Ace of Spades HQ

March 11, 2012

Big E's Last Deployment
— CDR M

Today, USS Enterprise deploys for her 22nd and last time and to a region that is starting to really heat up. USNI has a nice little piece highlighting some of her accomplishments during her 52 years of service. Last Lap For Enterprise CVAN/CVN-65.

When Enterprise joined the fleet in October of 1961, she was one of 24 carriers, and the only nuclear-powered carrier, in a Navy of 870 ships. Today she is one of 11 nuclear-powered carriers in a Navy of 285 ships.

We'll never get to that number of ships again. I wonder if we'll ever see another carrier named Enterprise. It seems we're stuck with naming them after politicians (some with no real accomplishments) and in some cases lefty activists.

Fair winds and following seas to the crew of USS Enterprise as you head into harms way.

Posted by: CDR M at 07:53 AM | Comments (98)
Post contains 147 words, total size 1 kb.

1 El Primero!

Posted by: DaveA at March 11, 2012 07:55 AM (h7d02)

2 Yeah, my old ship. Ne it known that we evacuated the last Marine from Saigon. He was an embassy guard we pulled off the roof. that was my second cruise on the old big pig.

Posted by: Vic at March 11, 2012 07:56 AM (YdQQY)

3 And I have a copy of that photo above.

Posted by: Vic at March 11, 2012 07:57 AM (YdQQY)

4 Hey, I remember that pic from a National Geographic book I read as a kid! The other ships are USS Long Beach, and USS Bainbridge, right?

Posted by: Waterhouse at March 11, 2012 07:57 AM (Nfbx3)

5 Yep

Posted by: Vic at March 11, 2012 07:59 AM (YdQQY)

6 Fate protects fools, little children and ships named Enterprise

Posted by: Tunkhannock at March 11, 2012 08:02 AM (3AOLv)

7 There better be another ship named Enterprise.

Posted by: James T. Kirk at March 11, 2012 08:03 AM (QaYwz)

8 We will not see another carrier in our lifetime period.

Posted by: Vic at March 11, 2012 08:03 AM (YdQQY)

9 Can't say I've sailed on the Big E but I have toured her pier side.

Posted by: CDR M at March 11, 2012 08:03 AM (QaYwz)

10 My Pop did a couple of deployments with the airwing on Big E, including the unrefueled circumnavigation. I used to get great pleasure in looking over the cruise "yearbooks" when I was a wee moron-in-training.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at March 11, 2012 08:04 AM (FIE/L)

11 We used to like it when we had the Bainbridge or Truxton with us coming back from WESPAC. It meant we could steam balls to the walls and get back early.

Couldn't do that with the conventional DD's. They could keep up with short bursts but not extended.

Posted by: Vic at March 11, 2012 08:07 AM (YdQQY)

12 For a while after her commission the word enterprise went from only meaning a business concern to also denoting something really, really big.

Posted by: ontherocks at March 11, 2012 08:07 AM (ZJCDy)

13 There will be another Enterprise, it's the most celebrated ship name in the Navy (apologies to the Constitution, but it's been almost 200 years since it did anything other than sit pretty in port). Whether it will be a carrier or ome other type of ship remains to be seen.

Posted by: Conservative Crank voted for Perry, dammit at March 11, 2012 08:07 AM (1zwZo)

14 Of course there'll be another Enterprise....I think it's designation is NCC-1701...

Posted by: Hill County Texan at March 11, 2012 08:09 AM (biOr8)

15 I would like to see a return to the original carrier names, like Hornet, Wasp, etc. There should also always be an Enterprise an America.

Posted by: elliot5417 at March 11, 2012 08:09 AM (vY/HY)

16 Agreed Elliot.

Posted by: CDR M at March 11, 2012 08:10 AM (QaYwz)

*ahem*

That's 285 ships and dwindling rapidly, thanks to my defense cuts, even though I insist upon deploying Americans in harm's way on a whim, in defiance of the Congress and the Constitution.

