USS Enterprise (CV-6)

USS Enterprise

	+ 48 x 40 mm Bofors (4x2, 10×4) (Four quad mounts and Two twin mounts operational)
	+ 40 × 20 mm Oerlikons (10×2, 20x1) (6 twin and 18 single mounts operational)
	+ 3  x 20mm/76 cal Phalanx CIWS

### Complement

96 aircraft maximum, 80-90 average on board

### Crew

* 2,200 (1941)
* 800 (1994)

## History and Usage

### Commissioned

* May 12, 1938
* November 18, 1951

### Decommissioned

* February 17, 1947
* January 9, 1954

### Fate

Preserved as a museum ship in New York City, New York

### Affiliation

* United States of America
	+ United States Navy

### Present for Battles/Events

* Attack on Pearl Harbor
* Marshall’s-Gilberts Raids
* Doolittle Raid
* Battle of Midway
* Guadalcanal Campaign
	+ Battle of the Eastern Solomons
	+ Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
* Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaign
	+ Battle of Tarawa
* Battle of the Philippine Sea
* Battle of Leyte Gulf
* Battle of Iwo Jima
* Battle of Okinawa
	+ Operation: Ten-Go
* Surrender of Japan
* Battle of New York
* Duel on the Enterprise

### Nickname

* *Grey Ghost*
* *Galloping Ghost*
* *Big E*
* *Lucky E*
* *Miss Heroine* (by Philippine Sea crew)
* *Eternal E*
* *Eternal Guardian*

### Commanders

* Admiral William ‘Bull’ Halsey (Pacific War)
* Captain August Wilkes (Battle of New York)

### Notable Crew

* Jacob Wilson
* Dick Best
* Wade McClusky
* Donald Gordon
* Edward O’Hare

### Fleet(s)

* US Pacific Fleet
	+ Task Force 38
	+ Task Force 58

> “There’s nowhere to run, when the battle’s all around you.”
> - Jacob Wilson during the Battle of Santa Cruz
>
>

The ***USS Enterprise* (CV-6/CV(N)-6/CVA-6/CVS-6)** is a *Yorktown*-class aircraft carrier built for the United States Navy during the 1930s. She served with unparalleled distinction in the Pacific theater of World War II, fighting from the Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 to the end of the war in 1945. *Enterprise* earned a total of 20 battle stars, making her the most decorated U.S. Navy vessel until the *USS New Jersey* would surpass with her during the Galactic Civil War. Deactivated in 1946 and decommissioned a year later, she would be reactivated during the Korean War in late 1951 and served a short time before being decommissioned for the final time in early 1954 with a total of 21 battle stars. She eventually became a museum ship in New York City in 1957 thanks to the efforts of her former commander, Admiral William Halsey. She is currently the oldest surviving fleet carrier on Earth. Her name would be carried on by the first nuclear powered carrier *USS Enterprise* (CVN-65), and even later the Gerald R Ford-class CVN-80 and the *Everest-*class heavy carrier *TSS Enterprise* (CVB-3).

## Construction

The sixth carrier built for the United States Navy and the second of the Yorktown-class, *Enterprise* was launched on October 3, 1936 at Newport News Shipbuilding, sponsored by Lulie Swanson, wife of Secretary of the Navy Claude A. Swanson, and commissioned on May 12, 1938 with Captain Newton H. White, Jr. in command. *Enterprise* sailed south on a shakedown cruise which took her to Rio de Janeiro. Captain Charles A. Pownall relieved White on December 21st. After her return, she operated along the East Coast and in the Caribbean until April of 1939, when she was ordered to duty in the Pacific.

