CVN Naming – Enough With the Politics Already

Steeljaw Scribe ^ | 26 July 09 | Steeljawscribe

[GATOR NAVY]

It’s time to return some sanity to the way ships are named.  Why?  Because the silliness is upon us once again:

111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 83

Expressing the sense of Congress that a nuclear-powered aircraft
carrier of the Navy, either the aircraft carrier designated as CVN-79
or the aircraft carrier designated as CVN-80, should be named the
U.S.S. Barry M. Goldwater.
Bill information and status here  

The nonsense began with CVN-70  and reached the height of historical blindness with the Truman (honestly, naming a carrier for a president who tried his hardest to kill naval aviation and oversaw the death of the United States (CVA-58)  in favor of the B-36).  Why not Enterprise (CVN-65 isn’t long for this world)?  Coral Sea?  Yorktown? Hornet? Midway? Enough with the politicians – these ships are going to last to the middle of the century and outlive many of us reading these words.  Why not go back to naming the carriers after famous battles and reclaim some of our heritage and linkage with notable CVs from the past?  And, BTW, what better way to celebrate naval aviation’s upcoming centenary?

And yes, I’m familiar with Rickover’s quote   – how about standing firm this time anyway?

(h/t: SB  )

UPDATE:  Here’s the text of the petition – should be available online w/in the next 24-hours.

Whereas the namesake ENTERPRISE has been proudly borne by two combat aircraft carriers of the United States Navy;
Whereas the first USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6) (seventh ship to bear this name) and her embarked airwing and crew gallantly fought in every major battle in the Pacific during World War Two, including the signatory battle at Midway when vastly outnumbered by the ships and planes of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Combined Fleet, ENTERPRISE, with YORKTOWN and HORNET struck a mortal blow, sinking four enemy aircraft carriers and turning the tide of the war in the Pacific;
Whereas the same ENTERPRISE concluded that war as the most decorated warship in the United States Navy with 20 battle stars, a Presidential Unit Citation, a British Admiralty Pennant, Navy Unit Commendation, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, and Task Force 16 Citation among many other accolades;
Whereas the second United States Navy aircraft carrier to be named ENTERPRISE (CVAN/CVN-65) was the first such ship of her class in the world to be nuclear powered;
Whereas that ENTERPRISE, the eighth ship to bear that name in the United States Navy is concluding a half-century of service to this nation and has honorably served in every theater of operations from leading the naval quarantine off Cuba in 1962 to conducting the first strikes following the terrorist attack on the United States on September 11th, 2001;

Be It Resolved
That the next nuclear aircraft carrier to be constructed (CVN-79) should bear the name USS ENTERPRISE in recognition and honor of the fighting men and women of the United States navy who have sailed in her namesakes through the centuries.

We The Undersigned:
Call upon the Congress of the United States to remand H. CON. RES. 83 and replace it with a resolution supporting the naming of CVN-79 or the next nuclear aircraft carrier to be constructed, the USS ENTERPRISE.

Call upon the Secretary of the Navy to support this petition of the tax-paying people of these United States and name the next nuclear aircraft carrier to be constructed the USS ENTERPRISE

UPDATE 2: Here is the petition  

[CaptRon]

ohhhhhhhhhh nooooooooooo. I’m in New York’s Lower Hudson Valley. 30 miles north of the Rotten Apple (in fact worked there). But the mothball fleet was about 3 miles from where i live now. Mostly liberty ships. They were eventually all scrapped, but were kept for a while after Korea. Impressive to see as a kid. Amost shore to shore, tied abeam of each other.

[buccaneer81]

Wow. I mixed you up with another FReeper. But you do know your stuff. Been in your “real” neck of the woods many times, too.

[tanknetter]

I heard the Obama DOD was already planning to skip the planned refueling of the Lincoln and sending it to early retirement as part of the DOD budget cuts. That was several months ago so I don't know where that stands.

Lincoln's refueling is already scheduled, and Everett is fighting hard to make sure she comes back once its complete: link

[tanknetter]

The last thing that moved out of there was the USS New Jersey on its way to 'Nam. Saw it from my senior English class!

You sure it was the Hudson River? NJ spent her mothball years between Korea and Vietnam in Philly, tied up alongside Iowa and Wisconsin and was reactivated in the old Philadelphia Navy Yard on the Delaware Rive. You might have seen her doing a port call before heading out to the Pacific ...

