[Bender2]

Very sad sight... at NISMF, Bremerton, WA

[Mr. Jeeves]

We really should those old carriers off to China - we need the money. :)

[dragonblustar]

We see those ships every time we go through Bremerton. I’d love to take a tour of one of them.

[SES1066]

Thanks for the photo of these four immediate predecessors to the Enterprise. It is an interesting exercise to look at the evolution in carrier flight deck geometry found in just this photo and in the Enterprise as the 1st CVN.

USS Ranger (CV-61) - 1957 to 1993 [Forrestal-class]

USS Independence (CV-62) - 1959 to 1998 [Forrestal-class]

USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) - 1964 to 2009

USS Constellation (CV-64) - 1961 to 2003

USS Enterprise (CVN-65) - 1962 to Present

The evolution to the British-pioneered angled flight deck which allows for simultaneous launch and land as well as increased multiple launches. Note that both the Ranger and Independence served as recovery HQs for NASA manned capsule ocean landings. I don't think that the others above had that tasking.

[Kadric]

I think it would be interesting for them to take a couple of the retired carriers and convert them to disaster relief. One on each coast and one for the Gulf area. They would be able to have them stocked and ready to go.

[Conservative4Ever]

Just damn, the USS Kitty Hawk has been retired too? I had the thrill of being on the Kitty Hawk during a family cruise day back in the early 80’s. All I can say about that day is WOW!