## Pre-War Service

*Enterprise* was one of fourteen ships to receive the early RCA CXAM-1 radar. Captain George D. Murray assumed command of the carrier on March 21, 1941. Based first at San Diego (where she was used in the filming of Dive Bomber, starring Errol Flynn and Fred MacMurray) and then at Pearl Harbor on the Hawaiian island of Oahu after President Roosevelt ordered the Fleet to be "forward based," the carrier and her Air Group trained intensively and transported aircraft to American island bases in the Pacific. *Enterprise* and the other ships of Task Force 8 (TF 8) departed Pearl Harbor on November 28, 1941 to deliver Marine Fighter Squadron 211 (VMF-211) to Wake Island nearly 2,500 miles (4,000 km) due west. She was scheduled to return to Hawaii on December 6, 1941, but was delayed by the weather, and she was still at sea about 215 nautical miles (398 km) west of Oahu at dawn on December 7, 1941.

## World War II 1941 - 1943

**Pearl Harbor**

*Enterprise* launched eighteen of her SBD Dauntless’s - the CAG's aircraft, 13 aircraft from Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6) and four aircraft from Bombing Squadron Six (VB-6) - at dawn on December 7th to scout an arc extending from the northeast to southeast of the ship, and to land at Ford Island at Pearl Harbor after completing their search routes. As these aircraft arrived in pairs over Pearl Harbor, they were caught between attacking Japanese aircraft and defensive anti-aircraft fire from the ships and shore installations below. Seven SBDs were shot down, either from enemy action or friendly fire, with the loss of eight airmen killed and two wounded.

*Enterprise* received radio messages from Pearl Harbor reporting that the base was under attack, and she was later directed to launch an airstrike based on an inaccurate report of a Japanese carrier southwest of her location. The strike was launched around 17:00, consisting of six Grumman F4F Wildcat fighters of Fighting Squadron Six (VF-6), 18 Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bombers of Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6), and six SBDs of VB-6.

Unable to locate any targets, the torpedo and dive bombers returned to *Enterprise*, but the six fighters were directed to divert to Hickam Field on Oahu. Although word of the planes' expected arrival had been broadcast to all ships and anti-aircraft units in the area, the appearance of the Wildcats in the night sky over Oahu triggered panic firing, which shot down three of them, killing their pilots, while a fourth aircraft ran out of fuel, forcing the pilot to bail out.

*Enterprise* pulled into Pearl Harbor for fuel and supplies on the evening of December 8th. Vice-Admiral William Halsey Jr., commander of Carrier Division 2, ordered every able-bodied man on board to help rearm and refuel Enterprise; this process normally took 24 hours to complete, but was completed this time within seven hours. She and the other ships of TF 8 sailed early the next morning to patrol against possible additional attacks on the Hawaiian Islands. Although the group encountered no Japanese surface ships, *Enterprise* aircraft sank Japanese submarine I-70 at 23°45′N 155°35′W on December 10, 1941.

During the last two weeks of December 1941, *Enterprise* and her escorts steamed west of Hawaii to cover the islands while two other carrier groups made a belated attempt to relieve Wake Island. After a brief layover at Pearl Harbor, *Enterprise* and her group sailed on January 11, 1942, protecting convoys reinforcing Samoa.

On February 1, 1942, *Enterprise's* Task Force 8 raided Kwajalein, Wotje, and Maloelap in the Marshall Islands, sinking three Japanese ships, damaging eight, and destroying numerous airplanes and ground facilities. *Enterprise* received only minor damage in the Japanese counterattack, as TF 8 retired to Pearl Harbor. The next month, *Enterprise*, now part of Task Force 16, swept the central Pacific, attacking enemy installations on Wake and Marcus Islands.

After minor alterations and repairs at Pearl Harbor, *Enterprise* and TF 16 departed on April 8, 1942 to rendezvous with her sister ship *USS Hornet* and sailed west, escorting *Hornet* on the mission to launch 16 Army B-25 Mitchells in the "Doolittle Raid" on Tokyo. While fighters from *Enterprise* flew combat air patrol, the B-25s launched on April 18th, and flew undetected the remaining 600 miles (1,000 km) to the target. The task force, its presence known to the enemy after a Japanese picket boat radioed a warning, reversed course and returned to Pearl Harbor on April 25th.

