USS Kitty Hawk on the Way To the Scrapyard

[@levijennings5655]

I work with a guy that served aboard the Kitty Hawk. He actually helped set her up for mothball. In either #1 or #3 engine room there's a bunch of plastic green soldiers hidden all over.

[@pauld6967]

@Levi Jennings Yes, such things are a tradition. It reminds me of a particular shenanigan I did at one of my overseas duty stations. Ah, good times.

[@justsoicanfingcomment5814]

Hope someone rescues those plastic army men. :(

[@MrLudwigVonSchnauzer]

My Father was part of the Bonny Dick's (CVA-31)decom. He and another sailor painted a few bulkheads pink.

[@davidatkinson47]

Thank him for me. On behalf of many, I'm sure.

[@kotori87gaming89]

Those army men stand a solemn watch, guarding against the gremlins that could infest the engine room and cause trouble. it's so important that I keep a stash of them in my rack every underway, just in case we have a gremlin outbreak.

[@Scottinqc]

the Kitty Hawk class used the Forrestal class as spare parts. with the scrapping of the Forrestal's there isnt the spare parts readily available to bring back a Kitty Hawk. Not to mention that they were USED UP. I served on the Constellation for her last three cruises, and it was in dire need of a LOT of work. It had at least one of her two rudders replaced with IIRC the Independence's rudders, because the original was eaten by corrosion (40+ years of hard use will do that to you). The plants were old and essentially obsolete, and to replace would require cutting MASSIVE holes in her to replace. America had already been used as a target (and was mothballed because her plant gave out) Kennedy had massive readiness issues that cost a couple of CO's their jobs (plant shot to hell again). Connie was plumb worn out, Kitty Hawk was only still around because she was the forward deployed carrier. When she got replaced, there wasnt much left of her either. The US Navy got their money out of these ships, make no mistake. While keeping them around may sound like a good idea, there just arent that many oil fired ships around anymore. New vessels are either Nuke, or Gas Turbine powered, leaving the poor snipes that work on them in a very limited community with little chance of advancement outside the oil burners (retention issues abound then). Once retired, that community got even smaller. IIRC when the Iowas were brought back in the 80's, they had to search for GM's with experience on the big guns. Again, limited community was still around from the Vietnam era (on New Jersey), otherwise they needed Korea era vets to get the tribal knowledge on how to operate the damn things. Oil burning carriers would have the same issues. Some things you just cant read in a book, and hope to be combat effective.

[@echo88charlie]

I'm always glad to read these sort of comments from people with inside knowledge. Your knowledge contributes just as much to understanding the issue as the video.

[@jtough7499]

I have heard much the same JFK and Kitty Hawk just plumb used up. They did their time....a LOT of time...

[@BIackCadillac]

thanks for the insight

[@howarddaywalt7285]

I sengt a proposal yo Philadelphia's mayor Kenney to make the old Battle cat a museum and get a huge portion of the city's homeless (veterans) off the streets as caretakers and guides, other than 3 HOTS AND A COT, THEY'D GET SOME PRIFE AND LIFESKILLS IN exchange for their help, I never heard anything back.

[@jameshuban6515]

While it's sad. The truth hurts. Like the battleships. These ships cost a lot to man and maintain. The only way they could effectively be brought back was if they were already service ready. (Look how long it took the Iowa's to be brought back in the eighties.) You have 3 carriers that are being built now and one (Ford) is almost ready for deployment. You also have to consider that you need airwings to operate off those ships. Do we have them?

[@dougmorisoli6482]

Ryan… this stirs some emotion. I grew up in SF East bay. In the mid 70’s, our boy scout troop toured the USS Enterprise in Alameda. They gave us each a tour program handout with pics and history of Enterprise and guided us through main parts of the ship. But it was very structured and limited. As we left Enterprise, there was another carrier alongside that was old, sooty and looked worn compared to shiny big-E. A Gilligan hat sailor hollered down to our group “How’d you like to tour a REAL warship?!”. He gave us a much more thorough less scripted tour and took us to more areas in the ship (probably less restricted than the nuclear E). We didn’t get a shiny program but we all enjoyed that tour more and learned more about carrier ops than on Enterprise. That carrier was the Kitty Hawk. 😥❤️

[@theblackbear211]

A little Background - I'm an Ex-Navy Nuke MM, and I just retired as a Merchant Marine Chief Engineer with ratings in Both Steam and Motor plants. There are a number of reasons that operating a conventional carrier that was launched over 60 years ago is just not really feasible- I could go into a long and drawn out explanation but for starters 2 things. First - there are very few conventional steam powered vessels left in the Navy - and none with a 1200 psi plant- ergo there are very few trained operators left in the Navy or anywhere else for that matter - it is becoming difficult to find qualified steam engineers anywhere - 2nd - the combined pressures and temperatures in a 1200 psi steam plant require some very specialized materials in the pipes and valves. I can tell you for a fact that these parts are getting very thin on the ground. The plants are worn out - the ship is past it's designed timeline - it spent most of those years being run hard - Unlike the BB's. As for Need? The big numbers in battle groups was part and parcel with Reagan's 600 ship Navy... No other Navy in History - not even the Royal Navy, has ever had the size and numbers advantages that the US Navy has today. US military spending outstrips every other nation on earth by an astounding margin. I live in Bremerton, and I was sad to see it go, but really, other than a museum ship it had no realistic use.

