USS Independence (CV-62)
26°06′13″N 97°10′08″W / 26.1034852°N 97.1689342°W
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2008) |
USS Independence in 1971
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History | |
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United States | |
Name | Independence |
Namesake | Independence[1] |
Ordered | 2 July 1954 |
Builder | New York Navy Yard |
Cost | $182.3 million[2] |
Laid down | 1 July 1955 |
Launched | 6 June 1958 |
Commissioned | 10 January 1959 |
Decommissioned | 30 September 1998 |
Reclassified | CV-62, 28 February 1973 |
Stricken | 8 March 2004 |
Identification |
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Motto | Freedom's Flagship |
Fate | Scrapped |
Badge | |
General characteristics [3] | |
Class and type | Forrestal-class aircraft carrier |
Displacement |
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Length | 1,070 ft (326.1 m) |
Beam |
|
Draft | 37 ft (11.3 m) |
Propulsion |
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Speed | 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph) |
Range |
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Complement |
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Sensors and processing systems |
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Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
Armament |
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Aircraft carried |
|
The fifth USS Independence (CV/CVA-62) was an aircraft carrier of the
Independence was decommissioned in 1998 after 39 years of active service. Stored in recent years at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, the ex-Independence was towed beginning on 10 March 2017 to Brownsville, Texas for scrapping. She arrived on 1 June 2017 and dismantling was completed by early 2019.
Design and construction
The
Independence was built with an
The contract to build Independence, the fourth Forrestal-class carrier was awarded to the
Operational history
Testing and workup
Independence conducted shakedown training under her first captain, Captain R. Y. McElroy, with the first landing-on being carried out by a
1960–1964
Independence operated off the
Independence sailed on 19 April 1962 for
Independence departed Norfolk on 6 August 1963 to take part in combined readiness exercises in the Bay of Biscay with sea-air units of the United Kingdom and France then entered the Mediterranean on 21 August for further duty with the Sixth Fleet. Cruising throughout the Mediterranean, she gained much valuable experience during combined NATO exercises, including close air support to Turkish paratroops, reconnaissance, communications, and convoy strike support. President Makarios of Cyprus paid her a visit on 7 October 1963, after which she took part in bilateral U.S.-Italian exercises in the Adriatic with Italian patrol torpedo boats, and U.S.-French exercises, which pitted her aircraft against French interceptors and a surface action with the French cruiser Colbert. She returned to Norfolk on 4 March 1964.
Following training exercises, ranging north to New York and south to Naval Station Mayport, Florida, Independence departed Norfolk 8 September 1964 for NATO Teamwork exercises in the Norwegian Sea and off the coast of France, then to Gibraltar. She returned to Norfolk 5 November 1964 and entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for overhaul.
1965–1970
On 10 May 1965, Independence deployed for more than seven months, including 100 days in the South China Sea, off the coast of
Independence returned to her homeport, Norfolk, arriving 13 December 1965. During the first half of 1966, she operated off Norfolk, replenishing and training air groups. On 4 May 1966, she participated in Operation Strikex. The carrier departed Norfolk 13 June for European operations with the Sixth Fleet. Independence was involved with unit and NATO exercises from July into December. She then continued her Sixth Fleet deployment returning to CONUS in early 1967. After a few months of local operations, she underwent an extensive overhaul at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.[12] The drydock portion of the overhaul was interrupted when Independence had to leave drydock early to make way for the fire-damaged Forrestal on 19 September 1967.[citation needed]
On 30 April 1968, Independence steamed to the Mediterranean Sea for a nine-month deployment. She returned to Pier 12 NOB Norfolk, Virginia on 27 January 1969. On 3 September 1969, the Independence departed Norfolk to participate in NATO exercises in the North Atlantic, (NORLANT), where she participated in testing the Hawker Siddeley Harrier in flight deck operations, returning home on 9 October 1969. Independence was again deployed to the Mediterranean on 23 June 1970, returning to Pier 12 on 31 January 1971. It was during this cruise that the ship was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation in support of actions against the PLO during the Jordanian crisis.
1970–1979
On 25 September 1970, the news was received that Gamal Abdel Nasser, President of the United Arab Republic had died; an event that might plunge the Middle East into a crisis. Independence, along with John F. Kennedy, Saratoga, and seven other U.S. Navy ships were put on standby in case U.S. military protection was needed for the evacuation of U.S. citizens and as a counterbalance to the Soviet Union's Mediterranean fleet.
Pilots of
Deploying from Norfolk in September 1971, the crew earned the designation as 'Blue Nose' sailors when the Independence crossed the Arctic Circle on 28 September. During subsequent operations in the North Sea, Independence conducted cross-deck operations with the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal and transited the English Channel en route to the Strait of Gibraltar and scheduled operations in the Mediterranean Sea.