**Battle of Midway**

Five days later, *Enterprise* sortied toward the South Pacific to reinforce U.S. carriers operating in the Coral Sea. However, the Battle of the Coral Sea was over before Enterprise arrived. With *Hornet*, she performed a feint towards Nauru and Banaba (Ocean) islands which caused the Japanese to delay Operation RY to seize the two islands, Enterprise returned to Pearl Harbor on May 26, 1942, and began intensive preparation to meet the expected Japanese thrust at Midway Island.

On May 28th, Enterprise departed Pearl Harbor as Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spruance's flagship with orders "to hold Midway and inflict maximum damage on the enemy by strong attrition tactics". With Enterprise in TF 16 were *Hornet*, six cruisers, ten destroyers and four oilers. On May 30th, Task Force 17 (TF 17), with Rear Admiral Frank J. Fletcher in *USS Yorktown*, left Pearl with two cruisers and six destroyers and rendezvoused with TF 16; as senior officer present, Rear Admiral Fletcher became "Officer in Tactical Command." Vice Admiral Halsey, the usual commander of TF 16 and senior to both Fletcher and Spruance, was medically ordered to remain in a naval hospital at Pearl Harbor due to stress-induced severe weight loss and severe psoriasis.

The Battle of Midway began on the morning of June 4, 1942, when four Japanese carriers, unaware of the presence of U.S. naval forces, launched attacks on Midway Island. Shortly after the first bomb fell on Midway, the first wave of planes (4 B-26B Marauders, 6 TBF-1 Avengers, 11 SB2U-3s, 16 SBDs and 15 B-17s) from Midway Island attacked unsuccessfully. Several more groups attacked, again failing to damage their targets. Planes from the U.S. carriers attacked next. *Enterprise* torpedo bombers attacked first, scoring no hits and suffering heavy losses. Soon after, *Enterprise* dive bombers attacked and disabled the Japanese carriers *Kaga* and *Akagi*, leaving them ablaze, while *Yorktown* aircraft also bombed the *Sōryū*, leaving her burning and dead in the water.

Within an hour, the remaining Japanese carrier, *Hiryū* , launched air strikes that crippled *Yorktown* with three bombs and two torpedoes striking home during two separate attacks. In late afternoon, a mixed squadron of *Enterprise* and Yorktown bombers, flying from *Enterprise*, disabled *Hiryū*, leaving her burning. The following day *Enterprise* dive bombers alone sank the cruiser *Mikuma*. While *Yorktown* and *Hammann* were the only American ships sunk, TF 16 and TF 17 lost a total of 113 planes, 61 of them in combat. Japanese losses were much higher: four carriers (all scuttled), one cruiser and 272 carrier aircraft with many of their highly experienced aircrews. Despite losses to her aircraft squadrons, *Enterprise* came through undamaged and returned to Pearl Harbor on June 13, 1942.

Captain Arthur C. Davis relieved Murray on June 30, 1942. After a month of rest and overhaul, *Enterprise* sailed on July 15, 1942 for the South Pacific, where she joined TF 61 to support the amphibious landings in the Solomon Islands on August 8th. For the next two weeks, the carrier and her planes guarded seaborne communication lines southwest of the Solomons.

**Guadalcanal**

On August 24th, a strong Japanese force was discovered some 200 miles (300 km) north of Guadalcanal, and TF 61 sent planes to the attack. In the ensuing Battle of the Eastern Solomons, the light carrier *Ryūjō* was sunk, and the Japanese troops intended for Guadalcanal were forced back. *Enterprise* suffered the most heavily of the American ships; three direct bomb hits and four near misses killed 74, wounded 95, and inflicted serious damage on the carrier. Quick, hard work by damage control parties patched her up so that she was able to return to Hawaii under her own power.