[@neilfranklin2284]

100% correct. (Merchant Marine Engineer and Civilian Engineer for the Navy for 30 years)

[@dennisammann9104]

Dear Black Bear, I was ship’s company aboard USS Kitty Hawk, 1982-1985. I cannot hide my sad feelings that she’s on her way to the Brownsville Ship Graveyard. You’re so right about her worn out steam plant and finding old relic engineers to teach the new personnel how to steam them. After departing The Hawk, I was diagnosed with the dreaded “1200 psi Steam Plant Disease.” I acquired it by seeking engineers to sign-off my Surface Warfare (SW) Personnel Qualifications Standards (PQS). I went beyond learning the steam cycle and would talk BT & MM talk to my wife. I was terminally ill when the doctors discovered I was urinating feed water, my farts were rated at 1,200 psi, and I was secretly drinking Bunker C. All kidding aside, I loved learning about the 1200 psi steam plant. Four of my 5 ships were running 1200 steam plants. My 2 DDs… USS Perkins (DD-877) & USS Everett F. Larson (DD-830); both of my CVs USS Ranger (CV-61) & The Hawk. After I retired, I rode the tourist RRs, Durango-Silverton RR and Cumbres-Toltec RR up in Southern Colorado. Those 1927 Baldwin Locomotives were running 150 psi boilers working those mountains pulling passenger cars. At Chama, NM one of the engineers let me enter his cab for 5 glorious minutes as he built up his steam. I quickly exited as we “talked shop” because he could have gotten in trouble letting me up there. He was impressed about my 4 ships working with superheated 1200 psi steam. Sorry to write all this as there is no one to talk about steam and boilers…. 😔🚂💦🔥☁️💨⚡️ Go Navy, Beat Army! 🏈 Fair Winds & Following Seas PS I retired as a YNCS.

[@theblackbear211]

@@dennisammann9104 So, you joined the Kittyhawk at PSNS? I remember when she pulled in - so they had Enterprise and Kittyhawk in the Yard at the same time for a while. Over the Years, I've operated 100-150 PSI, 200psi, 400 psi, 600 psi, and 900 psi - but never 1200psi. As far as I know, there aren't any 1200psi ship still operating - a few 900psi ships - but the new ones were launched in the 1970's. Take Care Seniorchief.

[@objuan6]

@@dennisammann9104 I enjoyed your comment, Chief. Like your last week at Gitmo, carrier quals, 8 hour full power, 1200 lb super-heating up a storm, smell of hot oil-soaked asbestos, bilge water all stacked up against aft bulk-head… spin me back down the years! God-damn you, Joe! I love you, no shit! You buy me helicopter! I should add USS America CV(A)-66,

[@FalconTypo6]

@@dennisammann9104 LOVE your post!

[@donnapascoe-bickel1914]

I was born and raised in San Diego. Kitty Hawk and Constellation, in particular, were ever present at North Island when I was a kid. Saratoga, Ranger and Coral Sea were also there a lot. Sad to see them go. Your point about the reserves is right on!

[@dennisammann9104]

Bless you Donna. 😀😌 Ship’s Company, USS Kitty Hawk, 1982-1985 & USS Ranger 1988-1990

[@donnapascoe-bickel1914]

@@dennisammann9104 Bless you, Sir!

[@chrisjeffries2322]

I was aboard USS Chicago CG 11 1969/1973, homeport North Island San Diego, and Kitty Hawk was always docked next to us.

[@jhollie8196]

Served on the Coral Sea from 77-80 while home ported in Alameda. Was part of the Marine Detachment. Awesome job.

[@FalconTypo6]

@@dennisammann9104 My Dad: Kitty, Ranger, and Tarawa (twice): 1970 - 1985. #ThankYouForYourService

[@dietslice]

I served on her from 1981-1985 in A- Gang, made Many Friends, grew up quick, and learned a lot.. Thanks to all our Buddies for their Service, no matter where they served !!!

[@ThatPCGamingNoob]

Do you remember the big red submarine painted on the tower after they rammed a Russian sub?

[@FalconTypo6]

Thank you for your service!

[@robertakins284]

I served on the shty kitty 79-83. Played on the ships Basketball team. We were undefeated in those years. Played at just about all west pac ports!

[@Vod-Kaknockers]

Who was your LPO? I ask because I was in A-Gang Hydraulics Shop at the same time.

[@A2Wx8]

RIP Kitty Hawk. Always loved the 60s era carriers. My favorite is CVN-65 but Kitty Hawk is a close second, I hoped (albeit knew it was practically impossible) that she'd be a museum since Big E could never be, shame reality just took full effect.

[@Bluenose352]

One carrier that really hurt, not becoming a museum, was the Oriskany

[@FalconTypo6]

Me too! I wish.