You're welcome.

Posted by: King Barrance, Lord of the SCOAMF, ruler of the waves (in his bathtub) at March 11, 2012 08:11 AM (d0Tfm)

18 Since CV-6 cut a swathe of destruction and valor across the Pacific in WWII, next Enterprise better be an aircraft carrier. Not an LCS like Gabrielle Giffords.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 11, 2012 08:12 AM (SHnHe)

19 The Gerald Ford is slated to replace the Enterprise. They should change the name of that to Enterprise as it hasn't been commissioned yet.

And besides, Ford was a puke.

Posted by: Vic at March 11, 2012 08:12 AM (YdQQY)

20 I'm reading book one of the Axis Of Time trilogy and I cringe every time I read USS Hillary Clinton.

Posted by: CDR M at March 11, 2012 08:12 AM (QaYwz)

21 Is USS Hillary Clinton a YP?

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 11, 2012 08:13 AM (SHnHe)

22 I've been up close to her during an underway replenishment, but thats about it. My dad was on her back during the Cuban missile crisis - I'll give him a call today to let him know.

Posted by: Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight at March 11, 2012 08:14 AM (C3aqu)

23
From 870 to 285?????

Holy crap.

Posted by: irongrampa at March 11, 2012 08:14 AM (SAMxH)

24 I will puke if any section of our military names anything after Barky O'BenDoin'. Unless its a perpetually malfunctioning solar-powered $800 toilet seat.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at March 11, 2012 08:14 AM (snhlu)

25 <<Are you kidding? Wait until the Donks reclaim the presidency again. They will push for a brand new aircraft carrier, USS Obama, and if you oppose it you're racist.>>

And the French will build it.

Posted by: Buzzsaw at March 11, 2012 08:16 AM (tf9Ne)

Is USS Hillary Clinton a YP?

Tuna Boat.

Posted by: garrett at March 11, 2012 08:17 AM (zzEU+)

27 15 I would like to see a return to the original carrier names, like Hornet, Wasp, etc. There should also always be an Enterprise an America.

Aye, elliot! I personally would like to see mine -- (Hancock, CVA-19) added to the list. Due to a Kamikaze attack, it was the first to be refitted with an angle deck.

Posted by: jwb7605 at March 11, 2012 08:18 AM (Qxe/p)

28

If I were human, I believe my response would be "Go to Hell"

Posted by: Capt Spock at March 11, 2012 08:18 AM (Y+DPZ)

29 I think they are naming the new Soccer Field at Guantanimo after Barack.

Posted by: garrett at March 11, 2012 08:18 AM (zzEU+)

30 Once the Ford is commissioned that will likely be the last one. Current schedule for commissioning is 2015.

The Nimitz will be 50 years old in 2025.

Posted by: Vic at March 11, 2012 08:19 AM (YdQQY)

31
I can understand some attrition in # of active ships, but this must make support a real nightmare.

Posted by: irongrampa at March 11, 2012 08:19 AM (SAMxH)

32 My naval-fu is off this morning. Do we (our USN) have a Yorktown? I think the original was lost during WWII but the time change has affected all my synapses

Posted by: Jones in CO at March 11, 2012 08:22 AM (8sCoq)

Wish you gentle seas, Enterprise.

And let us not forget that the key components of our strategic bomber fleet, the B-52 and the KC-135, were put into service before Gen LeMay was pecker slapping Bobby Kennedy.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at March 11, 2012 08:23 AM (whanP)

34 I got to tour the Big E when I was a wee robot, in the '70s when it came to Seattle. Very cool and VERY BIG. What amazed my child-mind the most though was it had a shop inside the ship where the crew could buy little TVs (I think for a closed-circuit system?) The plane elevators amazed me too.

I love the mass/energy equivalence equation they are spelling out in the photo, too. "Yeah, I'm nuclear powered. Whaddya gonna do about it?"

