Kitty Hawk still has a few more lives before the moth balls

The Japan Times ^ | July 23, 2004 | ERIC TALMADGE

[snowsislander]

ABOARD THE USS KITTY HAWK (AP) In his office under the flight deck of the USS Kitty Hawk, Capt. Thomas Parker points at a wall covered by the photos of his 32 predecessors. The first one took command before the 1962 Cuban missile crisis; in the middle are the Vietnam-era captains.

USS Kitty Hawk leaves its forward-deployed port in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture to take part in the Summer Pulse 2004 exercises.

You have to turn a corner down the hall to get to Parker's own picture.

After 43 years and assignments in just about every conflict from Vietnam to Iraq, the U.S. Navy's oldest active-duty warship is what a charitable sailor would call "mature."

But even though the carrier fleet went nuclear long ago, officials aren't quite ready to let the diesel-powered USS Kitty Hawk sail off into the sunset.

"The ship is in superb mechanical condition," Parker, the aircraft carrier's commanding officer, said in an interview. "The ship could continue for however long it's necessary for us to be here."

Although its sister ship, the USS Constellation, was retired last summer, officials say they plan to squeeze at least another four years out of the Kitty Hawk -- a decision reflecting the navy's need for battle-ready ships in an increasingly unpredictable world.

Underscoring that concern, the Kitty Hawk left port this week to join the Summer Pulse 2004 exercises, in which seven U.S. carrier battle groups will be deployed worldwide to demonstrate the navy's ability to respond to numerous, simultaneous crises.

Rear Adm. James Kelly, commander of the Kitty Hawk battle group, said that while the ship could be retained for longer, it is set to be retired largely because of the cost of keeping it going. It costs about $1.2 million a day to run the Kitty Hawk at sea.

"We use about 1,000 barrels of fuel a day," Kelly said. "Our fuel costs are pretty heavy."

Kelly said the fuel costs of newer ships are lower because they are nuclear-powered, but didn't give specifics.

The Kitty Hawk and the Constellation went into service at the New York Naval Yard in 1961. The San Diego-based Constellation, which launched 1,500 missions from its decks during the Iraq war, was decommissioned last Aug. 7 and replaced by the USS Ronald Reagan.

That was a switch; the Reagan was initially supposed to replace the older Kitty Hawk. But now the Kitty Hawk will stay in service until at least 2008, when the next new carrier, the USS George H.W. Bush, is to replace it.

The carrier and eight other Seventh Fleet vessels operate out of Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture -- the only ships in the navy whose home ports are outside the United States, although for political reasons officials prefer to say they are "permanently forward-deployed."

The Seventh Fleet -- carrier, fleet command ship, three cruisers, three destroyers and two frigates -- is at sea about half the year and has about 14,000 sailors deployed to Japan, along with nearly 10,000 family members. Submarines frequently transit through.

Unlike Okinawa -- where most of the U.S. service members in Japan are based and friction is endemic -- there is relatively little tension in Yokosuka.

Part of the reason is that Yokosuka has long been a military port. It served as a major Japanese naval base before and during World War II, and still harbors Japanese warships and submarines.

"We have a different perspective than Okinawa. We understand that it is important for Japan to have the U.S. military here," said Nagatoshi Esashi, a city official specializing in base relations. "We didn't ask for them to be here. If possible, it would be desirable for the land used by the service members to be returned. But we aren't pushing for that."

Officials are concerned, however, about what will happen once the Kitty Hawk is gone.

The Kitty Hawk and the USS John F. Kennedy, commissioned in 1964, are the only diesel-fueled carriers still in service, meaning the Kitty Hawk is likely to be replaced by a nuclear-powered vessel. Yokosuka residents fear radioactivity leaks, while some Japanese antiwar groups object to what they see as a broadening of the U.S. forces' strike capabilities.

The Japan Times: July 23, 2004
(C) All rights reserved

[snowsislander]

I searched, but didn't see this article.

[beckett]

My uncle was XO of the Kitty Hawk at his retirement in the 70s. At one time before that, as a Navy pilot, he held the record for most night landings on an aircraft carrier of any pilot in the Navy. Many of those landings were performed on the Kitty Hawk.

He's no longer with us, but it's nice to know the ship he loved so well sails on.

[GeronL]

CCCoooooooooooooooollll!!

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Japan (July 19, 2004) – Crewmembers stand a force protection watch at one of the .50-caliber machine gun mounts aboard ship while USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) departs its operating base of Yokosuka, Japan. The Kitty Hawk Strike Group is participating in Summer Pulse 2004, the simultaneous deployment of seven carrier strike groups (CSGs), demonstrating the ability of the Navy to provide credible combat across the globe, in five theaters with other U.S., allied, and coalition military forces. Summer Pulse is the Navy’s first deployment under its new Fleet Response Plan (FRP). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Lamel J. Hinton

[oyez]

The Sh*tty Kitty is 40 years old. I was was on the Intrepid when it was 27 years and what a rust bucket.( no offense implied) The USN knows how to get the distance out of its CVA's these days.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Yokosuka, Japan (May 24, 2004) - USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) prepares to moor at her homeport of Yokosuka, Japan. The conventional aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk and Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) demonstrates power projection and sea control as the U.S. Navy's permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Crystal M. Brooks

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Kitty Hawk Underway in Support of Summer Pulse '04

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- This summer, USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) will continue to make history as she participates in the Navy’s Summer Pulse ’04 Exercise.

