|
About the U.S. Enterprise Aircraft Carrier
The United States Navy
Aircraft Carrier CVN-65 Enterprise, also known as the "Big E", is the worlds
largest ship and the first nuclear powered aircraft carrier. Webster defines the
word Enterprise as meaning"Undertaking, Project, A business organization,
Initiative, etc.", and the CVN-65 fits all of these definitions perfectly.
The carrier Enterprise is
the 8th U.S. Naval vessel to carry the name, and the first one was launched in
1755 as a one masted sailing ship that served during the American Revolution and
its displacement was only about 1/1000 of the current namesake. Following the
end of the second conflict, the U.S. Navy had on hand 99 aircraft carriers, with
another 39 under construction, but with the completion of hostilities
construction was halted and many of the others were mothballed. In 1947, only 20
carriers were in active service, including the Midway. With the advent of jet
aircraft and heavier gross weights of the new planes, a large 60,000 ton class
of carrier was discussed to cover these needs. Construction was begun on CVB-58
in 1949, a 65,000 ton class carrier, but was halted after only five days,
because of a change in political thinking, wherein emphasis was placed upon
tactical long range bombers instead.
With lessons learned
during the Korean conflict, 4 new carriers, of the Forrestal class, at 60,000
tons were constructed during the 1955-59 time period, and the improved
Constellation was completed in 1961. During this period, the U.S. Navy had
progressed in the development and testing of a trial nuclear powerplant,
suitable for surface ships, and was first used in the Cruiser Long Beach, making
it the first nuclear powered surface vessel. Funding was received by the Navy
for the construction of a 75,000 ton displacement nuclear powered carrier and
the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock firm began construction on 4 February
1958. The CVN-65 was launched as the Enterprise on 24 September 1960 as the
largest ship afloat. Its waterline is 317 meters long and has a beam of 40.5m,
but even with these awesome dimensions it has the same draught as that of the
Kitty Hawk class carriers. The Enterprise is powered by eight pressurized water
cooled A2W nuclear reactors and 4 geared steam turbines by Westinghouse, which
produces 280,000 horsepower. With this power the Enterprise can travel 140,000
n.m. at 36 knots or 400,000 n.m. at 20 knots. Cost of construction was 450
million dollars.
In January 1979 the
Enterprise completed her 3rd refueling and overhaul, with many modifications
updating the state of the art in electronics, communications and weapons. The
CVN-65 carries 94 aircraft which include F-14A Tomcat, A-7E Corsair II, A-6E
Intruder, S-3A Viking, EA-6B Prowler, E-2C Hawk Eye and SH-3H Sea King
helicopters.
 |
 |
X-10 - Gun Metal |
 |
|
X-12 - Gold Leaf |
 |
|
X-13 - Metallic Blue |
 |
|
X-8 - Lemon Yellow |
 |
|
XF-1 - Flat Black |
|
 |
|
XF-16 - Flat Aluminum |
 |
|
XF-2 - Flat White |
 |
|
XF-24 - Dark Grey |
 |
|
XF-3 - Flat Yellow |
 |
|
XF-50 - Field Blue |
|
 |
|
XF-56 - Metallic Grey |
 |
|
XF-63 - German Grey |
 |
|
XF-66 - Light Grey |
 |
|
XF-7 - Flat Red |
|
 |