Posted by: bad cat robot at March 11, 2012 08:24 AM (fwc5w)

35 Remember that it takes three hulls to have one deployed forward.

Posted by: Fox2! at March 11, 2012 08:24 AM (RJOgX)

36 Truly a sign of the ending of an era. Enterprise is a name associated with an America at its zenith. Our current so-called leaders won't want to re-use the name and evoke that sentiment.

Posted by: Cato at March 11, 2012 08:24 AM (D5QKQ)

37 I got to tour the Big E when I was a wee robot, in the '70s when it came to Seattle.
-----------------------------

I was on there then.

Posted by: Vic at March 11, 2012 08:25 AM (YdQQY)

38 I wonder what they'll spell out on the deck during the Great Green Fleet deployment in 2015.

Posted by: CDR M at March 11, 2012 08:26 AM (QaYwz)

39 I wonder what they'll spell out on the deck during the Great Green Fleet deployment in 2015.
------------------------

Shit happens

Posted by: Vic at March 11, 2012 08:26 AM (YdQQY)

little red worm..........

you had a good life.

you spent your time in my dirt and grass.

now thanks to the JEF .

you are bait.

Posted by: Racefan at March 11, 2012 08:28 AM (MQy9/)

41 I wonder what they'll spell out on the deck during the Great Green Fleet deployment in 2015.
_______

We're Sorry

Posted by: If We Lose the WH at March 11, 2012 08:28 AM (TrNbx)

That USS Gabrielle Giffords is inspiring. As long as Navy ships are being named after minor politicians for shallow political gain, I'm quietly lobbying to have a firefighting ship named after me. It's only fair -- we're both members of Congress both forced from office due to shootings.

Posted by: Anthony Weiner X-Congresscreature at March 11, 2012 08:29 AM (8hBZi)

43 <<I wonder what they'll spell out on the deck during the Great Green Fleet deployment in 2015.>>

The underpants gnome formula?

Posted by: Buzzsaw at March 11, 2012 08:30 AM (tf9Ne)

44 A yardstick to measure how far the US Navy has declined.

During the invasion of Okinawa, Operation Iceberg, Task Force 58 included 11 fleet carriers and 6 light carriers. And almost 1400 aircraft embarked.

Now we have less than that covering the whole world.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 11, 2012 08:31 AM (SHnHe)

As a native of Alameda, I sure do remember looking down Central Ave. and seeing her in port.

>>Enterprise is a name associated with an America at its zenith.

I move that the Moron Compound to which we all retreat eventually be named Enterprise.

Posted by: Mama AJ at March 11, 2012 08:32 AM (XdlcF)

46 USS Ted Kennedy

http://tinyurl.com/yfmcoys

Posted by: kbdabear at March 11, 2012 08:33 AM (Y+DPZ)

47 verbal judo http://scoamf.us/q8 timecheck http://scoamf.us/q7

Posted by: Yet Another Breitbart Wannabe at March 11, 2012 08:35 AM (0/ULZ)

48 I move that the Moron Compound to which we all retreat eventually be named Enterprise.

Not bad, but I think it should be named "Breitbart".

Posted by: OregonMuse at March 11, 2012 08:35 AM (L4QNV)

49 The distinctive mast profile on my weasel-class Mime Sweeper will be well known from coast to coast.

Posted by: USS Al Gore at March 11, 2012 08:37 AM (tFZYM)

50 I visited the Enterprise when she was moored at Alameda, many years ago. If I recall correctly, she got stuck on a sand bar upon departure. Alameda closed as a base shortly after that. I still go there and visit the Hornet, which I have done many times.

Posted by: navybrat at March 11, 2012 08:37 AM (WRohB)

51 Will there be another ship named Enterprise? Actually 26 more... NCC-1701 A, B, C - Z And Kirk is gonna wreck them all. (Most expensive Captain in Star Fleet.)

