United States Navy Supercarrier, USS Saratoga CV60

In the 1950s, a new class of aircraft carriers were ordered for the United States Navy. They were to be the largest ever built, some 25% larger than the WW2 period Midway class that preceded. Named after the first United States Secretary of Defense, James Forrestal, the Forrestal Class was made up of the Supercarriers USS Forrestal, USS Ranger, USS Independence and USS Saratoga.
USS Saratoga would go on to serve over 5 decades for the United States Navy and would be involved in many globally significant events such as the Arab Israeli War, The Achille Lauro hijacking and Desert Storm.
One of four supercarriers for the United States Navy, the Forrestal Class of aircraft carriers would pave the way for the even larger, more powerful aircraft carriers to follow.
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[@mikeike4738]

Father was on this during desert storm. Was a chief. Every time I go over to my parents house I try to find time to look at his Saratoga book. I fully believe his time in the navy is what gave him the ability to make me who I am today. He commanded respect not through threats, but by being a good person and caring about serving his country - and protecting those below him. There were a few times where coworkers in the private sector after the war would say “if your dad leaves, I’m outta here”. Recently heard that told to me for the first time by a coworker - that they would leave if I did. I almost cried. Thanks Dad

[@bruceferguson6637]

I was on the Saratoga 1972-75. That was my first ship. When she pulled into Subic Bay I was awestruck to see such a large ship. My berthing compartment was on the 03 level, beneath the flight deck. My rack (bunk) was the top one, directly beneath the forward starboard catapult. I eventually learned how to sleep during flight ops with that catapult racket.

[@Kenneth-jj8po]

Had that same rack on USS Independence 1971-1973

[@Kenneth-jj8po]

Wait had that same bunk and took the Independence to SLEP 1971- 1973 AND paddled around for 77 days during a middle east airliner high jacking

[@kwaktak]

I was stationed aboard the Forrestal in 1989 when Saratoga came out of the yards for her overhaul. Seeing the two ships end to end at the pier in Mayport was a sight to see.

[@JettBlast]

USS Saratoga CV-60, May 1989-Feb 1994, I was there, my 1st ship, my 1st deployment was Desert Shield/Storm and went through the Suez Canal 6 times. That was when I was young and was looking to the future.... then I lost 21 of my brothers. December 20, 1990, I still think of that night, that could have been My fate, but I could never get off because of the long lines. Rest well, my brothers...Brent and Anthony, I never knew you would become such a part of my life and remember you every day!

[@TerranceMcBride-io8bl]

My uncle served on the Saratoga

[@NJ_Backyard_birds_wildlife]

My father was on the Sara at that time. He never talked about what happened. Thank you for sharing and giving me something to research. ❤ Thank you for your service.

[@JettBlast]

@@NJ_Backyard_birds_wildlife I live that deployment every day...

[@NJ_Backyard_birds_wildlife]

@@JettBlast He was with HSL-36. Did you know that division.

[@JettBlast]

@@NJ_Backyard_birds_wildlife I was ships company, Weapons department and I was on import fire party. I don't exactly remember him but I knew tons of folks all over the entire ship.

[@LesLackey]

As a Aircrewman i flew in EA3B's onto the "Sarah" in the Med 1967/8. Sorry my flight logs are not available tonight!

[@JamesLee-lk4kx]

My father served on this ship.he absolutely adored this ship,and his time on it.i loved hearing all his stories.he recently passed away,and watching videos about the saratoga is comforting in some weird way,rip pop.

[@PoppiB]

James, when was your dad onboard? I was on her from 1979-84. They forced me to go to shore duty.

[@JamesLee-lk4kx]

@@PoppiB from 62 to 65

[@JamesLee-lk4kx]

@@PoppiB why did they force you to shore duty if you don't mind me asking sir?

[@PoppiB]

@@JamesLee-lk4kx sailors have a ‘prescribed’ sea/shore rotation. Amazingly there are some that don’t want to go to sea. There are positions on shore stations that need people do in order to keep all aspects running smoothly, sailors can’t always be sailing 🫡. So they took me from an aircraft carrier and had me teach submarine school. That was my second best assignment though. Rotation and variation is good overall though.

