Enterprise (CVN 65) - Naval Cruise Book

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HMAS STUART. Leaving the Indian Ocean, via the Sunda Strait, ENTER- PRISE proceeded to Singapore, participating in MERLIN VI against Singa- pore Navy patrol craft and their Air Force Hunters and A-4 ' s. After a three-week stay in Subic, ENTERPRISE headed north towards Okinawa on 1 6 September for the first phase of Readiex 1 -79. Returning to Subic, CTF-77 and Staff disembarked. After two days of storm evasion in the South China Sea, ENTERPRISE commenced the return transit to CONUS on October 12. ENTERPRISE arrived at Pearl Harbor on October 22, where the ship embarked 200 Tigers , participating sons of crewmembers, for the transit to its homeport at Alameda. After a stand-down period, ENTERPRISE proceeded to the SOCAL operating area, where she conducted carrier qualifications through De- cember. On December 4, Air Wing Eleven was embarked and the ship sailed for a 1 0-day operation period. During this at-sea period. Air Wing Eleven conducted refresher air operations, cyclic operations and a suc- cessful Mine Warfare certification. The Air Wing flew off on December 15 and the ship returned to Alameda for the holidays. When the Big E set sail again from Alameda on January 9, 1979 it was for her 30-month temporary berth at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard lin Bremerton, Wash., to undergo a comprehensive overhaul, the first isince the ship was launched. The unique feature about the two-day cruise was that approximately 500 families of ship ' s company were aboard with their crewman sponsors. This was the third time in ENTERPRISE ' S 1 7-year history that dependents of the crew were embarked for an excursion between Alameda and Bremerton. During this COH period, ENTERPRISE undertook the largest habitabil- ity Self-Help Program ever attempted by a Navy ship and established a Habitability Division in the Ship ' s Force Management Overhaul System, comprised of approximately 300 men. During the overhaul period, the ENTERPRISE crew refurbished every enlisted berthing space and head facility — a total of 5,200 berths. A few of the improvements that resulted from this program were: new modular berths, redesigned lounges, additional partitions in sanitary spaces, refurbished lockers and better lighting and ventilation. From mast to keel, ENTERPRISE was completely refurbished. All sys- tems were checked, overhauled and restored to full operational statue. As a result, the ship was like new when it departed Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and returned to the fleet on Feb. 11, 1982. ENTERPRISE de- parted Alameda on Sept. 1 , 1982, to begin her 10th cruise. During this very successful deployment, she exercised on three occasions in the Sea of Japan as well as displayed versatility by twice operating in the North- west Pacific Ocean. She first went into the Northwest Pacific Ocean in a two-carrier battle force and then returned as part of a three-carrier force. ENTERPRISE ' S capability to conduct prompt and sustained operations against threats from the air, surface and subsurface while maintaining presence in any designated area of the world makes her a formidable foe for those who seek to restrict freedom. ENTERPRISE carries on the proud tradition of her predecessors while earning fame in contemporary naval history. For, wherever she goes, ENTERPRISE is looked upon with awe as she remains always vigilant in service to the United States of America. Above Left: Captain Vincent P. dePoix, Enterprise ' s first CO welcomes film- maker Alfred f-litcticock, 1963. Above: A-IH Sky raiders from VA-65 aboard Enterprise for 1 963 Med. cruise. Left: Creek Royal family onboard Enterprise during Operation Sea Orbit, 1964. HISTORY 9

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In March 1 973, ENTERPRISE earned her second Battle Efficiency E tor attack aircraft carriers of the Pacific Fleet. The ship left Subic Bay May 30 to return to her home port of Alameda. On July 30, ENTERPRISE sailed from Alameda to Bremerton, WA, and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, for a six-month shipyard period of altera- tions and refitting in preparation for taking on the Navy ' s newest fighter aircraft, the F-14A Tomcat. Returning to Alameda in early February 1974, ENTERPRISE began refresher training, carrier qualifications and air wing operations in Au- gust. ENTERPRISE won her third Battle Efficiency E for Pacific Fleet aircraft carriers. On Sept. 1 7, ENTERPRISE departed Alameda for her seventh deploy- ment to the Western Pacific and the first operational deployment overseas for the Tomcat. Between October and December, ENTERPRISE conducted routine operations in the South China Sea. After spending Christmas and New Years at Subic Bay, ENTERPRISE got underway on Jan. 7, 1975 to begin her fourth cruise in the Indian Ocean. A four-day visit to Mombasa, Kenya in early February was followed by disaster relief operations at Mauritius, a tiny island nation in the Indian Ocean that had been struck by a devastat- ing cyclone. The 40-day excursion into the Indian Ocean ended with a four-day visit to Singapore in February while en route to Subic Bay. On April 29, ENTERPRISE aircraft flew 95 sorties in support of opera- tion Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon. Altera 15-day transit from Subic Bay, the Big E arrived at Alameda on May 20, 1975. ENTERPRISE left Alameda July 30, 1 976 on her eighth Western Pacific deployment. The ship arrived in the Philippines Sept. 6. Operation Kangaroo II in the Coral and Tasman Seas with ships of the Australian and New Zealand navies followed. ENTERPRISE visited Hobart, Tasmania from Oct. 29 to Nov. 5. On Jan. 15, ENTERPRISE left Subic for the first all-nuclear-powered excursion into the Indian Ocean since 1 964. The ship was joined by the guided missile cruisers LONG BEACH and TRUXTUN, and the sub- marine TAUTOG. The long at-sea period was broken by a visit to Mom- basa, Kenya Feb. 19-23. Following the Indian Ocean cruise, ENTERPRISE made a final stop in Subic before leaving for Alameda March 17. She arrived in Alameda March 28, 1977. On April 4, 1978, Enterprise departed Alameda for her ninth Western Pacific deployment. From April 4 to May 4, ENTERPRISE participated in RIMPAC-78, a four nation naval exercise involving 42 ships, 225 aircraft and about 22,00 men. Maritime forces from the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand participated in the exercise. After a short visit to Pearl Harbor, ENTERPRISE entered Subic Bay, R.P. for the first-of-four visits on 17 May. Following a 16-day operational period the ship was bound for Hong King. During this period, a group of 1 3 Vietnamese refugees were picked up from a sinking sampan about 90 miles west of Luzon, R. P. They were fed, clothed, and then transferred to USS HULL for further transit to Subic. On July 5, ENTERPRISE left Subic Bay en route to the Indian Ocean with a three-ship task group to conduct training operations. The 33-day excursion was broken by a port visit to Perth, Australia. After leaving Perth on Aug. 1 2, ENTERPRISE participated in the two-day Beacon South exercise conducted with units of the Royal Australian Air Force and the Right: First Enterprise Commanding Officer, Captain Vincent P. dePoix, 25 November T 961 — 20 luly 1963. Far Right: Senator Barry Coldwater visits Big f, 1 964. Below: During Big E ' s visit to Perth, Western Australian Pre- mier Brand is greeted by Ltjg. Robert I. Spane, at right, who was to become XO of Enterprise in April of 1981. M 1 . V 1 y 1 m 1 8 I HISTORY

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Above: At Alameda, early 70 ' s, from left, USS Coral Sea (CV-43), USS Hancock (CV-19), USS Oriskany (CV-34), USS Enterprise (CVN-65). Right: Enterprise sailors make E = MC2 on flight deck during Sea Orbit, 1964. 10 HISTORY