The U.S.S. Enterprise, the 48-year-old nuclear-powered aircraft carrier which helped to track early American spacecraft and played a role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, has completed what is expected to be its final extended stay in dry dock before it is decommissioned in 2014.
The carrier, which departed Norfolk, Va., for two days of sea trials on April 17, returned to Norfolk's Naval Station on April 19 flying a broom on its mast signifying a "clean sweep," since the ship passed its sea trials with flying colors, according to Northrup Grumman Corp., which conducted the $650 million refit.
The sea trials included testing of systems, components and operations, along with high-speed runs, according to the U.S. Navy. Enterprise's top speed is 33 knots (about 38 miles per hour).
Dry Dock Included Hull Maintenance, Systems Checks and Upgrades
The aircraft carrier, the only one in her class, arrived in dry dock at the Northrup Grumman Newport News, Va., shipyard in April 2008 for an overhaul to include routine hull maintenance that only can be performed out of the water, according to the U.S. Navy.
In addition to the hull maintenance, workers blasted clean and then re-coated the Enterprise's tanks, overhauled propulsion and weapons systems as needed, and added "limited enhancements to various hull, mechanical, and electrical systems," Northrup Grumman said in a statement announcing the ship's redelivery.
The dry dock refit ran significantly over the U.S. Navy's original budget of about $453 million and eight months beyond the original expected completion date of August 2009.
Enterprise: First and Last in its Class of Aircraft Carriers
The U.S.S. Enterprise was built by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company and was commissioned in 1961. When the U.S. Navy first ordered her built, the Enterprise was intended to become the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in a class of six. However, huge construction cost overruns caused Navy officials to rethink that, and the sister ships never were built.
Enterprise is scheduled to complete two more deployments before decommissioning, according to Navy officials, and currently is the second-oldest active ship in the U.S. Navy. The ship, at 1,123 feet long, is the longest ship in the U.S. Naval fleet. Enterprise is powered by eight nuclear reactors, which drive four Westinghouse steam turbines.
The ship usually carries 66 aircraft, which are launched by four steam-powered catapults and retrieved by four arresting wires.
Future Uncertain for U.S.S. Enterprise
After decommissioning, the fate of the ship is unclear. An Internet petition seeks to have the ship turned into a museum to honor "the hard work and sacrifice of the men and women who served on this majestic and mighty ship."
However, the ship's nuclear reactors potentially could pose problems if this conversion took place, and the U.S. Navy has not said if it would support making the Enterprise a naval museum.
Still, one nuclear-powered submarine, the U.S.S. Nautilus, has been turned into a museum since it was decommissioned.
Jane Anderson - Jane M. Anderson spends as much time as possible on the water, working and sailing on boats. She grew up sailing Sunfish and Rhodes 19s on ...
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