Posted on 09/24/2010 10:14:46 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
USS Enterprise: The aircraft carrier that changed everything turns 50
Task Force One, headed by the USS Enterprise, left Gibraltar on a trip around the world. The task force was comprise of three nuclear-powered surface vessels. Crewmen of the Enterprise formed the famous Einstein equation, E=mc2, on the flight deck symbolizing the development of nuclear propulsion. (Daily Press archive, Daily Press / September 22, 2010)
By Peter Frost, pfrost@dailypress.com | 247-4744
11:28 AM EDT, September 24, 2010
NEWPORT NEWS — Fifty years ago today the largest dry dock in the world filled with water from the James River, setting afloat the world's largest ship and first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
At 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 24, 1960, Mrs. William B. Franke, wife of the Secretary of the Navy, smashed a bottle of champagne across the bow of the USS Enterprise as the rushing seawater freed it from its last keel block.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Arleigh A. Burke told some 12,000 guests at the christening ceremony that the 1,101-foot Big E was "the largest ship ever built of any kind by any nation," containing the most powerful nuclear power plant ever constructed anywhere in the world.
Yard president William E. Blewett Jr. paid tribute to the thousands of workers who "labored with imagination, skill and pride to build a vessel worthy of its name."
Today, the Enterprise sits across the harbor at Naval Station Norfolk, preparing for two final, six-month deployments before it's decommissioned in 2012.
Neither the Navy nor the ship's crew has planned an event to celebrate the milestone, preferring to wait until Nov. 25, 2011, the 50th anniversary of the Enterprise becoming an official member of the fleet.
Nonetheless, when the one-of-a-kind supercarrier was launched that Saturday five decades ago, it
(Excerpt) Read more at dailypress.com ...
Thank you for all that background.
Somebody should ask Betty Ford if she would not mind, terribly, if her late husband’s name was bumped pack one place in line when it comes time to name our next Supercarrier...
I remember, back in the early 80’s, the Enterprise was returning to Alameda, and it ran aground in the mud. The San Francisco Chronicle had a picture on the front page where every available crewman was standing on the port bow corner of the flight deck to rock the boat out of the mud.
It was a great picture that I have never seen again.
Needless to say, the ship’s engines were more than up to the task of freeing her. I am sure somebody’s file got a career-ending note inserted.
Star Trek IV
“Vere do you keep the nucwear wessels?”
I was just at the Yorktown 3 months ago! We stayed at the Harbor Resort next to it and I went on a tour of that ship while my wife and daughters shopped. It was awesome! I was bothered though by the lack of interest the employees had in their jobs. They didn’t show any enthusiasm for their jobs. I’d be psyched to work there!
“The ship has eight extremely old nuclear reactors buried deep inside her, and is basically a 30+knot capable SuperFund site.
The only nuclear-powered ship that the Navy has EVER allowed to become a museum is Nautilus. Being a small submarine her reactor was easy to yank for disposal, yet the Navy still retains ownership/custodianship of her and she’s docked at the Groton sub base so she can be monitored for radiation levels.
Most of Enterprise’s hull below the waterline is going to have to be cut out to get to those reactors. There’s no way that the USN is then going to pay to patch her back together so she can be saved.
Maybe they’ll find a way to save her island. But that’s going to be about it. “
I know what you are talking about. My dad’s ship the USS Howard W. Gilmore AS-16 had the whole center cut out of it due to it servicing nuclear subs in it’s lifetime. Saw the pictures on the internet of her. She was towed down the James to the scrapyard about 4-5 years ago.
Ahh, the good old days.
But Shatner/Roddenberry's show only premiered 44 years ago.
What you say is probably quite true tanknetter. She was frequently called ‘Showboat’ by sailors when I was in. Perhaps it’s like the Kitty Hawk, who had a few names (-bird, -kitty come to mind). Hell, I was an airdale (AT) so you probably ought to just consider the source. I boarded her back in the early 70’s at Cubi Pt. (visiting a friend) and she was spit shined then. I did also hear the term “Big-E” but usually (I think) in reference to the Enterprise of WWII. Take Care.
I agree - they should have kept that one. It has significant history.
It was ST IV. ‘And captain, it’s the Enterprise...’
Always gives me goosebumps.
They were trying to get whales to bring back to earth in thier time to save the world I think from VEGER.
VGER was ST I. In ST IV, they were trying to save the earth from a giant can of soda.
I, IV, XX I wa close.
To be fair, it might have been a can of beer. Or a Red Bull.
And it just happened to speak whale.
It was the most stupid premise of all the Star Trek movies, except, of course, V.
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