[CaptRon]

Hah!. Nice here. I live right on river. Their about to dredge up the PCBs that have been covered by silt for 30years. Why? ‘Cuz Bobby Kennedy, Jr. said so. He cited his Phd. in Chemistry. At least I think he did.

[CaptRon]

Hah!. Nice here. I live right on river. Their about to dredge up the PCBs that have been covered by silt for 30years. Why? ‘Cuz Bobby Kennedy, Jr. said so. He cited his Phd. in Chemistry. At least I think he did.

[Al B.]

Thanks. I know that at one time during the budget process, that was under consideration. My brother works for the Navy and sent me something on it.

Glad to know rationality prevailed and people won't be laid off in Newport News because of a hole in their refueling operation.

[CaptRon]

Pretty sure. It was 4 years ago! I remember something that could have been nothing but a battleship. Always thought it was the Jersey. Could be wrong. I know there were at least 2 battleships moored up there.

[CaptRon]

Have to ask my dad. He worked there as an electrician maintaining the ships after he was discharged from Korea.

[tanknetter]

What year are you thinking of, and do you mean on the NJ side of the River (Bayonne)?



IIRC Washington and North Carolina were there until the early 1960s. In the picture above, the two long ships moored abreast at the head (right side) of the line (with a third smaller ship outboard) are the two Alaska-Class Large Cruisers (which could be mistaken for Battleships). Behind them are the Washington and North Carolina, followed by some other smaller ships and then two carriers. The carrier at the far left is Enterprise, the second from left is an Essex (not sure which one).

[CaptRon]

No.Around 1955 on the Hudson River in Stony Point, just south of West Point at a place called Grassy Point. Between rockland County and Westchester County

[B-Chan]

As an ENTERPRISE sailor, I obviously agree. However, I don't want the proud name attached to just any old carrier. CVN-65 was a revolutionary vessel, and the name should be reserved for an equally-revolutionary successor, like the first space battleship or something.

In the meantime, let's go back to giving carriers kickass names. You know, something like USS MANIFEST DESTINY or USS MAILED FIST -- something with an air of real menace.

B-chan
Former MM3
USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65)
GONAVY

[CaptRon]

No.Around 1955 on the Hudson River in Stony Point, just south of West Point at a place called Grassy Point. Between rockland County and Westchester County

http://www.aandc.org/research/hudson_ghost_fleet.html

Just read this. I question its accuracy.sorry link not formatted.

[buccaneer81]

‘Cuz Bobby Kennedy, Jr. said so. He cited his Phd. in Chemistry. At least I think he did.

LOL! Almost every lawyer, especially "celebrity" lawyers think that they know other disciplines. Just look at all the lawyers who think they are MDs and shrinks. The Kennedy arrogance simply plays into that.

[allmendream]

The seamen on the hypothetical USS Clinton should always deboard on a blue dress.

[CaptRon]

I was tied up behind his "Riverkeeper" at my marina, getting gas. It was a scow, probable leaking more crap than any other boat there.

But, hey! You know who I am (he was not aboard but you coud feel the attitude).

[Pan_Yan]

The Enterprise has eight reactors, a triple hull and armored plated stern. It came with all the options. The story is that Admiral Rickover did not want a nuclear powered carrier. So he made sure it was really, really expensive. So expensive that CV-66 and CV-67 were conventional.

As a side note, at full speed the shaft from #3 engineroom has so much torque on it that it is twisted one and one half turns from the gears to the prop.

[tanknetter]

No.Around 1955 on the Hudson River in Stony Point, just south of West Point at a place called Grassy Point. Between rockland County and Westchester County

Fascinating, thanks! I have a couple books on the various ghost fleets. Stony Point (or Hudson River Basin) is mentioned, but all I could find was one small picture of some lesser auxiliaries (not even the larger ones shown in your link).

[CaptRon]

As a kid I remember it as huge. And like I said, my dad had worked there. He worked on the Missouri as an electriian before he was drafted (yes, drated( into the Navy. He wanted to be a SeeBea when he got in, but even after being an electrician building the Missouuri he couldn;t: colorblind! He went on to serve in the Phillipenes and Korea as a storekeeper.

[tanknetter]

Found another picture of the Stony Point fleet. Looks like all auxiliaries or cargo ships