Repaired at Pearl Harbor from September 10 – October 16, 1942, *Enterprise* embarked Air Group 10 in early October. This was the first time that the Grim Reapers of VF-10 deployed from Enterprise under commanding officer James H. Flatley, who became known as "Reaper Leader." She departed once more for the South Pacific, where with *Hornet* she formed TF 61, although Captain Osborne Hardison relieved Davis on October 21st. Five days later, *Enterprise* scout planes located a Japanese carrier force and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands was under way. Enterprise aircraft struck carriers and cruisers during the struggle, while the ship herself underwent intensive attack. Hit twice by bombs, Enterprise lost 44 men and had 75 wounded. Despite serious damage, she remained in action and took on board a large number of planes and crewmen from *Hornet* when that carrier was sunk. Though the American losses of a carrier and a destroyer were more severe than the Japanese loss of one light cruiser, the battle gave the Americans time to reinforce Guadalcanal against the next enemy onslaught, and nearby Henderson Field was therefore secure from the Japanese bombardment. The loss of *Hornet* meant *Enterprise* was now the only functioning (albeit damaged) U.S. carrier in the Pacific Theater. On one of the decks, the crew posted a sign: "Enterprise vs Japan."

*Enterprise* reached Nouméa, New Caledonia on October 30th, for repairs, but a new Japanese thrust at the Solomons demanded her presence and she sailed on November 11th, with repair crews from Vestal still working on board. Part of the repair crew were 75 Seabees from Company B of the 3rd Construction Battalion. This was due to a shortage of fleet repair resources. Underway with orders to engage the enemy, the Seabees focused on effecting repairs even during the forthcoming battle. The work was under the round-the-clock supervision of *Enterprise's* damage control officer Lt. Cmdr. Herschel Albert Smith.

The commanding officer of *Enterprise*, Captain Osborne Bennett "Ozzie B" "Oby" Hardison notified the Navy Department that "the emergency repairs accomplished by this skillful, well-trained, and enthusiastically energetic force have placed this vessel in condition for further action against the enemy." This remarkable job later won the praise of Vice Admiral William Halsey, Jr., Commander South Pacific Area and the South Pacific Force, who sent a dispatch to the OIC of the Seabee detachment stating, "Your commander wishes to express to you and the men of the Construction Battalion serving under you his appreciation for the services rendered by you in effecting emergency repairs during action against the enemy. The repairs were completed by these men with speed and efficiency. I hereby commend them for their willingness, zeal, and capability."

On November 13th, aviators from *Enterprise* helped to sink the *Hiei*, the first Japanese battleship lost during the war. When the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal ended on November 15, 1942, *Enterprise* had shared in sinking sixteen ships and damaging eight more. The carrier returned to Nouméa on November 16th to complete her repairs.

Sailing again on December 4th, *Enterprise* trained out of Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, until January 28, 1943, when she departed for the Solomons area. On 30 January, her fighters flew combat air patrol for a cruiser–destroyer group during the Battle of Rennell Island. Despite the destruction of most of the attacking Japanese bombers by *Enterprise* planes, the heavy cruiser *Chicago* was damaged by aerial torpedoes. She would later be towed out of the battle area by the *USS Constitution*.

Detached after the battle, the carrier arrived at Espiritu Santo on February 1st, and for the next three months operated out of that base, covering U.S. surface forces up to the Solomons. Captain Samuel Ginder assumed command of the ship on 16 April. *Enterprise* then steamed to Pearl Harbor where, on May 27, 1943, Admiral Chester Nimitz presented the ship with the first Presidential Unit citation awarded to an aircraft carrier.

In the summer of 1943, with the new *Essex*-class and *Independence*-class carriers joining the American Pacific Fleet, *Enterprise* was temporarily relieved of duty, and on July 20th, she entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for a much-needed overhaul. Over the course of several months, *Enterprise* received an extensive refit, which included, among other upgrades, new anti-aircraft weapons, an anti-torpedo blister that significantly improved her underwater protection and the ability to commence with night operations. This mid-war refit is also where she would receive her two iconic "6"s on her flight decks.

Captain Matthias Gardner relieved Ginder on November 7th. Back at Pearl Harbor on November 6th, *Enterprise* left four days later to provide close air support to the 27th Infantry Division landing on Makin Atoll, during the Battle of Makin, from November 19 - 21, 1943. On the night of November 26th, *Enterprise* introduced carrier-based night fighters to the Pacific when a three-plane team from the ship broke up a large group of land-based bombers attacking TG 50.2. Two of the three planes returned to the ship, with LCDR Edward "Butch" O'Hare the only casualty. After a heavy strike by aircraft of TF 50 against Kwajalein on 4 December, *Enterprise* returned to Pearl Harbor five days later.

## World War II 1944 - 1945

The carrier's next operation was with the Fast Carrier Task Force in softening up the Marshall Islands and supporting the landings on Kwajalein, from January 29 - February 3, 1944. Then, Enterprise sailed, still with TF 58, to strike the Japanese naval base at Truk Lagoon in the Caroline Islands, on February 17th. Again Enterprise made aviation history, when she launched the first night radar bombing attack from a U.S. carrier. The twelve torpedo bombers in this strike achieved excellent results, accounting for nearly one-third of the 200,000 tons of shipping destroyed by aircraft.

Detached from TF 58 with escorts, Enterprise launched raids on Jaluit Atoll on February 20th, then steamed to Majuro and Espiritu Santo. Sailing on March 15th in TG 36.1, she provided air cover and close support for the landings on Emirau Island (March 19–25). The carrier rejoined TF 58 on March 26th, and for the next 12 days, joined in a series of strikes against the islands of Yap, Ulithi, Woleai, and Palau. After a week's rest and replenishment at Majuro, Enterprise sailed on 14 April to support landings in the Hollandia (currently known as Jayapura) area of New Guinea, and then hit Truk again from April 29–30.

On June 6, 1944, she and her companions of TG 58.3 sortied from Majuro to join the rest of TF 58 in attacking the Marianas Islands. Striking Saipan, Rota, and Guam from June 11–14, Enterprise pilots gave direct support to the landings on Saipan on June 15th, and covered the troops ashore for the next two days.

Aware of a major Japanese attempt to break up the invasion of Saipan, Admiral Spruance, now Commander 5th Fleet, positioned TF 58 to meet the threat.

**Battle of the Philippine Sea**

On June 19, 1944, Enterprise was one of four carriers of Task Group 58.3 under the command of Rear Admiral John W. Reeves' during the largest carrier aircraft battle in history: the Battle of the Philippine Sea. For over eight hours, airmen of the United States and Imperial Japanese navies fought in the skies over TF 58 and the Marianas. Over the course of two days, a total of six American ships were damaged, and 130 planes and a total of 76 pilots and aircrew were lost. In sharp contrast, American carrier aircraft, with a major assist from U.S. submarines, sank three Japanese carriers (Hiyō, Shōkaku, and Taihō), and destroyed 426 carrier aircraft, losses from which Japanese naval aviation would never recover.

Enterprise participated both in the defense of the fleet and in the subsequent early-evening strike against the Japanese task forces. During the chaotic after-dark recovery of the air strike, a fighter and a bomber came aboard simultaneously, but fortunately did not cause an accident. A planned midnight strike against the Japanese fleet by night-flying Enterprise pilots was cancelled because of the recovery and rescue operations required after the dusk attack. After the battle, Enterprise and her Task Group continued to provide air support for the invasion of Saipan through July 5th. She then sailed for Pearl Harbor and a month of rest and overhaul, during which she was painted in Measure 33/4Ab Dazzle camouflage. During this time, Gardner was replaced by Commander Thomas Hamilton on July 10th before he was relieved in his turn by Captain Cato Glover on July 29th. Back in action on August 24th, the carrier sailed with TF 38 in that force's aerial assault on the Volcano and Bonin Islands from August 31st – September 2nd, and Yap, Ulithi, and the Palaus from September 6-8.

After operating west of the Palau Islands, Enterprise joined other units of TF 38 on October 7th and set course to the north. From October 10–20, her aviators flew over Okinawa, Formosa, and the Philippines, blasting enemy airfields, shore installations, and shipping in preparation for the assault on Leyte. After supporting the Leyte landings on October 20, Enterprise headed for Ulithi to replenish, but the approach of the Japanese fleet on October 23rd called her back to action.

In the Battle of Leyte Gulf (October 23–26), Enterprise planes struck all three groups of enemy forces, battering battleships and destroyers before the action ended. The carrier remained on patrol east of Samar and Leyte until the end of October, then retired to Ulithi for supplies. During November, her aircraft struck targets in the Manila area, and at the island of Yap. She returned to Pearl Harbor on December 6, 1944 and Glover was replaced by Captain Grover B. H. Hall on December 14th.

**Luzon and Tokyo**

Sailing on December 24th for the Philippines, Enterprise carried an air group specially trained in night carrier operations; as the only carrier capable of night operations, she left Oahu with her hull code changed from CV to CV(N), the "N" representing "Night".She joined TG 38.5 and swept the waters north of Luzon and of the South China Sea during January 1945, striking shore targets and shipping from Formosa to Indo-China including an attack on Macau. After a brief visit to Ulithi, Enterprise joined TG 58.5 on February 10, 1945, and provided day and night combat air patrol for TF 58 as it struck Tokyo on February 16th–17th.

```
**Iwo Jima**

```

She then supported the Marines in the Battle of Iwo Jima from February 16 – March 9th, when she sailed for Ulithi. During one part of that period, Enterprise kept aircraft aloft continuously over Iwo Jima for 174 hours.

During an attack on the Kure Naval Shipyard on March 19th, *Enterprise* disabled the battleship *Yamato’s* screws, leading to her sister ship *Musashi* to take her place in Operation: Ten-Go.

**Okinawa**

Departing Ulithi on March 15th, the carrier continued her night work in raids against Kyūshū, Honshū, and shipping in the Inland Sea of Japan. Damaged lightly by an enemy bomb on March 18th, Enterprise entered Ulithi six days later for repairs.

On April 7, whilst preparing to withdraw from Okinawa waters to under go resupply, *Enterprise*, along with eight other carriers were ordered to attack a Japanese surface force led by the battleship *Musashi*. *Enterprise’s* air group arriving during the mid-point of the engagement, focused on the *Musashi* herself scoring three bomb and two torpedo hits. *Musashi* would eventually capsize with her magazine’s detonating, the explosion was visable even from *Enterprise’s* location hundreds of miles away. Of the Japanese force, only two destroyers would survive the engagement. *Enterprise* would then depart for resupply at Ulithi Atoll on April 8th.

On May 14th, whilst she was accompanied by *USS Constitution (CC-1)*, a single kamikaze attempted to strike the ship. Her escort managed to divert the kamikaze away from the carrier via an outpouring of flak, though ultimately took the hit herself.

Strikes on Japan and End of the War.

Throughout the next three months, Enterprise would launch several dozen airstrikes across the Japanese’s home islands, up until the cessation of hostilities on August 23rd. She was later present during the Surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945, being the only proper fleet carrier present.

## Post-World War II

Enterprise then voyaged to Pearl Harbor, returning to the States with some 1,141 servicemen due for discharge, including hospital patients and former POWs, then sailed on to New York on September 25, 1945 via the Panama Canal arriving on October 17, 1945. Two weeks later, she proceeded to Boston for installation of additional berthing facilities, then began a series of three Operation Magic Carpet voyages to Europe, bringing home more than 10,000 veterans in her final service to her country.

The first European voyage returned 4,668 servicemen from Southampton, England, in November 1945. On the second trip to Europe, she was boarded by the British First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Albert Alexander in Southampton, who presented Enterprise with a British Admiralty pennant that was hoisted when a majority of the Admiralty Board members were present. The pennant was given to Enterprise as a token of respect from several high-ranking officers of an ally. She returned to New York on December 25, 1945 with 4,413 servicemen. On this nine-day trip, she encountered four storms, some with winds of 80 miles per hour (130 km/h) that caused 75-foot (23 m) waves that swamped the forecastle deck in water up to 10 feet (3.0 m) deep. According to damage control officer John U. Monro, the storms smashed sections of walkways and railings, and swept loose objects overboard. Her last voyage was to the Azores, and returned 3,557 personnel, including 212 WACs to New York on January 17, 1946.

## **Korean War**

At the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, *Enterprise* was ordered to be reactivated along with many of her fellow fleet carriers that were in mothballs. Due to her fame compared to many of the *Essex*-class aircraft carriers and the fact that sending *Enterprise* to Korea would send just as much of a statement as her weapons, she was returned to service much faster than other carriers with a slight modernization in radar, weapons, and aircraft on November 18, 1951. However, her smaller size would also be a drawback as she would not be able to operate sufficient numbers of modern jet aircraft such as the F9F Panther. Instead still relying on modernized piston engine fighters.

She would arrive in Yokosuka, Japan with two squadrons of F4U Corsairs, two squadrons of F8F Bearcats, as well as one squadron of AD-1 Skyraiders in January of 1952. Joining *USS Valley Forge*, *Enterprise* would support Army and Marine units via close air support. After a tour lasting 7 months, she would return to the United States for a small refit in February of 1953. When the Korean Armistice was signed in July of that year, *Enterprise’s* planned return to Korea was canceled. With the reactivation of many more of the larger *Essex*-class after the war, *Enterprise* was once again considered surplus and was decommissioned on January 9, 1954, with 1 additional battle star added to the twenty she earned during World War II.

## Post-Korea

Following her final decommissioning, *Enterprise* lay in reserve for several years and faced the risk of scrapping. She was saved by a fundraising campaign led by her former commander, William Halsey. The carrier was purchased by the City of New York to serve as a museum ship. She became the centerpiece of the *USS Enterprise-Pacific War Museum* in 1957.

In 1968, she was used to film interior shots for the film ‘Tora! Tora! Tora!’ along with the Yamato

In 1982, *Enterprise* was joined by the *Essex* class aircraft carrier *USS Intrepid* (CV-11). Their expanded museum was renamed to the *Enterprise-Intrepid* Sea, Air, and Space Museum. Later, the submarine USS *Growler* joined them in 1988, while the destroyer *USS Edson* joined them in 1989.

*Enterprise* would be removed from Pier 86 in September 1990 to undergo a dry docking to repair damages sustained from being stuck in silt and water for over 30 years. She would be returned to the pier in December 1992, with a total cost of $25 million USD.

## **Clone Wars**

In 1994, *Enterprise* would have several of her World War II-era anti-aircraft guns refurbished for use in a ceremony celebrating the 50th anniversary of the end of said war in 1995, when Earth was attacked by the Confederacy of Independent Systems. In desperation, the weapons were manned by the sailors originally assigned for the ceremony, a complement of marine fireteams armed with Stinger air-to-air missiles were assigned to the ship, and Phalanx CIWS were helicoptered in on both *Enterprise’s* and the *Intrepid’s* flight decks. Patriot anti-air missile systems were intended to support the ships, but were unable to arrive before the CIS attacked.

During the Battle of New York, *Enterprise* and her marines shot down a total of eleven Vulture droid starfighters, eight Hyena droid star bombers, twelve heavy droid units and hundreds of battle droids, while *Intrepid* shot down five Vultures and ten Hyenas. At least one Vulture fell victim to *Enterprise'*s 40mm Bofors gun mounts, marking the last time a ship-based, manually-operated gun shot down an aircraft. The pair of vessels were nearly destroyed by a trio of Hyena bombers, but F-14 Tomcats from the then current USS Enterprise managed to destroy the bombers before they could launch their warheads.

After the Sol Campaign, the Phalanx guns were removed, the damage repaired, and the ships returned to their status as full-time museums.

**Post-Clone Wars**

After the conclusion of the Clone Wars, a Phalanx turret and droid kill tallies were added to *Enterprise* and *Intrepid* as tributes to their participation during the Battle of New York. Seven years later, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the two carriers served as headquarters of the FBI team investigating the attacks.