Posted by: Milo at March 11, 2012 08:39 AM (1agxt)

52 Navy will be lucky to have 200 ships in 30 years.
In the 2020s, the Reagan build-up will retire out.

The Navy's shipbuilding plan already *assumes* a large increase in shipbuilding funds. Billions more per year that it has gotten for the past 20 years.

And costs per ship keep rising sharply.

The 20s are gonna see a rapid, sudden decline in American power. The rot is already there, but we can pretend to ignore it for now.

Posted by: Clubber Lang at March 11, 2012 08:41 AM (ZPrif)

53 Are you kidding? Wait until the Donks reclaim the presidency again. They will push for a brand new aircraft carrier, USS Obama, and if you oppose it you're racist.
Posted by: chemjeff at March 11, 2012 12:15 PM

USS Barack Obama

http://tinyurl.com/743prsk

Posted by: kbdabear at March 11, 2012 08:41 AM (Y+DPZ)

54 USS Yorktown CV-5 was lost at midway and replaced by USS Yorktown CV-10, an Essex class carrier. She was retired and is in Charleston as a museum ship. There was a Ticonderoga class cruiser named Yorktown but I think she has been retired as well.

Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living.... at March 11, 2012 08:42 AM (VW0I/)

>>Not bad, but I think it should be named "Breitbart".

Ah, good thought. Maybe it'll work as the name of the business arm of the colony of Breitbartia.

Posted by: Mama AJ at March 11, 2012 08:46 AM (XdlcF)

56 There was a Ticonderoga class cruiser named Yorktown but I think she has been retired as well.

Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living.... at March 11, 2012 12:42 PM (VW0I/)

You are right, CG-48 was decom'd in December 2004.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 11, 2012 08:47 AM (SHnHe)

57 Even the smallest nuclear blasts, either air bursts or underwater mines, turn carriers into floating (or not) junk. Our US Navy has done extensive tests on this question. Something to keep in mind when debating whether Iran having nukes is a good idea or not.

The target fleet included four obsolete U.S. battleships, two aircraft carriers, two cruisers, eleven destroyers, eight submarines, numerous auxiliary and amphibious vessels, and three surrendered German and Japanese ships.[1] The ships carried sample amounts of fuel and ammunition plus scientific instruments to measure air pressure, ship movement, and radiation.

Link to the wiki entry on Operation Crossroads:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Crossroads

Posted by: GnuBreed at March 11, 2012 08:49 AM (ccXZP)

58 >>From 870 to 285?????

Holy crap...

Irongrampa,

As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides.... There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. The anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air, and all that sort of thing.

The National Anthem should be 'swapped' for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might salute it. In my opinion, we should consider reinventing our National Anthem as well as 'redesign' our Flag to better offer our enemies hope and love. It's my intention, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East Brethren. If we, as a Nation of waring people, conduct ourselves like the nations of Islam, where peace prevails - - - perhaps a state or period of mutual accord could exist between our governments. I will seek a pact of agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, and a freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts . We as a Nation, have placed upon the nations of Islam, an unfair injustice, which is WHY my wife disrespects the Flag, and she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past.

Of course now, I have found myself the President of the United States and I have put my hatred aside. I will use my power to bring CHANGE to this Nation, and offer the people a new path. My wife and I enjoy being our Country's First black Family. CHANGE is about to overwhelm the United States of America.

I won.

Posted by: Baraka at March 11, 2012 08:49 AM (bcNec)

59 The U.S.S. Slut CV-RU 486.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at March 11, 2012 08:49 AM (Af3Wg)

"It seems we're stuck with naming them after politicians (some with no real accomplishments) and in some cases lefty activists......"

Hmmmm. The USS Sandra Fluke. I like it!