[@torreypanse1525]

I served on the Kitty Hawk from 1969 - 1972 in various departments. I had the opportunity to first see her in Bremerton, WA - going through an overhaul. I was able to look up to the ship from the bottom on the keel when she was in drydock - a VERY impressive view. She is big in the water, but IMMENSE in drydock ;-)

[@jerrydillard2430]

VA-37

[@dr.louismoore400]

Thoughtful commentary. My cousin and uncle served on Kitty Hawk so I also feel a connection to the ship. Another tie is, she was build in Camden! This, too, is a reminder that the USA could/should be doing more to ensure our older industrial cities remain economically vital. No great country neglects its cities and citizens, their welfare and well-being.

[@jennawren1672]

My brother served on this ship too. What years did yours serve?

[@dr.louismoore400]

@@jennawren1672 My Cousin served in the late 1980s. His name was Ken Heine

[@racketyjack7621]

My first ship USS Independence was scrapped a while ago; very sad. I later served on David R. Ray who escorted the "shitty kitty" on westpacs back in 80-84. Both the Ray and now the kitty are gone or going away. Man, I am feeling a bit old now. The Navy of the '80's is now history for the most part, as well as her sailors. Well, we did our part.

[@wheels-n-tires1846]

Toured David Ray as a kid...somewhere around 79-82... Still have the Welcome Aboard pamphlet in a photo album. Wasn't my first Spruance, had already been at sea a couple days aboard O'Brien when she was on acceptance trials. (Dad was a retired chief and sonar guru at LBNS) sad that theyre all gone. Makes me feel old when almost every ship Ive been connected to is gone...

[@scottwyatt2614]

I was on the Berkeley (Adams Class) in Westpac '81. I remember watching the David R. Ray coming through the Kittyhawk task force at "Full Military." Never even imagined that I'd ever see a ship moving that fast. Her bow wave was completely obscuring the bridge, and nobody would even believe how high her rooster tails were. A ship that big throwing rooster tails! The fantail was practically awash. Berkeley was sold to the Greek Navy when she was at about age 35. I guess if your ship is going to be sold, having her renamed the "Hellenic Ship Themistocles" is a decent consolation. She was scrapped about 5 years later. It's better than what happened to the rest of the Adams'. The lucky ones were the ones that were scrapped.

[@Cg23sailor]

Battle Cat, not Shitty Kitty, thank you very much. 😉

[@racketyjack7621]

@@Cg23sailor Lol, my apologies there shipmate. Of course, perhaps it depended on whether you followed her all over the Pacific doing plane guard or not.

[@alexdeglavina1412]

I remember Kitty Hawk being built at New York Ship in Camden while riding by on a bus. The dry dock was right there next to Broadway.

[@p.a.reysen3185]

Thank you for remembering the Hawk. I spent 3 1/2 years onboard as a Boilerman and in No. 1 MMR. For those that don't know, a MMR contains two 1200 psi D-Type boilers and No. Main Turbine for #1 propeller. Serving three tours off Vietnam, the temperatures in the MMR routinely reached 140 deg. Her compliment in the MMR was 20 Boilermen and 16 Machinist Mates. As much as I hated the job, I am proud to have served aboard her. By the way, the BB-63 provided spares and parts when they were moored alongside each other at Bremerton. Thankyou BB-63 for your blood. The Hawk performed a massive contribution to the conflict against North Vietnam. From her decks flew hero's. From her decks we cried at the losses. I lost three great shipmates in the fire in another MMR. I mourn her passing and agree that she should have been retained. These capitol ships could provide much of the support cities are needing in her ability to re-home the unemployed vets that are suffering on the streets of America. Excuse me while I cry!

[@p.a.reysen3185]

@@harrybirchall3308 Ask the VC about the 56,000 whose names are on the wall or the 380,000 South Vietnamese farmers, women and babies who told the VS and NVA they preferred to be free?

[@p.a.reysen3185]

@@harrybirchall3308 ASK THE 56,000 WHOSE NAMES ARE ON THE WALL OR THE ESTIMATED 385,00 SOUTH VIETNAMESE MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, INCLUDING INFANTS WHO WERE BUTCHERED FOR FUN BY THE NVA AND VC.

[@uhavenosushi]

@@harrybirchall3308 people like you are why we “lost”. By any metric we would have won that war. All metrics except for the amount of whiny asshats in our nation

[@LunarLizard]

I was a MM on the kitty hawk too, I worked in the water lab. Running down to the MMRs during a boiler contamination was a hell of a work out.

[@davidbeckham3821]

Thanks for the great post shipmate. I too was a Boiler Tech in 1 MMR, and had the privilege to be the Burnerman to light off the boiler for the last time & to be one of the last dozen enlisted crew during decom in Bremerton. Long days in that 140 degree heat. It’s funny, we had an MM from the A/C&R shop who was sent to 1MMR as punishment, that was great for moral! Despite all the hard times, it’s strange the fondness that I have for her, and am saddened to hear of her scrapping.

