The Big "E" (aka USS Enterprise CVN-65), one of a kind flattop

[HeyJoe]

For Hokiepilot:

030516-N-6259P-002 At sea aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) May 16, 2003 -- USS Enterprise (CVN 65) conducts a port turn after an emergency break away drill with the Military Sealift Command Fast Combat Support Ship USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195). Enterprise is currently underway conducting carrier qualifications off the Atlantic coast. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Douglas M. Pearlman. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

030625-N-6259P-002 Atlantic Ocean (Jun. 25, 2003) -- USS Enterprise (CVN 65) underway in the Atlantic Ocean for Tailored Ships Training Availability (TSTA) while preparing for an upcoming scheduled deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Douglas M. Pearlman. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

031021-N-6259P-002 Indian Ocean (Oct. 21, 2003) -- USS Enterprise (CVN 65) steams toward the Arabian Gulf while on their six-month scheduled deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Douglas M. Pearlman. (RELEASED)

 

[A4sForever]

When I think: 'USS Enterprise' -- the first thing I think of is CV-6, Halsey, Midway, and WW2.

When I think 'modern' ... THIS is the famous 'Nuke Navy' pix I'll always remember:

Official US Navy photograph (released ... a long, long time ago)

Operation Sea Orbit: On 31 July 1964, USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) (bottom), USS Long Beach (CGN-9) (center) and USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25) (top) formed "Task Force One," the first nuclear-powered Task Force, and sailed 49.190 km around the world in 65 days. Accomplished without a single refueling or replenishment ... (!!!)

 

[Catmando]

When I think: 'USS Enterprise' -- the first thing I think of is CV-6, Halsey, Midway, and WW2.

When I think 'modern' ... THIS is the famous 'Nuke Navy' pix I'll always remember:

Official US Navy photograph (released ... a long, long time ago)

Operation Sea Orbit: On 31 July 1964, USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) (bottom), USS Long Beach (CGN-9) (center) and USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25) (top) formed "Task Force One," the first nuclear-powered Task Force, and sailed 49.190 km around the world in 65 days. Accomplished without a single refueling or replenishment ... (!!!)

Tnx. That was a stunningly famous photo and really big news at the time. It's one photo I'll always remember too.

Taken before I joined the Nav and still a kid, little did I know at the time I would later make two WestPac cruises aboard the "Big E," about 12 years later.

 

[HeyJoe]

When I think: 'USS Enterprise' -- the first thing I think of is CV-6, Halsey, Midway, and WW2.

When I think 'modern' ... THIS is the famous 'Nuke Navy' pix I'll always remember:

Official US Navy photograph (released ... a long, long time ago)

Operation Sea Orbit: On 31 July 1964, USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) (bottom), USS Long Beach (CGN-9) (center) and USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25) (top) formed "Task Force One," the first nuclear-powered Task Force, and sailed 49.190 km around the world in 65 days. Accomplished without a single refueling or replenishment ... (!!!)

Ditto. I even remember seeing it in National Geographic (when's the last time they devoted feature article to US Navy?). Funny part was I was going to see about finding it for this thread! Note distinctive dome on top of island (removed decades later) that was a precursor to AEGIS radar.

 

[HeyJoe]

100607-N-5082P-229 ATLANTIC OCEAN (June 7, 2010) The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) operates at sea as an SH-60F Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Dragonslayers of Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (HS) 11 conducts plane guard patrols. Enterprise is conducting fleet replacement squadron carrier qualifications in preparation for work-ups leading to the ship's 21st deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brooks B. Patton/Released)

 

[Pugs]

Operation Sea Orbit: On 31 July 1964, USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) (bottom), USS Long Beach (CGN-9) (center) and USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25) (top) formed "Task Force One," the first nuclear-powered Task Force, and sailed 49.190 km around the world in 65 days. Accomplished without a single refueling or replenishment ... (!!!)

Even from afar those Vigi's on the stern look huge!

 

[HeyJoe]

Even from afar those Vigi's on the stern look huge!

Compared to A-4 Skyhawk, they were huge and even compared to F-4 Phantoms and F-8 Crusaders forward. It was huge hence the "H" in VAH (before it was converted from a bomber to a Recce bird), but also fast in either incarnation.

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

When I think: 'USS Enterprise' -- the first thing I think of is CV-6, Halsey, Midway, and WW2.

When I think 'modern' ... THIS is the famous 'Nuke Navy' pix I'll always remember:

Official US Navy photograph (released ... a long, long time ago)

Operation Sea Orbit: On 31 July 1964, USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) (bottom), USS Long Beach (CGN-9) (center) and USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25) (top) formed "Task Force One," the first nuclear-powered Task Force, and sailed 49.190 km around the world in 65 days. Accomplished without a single refueling or replenishment ... (!!!)

I'll see that E=mc2 and raise it to E=mc2x40.

011105-N-6259P-001 At sea aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Nov. 5, 2001 -- Sailors aboard USS Enterprise spell out "E = MC2x40" on the carrier's flight deck to mark forty years of U.S. Naval nuclear power as ship and crew return home from a deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Douglass M. Pearlman. (RELEASED)

 

[Pugs]

Compared to A-4 Skyhawk, they were huge and even compared to F-4 Phantoms and F-8 Crusaders forward. It was huge hence the "H" in VAH (before it was converted from a bomber to a Recce bird), but also fast in either incarnation.

Other than maybe the F-11F the Vigi was the best looking jet to ever grace a flight deck.

 

[A4sForever]

Some other (modern) USS ENTERPRISE pix that I'll always remember:

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[Alpha_Echo_606]

The Big "E"

Getting ready for its 21 deployment.

100812-N-1287L-022 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 12, 2010) The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) transits the Atlantic Ocean during a scheduled underway for the tailored ship's training availability. Enterprise is the oldest active naval aircraft carrier and is making preparations for its 21st deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stacy D. Laseter/Released)

100812-N-1287L-133 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 12, 2010) An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Checkmates of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 211 launches from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) as the ship transits the Atlantic Ocean during a scheduled underway for its tailored ship's training availability. Enterprise is the oldest active naval aircraft carrier and is making preparations for its 21st deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stacy D. Laseter/Released)

 

[navyao]

(sigh) My former home...What's even more impressive is seeing her out of the water! When I was aboard her we filmed Hunt for Red October and took her around the horn.

 

[Catmando]

Tins

In the '70s as a JO, I briefly took command of the USS Enterprise away from the ship's captain while at sea. It was an accidental, "Mutiny of One."

Long story short: As a practical joke, I set up a little middle-of-the-night fake "launch the alert" joke for a squadron mate. He was standing Alert-15 in the RR, sound asleep and snoring. (I later found out the CO of the ship was also sound asleep.) Unknown to me, my little joke quickly got way out of hand.

While in my stateroom, I felt the Big E healing hard, and turning into the wind, screws' rpm increasing, Air Boss shouting, huffers starting, and F-14 starting up. I knew I was in deep, deep kimchi, even before my phone began ringing. :bigeyes2_ :scared_12

After two days of massive sweat and rug dancing, it all blew over. Fortunately for me, CO Enterprise apparently had gotten a good chuckle out of the whole evolution. Whew!!!

Better lucky than good any day, eh? :shades_12