Enterprise (CVN 65) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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Above: Enterprise enters port at Hobart, Tasma- nia, J 976. Left: Enterprise participates in RIMPAC ' 78 during 9th deployment with naval units of U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Below: Big E ' s beehive island structure becomes scrap during the comprehensive overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, 1979.