[@Bill23799]

I would love to have seen the USS Kitty Hawk preserved as a museum ship. However , I believe it would take a very creative plan to come up with the finances to preserve her and maintain her . I would rather see her sunk as a man made reef rather than facing the dishonor of being scrapped. Perhaps off the coast of Kittyhawk, NC.

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

I don't think that's a very good idea. As a reef, the metal is turned to iron oxide and eventually is dissolved in the water. We lose the benefit of many thousands of tons of iron. We have to mine and smelt more with all the waste and energy that entails. There is no "dishonour". It's just a rusty old tub. It's an inanimate object that needs torching and recycling.

[@the_tactician9858]

@@PreservationEnthusiast That's a take you don't hear often in the navy. Not necessarily a wrong take, but good luck convincing the sailors of the ship that their home vessel is an inanimate object. There's a very good reason why ships are often personified.

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

@@the_tactician9858 Yes, I understand all that personification, but the bottom line is, are the sailors prepared to put their wallets where their feelings are when it comes to preserving the ship. Because I'm betting they'll think the Gov, or the Navy, or "they" should pay for it. If a former crew of say 1,000 are prepared to contribute $5,000 a year, each, it could pay for restoration and preservation.

[@the_tactician9858]

@@PreservationEnthusiast Thats where the line between dream and deed is situated. I would have liked to see a ship like Enterprise be preserved, but alas the government decided otherwise back in the day. And I get that, and I respect that, but I can also understand sailors who have to see their old ship being broken to scrap while they can't turn it around because the costs would be astronomical.

[@ravenbarsrepairs5594]

@@PreservationEnthusiast Your just a scrapper who sees the $$$ value in stuff. You likely would say the same of any 500yr old artifact in a museum.

[@arturodelagarza9028]

REST IN PEACE BEAUTIFUL GRAY LADY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. MAY SHE REST IN PEACE.

[@bigsarge2085]

Interesting, not sure how I feel about these scrappings, but we can't keep everything. Maybe save the island as part of a museum somewhere? As an aside, my father served as a chaplain aboard John F. Kennedy in the early 2000's, I went on a tiger cruise on JFK from Norfolk, VA back down to Jacksonville, FL.

[@bernielomaxsmustache7204]

And?

[@gregmanning8967]

@@bernielomaxsmustache7204 The Kennedy was purchased by the same company that purchased Kitty Hawk and is right behind her to be scrapped (and was the very last conventionally powered carrier to be built).

[@IamGroot786]

I get you. I also have mixed emotions about all these scrapings too, but the reality is that it takes a well funded group and site for the Navy to agree into turning these majestic ships into museums. I did my Med cruise onboard the Kennedy in the mid 90's.

[@gerardweis43]

Great memories serving aboard the Kitty Hawk in V4 division up on the flight deck back in '78 - '79.Landed and launched off the deck in a C2 Greyhound.Loved watching the Tomcats up close in action.Will miss her like my first girlfriend.

[@Tommie_the_wrath_of_Khan]

Drove past the Bremerton shipyard last Wednesday and said “Yay, the Kittyhawk is still there”. Only to hear they towed her out a few days later. Definitely a sad day for the old girl…

[@tristanr7799]

I passed by bremerton alot on my way up in the Olympics, its a nice sight to see her, but now i wont get to.

[@Tommie_the_wrath_of_Khan]

@@tristanr7799 I live in Poulsbo so I pass the shipyard on a regular basis. But will be sad not seeing the kittyhawk any more.

[@zanaduz2018]

I served on USS John C. Stennis while she was in Bremerton (and a bit after her transfer away to the East Coast), and all during that time, there was no realistic plan to bring the Kitty Hawk back. There was a few idle thoughts kicked around among the snipes about visiting her for "hands-on experience" on the old plants, but nothing ever came out of it. Having looked around aboard during that time, she wasn't in shape to be brought back in any short timeframe. Rust abounded everywhere (no BMs to keep her in paint and needle-gun up the rust!), so while I'm saddened to see her gone from the berth she occupied, I don't think there was any other real option left for her. As one of the other comments above also notes, the BTs (Boiler Technicians) that would have been able to operate her (or the Iowas, for that matter) have all retired/separated out of the Navy, and short of a handful of Vietnam and Gulf War veterans, the knowledge base has all basically died off on how to operate them. So even *if* the Navy suddenly decided that it was worth the expense to restore her back to usable condition, the knowledge base to be able to actually run it has rapidly deteriorated to the point that the Navy would be hard-pressed to actually bring her up to steaming...

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

@@zanaduz2018 Scrapping these old hulks is something to be celebrated, not lamented. Well over 98% of the materials can be recycled. Considering that it takes less than half the energy to melt scrap steel than mine and smelt new ore, it's a great process. It also means the earth's finite reserves of ore are not depleted. On your second point about technology dieing with aging labour, this is not the case. The technology is not lost, just sleeping. If the navy really wanted to operate these old hulks, personnel can be trained. It is actually more difficult to train people to work on new ships. The weapons systems and propulsion are highly complex. They require very skilled technicians and engineers to keep them running. The old systems are simple by comparison where a sledgehammer, a big wrench, a gas torch, grease gun, and brute force would get you a long way

[@zanaduz2018]

@@PreservationEnthusiast I wasn't lamenting her going. Far from it, I fully expected it to happen years ago... This is more just reality finally catching up to the idea of the Kitty Hawk being in "reserve" when the knowledge base and money needed to bring her back is becoming increasingly impossible to find.

