USS Enterprise sailing off to history's scrap heap

[onedef92]

USS Enterprise sailing off to history's scrap heap

updated 10:10 AM EDT, Thu November 1, 2012 CNN.com

The USS Enterprise crosses the Suez Canal earlier this month, its last deployment in more than 50 years of service.Washington (CNN) -- The USS Enterprise is the nation's oldest active duty warship, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and a history-making symbol of America's naval might for half a century.

But it's now headed for the scrap heap.

Virtually all the weapons and ammunition has been off loaded. By the end of the week, it'll make its final return to its home port of Norfolk, Virginia. On Dec. 1, "The Big E" will be become officially inactive.

But one doesn't just take an aircraft carrier with eight nuclear reactors in its hold and park it somewhere. The Navy will spend three years and tens of millions of dollars removing the ship's radioactive fuel and reactors before cutting it into scrap.

Mike Maus, a spokesperson for Naval Air Force Atlantic, said the process starts just up the James River.

"Following the inactivation period, it will be towed over to Newport News -- to Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding -- where it will be defueled. They'll remove all the fuel from it."

The fuel will be shipped to Idaho for temporary storage, Maus said. "Sometime at a later date, it will be disposed of."

While in Newport News, some of the Enterprise's equipment will be removed then the next phase begins.

The carrier, minus planes, ammunition and a propulsion system, heads to Puget Sound, the long way.

"It will be towed around (Cape) Horn to Puget Sound, Washington," Maus said.

The Enterprise, like America's other nuclear carriers, is too big to fit through the Panama Canal, so it must round the southern-most point of South America to get to Washington State.

"It'll be a very lengthy tow," he said.

Once it reaches the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, the long and difficult task of removing the eight reactors from the Enterprise's hold begins.

"In order to remove the reactors, it takes a lot of cutting and hacking on the ship to do that," Maus said. "They do cut through the flight deck and they may very well be cutting through the hull of the ship itself."

Once the reactors are removed, CVN-65 will be formally decommissioned.

According to a Navy Environmental Impact Statement, the reactors will be put on barges, floated up the Columbia River to the site of the former Hanford nuclear production complex where they will be buried in a huge trench near reactors from smaller decommissioned naval warships.

But unlike the USS Intrepid in New York City or the USS Midway in San Diego, the Enterprise is not destined to become a floating museum.

Removing the reactors essentially destroys the ship.

"Once the reactors are removed, to put the ship back in any shape to where it still resembles a ship the cost would be over the moon," said Maus.

So the ship, all 90,000 tons of it will be cut up and the metal sold for scrap.

But that doesn't mean the name Enterprise will fade from U.S. Navy history. There have been seven other warships to bear that name and there is already a petition to name a yet-to-be-built carrier the ninth USS Enterprise.

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m111/onedef92/121101010802-uss-enterprise-story-top.jpg

[NeedSpeed]

Kinda of a shame it couldn't go the museum route, but I could understand the cost.

[onedef92]

Kinda of a shame it couldn't go the museum route, but I could understand the cost.

The radiological implications, too. :yesnod:

[onedef92]

Anyone here serve aboard her?

[NCC-1701]

NCC-1701

[Jobaka]

Kinda of a shame it couldn't go the museum route, but I could understand the cost.

:iagree: Lots of history there.

The .mil maintains a website dedicated to the ship: USS Enterprise (http://www.enterprise.navy.mil/)

[Omega Man]

NCC-1701

Hey Squid, Da Fuq does that mean to normal people?

[aj]

NAS Alameda. Enterprise, Yorktown, Coral Sea.

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac348/ajs1963/alameda-1.jpg

I was stationed at Alameda when the Big E moved there. Big deal, even had the Playboy Bunnies on the pier. I spent time on the Yorktown and Midway, same class as the Coral Sea. They look like canoes compared to the Enterprise.

