First Nuclear Aircraft Carrier: USS Enterprise

CVN 65, a majestic beauty and pride of America was commissioned on November 25, 1961 as the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the most awesome warship to float on water. It had the distinction of being the biggest warship in the world from 1961 to 1970. The CVN in the name stands for US Navy's hull classification symbol for attack aircraft carrier. CV is the symbol for aircraft carrier and N stands for Nuclear Weapons. The ship is nicknamed the 'Big E' and its name signifies energy, enthusiasm, bravery and practical handling. CVN 65 is the eighth navy ship under the Enterprise fleet. It comprises men and women who have fought long for the values that America stands for and still continues its brave legacy.

The Ship Unraveled
The first keel for building the ship was laid on February 4th, 1958 at the Newport News Shipbuilding Corporation and it was launched on September 24, 1960. The overall length of the ship is 1,123 feet (342.3 meters) and the flight deck is 257 feet wide. The crew comprises 3,200 ship and 2,480 Air Wing personnel. Strangely, it was deployed without any armament and later was equipped with a 20mm 'Phalanx Close In Weapon System Mk 15'. It was decided that six units of this class to be built but the cost considerations didn't allow the plans to materialize. The 93,500 tons naval vessel is second only to the Nimitz class supercarriers in terms of weight and took $451.3 million to construct.

The Story of The Enterprise
The ship was christened 'USS Enterprise' by Mrs. William Franke, the wife of former Secretary of the Navy to serve as the best carrier ever to serve the US. The first shakedown cruise of the ship took place under the leadership of Captain Vincent Depoix, starting January 12, 1962. Along with USS Long Beach and USS Bainbridge, it formed a nuclear-powered task force called the 'Task Force One'. This task group was sent on a historic voyage around the world without a single refueling or replenishment session. The ship journeyed a 30,565 mile voyage around the world successfully along with the others.

It became involved in its first combat duty in the Vietnam War when it joined the Pacific's Seventh Fleet in November 1965. On the first day it sent 125 sorties on the enemy supply lines with an astounding 167 tons of bombs and rockets pounding them. Between 1965 and 1972, USS Enterprise made six combat deployments in Southeast Asia and used to return to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company for refueling and overhaul. In 1973, it was upgraded to house the latest 'Tomcat' aircraft and deployed in the West Pacific. In April 1988, on its duty to escort the Kuwait Oil tankers, it engaged the Iranian navy in one of the most gruesome battles ever fought.

The ship completed a major overhaul in 1994 and since then has carried out many successful endeavors in the Philippines crisis, Bosnia or the Persian Gulf war. It was returning to US for a regular break session when the September 11 attack took place. The ship, without any orders, turned back on its own and redeployed itself in the Persian Gulf. Its fleet launched heavy aerial attacks in Afghanistan against the Taliban regime. Also, it took part in 'Operation Iraqi Freedom' and 'Enduring Freedom' missions, proving to be an extremely important asset in the US fleet. During all these years, it had also witnessed several accidents on its surface causing some losses, both human and financial. But it has stood the test of time as one of the most magnificent carrier ever to have sailed the oceans.

The US Navy has plans to decommission it sometime around 2014-15, to be replaced by the newly designed USS Gerald Ford. But the glory and legends of USS Enterprise CVN-65 will continue to be famous and eagerly retold for generations to come.