U.S. Warships, USS Abraham Lincoln-- Part 3

Picture for the month of May on the Paralyzed Veterans of America 2021 calendar.

Ships from the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group assume formation for a phot exercise in support for dual-carrier sustainment and qualification operations with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).

In addition to demonstrating the Navy's inherent flexibility and scalability, this evolution provides the opportunity to conduct complex, multi-unit training to enhance maritime interoperability and combat readiness; prepare the Navy to protect our homeland; and preserve and promote peace anywhere around the world.

Boy, someone sure came up with some words in that last paragraph.

--Cooter

U.S. Warships, USS Abraham Lincoln-- Part 2

GENRAL CHARACTERISTICS

DRAFT:  38.4 feet

SPEED:   Over 30 knots

RANGE:  Unlimited distance; 20-25 years  (Nuclear Reactors)

CREW:  Ship approx. 3,200   Air Wing: 2,480

ARMAMENT:

To MK-57 Mod 3 Sea Sparrow launchers

Three 20 mm Phalanx CIWS Mk 15

Two Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Systems

AIRCRAFT CARRIED:  90 fixed wing and helicopters

--Cooter

A Look At Some of Hampton Roads' Most Famous Ships-- Part 5: USS Forrestal

**  The Original "Super Carrier"--  Launched at Newport News on December 11, 1954, the USS Forrestall (CVA-59) was 1,039 feet long.  It was the first aircraft carrier designed and built for use by jet aircraft.

**  First Nuclear-Powered Carrier--  Commissioned November 25, 1961, the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), was 1,123 feet long and still ranks as the largest naval vessel ever built.

--DaCooterprise

Deaths: "Underway on Nuclear Power"

EUGENE P. WILKINSON, 94

Died July 16th.  First commander of a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine.

Commissioned in 1940 and first served on the heavy cruiser USS Louisville.  Then graduated the Naval Submarine School in Groton, Ct., in March 1942 and during World War II served on 8 submarine war patrols.

He was the first commander of the submarine USS Nautilus in 1954, the world's first nuclear-powered ship.  He was told that the first time he took the ship out, it would be a monumental occasion and that he should have something special to say.  The Navy had a group of speechwriters work on it who came up with about a page-and-a-half statement. 

Mr. Wilkinson decided that was too long and came up with his own thing to say.  On January 17, 1955, he ordered all lines cast off and signaled the message "Underway under nuclear power."  Short, sweet and to the point.

In 1961, he was the first commanding officer of the guided missile cruiser USS Long Beach, the Navy's first surface nuclear-powered ship.

During his career, he served as executive officer on three submarines: Menhaden, Raton and Cusk and commanded four: Volador, Sen Robin, Wahoo and Nautilus.

Quite a Career.

The USS Enterprise Retires

The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, commissioned in 1961.  Used over the next 51 years with 25 deployments and was involved in every major conflict from the Cuban Missile Crisis to Vietnam up to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Her 8 nuclear reactors allowed the Enterprise to stay at sea for six months at a time without refueling.

It was the eighth warship in the U.S. Navy to bear the name since the first one was in the Continental Navy.  Construction of a ninth is scheduled to begin in 2025.  After the USS Constitution, it was the ship that served the Navy the longest.

Wondering if it will be a museum ship or scrapped.?

Not to Be Confused With That TV/Movie Spaceship.  --Cooter