Posted by: Sandra Fluke at March 11, 2012 08:57 AM (mQMnK)

61 GnuBreed to quote Operation Crossroads is moot.

Able was the air drop and the bombardier missed. So the fleet that included USS Saratoga, USS Nevada, USS Mississippi, which until Iowa's No. 2 turret exploded was the US Navy's last turret explosion, and Kreigsmarine cruiser Prinz Eugen pretty much rode at anchor.

Even Baker, which was planted under the fleet, was only a partial success. Prinz Eugen, for example, actually survived and was towed only to capsize off Kawajelin Island.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 11, 2012 08:57 AM (SHnHe)

62 She's still a sexy bitch. Even if she is barely held together with duct tape.

Posted by: veeka oot seeg at March 11, 2012 08:57 AM (sqVOl)

63 Nu-klee-ar wessel.

Posted by: Chekov at March 11, 2012 09:06 AM (MVVJU)

64 I dislike naming anything after a living person. I always thought that that was an honor reserved for deceased people who were deserving of the memorial. Some of our earliest carriers were named after Revolutionary War battles: Lexington, Saratoga, and Yorktown. I think there have been five Navy ships named Lexington, including a Civil War gunboat. My dad served on the fourth one, CV-2. It took two nukes to sink the Lex's sister ship, Saratoga. They had to move her closer for the second shot at Bikini.

Posted by: rickl supports SMOD/Supervolcano 2012 at March 11, 2012 09:16 AM (sdi6R)

65 I was attached to VF-2 in the mid seventies. We made several WestPacs on her. Many good memories of those times. Also lots of stories of things I have no memory of but am told I had a great time.

Posted by: AlexJ at March 11, 2012 09:16 AM (eqyOE)

66 A friend's father retired a few years ago as a career Engineering Duty Officer (one of those members of the officer corps who focus full time on technical matters).

His big deal was having helped oversee the conventionally powered U.S. Navy surface fleet make the jump to gas turbine propulsion in the 1970s.

He said that in peacetime, gas turbine ships had enormous advantages over nuclear power. Easy to shut down. Quick to start up. No political hassles with overseas porting. No hippie demonstrations at home.

And, you can more easily take the indifferently educated products of the U.S. high school system, and train them to maintain a gas turbine, much more easily than you can send the same kids to the notoriously academically demanding Naval Nuclear Propulsion School to be trained on reactors.

But, he said, in wartime with a peer adversary, he fully expected targeting and attrition of the logistics fleet to become a horrible problem for the conventionally powered surface combatants. If someone sinks the oiler you're supposed to rendezvous with for underway replenishment of fuel for those thirsty gas turbines, you're dead in the water. Probably literally dead once the enemy shows up.

He also said that the cost of nuclear ships was overstated given how much long term lifecycle cost of remote infrastructure and operations could be omitted for the neutron burners.

And yet all those key points have been ignored.

Another situation where Americans out of stupidity and sloth and baseless fear have let an important technological edge be dulled.

Posted by: torquewrench at March 11, 2012 09:17 AM (ymG7s)

67 rickl,

The original custom for carriers (after the Langley) was to name them after famous ships or battles, if they are not going to use that system I would rather they name them after states instead of politicians.

Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living.... at March 11, 2012 09:25 AM (VW0I/)

68 41 I wonder what they'll spell out on the deck during the Great Green Fleet deployment in 2015.

Posted by: CDR M at March 11, 2012 12:26 PM (QaYwz)

"DOH!" With the supply officer as the period of the exclamation point?

Posted by: Romeo13 at March 11, 2012 09:45 AM (lZBBB)

69 73 Yeah, states are good. Back then it was battleships that were named after states. But they were the capital ships of the time, and now carriers are. I'd rather see them named after states than presidents. The latter smacks too much of idolatry. Although a lot of modern submarines are already named after states. Maybe we should go back to naming carriers after famous battles.

Posted by: rickl supports SMOD/Supervolcano 2012 at March 11, 2012 09:47 AM (sdi6R)

70 Not all carriers in the early days were named after battles. The name of any class of ships is decided with the first ship of that class and then follows through that class of ships.