[@pbeccas]

Kitty Hawk is the only operational aircraft carrier I’ve been on. We got on in Fremantle Australia, did a couple days training off the coast, and then got flown back to Australia by helicopter. What an amazing experience.

[@whosonfirst1309]

I was on the Kitty Hawk from 85-89. It was a great ship and a good crew. God bless the USS KITTY HAWK.

[@Odin029]

As much as I'd love to save Kitty Hawk or Kennedy, the practical side of me says that a ship that size would have to be in a major city to even have a chance as a museum, but the largest cities in America already have at least one very large museum ship there. NY has Intrepid, LA has Iowa, Philadelphia, has New Jersey and Olympia, Boston has several museum ships close by. The Bay Area has Hornet and Houston is about to lose their museum ship. And unfortunately you can't get a supercarrier to Chicago.

[@dragonbrownies517]

Cape Canaveral, Miami, Key West, Tampa, Daytona Beach. Florida has cities that could take her.

[@TheBigExclusive]

Florida has plenty of space. And they actually are desperate for Museum ships. Not sure why Kitty Hawk didn't go to them.

[@owenkegg5608]

They managed to get a couple museum subs to a bit north of Chicago where I used to live through the lakes, my mother was around when they rolled one (U-505) up onto the land (to MSI). Unfortunately supercarriers are just a *little bit* larger than subs lol P.S iirc the other one was Silversides, I got to spend the night in it with some pals back when I was still in boy scouts, which was loud as hell, even without generators running.

[@tonymanero5544]

@@dragonbrownies517 No. The USS Texas required the State of Texas to provide funding to keep her from literally rusting and sinking. There’s simply not enough visitors to make it viable for any city except the cities with private funding. Interestingly, most cities would rather build a $1 billion stadium for football, but not for other purposes.

[@wheels-n-tires1846]

There was a group that tried to get Ranger to Portland OR... Even bought the riverfront land for it but it sadly never happened. If the tug dragging Kitty Hawk accidentally makes a hard-to-port and ends up in Portland, Ill be there to help with the lines!!

[@NicholasNGlenn]

I served on Kitty Hawk from 1992 to 1997 in A.I.M.D.. I truly wish that they made her a Museum. With the many battle "E" she earned they have a long and great history to tell. From the shores of Vietnam to off the coast of Somalia. It will be a great loss. RIP Kitty Hawk CV63.

[@FalconTypo6]

Thank you for your service! My dad (retired Commander) served on the Kitty. If I was a billionaire, I would have turned her into a museum.

[@aidens9261]

It's great to listen to somebody who is truly passionate and fascinated, talk about a subject that they know so much about. Very cool.

[@robertboyes2505]

I served aboard the Kitty Hawk, when I was assigned to HS-2 (H-3 helicopter squadron), that was assigned to carrier airwing (CAG) 2, from December 1983 to April 1984. By my understanding, the Kitty Hawk was scheduled to be scrapped in 2019. I'm guessing, the Navy was waiting for more commissioning of the Ford class carriers, before they decided to scrap the Kitty Hawk.

[@Gunbudder]

It's sad to see the kitty hawk go, but also the Fords are so badass

[@davidatkinson47]

Thank you.

[@AvengerII]

Robert Boyes, there was NO POINT in holding the Kitty Hawk that long. They haven't trained sailors to operate the Hawk's kind of boilers for over 15 years now! You'd have to bring retired vets to show the new guys how to operate that machinery safely! Furthermore, it would be more expensive to operate that powerplant because no other ship in the active Navy uses that kind of engine anymore. There would definitely be a spareparts issue and the only carrier that could be stripped to support KH now is the JFK which is in worse physical condition than the KH. All active duty Navy ships are turbine-powered or nuclear! The safety hazard alone of operating those boilers would be the big thing to shut down reactivation of KH. The other thing is the age of the ship itself. It was about 42-43 years old at least when retired. How much wear and tear can it reasonably take -- another 10-15 years? It would cost a few billion just to get it back into shape, billions that would probably be better spent on a new ship using a powerplant that's actually in service with the active duty fleet.

[@davidatkinson47]

@@AvengerII Calm down. Breathe. Have a sip of air. And maybe a sip of water. We all know the thing you just said. But we can be sad about the old girl going. Breathe in. Breathe out. She's going and there's nothing we can or should do about it. It would be a worse day if we lost you too, to a heart attack or something. Calm. Breathe. Stay around, for me.

