Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - Naval Cruise Book

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Construction continued at Newsport News Shipbuild- ing, and crewmembers began living aboard in August 1981, changing the CARL VINSON from an inanimate collection of parts to a living testimonial to its namesake. The ship completed Builder ' s Trials on January 26, 1982, and Acceptance Trials during the week of February 15 when the Navy ' s Board of Inspection and Survey mea- sured the ship systems against the Navy ' s specifications. March 13, 1982, was Commissioning Day for the U.S.S. CARL VINSON and two days later the newest addition to the U.S. Navy moved to its homeport, the U.S. Naval Station, Norfolk, Va.

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' T©IRY= USi eAEIL¥IIMSOK America is strong, but she is in danger of becoming weak, Rep Vinson said when the keel of the ship bear- ing his name was laid on October 11, 1975. This great aircraft carrier will add strength. But it must not stop here . . . Only with determination on the part of our people to remain militarily strong, will we survive. So began the history of America ' s newest aircraft carrier, the third in a class of warships considered to be the world ' s mightiest. When the CARL VINSON was christened by the congressman ' s nurse and long-time friend, Molly Snead, on March 15, 1980, Mr Vinson was present, mak- ing him the first U.S. citizen to see the launching of a Navy ship named in his honor. It is impossible for me to find words to express my gratitude for the high honor paid me here today, he said. No event in my life, no event in my future, can ever equal this day. My cup runneth over. My star has reached its zenith.

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After a brief period of final fitting out, the CARL VIN- SON began at-sea training and provided carrier landing qualification services for fleet aircraft squadrons. January 1983 saw AIRWING FIFTEEN joining the CARL VINSON for the pre-cruise work-up process which involved three phases of type training, honor- ing the skills of the ship-airwing combat team. In March the CARL VINSON and AIRWING FIFTEEN departed Norfolk for the Caribbean and the Operational Readi- ness Exam. 10