We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Boating

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is the USS Enterprise?

Dan Cavallari
By
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 6,131
Share

The USS Enterprise is a United States Navy vessel formerly known as CVA (N)-65. It is the oldest active vessel in the Navy fleet and will remain so for several more years until its replacement is built. The USS Enterprise is the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the only ship in her class--originally other vessels were to be built, but prohibitive costs prevented construction of subsequent vessels. In addition, the USS Enterprise is the only aircraft carrier to house more than two nuclear reactors--it has eight Westinghouse A2W reactors.

Launched in September of 1960, the USS Enterprise saw its first action in conflict during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Along with several other ships, the USS Enterprise served as a blockade ship in the vicinity of Cuba, but the crisis came to a conclusion shortly after the strict quarantine had been ordered by President John F. Kennedy. The ship became the first nuclear-powered vessel to engage in combat when aircraft were launched from her decks against the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.

In 1969, a rocket that had been loaded on an F-4 Phantom on the deck of the USS Enterprise deck was unintentionally launched, which led to a fire that caused severe damage to the ship as well as casualties and injuries to personnel on board. The USS Enterprise proceeded to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii for repairs, and was then sent back to Vietnam for active duty. The ship has seen action as recently as 2007 in the Persian Gulf, and it provided air support during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and 2004.

The USS Enterprise has been an active commissioned ship for almost fifty years and will be the first nuclear-powered ship to be decommissioned by the United States. Efforts to speed up the decommissioning of the ship have picked up in recent years, but if the USS Enterprise is decommissioned earlier than scheduled in 2014, the Navy's fleet would be reduced to ten active vessels until the replacement, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is completed and launched in 2015.

The dimensions of the USS Enterprise are as follows: 1123 feet (342m) in length; 73,858 tons (67,002,850 kg) displacement standard, 92,325 tons (83,755,831 kg) loaded; top speed 33.6 knots (62.2 km/h); and the ship can carry approximately 5800 personnel. The ship entered the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard in April 2008 for an 18-month stay, during which time it was overhauled and prepared for its final deployment before decommission.

Share
WikiMotors is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Dan Cavallari
By Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari, a talented writer, editor, and project manager, crafts high-quality, engaging, and informative content for various outlets and brands. With a degree in English and certifications in project management, he brings his passion for storytelling and project management expertise to his work, launching and growing successful media projects. His ability to understand and communicate complex topics effectively makes him a valuable asset to any content creation team.
Discussion Comments
By anon63664 — On Feb 02, 2010

Enterprise will not be the first nuclear powered ship to be decommissioned. The Virginia class cruisers and other older nuclear ships have been decommissioned in Bremerton over at least the past 15 years.

Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari, a talented writer, editor, and project manager, crafts high-quality, engaging, and informative content for various outlets and brands. With a degree in English and certifications in project management, he brings his passion for storytelling and project management expertise to his work, launching and growing successful media projects. His ability to understand and communicate complex topics effectively makes him a valuable asset to any content creation team.
Share
https://www.wikimotors.org/what-is-the-uss-enterprise.htm
Copy this link
WikiMotors, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WikiMotors, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.