1:350 U.S.S. Enterprise Aircraft Carrier CVN-65
Item #78007

DESCRIPTION
About the U.S.S. Enterprise Aircraft Carrier

The United States Navy Aircraft Carrier CVN-65 Enterprise, also
known as the "Big E", is the worlds largest ship and the first
nuclear powered aircraft carrier. Webster defines the word
Enterprise as meaning"Undertaking, Project, A business
organization, Initiative, etc.", and the CVN-65 fits all of these
definitions perfectly.

The carrier Enterprise is the 8th U.S. Naval vessel to carry the
name, and the first one was launched in 1755 as a one masted
sailing ship that served during the American Revolution and its
displacement was only about 1/1000 of the current namesake.
Following the end of the second conflict, the U.S. Navy had on
hand 99 aircraft carriers, with another 39 under construction,
but with the completion of hostilities construction was halted
and many of the others were mothballed. In 1947, only 20 carriers
were in active service, including the Midway. With the advent of
jet aircraft and heavier gross weights of the new planes, a
large 60,000 ton class of carrier was discussed to cover these
needs. Construction was begun on CVB-58 in 1949, a 65,000 ton
class carrier, but was halted after only five days, because of a
change in political thinking, wherein emphasis was placed upon
tactical long range bombers instead.

With lessons learned during the Korean conflict, 4 new carriers,
of the Forrestal class, at 60,000 tons were constructed during
the 1955-59 time period, and the improved Constellation was
completed in 1961. During this period, the U.S. Navy had
progressed in the development and testing of a trial nuclear
powerplant, suitable for surface ships, and was first used in the
Cruiser Long Beach, making it the first nuclear powered surface
vessel. Funding was received by the Navy for the construction of
a 75,000 ton displacement nuclear powered carrier and the Newport
News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock firm began construction on 4
February 1958. The CVN-65 was launched as the Enterprise on 24
September 1960 as the largest ship afloat. Its waterline is 317
meters long and has a beam of 40.5m, but even with these awesome
dimensions it has the same draught as that of the Kitty Hawk
class carriers. The Enterprise is powered by eight pressurized
water cooled A2W nuclear reactors and 4 geared steam turbines by
Westinghouse, which produces 280,000 horsepower. With this power
the Enterprise can travel 140,000 n.m. at 36 knots or 400,000
n.m. at 20 knots. Cost of construction was 450 million dollars.

In January 1979 the Enterprise completed her 3rd refueling and
overhaul, with many modifications updating the state of the art
in electronics, communications and weapons. The CVN-65 carries 94
aircraft which include F-14A Tomcat, A-7E Corsair II, A-6E
Intruder, S-3A Viking, EA-6B Prowler, E-2C Hawk Eye and SH-3H Sea
King helicopters.