[@robertboyes2505]

@@AvengerII, I was aboard the Ranger CV-61, assigned to HS-2, that was assigned to the carrier airwing (CAG) 2, in 1982, when the battle ship New Jersey was recommissioned and the Navy had to bring back Sailors, to teach the new Sailors on how to fire the 16 inch guns and some of the equipment aboard her. I do agree with you on a lot you've said, because, it would have cost a lot to get her operational with a ship crew and assign a airwing to her. Every 10 to 12 days, the Kitty Hawk had pull along the side of one of its oil tankers/supply ships for fuel and other supplies. While nuclear powered aircraft carriers, have to take on jet fuel and other supplies, every 14 days and change out their nuclear fuel rods, every 25 years.

[@brianp51]

It is such a shame. She was kept in the best condition for the longest time and spared of parts raids because of the reserve status. Not many 1200 psi propulsion plants left either!! A real marvel.

[@yanni2112]

I did 1200 PSI on three ships

[@thomasd3862]

Served as an A7E aviator on her. I still remember my JO bunkroom location, O3-74-2L. Her tactical call sign was Panther. What a great relief it was to trap aboard her. She truly became "home."

[@NuclearSalmon]

Very sad to see her leave Bremerton. We watched her slowly come out of the fog towed by the tugs, she looked like a ghost ship. The Navy is planning on mothballing the only 13-year-old LCS where the Kitty Hawk was tied up. One LCS was already sitting alongside her before she left. She was the last of the Mothball carriers to leave Bremerton, I would have liked to see her donated rather than sent to the scrapyards. There was an idea that the pier could be purchased from the Navy with help from the city and other organizations, but fundraising was the biggest issue, also I don't think the Navy would like the loss of a pier. She will be remembered. Hopefully some steel makes its way to new ships and her name to a new carrier. #KittyHawk #CV63 #BattleCat

[@JarrodFrates]

CVN-82 has been ordered but no name has yet been assigned, as far as I can see. The Navy plans to eventually replace the Nimitz fleet with Fords or Ford derivatives, opening up the possibility of resurrecting some proud names like Kitty Hawk and Yorktown.

[@AvengerII]

@@JarrodFrates Only if politicians stop slapping themselves on the back and naming ships for themselves. The tradition of namesakes and memorializing important battles stopped with the Nimitz class. It was shameful that they were naming these Nimitz class vessels after living heads of state and granting payback to politicians for backing the Navy. It's an unctuous practice, IMHO, and disrespectful. Service members who died while performing their duties in combat should get priority for ship-naming, certainly ahead of living and only recently deceased politicians, too. I don't mind that they named CVN-81 Doris Miller -- he was a vet and a decorated sailor at that. I think Jesse Brown ("Jesse" or a "Big Jess" would be a great name for a carrier!) would have been a more proper name for CVN-81 because he WAS a naval aviator and was killed in battle (Korean War) while providing CAS for Marine units. I'll give slack for naming CVN-69 after Ike because of his role in World War II but why the other political names I never appreciated other than it was payback and politicians congratulating themselves! The Pentagon is not going to revolt against Congress because they know their budgets will get slashed!

[@CS-zn6pp]

@@AvengerII tbh, I don't like the naming of any ship after a person, ex-servicemen or not.

[@dennisammann9104]

@@AvengerII Well said Avenger! It’s too dangerous to mention the names of recently named ships that I disagree with. Some are named after people who aren’t even veterans!!! I guess we ran out of Naval Medal of Honor recipients? 🤔😔😢

[@AvengerII]

@@CS-zn6pp We're going to agree to disagree. I do think they are service members who made the ultimate sacrifice who do rate the honor of a ship named after them. I most certainly do not agree with the general naming conventions of the Nimitz class vessels.

[@dennisammann9104]

Ryan, I wrote a lengthy comment a few hours ago and forgot to write that Kitty Hawk had a huge brass plaque on the port side of the ‘island’ (superstructure on the flight deck) describing the 1st powered flight of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, NC. They marked off the 120 feet the Wright Flyer flew that day on 17 Dec 1903. It was fun to show visitors the 120 feet and contrast it with the F-14 Tomcats tied down while in port at during port visits. 🤔😀🇺🇸

[@qitrodz]

I don't believe that plaque was there in 1975 when I was there, but that is cool. 1096' if I remember correctly? That certainly puts it in perspective. I always marveled that the Tomcat hardly moved the arresting cables whereas the Corsair II's practically dragged them to the end of the angle deck. The A-7 looked like a tank and drove like one. Blessings!

[@Scottinqc]

one thing I just remembered, (and led to the demise of the America) is that there are still confidential aspects of the construction of the Kitty Hawk class that are current to at least the Nimitz class, and possibly the Ford class. Keeping this information "confidential" is pretty damn hard if you no longer control the hull. Museum ship is a fate that lacks that control of information, as people tour these ships and the "wrong" people now could have access for the cost of admission. America was expended in a sinkex during the design phase of Ford, so that information on how she took damage was still evidently VERY valid. Scrappers have to maintain the "confidentiality" of the designs, else they dont get to scrap Navy vessels. Part of the reason that these ships are being scrapped in Brownsville as opposed to being scrapped abroad. The ship may not be useful, but her design elements definitely still are to some at least

[@Triggernlfrl]

Noo big deal since carriers are noweday's only floating targets when the US terrorist attack equal pears

[@BlackEpyon]

Gotta say, that's probably the best way for a ship to go: making the next generation stronger.

