America (CV 66) - Naval Cruise Book

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AMERICA’S Mission Traditionally, it has been the Navy's mission to control the seas. Without this control. U.S. forces abroad would soon wither for lack of support, and industry at home would decline, even halt, for lack of raw materials that must be delivered via the sea routes of the world. The coming of the nuclear age has not changed this concept. In fact, it has been broadened to include maintaining control of the air over the seas. This is the mission of aircraft carriers like AMERICA, ships that embody two key advantages of our Navy: mobility and versatility. AMERICA is, in effect, a completely equipped air base. However, instead of being a stationary point on the map. a point that can be singled out by ballistic missiles. AMERICA can range the oceans of the world, changing her position hundreds of miles in a single day. AMERICA and her sister carriers of the fleet allow the U.S. to quickly assemble great concentrations of firepower and to deploy it rapidly and skillfully, exerting continuous pressure on the enemy. Unlike bases overseas, these carriers are not dependent on the political temperament of any foreign government. Versatile as well as mobile. AMERICA can be used alternately or simultaneously against submarines and their bases, surface ships and their yards, aircraft and their fields, and for the support of amphibious land and air operations. In brush fire conflicts. AMERICA can move quickly to apply the exact amount of offensive firepower required by the situation. In the event of total war. AMERICA represents a mobile, hard to find base from which retaliatory strikes can be launched against enemy targets. Most importantly, the recognized offensive and defensive capabilities of AMERICA give support to our foreign policy and strength to the Free World, a powerful deterrent to conflict and a force for peace around the world.

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AMERICA’S Seal The design of the coat-of-arms of the aircraft carrier USS AMERICA (CV-66) has its origin in heraldry. The theme is based on the Revolutionary War and the honors intended for the Captain of the first USS AMERICA, the father of the U.S. Navy, John Paul Jones. The upper portion of the coat-of-arms consists of a crest with an American flag of the Revolutionary War, flying above the most glorious event of Jones’ naval career, the battle of BON HOMME RICHARD, which he commanded, with HMS SERAPIS. He defeated SERAPIS in a desperate fight and. as his own ship was mortally wounded, Jones raised the Amerian flag over SERAPIS and sailed her into the Dutch harbor of Texal. Below this is a shield supported by two stags, adapted from the stags which appear on the coat-of-arms of John Paul Jones. These sea stags wear medallions around their necks representing the many honors accorded to Jones by France and the United States. The shield supported by the two stags bear two pheons. or arrowheads, symbolic of the force or power in heraldic design. The lower third of the shield features a coiled rattlesnake, which was a popular symbol of many Revolutionary War flags. The shield of white alludes to the ships sent to America’s aid under the Bourbon flag of France. At the base of the coat-of-arms is AMERICA’S motto: “Don't Tread On Me”. These words were common on battle standards during the Revolutionary War as the colonies fought for their freedom and are today characteristic of the spirit and traditions of this great nation. 18