In May 1973, President
In the summer of 1974, Independence departed Norfolk for yet another 'Med Cruise', operating with CTG 60.1 and CVW-7. Relieving Franklin D. Roosevelt, Independence and Saratoga continued the tradition of steaming the Mediterranean while being shadowed by Soviet aircraft and ships. On 8 September 1974, Independence and other ships steamed to the crash site of TWA Flight 841, which had been brought down by a terrorist bomb, and its crew spent two days retrieving the remains of the ill-fated jetliner and of the persons on board.[13]
On 20 June 1979, Lieutenant Donna L. Spruill became the first female Navy pilot to carrier qualify in a fixed-wing aircraft. Lieutenant Spruill piloted a
1980–1989
On 19 November 1980, Independence with Carrier Air Wing Six (AE) embarked, deployed to the Indian Ocean along with the cruiser Harry E. Yarnell and was on watch along with Ranger on "Gonzo Station" as President Reagan took office and the Iranian Hostages were freed. Subsequently, completing an Indian Ocean cruise, Independence transited the Suez Canal northbound, shortly after America had transited southbound, making America the first United States Navy carrier (and, thus, Independence the second) to transit the Suez Canal since Intrepid in 1967. Independence completed a deployment of 204 days. Scheduled to go to Singapore, the crew was instead diverted to the Persian Gulf to back up Nimitz during the Iran Hostage Crisis mission with Capt. Thomas E. Shanahan Commanding. After the Gulf, Independence and her battle group visited Perth/Fremantle, Western Australia from 2 to 7 February for R&R. Upon completion of the deployment, Captain Shanahan was promoted to rear admiral.
In 1982, Independence provided critical support to the multinational peacekeeping force in Lebanon. On 25 June, the greatest concentration of U.S. Navy air power in the Mediterranean Sea resulted when the battle groups of Forrestal and Independence joined forces with Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. After steaming together in the eastern Mediterranean Sea for several days, Forrestal and Independence relieved Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, the latter sailing home to Norfolk, after a long deployment.
In late October 1983, Independence's battle group (Carrier Group Four), assigned to the
In 1984, she won the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for the Atlantic Fleet.
On 17 February 1985, Independence arrived at the
The Paramount film Flight of the Intruder (1991), starring Danny Glover, Willem Dafoe, and Brad Johnson was filmed partly on Independence. The aircraft carrier went out for two weeks of filming in November 1989; the on-board fire party was kept busy dealing with the numerous small electrical fires that the movie crew had started with their lighting equipment.[14]
1990–1995
In June 1990, with
Independence changed homeports again on 11 September 1991—this time to
On 23 August 1992, Independence entered the Persian Gulf, under the Command of Captain Carter B. Refo prepared to enforce an Allied ban on Iraqi flights over south Iraq below the
Persian Gulf allies began to enforce the ban on Iraqi planes from flying south of the 32nd parallel on 27 August in Operation Southern Watch. Any Iraqi planes that violated the ban would be shot down. Twenty Navy aircraft from CVW-5 aboard Independence in the Persian Gulf were the first coalition aircraft on station over Iraq as Operation Southern Watch began. Southern Watch was the enforcement of a ban on Iraqi warplanes and helicopters from flying south of the 32nd parallel.
Independence became the most battle experienced ship in the Navy's active fleet, and the first carrier in history to hold that distinction, on 30 June 1995. With this honor, Independence displayed the Revolution-era First Navy Jack, commonly called the "Don't Tread on Me" flag, from her bow until her decommissioning. The flag was presented to Independence's commanding officer Capt. David P. Polatty III in a formal ceremony on 1 July. The flag was received from Mauna Kea upon her decommissioning.
In November 1995, Independence and Carrier Air Wing Five returned to Japan after successfully completing their third deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch.
1996–1998
In March 1996, Independence was deployed to the waters east of
In 1997, Independence made a four-month deployment, covering several major exercises and seven ports of call. Included in these ports of call were two historic port visits. The first was 28 February 1997 to the island territory of Guam. Independence was the first aircraft carrier to pull into Guam in 36 years.
The second, two months later, was to Port Klang, Malaysia. Independence became the first aircraft carrier in the world to make a port visit to Malaysia.
Before sailing back to Yokosuka, Japan, Independence made her last port call of the deployment in May 1997 to Hong Kong. The ship's port call was the last U.S. naval visit to the territory before its handover to China on 1 July 1997.
Independence deployed to the Persian Gulf in January 1998 to support negotiations between the UN and Iraq and to again participate in Operation Southern Watch, prior to being relieved at Yokosuka by Kitty Hawk.
In popular culture
Independence was used for filming the 1991 movie Flight Of The Intruder with shots of the CV 62 number on the island and credit at the end of the film.
Decommissioning and fate
Independence was decommissioned in ceremonies at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, on 30 September 1998. At the conclusion of this ceremony, in keeping with naval tradition, Independence's last commanding officer, Captain (later Rear Admiral) Mark R. Milliken, USN, was the last person to depart the ship.
