24 SEP--This Day in US Military History

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 08:49:13 -0400

1960 – The USS Enterprise, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, was launched at Newport News, Va.

USS Enterprise (CVN-65), formerly CVA(N)-65, is a retired United States Navy aircraft carrier. She was the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth United States naval vessel to bear the name. Like her predecessor of World War II fame, she is nicknamed “Big E”.
At 1,123 ft (342 m), she was the longest naval vessel in the world, a record which still stands. Her 93,284-long-ton (94,781 t) displacement ranked her as the 11th-heaviest supercarrier, after the 10 carriers of the Nimitz class. Enterprise had a crew of some 4,600 service members.
The only ship of her class, Enterprise was the third oldest commissioned vessel in the United States Navy after the wooden-hulled USS Constitution and USS Pueblo. She was originally scheduled for decommissioning in 2014 or 2015, depending on the life of her reactors and completion of her replacement, USS Gerald R. Ford, but the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 slated the ship’s retirement for 2013, when she would have served for 51 consecutive years, longer than any other U.S. aircraft carrier.

https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/09/24/september-24/

September 24

24 September 1683 - King Louis XIV expelled all Jews from French possessions in America. 1780 – Benedict Arnold flees to British Army lines when the arrest of British Major John André exposes Arnol...

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Sep 24 at 2015 8:53 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 08:53:51 -0400

Thanks!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 24 at 2015 8:59 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 08:59:41 -0400

If it don't glow, I don't go. Served aboard the Nuclear Cruisers California and Arkansas.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 24 at 2015 9:08 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 09:08:14 -0400

great post as always

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2015 9:24 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 09:24:36 -0400

When we deactivated the USS MISSISSIPPI (CGN-40) turns out most of the COs were the engineering department commissioning crew. Pretty cool being around that much of the Nuclear navy history.

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Sep 24 at 2015 10:20 AM

SGT Scott Bell — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 10:20:06 -0400

Thanks

Response by CSM William Payne made Sep 24 at 2015 3:10 PM

CSM William Payne — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 15:10:07 -0400

All of us should be proud of the service of the first nuclear carrier, the Big "E". Sad to see her distinguished service end. Sadder still to see her cut up for scrap and just disappear as nothing more than a footnote in the pages of Naval History.

Response by CWO3 Dennis M. made Jun 14 at 2018 3:44 PM

CWO3 Dennis M. — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 15:44:04 -0400

I served on her for three years 1978-1980, made Chief Petty Officer (CPO) on her in 1979!