[@JamesLee-lk4kx]

@@PoppiB very cool,appreciate you taking the time to respond sir.

[@pvp64]

Thanks for such a thorough history of the Saratoga. I was a crewmember and on the MED/IO cruise during 1985/86, I remember the Achille Lauro hijacking. After forcing down the 737, Ronald Reagan called our ship the next day addressing our crew over the 1MC system about a job well done. That is also where Reagan used the phrase "You can run, but you can't hide" . I believe we were awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation for that event.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thank you for sharing that.

[@gar949]

I was there as well. Navigation division .

[@PoppiB]

I was a Radioman until I PCS’d out in ‘84. She made a fantastic home.

[@chowtimewithruss1411]

I served on the Saratoga 85-90 a fine carrier she was

[@nikonmark37814]

I served on the USS Independence, CV-62 from 9/74 - 5/78.

[@PoppiB]

She was my home from 1979-84. Loved that ship and crew

[@dramseyno]

my father was on the Saratoga as a medical doctor in the early 1960's

[@donnacampbell5411]

My dad Robert E Bunt served on this ship. He was with the old gal almost from the start & he came out I believe in 71/72. Not to sure of that but he was in the Navy for 21 years. The Saratoga got to know him better than I did. Miss & love you dad!

[@JamesLee-lk4kx]

My father was on this ship also.his name was Robert e Lee.

[@donnacampbell5411]

@@JamesLee-lk4kx how long did your dad serve?

[@JamesLee-lk4kx]

@@donnacampbell5411 from 62 to 70.He was only on the Saratoga from 62 to 65.

[@sparrowhawk3894]

Great ship with high knee knockers. Rode the Saratoga for a short time with CTG 60.2 staff for the last 1960's Med deployment. Our normal Flag ship was the USS Columbus CG-12 but the Admiral needed to conduct some ops from an aircraft carrier.

[@stickiedmin6508]

"Knee knockers?"

[@notatelemarketer7485]

I made 2 med cruises 1978-1979, and 1980. I was with VF-103 we flew F4-J's. By that time she was old and beat up, we spent most of the cruise in Naples. I worked the fight deck, LOVED IT, the only place to be!!

[@buzhopper]

Glad to see another Slugger shipmate! I left them in 1976. I was an AT in IMA.

[@StirlingWorden]

You were with my dad commander worden

[@hot89103]

I was in VF-103 Mediterranean cruise 1981. We spent a lot of time in Naples, Italy. I remember parked off Naples and boats driving around the ship with topless females !!!

[@frankjamesbonarrigo7162]

My grandfather was the commanding officer of the Saratoga

[@Thetindallman]

My grandpa was stationed on this aircraft carrier. He was the top of his squadron on it at the time.

[@Thorvid]

my granpa served on this ship. he always told story's sadly he recently passed away

[@deuce38]

Had a friend Bill King VF-31 on there.1970-72.

[@geordiedog1749]

80 to a 100 aircraft! That’s mental.

[@geordiedog1749]

@Chris isn’t there some stat along the lines of ‘the biggest airforce is the US airforce and the second biggest airforce is the US navy’?

[@geordiedog1749]

@Chris Jeez. Planes and prisons. They got lots of both it seems!

[@frankmarcia5956]

i visited the USS Saratoga in 1956 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard .a friend of our famaily had worked on the Saratoga and at the time of my visit i was a boy scout and our troop was invited to tour the Saratoga. i joined the US Coast Guard in 1963 and in 1964 i visited the USS Saratoga again. a few years later i visited the neuclear carrier Enterprise and it made the Saratoga look small.

[@jeffro4249]

My father served on the Saratoga in the late 60’s , I just lost him this past November 😢 just wanted to see some videos about this ship that he spent a few years on

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss.

