Storied Carrier, 'The Big E,' Makes Final Voyage

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Storied Carrier, 'The Big E,' Makes Final Voyage

By BROCK VERGAKIS Associated Press
NORFOLK, Va. March 10, 2012 (AP)

When the makers of "Top Gun" were filming on board the USS Enterprise, they donated a set of black fuzzy dice to liven up the ship's otherwise drab interior.

A quarter-century later, the dice will still be dangling inside the tower of "the Big E" as the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier sets sail on its final voyage Sunday.

The trinket is a reminder of the ship's storied 50-year history that includes action in several wars, a prominent role in the Cuban missile crisis and serving as a spotter ship for John Glenn's historic orbit of the earth.

"To serve on this ship, certainly in this capacity, you certainly have to be a student of the ship's history," said Rear Adm. Walter Carter, commander of the Enterprise strike group. "Fifty years of service, in our nation's history, we've never had a warship in service that long."

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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/storied-us-aircraft-carrier-makes-final-deployment-15893685#.T1zV4vWV1W8

[saras]

1. DAMN! I read "Stoned carrier, the big 'E'" and it looked interesting

But I just can't get that romantic about a killing machine.

[Geoff R. Casavant]

2. "Fifty years of service, in our nation's history, we've never had a warship in service that long."

Ahem . . . USS Constitution?

[lastlib]

3. "Never had a warship in service that long"? Hasn't this admiral heard of the USS Constitution?

Launched in 1797, the world's oldest commisssioned warship. Still listed on active duty.

[GiveMeFreedom]

4. Yes

We can use it to fight the Taliban when they launch their war-canoes.

[Angleae]

5. Constitution, while active, is not a warship any longer. Hasn't been for over 150 years.

[lastlib]

6. Well, it's not a potted plant, either...

It's still a warship--we just don't send it out to shoot at anybody these days.....

[Angleae]

7. It doesn't have anything useful to shoot at anyone with either.

About 2/3rds of the navy's ships, not including small craft like tugs, are actually warships. Just because one was a warship in the past doesn't mean it is still true. USS Constitution's status as a warship ended before the civil war when she was reclassified as a recieving ship.

[Diclotican]

8. lastlib

lastlib

i STILL Rembember another ship, who is older - and till is listed as a Flagship.. It is called the HMS Victory - in The United Kindom.. She was launched in 1765, and are still on service..

Diclotican