In 2004, the *USS Edson* would be removed from the museum and relocated to a Naval Storage facility before once again becoming a museum ship in Bay City, Michigan in 2012.

In early 2006, *Enterprise*, along with *Intrepid* and *Growler*, would be moved to a dry dock in Bayonne, New Jersey for repairs as to reduce future maintenance costs. She would gain several hundred epoxy-coated steel pilings, had over 1,000 tons of rusted steel removed and replaced, and have her hanger layout redesigned for future historical additions. Total cost for removing her from the silt she was stuck in and structural repairs was almost $30 million USD.

Later in 2012, *Enterprise* would gain the space shuttle *Enterprise* (named after the fictional starship in *Star Trek*, which in turn was named after CV-6) for display on her flight deck.

## **Galactic Civil War**

During the Terran Campaign, Enterprise would not see large scale action as New York did not come under direct attack, even as the Battle of Norfolk raged relatively nearby. However, the ship was the location of a lightsaber duel between Thomas Wilson and an Imperial Inquisitor.

**Post-Galactic Civil War**

In January of 2022, *Enterprise*, along with the heavy cruiser *USS New Orleans*, with parts constructed by the Terran Star Forge, were repaired to operational condition. This was done so the vessels could partake in a honorary fleet exercise during remembrance of the Battle of Midway on its 80th anniversary on June 4th, 2022. Enterprise and New Orleans were chosen as they were the only vessels left that had participated in the battle. *Enterprise* would have most of her displays temporarily transferred to the *Intrepid*, as to make room for over a dozen and a half aircraft on her hanger deck. The vessels would arrive at the location of the battle on June 3rd. The next day, the two ships were escorted by the *USS Nimitz* and its strike group during the event as security, which was attended by dozens of civilian watercraft. The prelude consisted of a memorable ceremony and speeches by both the commander of the Pacific Fleet, Samuel Paparo and the last survivor of the Battle of Midway, Charles Monroe, from aboard Enterprise. Then F4F Wildcats, SBD Dauntless’s, F6F Hellcats, TBF Avengers, F4U Corsairs and the only remaining TBD Devastator (Recovered from the wreck of *USS Lexington (CV-2)* and restored to flying condition) were launched in rotations over the battle site. These planes flew over the civilian boats, and performed aerial maneuvers and formations that mimicked the tactics used during the battle. Shortly afterward the aircraft flew in one massive formation, and then broke off to return to *Enterprise*. She and *New Orleans* returned to their previous museum status afterword, with their respective museums receiving almost double the number of average visitors that year.

## Design

> “She didn’t even look like a boat. It looked like some giant crazy project that somebody started and never finished.” - Officer Richard Harte, upon first seeing *Enterprise*
>
>

## Gallery

Enterprise’s badgeEnterprise prior to commissioning.Enterprise prior to World War II.Enterprise during the Doolittle Raid (USS Hornet CV-8 in the background).TBD Devastator’s on Enterprise’s flight deck during the Battle of Midway.Enterprise during the raids on Truk Atoll.Enterprise in 1943 sporting a new dazzle camouflageEnterprise immediately post-war, circa September 1945.Enterprise flight deck, circa October 1945.Enterprise, alongside USS Hornet (CV-12), USS Saratoga (CV-3), and USS San Jacinto, circa late 1945Enterprise’s final deck configurationEnterprise working up for her Korean DeploymentEnterprise in reserve awaiting museum conversion, the carrier across is the fitting out USS Independence (CV-61), circa June of 1958.
## **Trivia**

* USS Enterprise was the most decorated US warship in the history of the United States Navy, and was known as the Grey Ghost by the Imperial Japanese Navy, whom reported her sunk three times. She was responsible for downing at least 911 enemy aircraft along with sinking at least 71 ships and damaging at least 192.
* Enterprise is the namesake of the Galaxy-class starship from the Sci-Fi franchise Star Trek.

## Appearances

* *The Greatest Generation*
* *Return of the Relic*
* *Book One: An Uplifting War* (first appearance)
* *Book Three: Return of Legends*