[@Gentleman...Driver]

@@Triggernlfrl Every big nation is currently building or operating air craft carriers, of which the US has the most advanced ones. And the biggest ones, too. They carry more aircraft and they can launch those faster (4 at once), which outpaces every other carrier design of other nations. Most nations are eager to get a hand on those plans. China and Russia would do A LOT for that. In a full scale world war III scenario not only carriers would be huge targets but all military and civilian assetts. Carriers are great if you want to project power and your interests far away from home. Thats why everyone is building those.

[@gellfex9287]

@@Gentleman...Driver Mr Jager's attitude aside, there's a strong strategic argument to be made that carriers are obsolete in anything but asymmetrical warfare. I read a naval history book where the last chapter was about this, that carriers were just too damn vulnerable to subs and missiles from major powers, and that subs are the true capital ships of our era.

[@phillipbouchard4197]

I believe the battleship's have been saved due to their unique nature as the world premier gunnery platforms. Unfortunately for Kitty Hawk she is just another Carrier and even if retained in the reserve fleet she most likely would deteriorate as funding for inactive ship facilities is always low on the Navy's priority list. I just hope the new Ford class works out or the Navy will be in serious trouble.

[@mrbear-fo8vd]

The surviving Battleships are the last of their kind and represent the end of an era. They represent the end of the era of naval gunnery, a long era that began with the 1st wooden sailing ships and ended with the mighty battleships. For this reason the battleship has a special place in history marking out an evolutionary step change in naval warfare. It's a shame more weren't preserved in other countries.

[@JamesJohnson-wq6bs]

Holy hell ... 00:50 ... I was IN the US Marine Corps, I've been aboard amphibious warfare ships (albeit a looooong time ago). But I have NEVER heard the expression "gator freighters." Classic. Perfect description as well. Thanks for the laugh!

[@edevans5991]

In theory a carrier is the perfect reserve ship. It might be next to impossible to fit the latest radar, sonar or whatever in an old frigate but a carrier should be able to fly a plane with the latest radar, etc. Overall, I guess that the sheer complexity of current ships makes a reserve fleet less attractive.

[@alonespirit9923]

Perhaps 'a' carrier but not this carrier since its structure and systems are now over six decades old. And then there is the account in the Congressional Record Volume 107 Part 23 of June 28, 1961, pages A4902 and A4903, quotes a June 26, 1961, article from Newsweek magazine where the USN for the first time publicly chastises the initial builder, in this case, NY Shipbuilding Corp, in Camden, NJ, for shoddy workmanship in the building of the ship & moves the ship to a different builder to be finished. That doesn't sound like a ship worth keeping in reserve.

[@Name-ps9fx]

In a war, the first volleys will destroy the flashy new stuff...after that, it becomes a war of attrition, and for that as long as the ship can still move and launch/recover her aircraft she's battle worthy.

[@generalharness8266]

@@Name-ps9fx yea but can she? I mean there is a reason they are going to electric launch systems instead of steam. Planes are getting heavier which means greater airspeed to be airborne which translates to more assistance from the ship.

[@Matt-uk7zq]

@@generalharness8266 i mean the takeoff weight of jets hasn’t really gone that far up. The f14, f35 and f22 have typical weights that are off by only a few thousand pounds at times, the latter being much, much older than the newer two

[@clonescope2433]

Will you have the problem of there are very few people who know how to work on the steam power plant inside of her. And the cost to either put in a new one or a new modern conventional power source is so astronomical it's not feasible not for a ship in active duty or in the reserve Fleet. She is way past her designed life like other commenters have said, it wasn't great to hear going to a retirement of museum ship life but there are very few ports that would be able to handle a ship of that size as a permanent resident and draw enough of a crowd to support a museum to keep her maintained.

[@pdoherty]

Enjoy your channel Ryan and the good info on naval ships and history. I was aboard the Hawk when she was the first conventional carrier to receive the F14-A Tomcat in 72. Also spent time aboard Midway CVA 41, Coral Sea CVA-43, Constellation CVA-64, and Lexington CV-16. RIP BattleCat! A good ship for sure.

[@holdmycoffee4470]

Midway Magic!

[@dennisammann9104]

Bless you Mr. Doherty. 😉😀 The Hawk, ship’s company, 1982-1985. 🦅

[@qitrodz]

HS-8 aboard the Kitty Hawk from 1973-75, with a DET aboard the Ranger. I was proud to see those first Tomcats, with their gold tinted canopies. Was even proud of Zumwalt and his Z-grams! I know that some of the old line officers were not fond of him. I also noticed a man in the air terminal on NAS North Island in a Master Chief's uniform. But one of his stars was out of place. I walked around to get a closer look and it was Master Chief of the Navy Whittey. (The Wiki page says "Whittet") Bllessings, fair winds and following seas!

