The USS Enterprise: A Pinnacle of U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers

In May 1938, the U.S. Navy proudly commissioned the USS Enterprise, an aircraft carrier with a legacy that stretched back through seven generations of American naval service. Among the trio of sister ships, the Enterprise would rise to prominence as a linchpin in the World War II effort in 1942, playing a pivotal role in shaping the course of the war. As history would later affirm, the USS Enterprise (CV-6) would go on to earn its place as one of the finest vessels ever to serve in the U.S. Navy.

Construction

The Enterprise, the second vessel of the Yorktown class, had its keel laid in July 1934. These ships represented the dawn of a new era in U.S. fleet carriers, evolving beyond the experimental designs of the 1920s. Lessons learned from earlier carriers, such as the USS Ranger and the Lexington-class ships, highlighted the advantages of larger carriers in terms of serviceability and survivability. Thus, the decision was made to construct the Enterprise, which displaced a hefty twenty-five thousand tons, boasted a top speed of thirty-three knots, and could comfortably accommodate around eighty combat aircraft. The Yorktown-class carriers, entering service in the late 1930s, stood as the world’s most advanced and effective carriers, setting the stage for the later Essex-class carriers that would join the U.S. Navy in 1943.

1942

In 1939, the USS Enterprise joined the Pacific Fleet, assuming various roles in the years leading up to World War II. On the eve of the conflict, it narrowly missed the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, arriving just after the attack occurred. The Enterprise swiftly put to sea in pursuit of the Japanese task force, eventually locating and sinking the Japanese submarine I-70 on December 8. Throughout the winter and early spring of 1942, the Enterprise conducted raids across the Pacific, targeting Japanese installations on newly acquired islands. In April, it played a crucial role in escorting the USS Hornet on the Doolittle Raid, narrowly avoiding the Battle of Coral Sea on its return.

In late May, the Enterprise was called upon to intercept the anticipated Japanese invasion of Midway Island. Teaming up with its sister ships, the Yorktown and the Hornet, the Enterprise’s dive bombers contributed to the destruction of four Japanese carriers and a heavy cruiser, decisively halting Japanese momentum in the Pacific. However, the Enterprise was far from done, especially as the Yorktown had been lost during the Battle of Midway.

By mid-July, the Enterprise had been deployed to the South Pacific, where it played a crucial role in the Solomons campaign. Despite sustaining damage in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons and the Battle of Santa Cruz (during which the Hornet was lost), the Enterprise remained in action, fighting throughout 1942 and early 1943. In November, its aircraft contributed to the sinking of the HIJMS Hiei.

Later Years

As the newer Essex-class carriers entered service in 1943, the Enterprise’s significance diminished somewhat. However, a four-month overhaul in mid-1943 rejuvenated the ship and returned it to full combat readiness. The Enterprise continued to make substantial contributions to major carrier battles in 1944, participating in the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. These engagements inflicted severe damage on the Japanese carrier fleet and led to the destruction of several battleships. Towards the end of 1944, the Enterprise transitioned to night operations, pioneering the U.S. Navy’s efforts to maintain air superiority around the clock. It provided support for U.S. operations in Iwo Jima and Okinawa, enduring damage from two kamikaze attacks during the latter. Its final repairs were completed just as the Pacific War came to a close, and while it missed the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay, it remained the most significant warship of the conflict.

Postwar Legacy

In the immediate postwar period, the Enterprise played a crucial role in repatriating U.S. servicemen to the United States. However, in early 1946, despite being only a decade old, the Enterprise was retired from active service. It had been superseded by the Essex-class carriers and the significantly larger Midway-class carriers. Unlike its partner, the USS Saratoga, the Enterprise was spared from destruction in the Bikini atom bomb tests and instead entered the reserve fleet. Remarkably, the Enterprise earned a total of twenty battle stars in the Pacific, surpassing all other U.S. ships in recognition of its outstanding service. Despite efforts by retired Navy personnel to preserve it as a monument, these attempts ultimately failed, and the ship was sold for scrap in 1958. Many now regard this as a tragic failure to properly maintain an essential piece of military heritage. Subsequently, several other battleships and aircraft carriers were successfully preserved.

Into the Future

Shortly before the USS Enterprise met its fate at the shipbreakers, a new vessel bearing the same name was laid down: CVN-65, the world’s first nuclear aircraft carrier. This second USS Enterprise served for an impressive fifty years before decommissioning in 2012. Furthermore, another USS Enterprise, CVN-80, was scheduled for completion by 2025. Unexpectedly, in 1965, Gene Roddenberry bestowed the name “Enterprise” upon the starship in his series Star Trek. Just as CV-6 endured combat situations that saw other carriers fall, NCC-1701 survived wildly improbable scenarios in the fictional realm. The phenomenal success of Star Trek and its spinoffs led to the naming of several other starships “Enterprise,” each sharing the improbable success of their World War II namesake. The legacy of the USS Enterprise continues to live on, both in history and the imagination.