Making this event historic is the fact that seven aircraft carrier strike groups (CSG) are simultaneously deploying in five operational theaters across the globe. This deployment demonstrates the Navy’s ability to provide credible combat power worldwide with other U.S. allied and coalition military forces.

“Summer Pulse ’04 and the Fleet Response Plan (FRP) are not about how often and how long we can deploy,” said Rear Adm. James D. Kelly, Kitty Hawk CSG commander. “They are about being able to answer the nation’s call in force – six CSGs in 30 days and two more within three months – by providing credible combat power where and when it’s needed. Summer Pulse '04 is the proof of our readiness.”

Summer Pulse ’04 is the Navy’s first exercise using the Fleet Response Plan. The FRP is the Navy’s response to the requirements of a 21st century global security environment. FRP includes the organization, manning, training and equipping of our Navy.

Under FRP, deploying as quickly as this would only happen during a national crisis. But being America’s only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, Kitty Hawk is continually ready to deploy.

“Kitty Hawk’s crew will be doing what we do best – training, launching aircraft and at the same time meeting the mission of the Navy,” said Kitty Hawk Command Master Chief (AW) Cliff Yager.

Continuing through the summer, Summer Pulse ’04 will include scheduled deployments, surge operations, joint and international exercises, and other advance training and port visits.

In response to a national crisis or emergency, FRP maintains the fleet’s increased force readiness and the ability to provide significant combat power at the president's direction.

Kitty Hawk has been actively working as a part of Summer Pulse throughout the current in-port period while conducting repairs and rehabilitation. The ship will soon be underway and, along with six other CSGs, will implement the FRP.

“The crew can look forward to a challenging and exciting mission," said Yager. "They have the knowledge that we are operating with other carriers on a global scale. It heightens attention to world events, keeps training levels up to where they need to be and helps to maintain a continual state of readiness."

“They also have the goal to support and visualize the U.S. Navy’s mission of rapid response,” he added.

Of the six other aircraft carriers participating in Summer Pulse ’04, three are Norfolk-based: USS George Washington (CVN 73), USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and USS Enterprise (CVN 65). USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) is operating out of San Diego. USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) is participating while enroute to its new hompeport also in San Diego. USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) out of Mayport, Fla., completes the list.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Yokosuka, Japan (July 19, 2004) - USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) gets underway from its homeport at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. The Kitty Hawk Strike Group is participating in Summer Pulse 2004, the simultaneous deployment of seven carrier strike groups (CSGs), demonstrating the ability of the Navy to provide credible combat across the globe, in five theaters with other U.S., allied, and coalition military forces. Summer Pulse is the Navy’s first deployment under its new Fleet Response Plan (FRP). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Alan Warner

HiRes pic

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Japan (July 19, 2004) - USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) departs Yokosuka Naval Base and prepares to transit the Tokyo Bay, to the Pacific Ocean. The Kitty Hawk Strike Group is participating in Summer Pulse 2004, the simultaneous deployment of seven carrier strike groups (CSGs), demonstrating the ability of the Navy to provide credible combat across the globe, in five theaters with other U.S., allied, and coalition military forces. Summer Pulse is the Navy’s first deployment under its new Fleet Response Plan (FRP). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class William H. Ramsey

[Cannoneer No. 4]

(Feb. 22, 2003) - An F/A-18C Hornet waits in an alert status aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Kitty Hawk's current mission is to provide a forward presence in the Asia/Pacific region, conduct training and exercises with regional allies and remain available to respond to emergent national tasking where needed. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Theron J. Godbold

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Apr. 29, 2004 - Signalman 3rd Class Ricky Berenguer from Weehawken, N.J., has the honor of raising the National Ensign aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) on its 43rd birthday. The conventional aircraft carrier is America's oldest active warship and was commissioned April 29, 1961. Kitty Hawk is permanently forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Bo J. Flannigan.

[Dr. Marten]

Care to share his name, my uncle served on the Kitty Hawk and I currently have a good friend serving on her.

Do share.

[A2J]

She's beautiful!

[jwpjr]

Well, as a photographer I certainly applaud Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Hinton's photo. Great job of framing, content and use of flash to light the subject in the foreground and render the background in near silhouette. The skin tones of the subject appear to be right on and there is still some detail in the shadow areas of the machine gun, plus the distant horizon is quite discernible and detail in the sky has been preserved. Definitely a 3 thumbs up photo! Good work Mr. Hinton. I know most people will find the detail in critiquing the photo to be boring, but photos like this don't 'just happen', it takes a fair amount of effort to get a picture this good. I probably would have liked a tad bit less exposure for the subject, but that's mostly a personal thing and this level did a great job of lighting the subject's eyes. Yup, good work!