The current names for attack carriers are for people the Navy considered important to the Navy. The States are currently being used for names of the Ohio class boomers. As long as one of those are in commission they will not be used for anything else.

Posted by: Vic at March 11, 2012 09:53 AM (YdQQY)

71 and let ye never forget that the Gadsen 'Don't Tread On Me' Flag was the original colors of the Continental Navy. I shudder at the thought of the forthcoming USS SCOAMF

Posted by: infidelphia at March 11, 2012 09:54 AM (YJdgp)

72 It's going to cost us lots of money to scrap her out. Instead, we should offer to give her to India under the condition that they buy F-35's, and the F-15 A's and C's as we phase them out.

Posted by: ol_dirty_/b/tard at March 11, 2012 10:07 AM (8TKOZ)

73 Lexington and Saratoga were originally laid down as battlecruisers, after the Washington Conference they were converted to carriers. The next was Ranger (after J P Jones ship) and then Yorktown which was the first of her class. Then they went with famous ships; Enterprise, Hornet, and Wasp, all named after ships from the Barbary War and the war of 1812. The Essex was named after Porter's ship from 1812 and most of her class followed the earlier convention of famous ships or battles with one or two exceptions (Randolph, Franklin, and maybe another that escapes me right now) and then one of the Midway class ships was named after FDR. With the Forrestal the naming convention went totally off the rails and there has been no rhyme or reason to it since.

Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living.... at March 11, 2012 10:17 AM (VW0I/)

74 The Navy ship naming policies are hopelessly confused.

We have fast attack submarines named after cities, the Los Angeles class, and after states, the Virgina class.

An LPD named John Murtha and an LCS named Gabrielle Giffords.

Would take a lot of effort to clean up this mess.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 11, 2012 10:18 AM (SHnHe)

75 I did 8 years on the Big E - made E-5, E-6, E-7 and E-8 on her. Fantastic ship - still the fastest carrier in the fleet to this day. When I was on the Material Staff at COMNAVIRPAC in 1990 her annual repair budget was higher than all 6 other carriers combined!

EMCM(SW) nuke, retired...

Posted by: Dave Head at March 11, 2012 10:27 AM (Yg3Qa)

76 79 Thread winner.

Posted by: rickl supports SMOD/Supervolcano 2012 at March 11, 2012 10:29 AM (sdi6R)

77 they could name a supply ship the USS Fluck. ----- or not

Posted by: SantaRosaStan, with algae between his knees at March 11, 2012 10:32 AM (UqKQV)

78 No one will read this but I will post it anyway. I was a LT in the Navy and one of the nuclear power officers on board the USS Enterprise the day that picture was taken. It was created by putting sailors in formation to spell the famous equation. It was done to celebrate her 25th anniversary.

Posted by: Pete at March 11, 2012 10:40 AM (j/wD+)

79 Nuclear wessels

Posted by: chekov at March 11, 2012 11:01 AM (JVw4Z)

80 Baraka should have a collier named after him since he wants to use inefficient technology.

Posted by: logprof at March 11, 2012 11:02 AM (ykSKg)

81 OOOPS, My mind is failing me! I was on when they recreated a SIMILAR photo for the 50th anniversary!

Posted by: Pete at March 11, 2012 11:08 AM (j/wD+)

82 Has Arthur Herman weighed in recently on Baraka gutting the Navy? He wrote a great column a few years back when Tony Blair pulled the plug on the Royal Navy.

Posted by: logprof at March 11, 2012 11:08 AM (ykSKg)

83 Now that we have found a nearby M class planet, and the name is free .... might as well start building the orion powered starship. Screw the moon or mars, should have done them decades ago. Call Newt.

Posted by: Jean at March 11, 2012 11:24 AM (UIE9v)

84
USNS Cesar Chavez T-AKE-14

Named in 2011

In 1946, 17 year-old Cesar Chavez enlisted in the Navy, spending what he would later describe as Â“the two worst years of my life.Â”

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 11, 2012 11:51 AM (kdS6q)

85 The dorks (democrats) have sunk more US Navy ships than the IJN.

Posted by: VADM (Red) Cuthbert Lord Collingwood (Mentioned in Dispatches) at March 11, 2012 12:14 PM (6bF4A)

86 She served well. Enterprise steel will probably end up in the next generation of ChiCom warships. Sad.

Posted by: MCPO Airdale at March 11, 2012 12:33 PM (tYaDf)

87 I know the thread is dead but I served on the Enterprise in 69 and 70. she's a good ship and it's hard to believe she is ready to retire

Posted by: Michael in Pa at March 11, 2012 02:23 PM (QLKkt)

88 My Dad sailed aboard her with the airwing during her 66-67 Vietnam cruise. Beautiful ship. Fantastic name.

SecNav needs to quit naming ships after politicians (CVN-78 Ford, CVN-79 Kennedy) and go back to non-political, widely popular naming conventions.

Posted by: xbradtc at March 11, 2012 02:38 PM (tG1oD)

89 A co-worker's son is on that boat. Godspeed!

Posted by: bill-o at March 11, 2012 02:40 PM (bjND7)

90 I'm Army to the core, but you have to admit that is one economy-sized can of whoop ass.

Posted by: Penultimatum at March 11, 2012 04:21 PM (EEUs4)

91 So why aren't we selling it to India?

Posted by: Federale at March 11, 2012 05:05 PM (+8LxE)

92 Refulled her with "slop" in the Muiki channel in 78, USS Kawaishiwi A)146

Posted by: jrcobbstr at March 11, 2012 05:09 PM (Ca+zh)

93 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

Posted by: steevy at March 11, 2012 05:11 PM (7W3wI)

94 My late husband was on the E during the fire...said you never forget the smell of burning flesh.

Posted by: flowerchild at March 11, 2012 06:47 PM (a+h5z)

95 My daughter set sail today, on the big ship, i am proud to say. The oldest and the fastest carrier ! Her husband is doing the nuke hunter submarine thing. How can military people vote demorat ? Wasn't the politically correct body count of Vietnam enough ? Or the senseless rules of engagement to pacify political correctness killing and maiming enough military people since then ? If you refuse to inndentify your enemy, foreign or domestic, don't expect things to get better. The last tiger cruise and didn't even realise it. Even being so old, ship was a ship to respect and impress ya.

Posted by: ron n. at March 11, 2012 07:46 PM (KLIgx)

"It seems we're stuck with naming them after politicians (some with no real accomplishments) and in some cases lefty activists":

Completely agreed. The Nimitz class of carriers should have been called the Political class, since aside from Nimitiz himself they were all named for politicians. But there's good news on that front. The Navy has announced that it will in the future call ships by more "traditional" names, meaning mostly cities, battles, states, famous sailors and whatnot. Maybe the reaction to the USS John Mutha sickened some people.

And more good news - the first of the new class of carriers will be called the Gerald Ford. Politician, yes? But he also earned a bunch of decorations while serving as a Lt. Cmdr. on the USS Monterrey, back in WWII. So, a real sailor man as well as a politician.

Posted by: Surellin at March 12, 2012 06:15 AM (DWuhs)

When once an airdale, did a cruise with VF84 on Independence in 68 and F.D. Roosevelt in 70. But by the grace of GOD, retired a SeaBee.

EROWMER, EOC(SCW/AW) USN Ret.

Posted by: EROWMER at March 12, 2012 04:28 PM (sIm3i)

98 Served aboard her, 87-91.

Seems there's a petition to name CVN-80 the USS Enterprise.

Yes, I know online petitions are worthless crap.

I signed anyway.

http://bit.ly/xqBLbp

Posted by: Harvey at March 12, 2012 09:57 PM (Ha/T5)

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