She is the last carrier from when I was in. Guess I can now claim to be Old Navy. :USA:

If you are in the bay area and have time USS Hornet is now a museum and tied up where the Yorktown is in the picture. Same pier they loaded the B-25s for the Tokyo raid in 42 on the original Hornet.

[Jobaka]

NCC-1701

Hey Squid, Da Fuq does that mean to normal people?




:funny: It's OM at his most polite. :funny:



Have you ever owned a TV?

http://www.startrek.com/legacy_media/images/200510/ds9-503-1701-saucer-cu/320x240.jpg

[onedef92]

:funny: It's OM at his most polite. :funny:



Have you ever owned a TV?

http://www.startrek.com/legacy_media/images/200510/ds9-503-1701-saucer-cu/320x240.jpg

Drunk Scotty - YouTube

[Jobaka]

Drunk Scotty - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A1TZQk5Wgk)

:rofl:

[VatorMan]

I've done a Westpac with the Enterprise. She had one of the most expensive overhauls EVER at Newport News. Still sorry to see her go.

USS Enterprise (CVN-65) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_(CVN-65))

[8Up]

NAS Alameda. Enterprise, Yorktown, Coral Sea.

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac348/ajs1963/alameda-1.jpg

I was stationed at Alameda when the Big E moved there. Big deal, even had the Playboy Bunnies on the pier. I spent time on the Yorktown and Midway, same class as the Coral Sea. They look like canoes compared to the Enterprise.

She is the last carrier from when I was in. Guess I can now claim to be Old Navy. :USA:

If you are in the bay area and have time USS Hornet is now a museum and tied up where the Yorktown is in the picture. Same pier they loaded the B-25s for the Tokyo raid in 42 on the original Hornet.

Cool pic. I have been to the Yorktown museum in Charleston harbor (last Christmas vacation). I thought that thing was fekin HUGE. looks just plain old 'big' next to the Enterprise!

[island14]

Just me but why scrap that cool beast? :island14:

It is better than most others in the world have, and at the very least makes a great back up to the new replacement.

[Kerrmudgeon]

Seems to me that the disabling has been poorly planned. Towing a ship of that size with reactors aboard half way around the world (in distance) seems just dumb. Bad weather around the cape could scuttle her easily. Why didn't they pilot it to the right side of the continent, then strip it down??
:toetap:

[Norm]

Even if the Big E were to become a museum, where the hell would they park it? In today's economy, no city or state would dare spend funds to keep it, let alone give up prime real estate.

While working the docks in Baltimore, the Coral Sea was being dismantled in a scrape yard across the channel from us, it took I think about 2-3 years to remove the superstructure, then towed the hull to India. I believe one or two workers fell to their death working on it.

[G8rDMD]

Just me but why scrap that cool beast? :island14:

It is better than most others in the world have, and at the very least makes a great back up to the new replacement.

I'm surprised Obama isn't secretly selling it to the Iranians :leaving:

[VatorMan]

Seems to me that the disabling has been poorly planned. Towing a ship of that size with reactors aboard half way around the world (in distance) seems just dumb. Bad weather around the cape could scuttle her easily. Why didn't they pilot it to the right side of the continent, then strip it down??
:toetap:

Shipyards bid on the jobs. Apparently Newport News won.

[ApexOversteer]

I wrote a short story years ago, set in the late 60's, centered on a pilot from Big E being lost at sea and rescued by aliens, who then come under attack by Big E, with the pilot saving them in return.

Wish I could find it. Woulda made a cool movie.

[aj]

Cool pic. I have been to the Yorktown museum in Charleston harbor (last Christmas vacation). I thought that thing was fekin HUGE. looks just plain old 'big' next to the Enterprise!

From the useless information files: The Yorktown was a true WWII combat veteran. As built 872 ft long. In 1955 she was changed to an angle deck. In 1957 she was reclassed as an ASW carrier CVS-10. I have never heard why, but she was not updated to steam cats so she was restricted to the weight of the aircraft she could launch. During the Viet Nam period the normal airwing consisted of the S-2, a prop asw a/c, and A-4s equiped with sidewinders as carrier air patrol protection, along with the helos and COD a/c.

