Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Navy bids farewell to storied warship USS Enterprise
afp ^ | Nov 4 2011 | AFP

Posted on 11/04/2012 6:33:18 AM PST by Berlin_Freeper

WASHINGTON — After half a century on the high seas, the oldest warship in the American fleet, the USS Enterprise, will return to port Sunday for the last time.

From the Cuban Missile Crisis to the war in Afghanistan, the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has played a part in every conflict involving the United States since she was commissioned in 1961.

But when the massive vessel glides into the US naval base in Norfolk, Virginia on Sunday morning, with sailors in white uniforms standing on deck, it will mark the end of her 25th and final deployment after an eight month tour in the Mediterranean and the Gulf, the Navy said.

"Homecoming will no doubt be a bittersweet day," said Captain William Hamilton, the ship's commanding officer.

"We are pleased to be returning to our families after a very successful deployment, but to know that it is the last time Enterprise will be underway through her own power makes our return very sentimental."

The ship will be formally retired at a ceremony on December 1 but the vessel known as the "Big E" already relinquished its ammunition and ordnance last week at sea, with helicopters ferrying more than 1,500 tonnes of missiles and bombs to cargo ships nearby.

With a length of 342 meters (1,123 feet), the Enterprise is the longest naval ship in the world, and has a displacement of nearly 95,000 tonnes. The floating base can accommodate 4,500 sailors and aviators, as well as 72 planes and helicopters.

(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cvn65; enterprise; usn; usnavy; ussenterprise
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120121-135 last
To: SES1066
No. Lincoln was the wedge that started it all. No presidents living or dead on any US coins or currency in 1908, barely 55 years later every circulating coin has a president:

1909 Lincoln 1¢
1932 Washington 25¢
1938 Jefferson 5¢
1946 Roosevelt 10¢
1964 Kennedy 50¢

The Kennedy half was being struck within TWO MONTHS of his death.

We are already perilously close to honoring living kings presidents on our money.

Let's fully reset to allegorical figures.

Before "In God We Trust" is removed from our money to be replaced by, say, Obama's ugly mug.

121 posted on 11/04/2012 12:51:32 PM PST by null and void (Day 1384 of the Obama hostage crisis - Barack Hussein Obama an enemy BOTH foreign AND domestic)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 120 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper

I have often wondered what the Big E’s true top speed was...have heard some wild stories...


122 posted on 11/04/2012 12:57:33 PM PST by LSUfan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fremont_steve

“...If we’re going to go Treky - you gotta get it right. NCC 1701....”

Are you talking about me?


123 posted on 11/04/2012 12:59:33 PM PST by NCC-1701 (The LEFT's intolerance of the RIGHT is intolerable.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: SES1066

I didn’t include the Eisenhower dollar because I can’t recall a single instance of it being used to purchase anything outside of a chance in gaming.

In any event, it would only bump the timeline out to a whopping 62 years, less than one aversge human’s life expectancy.


124 posted on 11/04/2012 1:03:36 PM PST by null and void (Day 1384 of the Obama hostage crisis - Barack Hussein Obama an enemy BOTH foreign AND domestic)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 120 | View Replies]

To: Wyrd bið ful aræd

If the Navy still uses any DMS (destoyer-minesweeper) vessels, the USS Barack Obama would be a fair name for that cannon fodder...


125 posted on 11/04/2012 1:11:26 PM PST by Schwaeky (The Republic--Shall be reorganized into the first American EMPIRE, for a safe and secure Society!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Wyrd bið ful aræd

If the Navy still uses any DMS (destoyer-minesweeper) vessels, the USS Barack Obama would be a fair name for that cannon fodder...


126 posted on 11/04/2012 1:12:20 PM PST by Schwaeky (The Republic--Shall be reorganized into the first American EMPIRE, for a safe and secure Society!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: A.A. Cunningham; All

Here is a YouTube video that shows a home built model of the Big E.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJqPiQyqk9Q

The story behind it, as I understand it, is that someone started building it in his garage and it got too big for him to keep. So the builder called the Smithsonian and asked them if they wanted to take in off his hands and place it on display. They said they had enough models so he sent some pics. Smithsonian people got interested and sent some representatives to look her over. They were impressed enough to take her to D.C. where she is today. Quite an impressive effort. She shows up at the 1:17 mark of the vid.


127 posted on 11/04/2012 1:20:01 PM PST by NCC-1701 (The LEFT's intolerance of the RIGHT is intolerable.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 101 | View Replies]

To: A.A. Cunningham
"Ship. The Enterprise is the only boat in the class."

I stand corrected. I'm not Navy....my interest comes from my background in nuke issues/reactors. The idea of EIGHT nuke reactors (even small ones) on a single ship was sort of mind-boggling when I heard it.

128 posted on 11/04/2012 5:01:35 PM PST by Wonder Warthog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 84 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper; gonzo

PING

America’s pride!


129 posted on 11/04/2012 5:22:28 PM PST by ExTexasRedhead
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ExTexasRedhead

Thanks, cutie. The big ‘E’! We’ll keep her docked for a while ................................................... FRegards


130 posted on 11/04/2012 8:18:38 PM PST by gonzo ( Buy more ammo, dammit! You should already have the firearms ... FRegards)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 129 | View Replies]

To: Happy Rain

Thanks! That’s very interesting. The actual parallel matches the pic. (Maybe that’s the “Obama parallel character” in the front of the boat.)

It’s too bad so many modern “slaves” (and not just black “slaves”, either!) don’t realize how insidiously they’ve been made to lose their freedom, for which so much was paid by so many.


131 posted on 11/04/2012 9:44:27 PM PST by Paul R. (We are in a break in an Ice Age. A brief break at that...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: 23 Everest

One of my thrills was sitting in the Captains chair on the big E!


132 posted on 11/04/2012 9:56:24 PM PST by rolling_stone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: ExTexasRedhead

Hey friend, Please put me on your ping list! I miss too much otherwise! :)


133 posted on 11/04/2012 10:53:29 PM PST by seekthetruth (I want a Commander In Chief who honors and supports our Military!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 129 | View Replies]

To: LSUfan
I have often wondered what the Big E’s true top speed was...have heard some wild stories...

33.6 knots tops. Sorry.

134 posted on 12/05/2012 9:35:38 PM PST by Oztrich Boy (By doubting we come to inquiry, and through inquiry we perceive truth. -; Peter Abelard)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 122 | View Replies]

To: Nowhere Man
I wonder that too. IIRC, the Enterprise's reactors are smaller, so you need 8 of them, they were designed for atomic subs.

Enterprise didn't even need 8 reactors. She really only needed 6, but Rickover demanded on a 1-to-1 ratio with the # of boilers in the Kitty Hawk class.

With the possible exception of the years in the 1980s and very early 1990s when the Iowa Class Battleships were back in service, Enterprise was the fastest deep-draft combatant in the world for the entirety of her life. She had a modified Kitty Hawk hull - lengthened more than widened and still optimized in slender form for efficient cruise in the mid-20 kts, as conventionally-powered carriers were to help conserve fuel. The Nimitzes with their two reactors produce equal or slightly higher shaft horsepower (shp) than Enterprise did with her eight, but are both heavier and have a fuller hull form -- so a somewhat slower speed - 30-31kts vs' Enterprise's 33.5. Although I'd heard that Enterprise was once pushed up to almost 34 kts (or maybe even a hair above) off the Virginia Capes during trials following her 1990s refueling, when she had a clean and newly painted hull and was operating in shallow water.
135 posted on 12/05/2012 9:59:20 PM PST by tanknetter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 117 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120121-135 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson