May 24, 2009

She Creaks, but Her Nation Calls Upon Her


She is creaking, she is busting a move, and she is getting old.


May 22nd, 2009- the Department of Defense approves a contract modification to Northrop Grumman Newport News for drydock modifications to service and repair the USS Enterprise. The dock will allow the NGNN crew to repaint, repair, and inspect damage on the ship above and below the water line (below the waterline can be difficult). The cost is $21,000,000USD. The work is expected to be complete by August 2009.


The USS Enterprise was the world's first nuclear powered aircraft carrier. Other than the USS Constitution, she is the oldest comissioned vessel in the United States Navy. She is designed to run a while on nuclear power, however maintaining so many reactors (8?) can be costly and the ship is proving to be expensive to maintain. The newer (but now old) Nimitz class carriers run on two reactors. As the USS Gerald R Ford (CVN-78) supercarrier is being assembled (base assembly has begun, production is still in the design stage) the USS Enterprise is being called for maintenance to carry on the fight against global terror or where she is needed.

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