Independence's commissioning pennant was hauled down 39 years, 9 months and 20 days after it was first hoisted, and the "Don't Tread on Me" First Navy Jack was transferred to the Navy's next oldest active ship, the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk.
After decommissioning, Independence remained in mothballs for five and a half years before being struck on 8 March 2004. During her time in mothballs, the ship was said to have been heavily stripped to support the active carrier fleet, especially the remaining Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carriers. Her port anchor and both anchor chains were used on the new Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush. The recycling of parts and the poor material condition of the ship at the time she was withdrawn made a strong argument against retaining her as a potential museum ship. In April 2004, Navy officials identified ex-Independence as one of 24 decommissioned ships available to be sunk as artificial reefs. However, as of February 2008, she was scheduled to be dismantled in the next five years along with USS Constellation.[16] At that time, she was still available for donation as a reef while awaiting a contract for her dismantling to be awarded.[17]
On 26 January 2012, the Navy's Naval Sea Systems Command posted a notice of solicitation for the towing and complete dismantlement of multiple CV-59/CV-63 Class Aircraft Carriers in the United States, including Forrestal, Independence, and Constellation.[18] The impacts of an initial scraping for marine life in the Puget Sound required remediation with a layer of sand over the scraping area.[19]
Following the disposal of Ranger and Constellation,[20] on 10 March 2017 ex-Independence began her 16,000-mile journey from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard to Brownsville, Texas for dismantling by International Shipbreaking Limited.[21] On 26 April 2017, she was on her way through the Strait of Magellan,[22] and on 30 May 2017 she arrived at Brownsville, where a special ceremony was held at Isla Blanca Park for veterans, school children and members of the local community to honour the vessel. Scrapping was completed by early 2019.[23]
Two of the ship's propellers are on display at South Padre Island.[24]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Independence". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ISBN 978-1-5614-4720-6.
- ^ a b c Baker 1998, p. 992.
- ^ Chesneau 1998, p. 264.
- ^ a b Gardiner & Chumbley 1995, p. 569.
- ^ Chesneau 1998, pp. 266–267.
- ^ Chesneau 1998, p. 266.
- ^ "Independence (CV 62)(ex-CVA 62): Multi-Purpose Aircraft Carrier". National Vessel Register. Naval Sea Systems Command, United States Navy. 1 March 2006. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
- ^ Video: Brooklyn, N.Y. 1958/06/09 (1958). Universal Newsreel. 9 June 1958. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ Weeks 1999, p. 14.
- ^ Grossnick 1997, p. 228.
- ^ Weeks 1999, p. 15.
- ^ "Aircraft Accident Report 75-7" (PDF). National Transportation Safety Board. 1974. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Flight of the Intruder Trivia". IMDb. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- ISBN 9780313310232.
- ^ Peterson, Zachary M. (26 February 2008). "Navy sink list includes Forrestal, destroyers". Navy Times. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
- ^ "Reefing Inventory" (PDF). Naval Sea Systems Command. [dead link]
- ^ "J-Towing and complete dismantlement of multiple CV-59/CV-63 Class Aircraft Carriers in the United States". Federal Business Opportunities. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- ^ Farley, Josh. "Navy placing 10,000 yards of sand on Puget Sound seafloor as part of legal settlement". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ "Recycler wins Navy contract to scrap USS Independence". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved 30 August 2016.[permanent dead link]
- NAVSEA. 15 March 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
- ^ Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Exploración (27 April 2017). "USS Independence". Facebook. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
- ^ Naval Vessel Register – CV-62
- ^ "International Shipbreaking Port Of Brownsville". International Shipbreaking Port Of Brownsville. 20 January 2022. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022.
Bibliography
- Baker, A.D. (1998). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1998–1999: Their Ships, Aircraft and Systems. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-111-4.
- Chesneau, Roger (1998). Aircraft Carriers of the World, 1914 to the Present: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. London: Brockhampton Press. ISBN 1-86019-875-9.
- Doa, Tom (1996). "Question 25/93: USN/USCG Collisions with Merchant Vessels". Warship International. XXXIII (3): 319. ISSN 0043-0374.
- Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
- Grossnick, Roy A. (1997). United States Naval Aviation 1910–1995. Washington DC: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. ISBN 0-945274-34-3. Archived from the originalon 23 January 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- Weeks, Mike (March–April 1999). "Freedom's Flagship: A History of Independence (CVA/CV 62)" (PDF). Naval Aviation News. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here. It also includes text from "United States Naval Aviation, 1910-1995". Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
External links
- Photo gallery of USS Independence (CV-62) at NavSource Naval History
Reunion groups:
- ussindependence.us: CVA/CV-62 Communications Department
- ussindependencecv-62.org: USS INDEPENDENCE CV-62 Assoc. Inc