.

Big ‘E’ became the fourth aircraft carrier in naval history to record 400,000 arrested landings on May 24, 2011. The milestone landing was made by an F/A-18F Super Hornet piloted by Lt. Matthew L. Enos and Weapon System Officer Lt. Cmdr. Jonathan Welsh from the Red Rippers of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11. & some more Statistics.

Ship Particulars:

Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Virginia
Ordered: November 15, 1957
Number of Designers: 915
Number of Drawings Made: 16,100
Miles of Blueprints Made: 2,400
Keel Laid: February 4, 1958
Launched: September 24, 1960
Commissioned: November 25, 1961
Maiden Voyage: January 12, 1962
Original Cost to Build: $451.3 million
Horsepower: 200,000+
Top Speed: 30+ knots
Length: 1,123 feet
Beam: 257 feet
Height (Keel to Mast): 250 feet
Number of Nuclear Reactors: 8 (Lifespan around 20 years)
Shafts: 4
Propellers: 4 (32 tons each)
Rudders: 4 (35 tons each)
Anchors: 2 (30 tons each)
Length of Ventilation: About 37 miles
Length of Electrical Cables: About 625 miles
Water Distillation Plant Capacity: 350,000 gallons daily
Water Displacement: 94,781 tons
Number of Compartments:3,500+
Aircraft Capacity: 60+
Flight Deck Area: 4.5 acres
Hangar Bay Area: 3.5 acres
Number of Catapults: 4 (steam)
Catapult Length: 286 feet
Landing Area: 344 feet
Elevators: 4
Armament: Multiple NATO Sea Sparrow, Phalanx CIWS, and Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) mounts
Daily Meals Served Underway: 20,000+
Services: General Store, 2 Gyms, 2 Barber Shops, Laundromat, Print Shop, Chapel, Library, Television Station and Studio, Coffee Shop, Daily Newspaper distributed underway
Ship’s Company: 3,100
Air Wing: 1,300
Embarked Staffs: 200

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Personal note: Carrier's are work horse's - daily launches & recoveries - in war zones its 24/7 flight ops - and refueling and reloading weapons. Catching and launching around the clock. Takings stores or (un-rep-ping at sea - stores - fuel - and bombs - for months at sea sometimes.

Flanked by escorts and the mech's working to repair aircraft in the hanger bays. Below decks are sweat shops - and constant maintenance. Launches & catches are all day and night at times - less during rough weather in some instances. Night's are so dark you feel like your in a fishbowl - and with no moon - the stars go from horizon to horizon. Water crashing over the bows and the ship is pitching and rolling - you get used to after a while - but don't ever think this duty is cake walk - you can get hurt at anytime - if you're not careful. Accidents happen - not too often - but they happen - working the flight deck is the most dangerous job besides being a pilot.

The skipper is the boss - and what he says - is the law.

These ships are great targets for the enemies. A capital ship of the line would be a great shingle to the enemy who sinks one. Cat Birds are always ready to take off to protect the ship and escorts - that are always on watch and ready to be launched should radar indicate they are aggressors. There are usually fours escorts 1-foward - 1 aft - and 1 port and 1 starboard.
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To a new-bee what you don't know - is that there is also a submarine - but it only comes up at night - and stays submerged during the day. He's always there to protect the carrier and the escorts from enemy submarines - should they be in the area.

It's quite a dance - to tangle with a carrier group - radar - sonar and the escorts - and some airborne aircraft at times are always in play - if need be. The real danger is being blown over the side by a jet exhaust - or walking into a prop - or being sucked into a jet intake (its rare) but it happens.

The other issues are fires at sea (these too are rare) the escorts not only provide cover for the carriers - but they can also come alongside to give aide when fires get out of control. There's history on carrier fires - if you want to look it up.

One other thing that many don't often hear is that at times severely wounded field personnel - can and often times - be flown to a carrier on a chopper - or a Fudd - or a Mail plane - for emergency surgery at times. They can provide immediate care for severe medical services - and are always readily available on carrier's.

These ships are small floating cities with all the amenities should they be needed. They can stabilize the patients - before sending them to stateside to the military hospitals.
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In closing - sea duty is the Navy's business - and it's very good at what it does. The only regret is that there is no liberty at sea - its a 24/7 operation. When not at flight ops - you're either standing watch - or repairing something - or in your rack sleeping. Freshwater supplies can sometimes be short - or its being repaired. Salt water showers or cold water showers at times - will enlighten your day (as they often times say "shit happens. Chow at sea is fairly good - but now there is "no smoking" allowed on any ships (anymore) - from what I've been told. But I could be wrong - but that's what I've been told by many of late - they used to have designated smoking areas - or on the fantail back aft (when I was in). Marines are also assigned to carriers to protect the Skipper and the brig. They would often times go back aft and throw out targets to shoot at or the sharks. I also understand that no garbage is tossed over the fantail anymore. Last comment: Oh how the service has changed since my days!
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Boats
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Boats

O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
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