[@michaelellis2080]

My dad served as well. Will be 10 years since he passed, but he took a bunch of pictures of his time on board. Wish I had talked to him more about his time in service when he was still with us.

[@ralphrogersjr3351]

On the Saratoga from 91-94. As an operation specialist, I remember the Turkish incident, and I was on duty that night. Our forward mess decks was like a horror scene from a movie after we retrieved all the Turkish sailors. Some were still in the ship and some were in the water. I was really looking forward to us docking in Turkey the next day but that port visit didn't happen.

[@oilman614]

They forgot to mention about the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard totally screwing up the boilers and other vital parts that the Jacksonville Shipyard had to spend months in 1982 into 1983 to get her able to certify to be back in service.

[@buzhopper]

Thank you for the awesome history of the Saratoga. I was fortunate to have served on her from 1973 to 1976 while with the fighter squadron VF-103 "The Sluggers." As a side note, VF-103 had the only night kill of a North Vietnamese Mig while aboard the Saratoga while in the Gulf of Tonkin.

[@fawnlliebowitz1772]

Yup I was there on the roof to see the launch. He traded altitude for speed, hugged the surface until he was out of sight. Hauling ass.

[@mbryson2899]

It boggles my mind that in 1941 the U.S. had seven carriers but by 1955 they were up to CV 60.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

It is quite an acceleration of the carrier program isn't it?

[@Thetindallman]

They had a few other ones like the Yorktown enterprise and hornet. They turned modified them to be more modern

[@briancooper2112]

Cve took up numbers

[@brothergrimaldus3836]

CV(L)-23 through 30 were light carriers. 24 Essex class built after the Yorktown class 44,46, 50-58 were not used. (Canceled ships) But yeah, it's a lot.

[@awritenthat]

enjoyed this presentation , many thanks

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@itsnotalwaysblackandwhite8624]

Congratulations to The Northern Historian for a totally absorbing piece of work.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ThePrader]

I will show my age and mention that I was once a USN LT. I was aboard the CV-62, USS Independence. My stateroom was a deck below the steam catapults. My stateroom was never cold, not even in the north Atlantic in January. The best thing about being a ship driver on her was the food ! I miss "the dirty shirt mess" at 0200. Best hamburgers in the world. Night OPS were "fun" as well.

[@williambeeman3215]

Having served on the Saratoga 86-89 the story of the Sara's construction as I was taught onboard. In late 48 a keel was laid for a new class of carrier. When the keel was x Rayed it was found to have cracks. The cold war being in full swing it was faster to lay a new keel rather than fix the first. After construction of the Forrestal they went back and fixed the cracked keel and constructed the Saratoga.

[@fawnlliebowitz1772]

Not so.......... the would be USS United States was laid before Zippo and scrapped.

[@Kenneth-jj8po]

Nope Sinking Sara had to leave early and stay late on cruises that the Independence,CVA 62, had to make almost year long Med cruises to cover. From 1970 to' 73

[@clemrod3273]

I was on USS Saratoga in 92. I was working the night shift in the machine shop ( MR2) when we hit the Turkish ship. I remember it very well. Called Mass Casualties and brought the injured on board the Saratoga. Hated that it happened to the Turkish sailors, and hated to see Captain Dragger go also.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thank you for sharing that. It must have been awful for the Saratoga crew

[@clemrod3273]

@@TheNorthernHistorian where did you find the information on the Saratoga's anchors going to the Truman? I can't find it anywhere. Thanks for the video!!! Enjoyed it!!!

[@davidlane5561]

I was there too, hearing General Quarters followed by this is not a drill,,, sure wake a sailor up. Bad times...

[@iainmalcolm9583]

A good detailed account of this ship. I suspect that the 'incidents' that happened are probably more common than we would all hope.

[@fawnlliebowitz1772]

Yes, In Singapore fire in number 3 main killed 3. The stench permeated the ship for weeks. In 71 a main expansion joint blew...... took 38 feet of water. Patched up in Athens one day at sea another blew. We were in Athens about a month. Finished cruise on 3 screws and she would STILL do 22 kts.

