Enterprise (CVN 65) - Naval Cruise Book

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le name ENTERPRISE is inherited from seven former ships of the U.S. Navy, including the famous Big E of World War II — the indestructible attack carrier that earned 20 battle stars againt the Japanese in the Pacific. The latest Big E was commissioned on Nov. 25, 1961. The new carrier went to sea )an. 12, 1 962 for her shakedown cruise, finishing April 1 5 with the highest score ever attained by a new aircraft carrier. Carrier Air Wing Six came aboard June 22, 1962, to form, along with ENTER- PRISE, the most powerful seaborne unit in existence at that time. In August, ENTERPRISE joined the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean for her first deployment. Following her return to Norfolk on Oct. 11,1 962, she was assigned for a month to the U.S. Navy blockade involved in the Cuban crisis. After returning in September 1 963 from a second Sixth Fleet deployment, the Big E alternated periods in port with deployments at sea with the Second Fleet until Feb. 8, 1964, when she once again returned to the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. On May 1 3, the world ' s first nuclear-powered task force was formed, bringing ENTERPRISE together with the guided missile cruiser USS LONG BEACH and the guided missile frigate USS BAINBRIDCE. On |uly 31 , the three ships were designated Task Force One and sent on Operation Sea Orbit, a 49,190 kilometer (30,565 mile) voyage around the world. ENTERPRISE and her nuclear-powered sisters performed a new feat in naval history by steaming 52,465 engine kilometers (32,600 miles) with- out a single replenishment or refueling. In October 1964, ENTERPRISE returned to Newport News Shipbuild- ing and Drydock Company for her first refueling and overhaul. She was ready for sea again the following Spring. The nuclear-powered surface force soon transferred to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. With Carrier Air Wing Nine reporting aboard in September, the Big E joined the Seventh Fleet on Nov. 21, 1965, and became the first nuclear-powered warship to engage in combat. During the next six months, Big E plans carried out bombing raids against the enemy mi litary transport and supply areas, bridges and coastal shipping in Vietnam. ENTERPRISE concluded ber first combat cruise, arriving at her home port of Alameda, Calif., on June 21, 1966. ENTERPRISE again left the United States on Nov. 19 to rejoin the Seventh Fleet. Following a brief call at Pearl Harbor, she sailed for her second combat cruise in the Gulf of Tonkin. Air Wing Nine planes were again in the air over North Vietnam by Dec. 1 8, beginning six months of combat. On March 27, 1967, ENTERPRISE was awarded the battle Efficiency E, her first award as part of the Pacific Fleet. The Cruise ended in June with 13,400 battle missions flown, and ENTERPRISE returned to Alameda July 6. On Oct. 9, the Secretary of the Navy announced that the Big E had won the Navy Unit Commendation during her 1966-67 deployment. After Christmas at Alameda, ENTERPRISE sailed again on Jan. 3, 1968, for her third Western Pacific Cruise. Opposite Page: USS Enterprise, the world ' s first nuclear powered aircraft carrier, keel laying at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, 1958. (Inset) Completely refurbished Enterprise underway for 1982-83 WESTPAC Cruise This Page (Left): Hull No. 546 takes shape, 1 958. (Right): Construct on progresses during 1959. HISTORY I 5

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CVN-65 HISTORY A - r IM ! ' i-T - ! ' U.i . A. 1 L u. i: «ii? V (HMilD .ca -

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On Jan. 23, ENTERPRISE was suddenly ordered into the Sea of Japan, following the seizure of USS PUEBLO by North Korea. She remained in the area nearly a month as the flagship of the specially-created Task Force 71. Relieved in the Sea of Japan on Feb. 16, she proceeded to Yankee Station, commencing combat operations on Feb. 22. On June 26, the Big E and her veteran air wing finished their third combat deployment. ENTERPRISE arrived in Alameda on July 18, made a brief call in her homeport, and departed July 27 for minor overhaul at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington. She left Bremerton on Sept. 28. After Christmas in port, she departed California on Jan., 6. 1969, Arriving in Pearl Harbor on Jan. 1 1, when she began preparing for her operational readiness inspection off the FHawaiian Islands. On Jan. 14, the ship was struck by an unfortunate and untimely disaster. Fire and explosions resulted after a missile on an aircraft on the flight deck was accidently set off, costing the lives of 28 crewmen, the loss of 15 aircraft, and extensive damage to her flight deck. The ship returned to Pearl Harber Naval Shipyard. Crewmen and Pearl Harber employees began immediate repairs on the Big E . The efforts and cooperation of these men were such that the world ' s mightiest carrier was again ready for sea on March 5. After five days of sea trials, the Big E departed Hawaii on March 1 1 , en route to Yankee Station for her fourth Vietnam tour. She reached the Gulf of Tonkin March 31, beginning immediate air strikes against the enemy. When the North Koreans shot down a Navy EC-121 reconnaissance aircraft on April 1 6, ENTERPRISE was once again ordered into the Sea of Japan, where she was joined by three other carriers and numerous sup- port ships. As flagship for the newly reinstated Task Force 71, ENTER- PRISE became an integral part of the largest task force assemblied in more than 25 years. ENTERPRISE returned to Alameda in July 1 969 and soon sailed for her new home port in Norfolk, Va., arriving in August 1969. From Norfolk, the giant carrier returned to the Newport News Ship- building and Drydock Company where she underwent her second refuel- ing and overhaul. Having been refitted and refueled, ENTERPRISE com- pleted her sea trials in January 1 971 and then began the trip around South America for her home port at Alameda, Calif. In July, ENTERPRISE arrived at the Subic Bay Naval Base in the Repub- lic of the Philippines, and later that month, began her first line period of the cruise in the Gulf of Tonkin. After a six-day port visit to Singapore in September, ENTERPRISE and the nuclear-powered guided missile frigate USS BAINBRIDGE com- menced a transit into the Indian Ocean. During this transit. Task Group 77.5 demonstrated the quick response of nuclear vessels, conducted extensive training operations, and collected hydrographic and meteoro- logical data. After ENTERPRISE ' S run into the Indian Ocean and the Java Sea, she returned to Subic Bay on Oct. 2. After a 10-day stay, she returned to Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin. On Dec. 1 0, while on the line, ENTERPRISE received orders to proceed to the Malacca Straits south of Singapore and await further orders. This movement was a result of the Indo-Pakistani War, which had begun a few days earlier. While awaiting further orders, ENTERPRISE was joined by several destroyers and a helicopter carrier. This task force became Contingency Force, Seventh Fleet, with ENTERPRISE as its flagship. Shortly after its formation, the task force was ordered to proceed into the Indian Ocean. On Jan, 7, 1972, ENTERPRISE received orders to cease operations in the Indian Ocean and proceed to Subic Bay. ENTERPRISE ended her fifth West-Pac deployment and headed home, arriving in Alameda Feb. 12. On Sept. 12,1 972, ENTERPRISE departed Alameda for her sixth com- bat deployment to Southeast Asia. The arrival of 1 973 brought good news to ENTERPRISE and the world, the announcement of a cease-fire in Vietnam. ENTERPRISE — A 200 Year Heritage FIRST ENTERPRISE SECOND ENTERPRISE FOURTH ENTERPRISE THIRD ENTERPRISE FIFTH ENTERPRISE 6 HISTORY