The Coral Sea was a Midway class carrier that was 968 ft. With her added size and steam cats she was able to launch both the A-6 and F-4 a/c. She was supposed to have a deck area of 2.1 acers while the Midway was upgraded in 66 to a flight deck of 4.3 acers.

Many of the Essex class carriers were upgraded to steam cats, (ex. Intrepit, Handcock, Oriskany) and were operated with the F-8, A-4, and early VN, the A-1 Skyraider, and even the A-3D Whale.

I was lucky enough to be able to do CQs on all 4 Essex CVS carriers on the west coast and the Midway. On the Essex class boats we had our A-4s and S-2s from all the VS squadrons on the west coast.

The Midway was an experience I will be forever thankful for. The tempo was constant flying, day and night. The only aircraft the Navy had at that time that I did not see was the A-5 Vigalante. Working the flightdeck with a mix of props and jets really makes you pay attention. The blast deflector on one of the cats fell with an F-4 at full power. One of the sailors was blown over and slid down the deck right under the turning prop of an A-1. I think he was sent to sickbay to surgically remove his skivies from his 6.

While I understand why the Enterprise has to be scraped I would have like to see the island saved. It was the only carrier built with the square island so it would have been cool to take it the Naval Air Museum in P-cola but I understand that has been refused.

I understand the Ranger is on donation hold and may be a museum sometime in the future. She is close the the same dimensions as the Enterpriise and was very active during VN.

[Norm]

Shipyards bid on the jobs. Apparently Newport News won.

Didn't Congress pass a law that no more of our fleet could be dismantled overseas? Has to be done stateside now.

[Dan Dlabay]

That ship has a lot of history. It's kind of a shame that it is going to the scrap yard.:patriot::patriot:

[island14]

That ship has a lot of history. It's kind of a shame that it is going to the scrap yard.:patriot::patriot:


:iagree:


With things warming up in Asia like they are, they should at least park it as a deterrent somewhere in the area.

[island14]

I wrote a short story years ago, set in the late 60's, centered on a pilot from Big E being lost at sea and rescued by aliens, who then come under attack by Big E, with the pilot saving them in return.

Wish I could find it. Woulda made a cool movie.

I would be curious to read it if you can find it... :yesnod:


:cert:

[VITE1]

I hope that we replace her with something better. Our Naval power has had a positive effect on the world.

[78SA]

No weapons? I hope it's being escorted by armed military ships.

[OddBall]

:sad: :patriot:

[Kerrmudgeon]

No weapons? I hope it's being escorted by armed military ships.

:iagree:...the scrap alone is worth millions, never mind the reactors. There's pirates in them waters, har!:D

[Burnt C6]

Anyone here serve aboard her?

My uncle was a chief petty officer aboard her before he retired from the Navy

[BADRACR1]

To boldly go.... and shit. :D

Made me :rofl:

[BADRACR1]

[B]

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m111/onedef92/121101010802-uss-enterprise-story-top.jpg

:USA::USA::USA:

[Torqaholic]

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac348/ajs1963/alameda-1.jpg

.


My dad served on those ships. I only got tours. Love the picture :seasix: I used to fish from that empty pier to the right of the ships.

[aj]

My dad served on those ships. I only got tours. Love the picture :seasix: I used to fish from that empty pier to the right of the ships.

When I was stationed there 65/66 those slips were part of the hobby shop. They would rent you a small sailboat and gave lessons. That was a great duty station. Lots of hippy chick and coffee houses on the way to UC Berkley.

[Montehall]

The USS Enterprise is the nation's oldest active duty warship,

Huh?
I guess if you forget the Constitution or any of Coast Guard cutters commissioned in WWII.

[BERETTA]

My daughter is stationed in Naples, Italy. The USS Enterprise was just there last week, she sent me this awesome picture :)

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh104/beretta_07/image-1.jpg

[zz4vetteguy]

Shipyards bid on the jobs. Apparently Newport News won.

