The ship made its eighth and ninth WESTPACs in July 1976 and April 1978, respectively. During Operation Frequent Wind, "Big E" aircraft flew 95 sorties. During the deployment, in February 1975, ENTERPRISE was called on to help in the evacuation of Saigon. When ENTERPRISE made its seventh Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment in September 1974, it became the first carrier to deploy with the new F-14 Tomcat fighter plane. Between combat tours, ENTERPRISE returned to Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in 1970 for an overhaul and second refueling.įollowing the 1973 cease-fire in Vietnam, ENTERPRISE proceeded to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., where "Big E" was altered and refitted to support the Navy's newest fighter aircraft - the F-14A "Tomcat."
In all, ENTERPRISE made six combat deployments to Southeast Asia from 1965 to 1972. The next day it set a record of 165 strike sorties in a single day. Its hot decks launched 125 sorties on the first day, unleashing 167 tons of bombs and rockets on the enemy's supply lines. The Big E transferred to the Pacific's Seventh Fleet in November 1965 and became the first nuclear-powered ship to engage in combat when it launched bomb-laden aircraft in a projection of power against the Viet Cong on Dec. In October, ENTERPRISE returned to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company for its first refueling and overhaul. On July 31, the three ships were designated Task Force One and sent on "Operation Sea Orbit," a historic 30,565-mile voyage around the world, accomplished without a single refueling or replenishment. During the latter deployment, on May 13, the world's first nuclear-powered task force was formed when USS LONG BEACH and USS BAINBRIDGE joined ENTERPRISE. 28, Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles and dismantle the missile bases in Cuba.ĮNTERPRISE made its second and third deployments to the Mediterranean in 19. 24, and the first Soviet ship was stopped the next day. Soon after its return to Norfolk, Va., in October, ENTERPRISE was dispatched to its first international crisis.ĮNTERPRISE and other ships in the Second Fleet set up a "strict quarantine of all offensive military equipment under shipment to Cuba." The blockade was put in place on Oct. In August, ENTERPRISE joined the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. 12, 1962, conducting a three-month shakedown cruise. "The Fighting Gray Lady, as it was called, served in such well-known battles as the raid on Tokyo and the Battle of Midway." Secretary Connally went on to say, "The new ENTERPRISE will reign a long, long time as queen of the seas."ĮNTERPRISE made its maiden voyage under the command of Capt. Connally, Jr., called it a worthy successor to the highly decorated seventh USS ENTERPRISE of World War II. Franke, wife of former Secretary of the Navy, christened the eighth USS ENTERPRISE, bringing to life the longest, tallest and mightiest warship to ever sail the seas.Īt the commissioning of ENTERPRISE, the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Secretary of the Navy John B. Enterprise)Ī bottle of champagne shattered on the bow of the awesome new warship, USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65), breaking the silence of an anxious crowd at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, Va.
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