[@sasmitadas4866]

Well explained and great video as well

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thanks very much.

[@bb-1359]

Interesting video.. I was on the final cruise in 1994, was not aware of some of the history

[@ManuelDiaz-on7tg]

Ship’s company… EM2 …. 1/25/75-6/27/79….. second half of 74/75, 76,77 and 78-79 med cruises. My last time to see her was in Brownsville, Tx where she was being dismantled.

[@Youtubeparolee]

I was stationed on the Saratoga during Desert Storm +/-

[@Albe3331]

Served on the Forrestal in 71, prior to transfer to the Seabees.

[@deandynamite1672]

I remember getting that See's candy passed out sometime after the Line of Death Fight with Libya, if my memory serves me right. It was touching that someone would go do that for the crew back then. America was more united back then, I think. Love it or hate it, the Saratoga did her duty.

[@JoannePittelkow]

My husband was on the plank owner..first commission cruise to Scotland.

[@CocoaBeachLiving]

I'm always sad when I think about all the ships that were not saved as museum ships. I knew some of Saratoga's service, but I didn't see the connections of the various seemingly separate events over her service life. Thanks

[@zillaman1237]

My grandfather was on the saratoga

[@robbabcock_]

Great video!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@slimeydon]

My father took me to visit her in the early 60s in Brooklyn.

[@jim2lane]

That's a sad story in regards to CV60 not becoming a museum ship. So a billionaire brings a football team to a major US city but makes the city taxpayers build him a multimillion dollar stadium - ah, America

[@kennethtolbird8762]

I was attached to VA-37 and deployed 3 times between 77 - 81. I am glad to find out what her history was and what happened to her. I was told she was used for target practice and end up as an artificial reef.

[@johnking8724]

my father served on CV-3, the Saratoga, 1932 to end of 1936 & then re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor !

[@timd1833]

Served aboard USS Saratoga June 71-July 75. 2 MED & 1 WESPAC cruises.

[@AnthonyBarney-ch8gi]

Served on the Saratoga, " the fighting cock", from 74 -77. Saw more of the world than I'll ever see again. Had good times and bad, but glad I served my country.

[@Icedawg-po3gj]

Sara was always considered a bad luck ship when I was stationed in Mayport.

[@fawnlliebowitz1772]

But she got the job done and some.

[@rickjones3420]

I think my dad was on the Saratoga in the Mediterranean during Strikeback

[@rygneisanau1724]

nice video thanks for uploading ! good work

[@110MAN1]

The Sara was part of the blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis. How was this not discussed?

[@danabergman4052]

I was aboard for the Aug 85 Med cruise attached to VF-103 as the squadron TARPS intel leading petty officer. I personally produced the black and white photo of the burning Libyan misslle boat. Also produced the TARPS imagery of Achiile Lauro and my squadron forced the Egypt Air 737 to land.

[@fawnlliebowitz1772]

Sara would do 35 kts, the only conventional that would.

[@billybudd6776]

1970-1973, washed a LOT of salt out of my hair. Regrettably now almost completely deaf. Sara did 35 kts btw.

[@joshuariddensdale2126]

Both Forrestal and Saratoga were moored right here in Newport, RI while efforts were made to preserve them as museum ships. I still have the newspaper article about them being taken away to be scrapped. A few years ago, we were attempting to acquire the John F Kennedy as a museum ship, but that also never materialized.

[@buzhopper]

The Saratoga and Forrestal were moored next to each other in the scrap yard in Brownsville TX. It was so sad to watch the satellite images of them being dismantled. Now they are both gone.

[@PoppiB]

@@buzhopper they were often along side in Mayport. They were beautiful ships.

[@bikerider4326]

I had the honor of serving onboard from 85 to 89. I was a “Grape Ape”.

[@jimbrowning1257]

Interesting, I was on the USS Ticonderoga during the Viet Nam war. Would love to hear about her.

