Friday, December 20, 2013

Fate of the USS America, CV-66

CV66 current location.
CVW-1 over CV66 in her prime

USS America, CV-66 - YouTube



http://youtu.be/E5GAW70uei8?t=1m20s

Wreck of USS America (CV-66)


First she gave of herself to her sister, 

The America was towed into NISMF Philadelphia where she was slowly stripped of her parts and electronics to support her sister USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), in service and forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan until she in turn was decommissioned on 12 May 2009 after almost 49 years of service.
Several efforts were mounted to save the America as a museum ship however all proved unsuccessful as the US Navy decided that she would be far more valuable as a target ship for weapons tests, as much of the Kitty Hawk Class design has been repeated in the Nimitz Class of Supercarriers.

then couldn't be sunk, even with no damage control (no aircraft, ordnance, or fuel).

Towed out of Philadelphia on April 19, 2005, the USS America was the subject of 4 weeks of extensive live-fire exercises, purportedly involving Cruise Missiles, Mines and small boat IED's. USS America survived all these tests and was eventually sunk at this location by controlled scuttling on May 14th, 2005 in 2,180 fathoms (16,860ft) approximately 250 miles east of Cape Hatteras and now lies on an even keel on the seafloor. The exact details of her final exercise and sinking will likely remain classified for some time. 
at

2 comments:

  1. UnknownMay 3, 2014 at 7:50 AM

    When the America went to sea and all the aircraft flew on, it was the pride of the fleet. The amount of fire power was so very impressive. To know that any enemy who faced her would be destroyed. I loved the time I spent at sea aboard the America. No matter what came up I felt safe on board. I'm very said to see her leave the fleet. But in death she still serves a great purpose. Sadly missed, but full of pride to have served on such a wonder ship.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownOctober 1, 2020 at 5:19 AM

    I also have a special place in my heart for the America as I did much sea time in the early 80's. I felt very safe and absolutely proud!

    ReplyDelete