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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.
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Error, error, error - oldest US Navy ship is STILL the USS Constitution.
Have seen her in Norfolk. She’s amazing! Nothing like seeing the carriers lined up in port. Son is leaving the Navy so will probably never again have the opportunity to get on base and see these awesome floating cities up close.
Job well done, Big E.
“The question is not a game of Battleship, where we’re counting ships, it’s what are our capabilities,” Obama concluded. Barack Obama
Now I have another basketball court to play on. Barack Obama.
Obama opens college hoops game on aircraft carrier
Wish they had powered up the port (leftside) catapult and shot him off the deck.
Meanwhile, got to proudly welcome home the rescue helo squadron at NAS JAX which returned on the Enterprise this past Wednesday. Yes, the Big E is being retired.
The next Enterprise will be Captained by Jonathan Archer
But I did get to see the the brand new USS Nimitz before my hitch ended (and also got to see my first F-14) and she was a beauty-only I felt sorry for the poor squids aboard her what with all the spit and polish boot camp chikenpoop they had to endure as the fleets’ show boat.
There needs to be another Enterprise. And we need to get back to naming carriers after revolutionary war battles, and quit with this presidential naming BS. There has almost always been an Enterprise, that name should not die
The government does not want people thinking of the revolution, the constitution, independence, etc.
Big E Ping
at NISMF, Bremerton, WA
I agree.
The U.S. Navy traditionally named CARRIERS after famous battles (Midway, Saratoga etc) and famous ships (Wasp, Hornet, ENTERPRISE etc).
I am saddened to see My Navy will be without a U.S.S Enterprise.
I await the construction of the Starship Enterprise (SS 1704)
Ship’s motto, “Ready on Arrival!”
My late wife’s cousin was married to a Chief Warrant Officer who was assigned to the Big E in the 90’s. He took us on a VIP tour of the ship. I have pictures of her sitting in the Captain’s chair. Magnificent ship, job well done.
Bravo Zulu CVN 65!
He is relatively recently retired from the Navy, and worked in the Bremerton, WA, navy yards (which decommissions nuke ships....why....close proximity to Hanford, where the old reactor carcases are "permanently" buried after removal of fissionables).
He told me that ships of the Enterprise class had EIGHT separate nuclear reactors aboard. Modern nuclear flat-tops only have two. I can't help but wonder if someday the loss of the extra redundancy may cause problems in combat.
Wasn’t there a space shuttle named Enterprise before the warp drive vessels came along?
We have found the nuclear vessel...And Captain, it is the ENTERPRISE!
If we’re going to go Treky - you gotta get it right. NCC 1701.
I built the plastic model when I was a kid. Came in the biggest box! Took forever to paint everything. Just the model was impressive!
hopefully there will not be one named ‘USS The One’..
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