Well that and NN is literally almost a stone's throw from NOB Norfolk.


I will get to see her when she passes over teh first tunnel of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, just a few miles off shore from the property I work at...I will be there watching to pay some respects, and hopefully grab a few pics depending on when she passes by. We are already booked for this weekend with people coming in town for the home coming, and I am looking forward to talking to the "old salts" that will be coming in town and staying with us for her official decomissioning.

[73sbVert]

USS Enterprise sailing off to history's scrap heap

updated 10:10 AM EDT, Thu November 1, 2012 CNN.com

The USS Enterprise crosses the Suez Canal earlier this month, its last deployment in more than 50 years of service.Washington (CNN) -- The USS Enterprise is the nation's oldest active duty warship, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and a history-making symbol of America's naval might for half a century.

But it's now headed for the scrap heap.

Virtually all the weapons and ammunition has been off loaded. By the end of the week, it'll make its final return to its home port of Norfolk, Virginia. On Dec. 1, "The Big E" will be become officially inactive.

But one doesn't just take an aircraft carrier with eight nuclear reactors in its hold and park it somewhere. The Navy will spend three years and tens of millions of dollars removing the ship's radioactive fuel and reactors before cutting it into scrap.

Mike Maus, a spokesperson for Naval Air Force Atlantic, said the process starts just up the James River.

"Following the inactivation period, it will be towed over to Newport News -- to Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding -- where it will be defueled. They'll remove all the fuel from it."

The fuel will be shipped to Idaho for temporary storage, Maus said. "Sometime at a later date, it will be disposed of."

While in Newport News, some of the Enterprise's equipment will be removed then the next phase begins.

The carrier, minus planes, ammunition and a propulsion system, heads to Puget Sound, the long way.

"It will be towed around (Cape) Horn to Puget Sound, Washington," Maus said.

The Enterprise, like America's other nuclear carriers, is too big to fit through the Panama Canal, so it must round the southern-most point of South America to get to Washington State.

"It'll be a very lengthy tow," he said.

Once it reaches the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, the long and difficult task of removing the eight reactors from the Enterprise's hold begins.

"In order to remove the reactors, it takes a lot of cutting and hacking on the ship to do that," Maus said. "They do cut through the flight deck and they may very well be cutting through the hull of the ship itself."

Once the reactors are removed, CVN-65 will be formally decommissioned.

According to a Navy Environmental Impact Statement, the reactors will be put on barges, floated up the Columbia River to the site of the former Hanford nuclear production complex where they will be buried in a huge trench near reactors from smaller decommissioned naval warships.

But unlike the USS Intrepid in New York City or the USS Midway in San Diego, the Enterprise is not destined to become a floating museum.

Removing the reactors essentially destroys the ship.

"Once the reactors are removed, to put the ship back in any shape to where it still resembles a ship the cost would be over the moon," said Maus.

So the ship, all 90,000 tons of it will be cut up and the metal sold for scrap.

But that doesn't mean the name Enterprise will fade from U.S. Navy history. There have been seven other warships to bear that name and there is already a petition to name a yet-to-be-built carrier the ninth USS Enterprise.

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m111/onedef92/121101010802-uss-enterprise-story-top.jpg

Kind of disingenuous reporting. There are only 2 operating reactors on E. The other 6 have been filled with concrete for years now. The reason for the number of reactors? The Navy was doing a study on what class of reactors they would go with, so the E was a huge bid war on water. 1 pair was Westinghouse, 1 pair Monsanto, etc. (sorry, can't remember all the specifics now).
Whatever pair actually "won" is the pair that is currently operating, IIRC.

NAS Alameda. Enterprise, Yorktown, Coral Sea.

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac348/ajs1963/alameda-1.jpg

I was stationed at Alameda when the Big E moved there. Big deal, even had the Playboy Bunnies on the pier. I spent time on the Yorktown and Midway, same class as the Coral Sea. They look like canoes compared to the Enterprise.