[@StirlingWorden]

I use to fish all overMayport Florida.

[@StirlingWorden]

My dad was senior intellegence officer on this aircraft

[@davidlane5561]

The ferry sinking was caused by a inoperable bilge pump, we cleared the sea wall and going straight away into a wave the front of the ferry went nose up causing the water in the bilge to all procced to the back , causing the nose to shoot upward and sink from the back and go straight into the water... I know.

[@ravenopenheart2649]

Hello David, please read my reply to this video….I was there too. Raven

[@NavyVetVF103]

Also the Life jackets were stowed away and locked up, the captain and crew were the first off the ship, and the sailors onboard the ferry did not bunch up on one side, That was captain trying to save face! VF-103 Line Division I was on duty that horrible night

[@Youtubeparolee]

I was there that night. Still sucks.

[@MarilynMiller-fm3nj]

I was aboard the 60 from 65 to 66 a fine lady she was

[@StirlingWorden]

We were. At mayport florida

[@vet-7174]

Served aboard Sara , 72/73 R Div

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

I visited in 1994 with my RAF squadron just prior to Ex Distant Frontier in Mallorca. Awesome ship.

[@defndrofthepeople]

Did he say “1850’s”?

[@fawnlliebowitz1772]

As the Hey Joe's in Naples said..... Atsa my Boat!

[@johnzimpleman4965]

I ate many of those sanwitches, not bad.

[@Youtubeparolee]

You have zippo? 😂

[@fawnlliebowitz1772]

@@KZbinparolee Buy switchablade?

[@ravenopenheart2649]

So let me tell you what all you got wrong! Haifa Israel, I was there that night when that boat sank. There were 122 sailors on board, and the lie you just told about how it sank just made me mad ass hell. Let me tell you what really happened! It was cold as hell that night, waves along side over six feet. The ferry boat lost power, there were two crew, an old man and a young kid. When the boat lost power the bilge pumps quit. The boat started sinking, the old man and kid (the crew) jumped overboard without telling the passengers the boat was sinking. The boat took a wave right up the bow, that wave caused the ship to point straight up, the ferry sank straight down. There was only one door…facing the back of the ship. The windows were pad locked and could not be used to escape from, the life vest were in locked cabinets and un accessible. Everyone on board that ferry 122 men, had to fight there way out one door to survive! I interviewed every man on that boat, I saw the bodies brought in, and I watched men die as they tried to save them. Something else, Scott took a missile hit straight on that night we made the first launch into Desert Storm! His best friend, and long time friend of mine was flying as his wingman and watched Scotts plane explode right next to him. I was in the ready room that night and got the story first hand. Scott took a SAM head on there was no dog fight…so quit telling that lie! You want the facts son, you reply to me…I know what the hell I am talking about and know dam well you don’t. Raven

[@kennethtolbird8762]

Tell them about it!

[@leemaya3626]

A long time ago : All the night , the israelis hélicoptèrs were looking for the marines in the sea . Very sad night 🙏

[@ravenopenheart2649]

@@leemaya3626 Yes, it was very sad. I dream about it sometimes. I get the feeling you were there as well…since you remember the helicopter’s. Best wishes to you my friend for your most kind response. Raven

[@NavyVetVF103]

Thank you for telling the REAL facts! , VF-103 Line Division I was on call that horrible night, remember everything like it happened yesterday, Still have flashbacks of that night whenever I see a flare.

[@ravenopenheart2649]

@@NavyVetVF103 It never goes away. These people will never understand the truth about so much. Then after that we end up in Desert Storm. I was in V-2 working PLAT/LENSE. I will never forget seeing the hanger bay with all those stretchers laid out…I knew we were in big trouble the moment I saw it. Thank you for your reply, I wish you the best. Raven

[@leemaya3626]

15:30 🟡🙏🟡

[@byronmartin6459]

How wastefull our govt is !!!

[@StirlingWorden]

My boss was a jaguar cheerleader very pretty she is

[@billybudd6776]

Yet the team sucks, so BFD