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USS Enterprise (CVN-65)
Technical Data (USS Enterprise)
Length: 341.3m
Beam: 40.5m
Draught: 10.8m
Std Displacement: 75700t Fully Loaded: 89600t
Compliment: 5500
Armament: X3 8-Cell Sea-Sparrow MK-29 SAM Launchers. X3 20mm Vulcan Phalanx CIWS.
Speed: 30+kts
Propulsion: X8 A2W Pressurised-Water Cooled Nuclear Reactors. 4 Geared Steam Turbines generate 280000hp.
Aircraft: Up to 95 aircraft. Including A-7, A-6, EA-6B, E-2C, F-4, F-14, F/A-18, S-3, SH-60B LAMPS-3, SH-3H.
# In Service: 1 Originally Planned: 6 Planned: 1
Class: CVN 65- USS Enterprise
The USS Enterprise (CVN 65) was the first nuclear powered Aircraft Carrier (CVN) to enter service in the U.S Navy and the second surface ship to be nuclear powered after the USS Long Beach (CGN 9). The construction of the Enterprise began at Newport News on the 4th of February 1958, and Enterprise was launched in 1960 and was the largest ship in any navy around the world. The U.S Navy originally planned to build 6 of these magnificent ships, but due to the cost of the Enterprise, (US\$450m) the other five in the class were all cancelled. The USS Enterprise is similar in dimensions and layout to the Kitty Hawk class of CV, but because there is no need for exhaust stacks, the Island (conning tower) is quite different. Enterprise was later re-fitted and her large "Island" mounted radar was replaced by the SPS-48 surface radar and the SPS-49 air-search radar in 1979. The success of the Enterprise design lead congress to plan the Nimitz class, which were larger than the Enterprise and carried a newer nuclear reactor, the A4W. This majestic and unique Carrier remains in service today and was very recently seen in the Persian Gulf, where she would have provided air support and been a major factor in the NATO/U.N strike force, had there been a conflict.