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VIDEO: USS Enterprise Returns to Original Drydock for Inactivation
gCaptain ^ | May 5, 2015 | Mike Schuler

Posted on 05/05/2015 7:11:56 PM PDT by artichokegrower

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To: artichokegrower

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!


21 posted on 05/05/2015 9:11:02 PM PDT by OldeGoat
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To: Talisker

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.


22 posted on 05/05/2015 9:11:02 PM PDT by OldeGoat
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To: artichokegrower

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.


23 posted on 05/05/2015 9:12:25 PM PDT by Parley Baer
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To: rlmorel
"...some you don’t want to be on at a given time, but if you lived on it, sailed on it, or fought on it, it does generate a tie to you."

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.

24 posted on 05/05/2015 9:17:28 PM PDT by moehoward
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To: OldeGoat

I floated on CVN-65 1981-1985. Back on the fantail during flank speed ops was an awe inspiring thing.


25 posted on 05/05/2015 9:40:49 PM PDT by misanthrope (Liberalism; it is not unthinking ignorance, it is malignant evil.)
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To: The_Victor

As a kid I saw Enterprise when fitting out after launch at Newport News. It was real impressive.


26 posted on 05/05/2015 10:35:22 PM PDT by Rockpile
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To: OldeGoat

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.


27 posted on 05/06/2015 12:41:35 AM PDT by __rvx86 (Ted Cruz: Proving that conservative populism is a winning strategy. GO CRUZ!)
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To: 5thGenTexan

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...:)


28 posted on 05/06/2015 2:41:17 AM PDT by rlmorel ("National success by the Democratic Party equals irretrievable ruin." Ulysses S. Grant.)
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To: moehoward

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.


29 posted on 05/06/2015 2:47:05 AM PDT by rlmorel ("National success by the Democratic Party equals irretrievable ruin." Ulysses S. Grant.)
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To: moehoward

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...:)


30 posted on 05/06/2015 2:50:19 AM PDT by rlmorel ("National success by the Democratic Party equals irretrievable ruin." Ulysses S. Grant.)
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To: rlmorel

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


31 posted on 05/06/2015 4:14:28 AM PDT by South Dakota
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To: misanthrope

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.


32 posted on 05/06/2015 4:46:35 AM PDT by fredhead (Join the Navy and see the world.....77% of which is covered in water.)
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To: South Dakota

I think the Japanese surrender should have been signed on one of the resurrected battleships that were sunk at Pearl Harbor.


33 posted on 05/06/2015 4:48:46 AM PDT by fredhead (Join the Navy and see the world.....77% of which is covered in water.)
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To: artichokegrower

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.


34 posted on 05/06/2015 4:56:43 AM PDT by aomagrat (Gun owners who vote for democrats are too stupid to own guns.)
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To: artichokegrower

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.


35 posted on 05/06/2015 5:05:09 AM PDT by thesearethetimes... (Had I brought Christ with me, the outcome would have been different. Dr.Eric Cunningham)
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To: fredhead

Yes. Or the Pennsyvania


36 posted on 05/06/2015 5:34:30 AM PDT by South Dakota
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To: artichokegrower

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.


37 posted on 05/06/2015 5:48:00 AM PDT by matginzac
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To: OldeGoat

Wow! Neat....


38 posted on 05/06/2015 5:50:52 AM PDT by matginzac
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To: fredhead
I think the Japanese surrender should have been signed on one of the resurrected battleships that were sunk at Pearl Harbor.

I think USS Nevada would have been a good choice, eh?

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

39 posted on 05/06/2015 6:06:57 AM PDT by alfa6
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To: artichokegrower

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.


40 posted on 05/06/2015 7:11:50 AM PDT by paddles ("The more corrupt the state, the more it legislates." Tacitus)
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