...
I was on the Texas, and we were always moored where the E is shown above, next to the USS Samuel Gompers, and the sister ship Arkansas was where the Yorktown is shown. Arguably the WORST year in my life, and Navy life. :( Absolutely hated that place, that ship, that whole experience.

And I remember standing on the flight deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (in San Diego), and looking DOWN onto the flight deck of the USS John F. Kennedy. The new supercarriers (Nimitz class and up) are gigantic, even compared to the E.

Also, the superstructure is virtually identical to the bridge of the USS Long Beach (also decommissioned). If I recall the story correctly, there was supposed to be a sister ship to the E, but the Navy needed a cruiser faster, so the bridge that had already been constructed was diverted to the new construction cruiser, thus the funky looking bridge on LB.

:iagree:...the scrap alone is worth millions, never mind the reactors. There's pirates in them waters, har!:D

Actually, IIRC still, the scrap metal is near worthless since the temper and type of steel used can only be used for ship construction. Can't even be used for razor blades because that requires a totally different kind of alloy.
And the reactors are near worthless too, the technology is 50 yrs old. Much better, more efficient and much cheaper alternatives exist today.

:shrug:

[carlton_fritz]

Huh?
I guess if you forget the Constitution or any of Coast Guard cutters commissioned in WWII.
Yeah, Julian forgot. He should have done better at writing the story for CNN.:slap:

[Montehall]

I know cnn wrote it.

[RED-85-Z51]

The Lexington was docked here at NAS Pensacola for a long time, for training, back in, I guess the 70's, when my dad was still in the Navy.

Ive always been fascinated by Navy Vessels, my Uncle was on the Oriskany (CVA-34) during Vietnam.

[73sbVert]

The Lexington was docked here at NAS Pensacola for a long time, for training, back in, I guess the 70's, when my dad was still in the Navy.

Ive always been fascinated by Navy Vessels, my Uncle was on the Oriskany (CVA-34) during Vietnam.

I used to go fishing on the pier where she was moored. Now she's in Corpus, perma moored.

Is Marchelo's still there on the mainland side of the bridge? :D
I hope so, that was THE best Italian food evar!!!!

[allthrottleandsomebottle]

When we decomer her, I will post up what pics I can :D

I helped refuel her in the early 90's and a few jobs since .....oh the fun :dance:

I will also be at her decom on December 1st at NOB with my POP
He's :leaving::leaving: put some shitttttttttttttt on the Big "E"s planes to bomb some mofo's long ago:patriot:

Tried to ride her back from Fl, but the timing no workey ...

[RED-85-Z51]

I used to go fishing on the pier where she was moored. Now she's in Corpus, perma moored.

Is Marchelo's still there on the mainland side of the bridge? :D
I hope so, that was THE best Italian food evar!!!!

I dont think its still there. My mother was Margie Marchelos hairdresser back in the day, all the marchelos im pretty sure have passed away except for the adopted daughter.

[73sbVert]

I dont think its still there. My mother was Margie Marchelos hairdresser back in the day, all the marchelos im pretty sure have passed away except for the adopted daughter.

Damn, that's too bad. The guy that ran the joint (stereotypical Italian guy with the big black moustache and spoke with his hands a lot!) was such an awesome guy! Really wanted to make sure you enjoyed your meal.
Their sauces were amazing.

What about the Oyster Bar on Navy Blvd? Or Skopelo's downtown? My other favorite places to eat there. :D

Oh, and your mom is a hairdresser? Where did she get her training? In P-cola?

[RED-85-Z51]

Skopolos on the Bay went through a series of shut downs and reopenings and last I was down there, they were boarded up for good, was a couple years ago.

Oyster bar went tits up a while back, thats a shit side of town now...

At the time (late 60's) Cosmetology..or Beauty Culture as they called it at the time, was the fad career for girls who graduated HS to get into, much like phlebotomy today, and nail techician. Back then, im pretty sure they had an actual school for it, Pensacola School of beauty..and shit.

