(no subject)
The USS Enterprise will turn 50 years old in November. 50 years of serving her country proudly in war and peace. 50 years of defending freedom around the world. She is the oldest operational warship in the U.S. Navy except for the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides).
She will deploy for her final cruise next year before being decommissioned. She was commissioned as the first and only Nuclear Powered Attack Aircraft Carrier, CVA(N). Over the years her duty was modified from Attack to Anti-Submarine to All Duty, the "A" in her designation was dropped. She has been updated with new weaponry, a new radar system and many other advancements and even has women among her crew now. Its a shame to think that even though she still has life in her she will be victim to the scrappers torches as many believe that after the 8 reactors are removed from her belly there will not be much to make a fitting museum out of. I hope they are wrong. It was indifference and stupidity that allowed the most decorated warship in the US NAVY, the USS Enterprise CV-6 of WWII to be scrapped. The worst part is the Navy in their infinite wisdom has failed to name a successor. The current Enterprise is the eighth ship to bear that name in service to the United States. Instead of naming the next carrier to be launched, Enterprise IX, they named it the FORD.
Here the Blue Angels, Fat Albert and a C-130 fly over the Enterprise as she heads out for her deployment in January, 2011.
The USS Enterprise when I sailed upon her.
You will be missed Old Girl!