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-----HISTORY------ USS AMERICA (CV-66) The keel of the aircraft carrier AMERICA was laid on January 9,1961. as Hull 561 in Shipway »10 at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. Newport News, Virginia. Following three years of construction, the ship was launched on February 1. 1964. and was commissioned in ceremonies at the Norfolk Naval Station on January 23. 1965. AMERICA made her first deployment in 1966 to the Mediterranean Sea. AMERICA made three deployments to Southeast Asia, the first in 1968. She was one of four aircraft carriers on “Yankee Station” when the Vietnam Peace Agreement went into effect in January 1973. In January 1974, AMERICA began her fourth deployment to the Mediterranean. She returned to Norfolk on August 3, 1974, prior to participating in the NATO exercise Northern Merger in September of that year. The carrier embarked on her fifth Mediterranean deployment on April 15,1976. AMERICA returned from this deployment on October 25, 1976. After a three-month maintenance period. AMERICA deployed as part of a seven-ship task force to South America. During this period AMERICA conducted exercises with units of the Brazilian Navy. Shortly thereafter, AMERICA started on its sixth Mediterranean deployment. On March 13, 1979. AMERICA embarked on her tenth major deployment. Returning to Norfolk on September 22. 1979, AMERICA conducted initial carrier qualifications for the F A-18 prior to a one-year overhaul and maintenance period at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. During the upkeep period. AMERICA was fitted with the NATO Sea Sparrow missile system and the Phalanx close-in weapons system. AMERICA made her first deployment to the Indian Ocean in 1981. During this period, AMERICA became the first carrier since 1967 to transit the Suez Canal. In 1982, AMERICA participated in “Northern Wedding ’82” as well as operating for a short period in the Mediterranean in support of U.S. forces in I eba-non. The carrier returned to Norfolk in November 1982 to prepare for deployment to the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean. She departed Norfolk on December 8, 1982, for a 176-day deployment to the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean. On April 24. 1984, AMERICA left her homeport once again, participating in exercise Ocean Venture” before transiting the Atlantic Ocean on the way to the Mediterranean. On November 14, 1984, AMERICA arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, and celebrated her 20th anniversary of commissioned service in January 1985. The carrier then entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a four-month maintenance period. On May 13. 1985. AMERICA left the shipyard for sea trials, refresher training, and carrier qualifications. On August 24,1985, AMERICA left her homeport to participate in the NATO exercise Ocean Safari ’85 . During the exercise. AMERICA operated in the North Atlantic, Norwegian Sea. and in Vestjford. Norway, in the process becoming the first U.S. aircraft carrier to operate inside a Norwegian fjord. After a port visit to Portsmouth. England. AMERICA returned to Norfolk on October 9. 1985. On March 10, 1986, after preparing for deployment in only two weeks instead of the usual month. AMERICA departed on her fifteenth deployment. After arrival in the Mediterranean. AMERICA participated in tri-carrier operations with the USS CORAL SEA and USS SARATOGA near the so-called Line of Death in the Gulf of Sidra. On March 24. Libyan missile batteries fired on aircraft from VF-102, one of AMERICA’S embarked F-14 fighter squadrons. In defense, aircraft from VA-34, AMERICA’S A-6 attack squadron, sank a Libyan La Combattanteclass patrol boat. After several other scattered clashes. Libyan offensives declined, and AMERICA departed “Mad Dog Station , as the Libyan operating area came to be known. On April 15, 1986, after Libyan-sponsored terrorism claimed the lives of several Americans overseas, AMERICA joined with the USS CORAL SEA battle group and the U.S. Air Force for a retaliatory strike against Libya. After successful strikes against targets in Benghazi and Tripoli, all of AMERICA’S aircraft returned safely, having met some of the stiffest surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft barrages since the Vietnam War. AMERICA returned to Norfolk from this deployment on September 10. 1986. After a short carrier qualification period in October 1986. AMERICA returned to Norfolk and entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard on November 20, 1986, for an extended Complex Overhaul. AMERICA left the shipyard on February 15, 1988, for sea trials and work-ups in preparation for the next round of intensive operations. In April, after completing a shakedown cruise, AMERICA participated in FLEET WEEK ’88. Sailors and ships were sent to New York City to promote the image of the Navy in preparation for the USS IOWA battle group’s move to Staten Island in 1989. In February 1989. AMERICA departed for exercises in the Caribbean and the North Atlantic. AMERICA again operated in the Vestfjord before making a port visit to Le Havre. France, and returning to Norfolk on April 3. 1989. Upon her return. AMERICA immediately began preparing for a 183-day deployment to the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean. AMERICA completed the large-scale NATO exercise Display Determination’’ involving the armed forces of Belgium. West Germany, Italy, Portugal. Turkey, Great Britain, France, and Spain. AMERICA returned to Norfolk from this deployment on November 10. 1989. and celebrated her 25th anniversary of commissioned service in January 1990. 20