[RED-85-Z51]

Maguires is still there though, I think Steak and Ale is as well. Triggers is still good last I was there.

Skopolos slipped though. Last we were there was 04ish and it was just tits, great food, great service, excellent place to drop a hundy on a dinner. But I think it changed hands, quality went to hell, servers went to hell, health department shut em down a few times.

Coach and Four is probably not for from going under, used to be one of the best old style steak houses in the county, friday weekends, you HAD to have a reservation, and even then, count on a 45 minute wait to get in the door. Now, you drive by on saturday evening and the parking lot is nearly empty....

[73sbVert]

Skopolos on the Bay went through a series of shut downs and reopenings and last I was down there, they were boarded up for good, was a couple years ago.

Crap. They had awesome seafood, high end.

Oyster bar went tits up a while back, thats a shit side of town now...

Crap again! Their gumbo was some of the best I've ever had (aside from my Aunt Betty that is! WOW!) And their hush puppies were awesome!

At the time (late 60's) Cosmetology..or Beauty Culture as they called it at the time, was the fad career for girls who graduated HS to get into, much like phlebotomy today, and nail techician. Back then, im pretty sure they had an actual school for it, Pensacola School of beauty..and shit.

Reason I asked about the training, my mother and dad used to own Walker Beauty Academy. Ms. Walker started it, then recruited my mother (who used to teach at PSB) to teach there. When Ms. Walker wanted to retire, she sold all to my mother and dad. I think this was around 1973 or so.
I'd wager that almost all the hairdressers in that town have done business with my mother at one time or another. And my sister used to be an aesthetician at Mark Lees, although I don't know if she still is or not. :shrug:

Between my mother and sister, we've had a falling out for many years now. Haven't spoken in years.

[73sbVert]

Maguires is still there though, I think Steak and Ale is as well. Triggers is still good last I was there.

Awesome! I LOVED McGuire's! They used to be in the Town and Country shopping center in the 70's. I had a fake ID and used to go in there with my friends, had a blast! (I presume Nathan's cousin is still hanging around?!) Not sure Triggers was there last time I was. :lol:

Skopolos slipped though. Last we were there was 04ish and it was just tits, great food, great service, excellent place to drop a hundy on a dinner. But I think it changed hands, quality went to hell, servers went to hell, health department shut em down a few times.

That's too bad. They had set the standard for fine dining in that town for many years. :(

Coach and Four is probably not for from going under, used to be one of the best old style steak houses in the county, friday weekends, you HAD to have a reservation, and even then, count on a 45 minute wait to get in the door. Now, you drive by on saturday evening and the parking lot is nearly empty....

Agree about the C&F! Outstanding steaks, and reservations were a must! Out by the fairgrounds IIRC?

The people there in P'cola are finicky, you never know what will survive and not.

[RED-85-Z51]

what was your mothers last name, ill ask my mother if it rings a bell, i know she used to talk about a "mrs holton" as one of them...

[RED-85-Z51]

I think you are thinking about Morrisons, maguires, Im sure, has always been downtown.

But yeah, C&F is a short walk up Pine Forrest rd from 5 flags speedway.

[73sbVert]

what was your mothers last name, ill ask my mother if it rings a bell, i know she used to talk about a "mrs holton" as one of them...

PM inbound

[73sbVert]

I think you are thinking about Morrisons, maguires, Im sure, has always been downtown.

But yeah, C&F is a short walk up Pine Forrest rd from 5 flags speedway.
No, Maguires moved to downtown early/mid 80's. Originally were in T&C. :yesnod:

Oh yeah! The speedway! Went on many a "date" there too! :rofl:

:cheers:

[Omega Man]

My daughter is stationed in Naples, Italy. The USS Enterprise was just there last week, she sent me this awesome picture :)

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh104/beretta_07/image-1.jpg

Pics of Daughter (preferably in pirate uniform) ?:waiting: