Posted on 05/05/2015 7:11:56 PM PDT by artichokegrower
The world’s first nuclear powered aircraft carrier was moved into its birthplace dry dock at Huntington Ingalls’ Newport News Shipbuilding this weekend as part of the ongoing inactivation process.
The aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise (CVN 65), was moved Saturday from Newport News’ Pier 2 to Dry Dock 11, where the super carrier was constructed over 60 years ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at gcaptain.com ...
I was a shipboard nuclear engineer who worked for NNS during the Second Refueling back in 1969 - 1971. We went on Builder’s Sea Trials in January 1971. The trials took place off of the Virginia Capes and lasted about four days. Hundreds of shipyard personnel were aboard the ship to support sea trials testing and data recording. In those days all reactor operational data was recorded around the clock by real people with clipboards, data sheets, and ballpoint pens. The Navy crew operated the ship and the shipyard engineers recorded data, ensured that equipment was operating properly, and provided expertise if equipment needed evaluated or adjusted. Anyhow, Enterprise was escorted by 3 or 4 U.S. Navy escorts out of Norfolk Navy Base -— fossil fueled destroyers and cruisers. We were also shadowed by 2 or 3 Russian cruisers that were there to see how well Enterprise would do on its first “at sea” following refueling. The Ruskies would also make runs on our escort vessels and basically be a pain in the butt. It was the middle of the afternoon on day three of trials, a clear but cold January day 50 miles off the coast of Virginia, I was “off-watch” and up in the “Island” at about the 010 level, “sightseeing”. As I recall we were running at AHEAD FULL bell. After days of being shadowed by the Russians, the Captain of the Enterprise had enough “cat and mouse”, and ordered an All AHEAD FLANK bell. That made two years of refueling and overhaul efforts dramatically worthwhile. As I watched over the stern of Enterprise, over 250,000 horsepower run through four propellers caused the “Big E” to surge forward, leave an unbelievable wake behind it and just run away from all of the accompanying ships, both U.S. and Russian. They tried to stay up with the “big E” (I could see them all sending up black smoke from their stacks as they all also rang up FLANK BELLS). But it was of no use. Thirty minutes later they were all but mere specks on the horizon. It almost brought tears to my eyes and definitely put goose bumps on my arms. Ah, fond memories, 44 years ago!
That is the cost of working around 50 years of radioactivity buildup on all of those pumps, pipes, and valves in eight reactor plants. It must all be safely removed and put in secure storage before the other parts of the ship can be broken down for scrap.
Proud to say I made a few tours with her during the late 60’s during the Viet Nam war. I remember those days like it was yesterday.
It's a fact. I was on the Constellation (CV64) and often hated being stuck on that boat. Now those memories are some of my most cherished and I would pay to be able to take a tiger cruise. Of course that's impossible because they towed her off to scrap. I live within sight of PSN and could see her tied up over there. Watching her get towed off was pretty tough.
I floated on CVN-65 1981-1985. Back on the fantail during flank speed ops was an awe inspiring thing.
As a kid I saw Enterprise when fitting out after launch at Newport News. It was real impressive.
Don’t forget about inflation: $451.3M in 1955, is now worth $3,976,138,235.07.
The cost to decommission the ship, is but a small fraction of what it cost to build.
Actually, I enjoyed Star Trek, even the “schmaltziness” part.
I will say, I do think they had the Kirk character himself capture that sentiment on a fairly routine basis...
I was probably being unfair there...:)
Hahaha...so it has been, so it will always be!
I was a young petty officer, full of snot, and thought I knew more than anyone else. I was mouthing off one day about the stupidity of the service, etc. (and it is true, all services and large institutions DO have a degree of inbred stupidity in them, that’s jus the way it is!) and a lifer 1st Class said to me (not unkindly, but...firmly): “Look. You think all of this is stupid and it sucks right now, but...you signed up for it. Nobody twisted your arm. Someday, you will look back on this as one of the most important and valuable times of your life...”
There are many times since then I wished I could have eaten my words, found that man AD1 Ingram, and shook his hand to tell him how right he was.
The Constellation was the first carrier I ever saw close up. As a kid, living on Navy bases, I used to go down to the docks to try to get a sailor to give me a tour of whatever ship was there. I remember standing on the dock, looking straight up at this huge ship, the tails of Phantoms and Vigilantes hanging out in the air all around the edge of the deck.
That was in Yokosuka...:)
Mame. And the Alabama had ports to enter, BB 57 did not.
Halsey and Nimitz wanted the Japanese surrender signed on the South Dakota, it is said, some bum from Missouri over rode their authority
I served 20 years in the Navy, retiring in 1998. My ships were Nimitz, JFK, and Ike. My first job after retiring was with a company installing the LAN on the Big E. Pulling cable. MILES of cable. Got to go underway on her then. I now work doing tech assists on comm systems on the ships. The last time I was on Enterprise was just before the decommissioning, removing some antennas. It was depressing to see a ship die.
After JFK’s decommissioning she was towed to Norfolk and sat at a pier for about 6 months before being towed to Philadelphia. It was a sad sight every time I had to go down there.
I think the Japanese surrender should have been signed on one of the resurrected battleships that were sunk at Pearl Harbor.
I served on the Enterprise 1983-1986. W Division, Weapons Dept. I made the first and only arrested landing on a carrier on her as a passenger in a C-1. My first flight in a helicopter was to her. I became a shellback on her. Pearl Harbor, Olongapo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Karachi, Naples, Toulon, Fremantle, lots of memories.
Heartfelt Bump....
Thank you for this sad, but still wonderful thread, and thank you all - for your service.
Fly Navy.
Lucky Tatt, who grew up with carriers and air groups, and so many “nasal radiator uncles”...
Wouldn’t trade my childhood for a million dollars.
Yes. Or the Pennsyvania
Me too...
I signed up to serve in the Navy on the Big E when she was in Alameda.
Hard to think of her not on station anymore....sigh.
Wow! Neat....
I think USS Nevada would have been a good choice, eh?
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
You can really develop an attachment to a carrier when it’s a night, EMCON recovery and it’s the only place you have to land.
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