[@stevencovington4715]

@@holdmycoffee4470 TRUE! Engineering /M Division/ 1 Group 85-87 MM1 (SW)

[@TheJudge2017]

She sould have absolutely been saved as a Muesem ship. It represents possibly the last chance to get another Muesem carrier. With all the Nuclear power ships, it requires massive amounts or work and money to take out those reactors, which hurts the chances of being Muesems.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Everybody who wanted a museum has one.

[@johngregory4801]

@@WALTERBROADDUS That's a big negatory, Ghostrider. Troutdale, Oregon did everything in their power to obtain USS Ranger for a museum ship. It wasn't until they cleared the last hurdle and had EVERYTHING the Navy told them they needed... That the Navy announced they were scrapping her.

[@devastator5042]

@@johngregory4801 there was also a big effort to get the Kennedy to Rhode Island that never materialized as well

[@johngregory4801]

@@devastator5042 Sucks. Both ships served well. I can't imagine what their crew feels, both the plank owners and the thousands that followed them.

[@CS-zn6pp]

The kitty hawk was a derelict by the end, she was in a very sorry state.

[@jimdzomba9968]

I was 7 years old when I witnessed Kitty Hawk’s launch from New York Shipyard just downriver from where New Jersey is now berthed. My grandfather worked on building her and sailed on her shakedown cruise as a civilian worker. Sad to see her go

[@davideasterling2729]

The "Shitty Kitty" ! Every time she wanted to go out and do training, my FFG was part of the group that had to go with her. We never seemed to get much notice. We would go out for a few days and still be in sight of land. I remember one time, I still had cell phone reception while underway with her.

[@chrisbrodhagen3658]

The "shitty kitty" I was a bubblehead and we did wargames with her in the 2000's killed her 13 times in 2 days, they kicked us out of the wargame and had to drive in circles at 2 knots for 3 days! I know she had a bent keel, but man was she a loud ship.

[@weepat5325]

I wondered if someone would mention the Kitty Hawk's nicknames, the media was saying that she was called the "Battle Cat", but I grew up in San Diego where she was based for decades, and I can't recall a single man who was assigned to her calling the ship that, it was always "Shitty Kitty" or "Shitty Hawk".

[@davideasterling2729]

I was stationed in San Diego, I always heard these nicknames, and almost never heard her called by her proper name by the lower ranks

[@erikwithaK-g6y]

About time we get serious about that fucking boat. Man, that goddamn thing was always flooding or on fire or both. One of the two times we actually went to real, no shit general quarters was for a fire in one of the machinery spaces that took out one of our deck elevators, like forever. 2000 timeframe I think. All that being said, I was proud to have been deployed on her and my squadron definitely had better work spaces and birthings than we did aboard Independence.

[@qitrodz]

@@weepat5325 I was reminded of Battle Cat, though as you say I rarely heard it called that. One thing we weren't back then, was PC. Shitty Kitty was the name, no matter what anyone thought.

[@davekelly9657]

I served on the Kitty Hawk. 82 85. Deck div. Loved my time on her.⚓⚓⚓🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@scottdoubleyou563]

I don't know about Kitty Hawk, but, until the DoD, DOE, and SECNAV figure out how to safely and permanently dispose of the reactor spaces for Enterprise, they need to continue SLEP'ing the remaining Nimitz class, and or put them in ready storage, because as far as I know, the Big E is taking alot longer, and has been way more expensive to dismantle than was originally proposed.

[@kellyovermyer6453]

Has to do with the states disapproving every single plan presented to transport fuel etc to disposal site. Political Fuckery

[@guinness77100]

The Kitty Hawk was the 1st carrier I toured in Coronado. I was in the 8th grade. What an incredible experience. I never forgot that experience. All kids ought to get to go through a tour like that.

[@RickLowrance]

You teach me something almost every video. This is a great channel and I think all of you are doing a great job.

[@michaeljeffries5701]

Sad but still proud of her. I served almost 4 years starting in 1962. I was 17. I was in the navigation dept. She is one of the great ships of the USA. Goodbye old girl, you'll be one of my best memories of my life.

[@GuillermoHernandez-mu5mj]

I went to A School with a lot of fleet returnees from Kitty Hawk's decommissioning crew. It's wild to see her going to the breaking yard.

[@tedwoodside975]

My Dad served three tours (66, 67, & 68) on CVA-63. He almost died fighting a fire. I remember looking at his "yearbooks" and seeing the pictures of the green air tanks piled on the flightdeck. He also helped replace the fresnel lens (meatball?) while underway after a bad landing ripped it off the ship. Lots of stories between basic training and his tours.

[@chuckman2823]

We dont really have enough planes (or aircrews) to fully load the carriers we have (nor or there really good plans to have them with the end of f18 production looming and f35 so far behind). that should probably be priority 1 for the surface navy before they even start thinking about saving old ships from the scrappers.

[@USM247]

I was Ship's Company twice on the Kitty Hawk. I am extremely proud to say "The Hawk is MY SHIP". I was on her when we 'accidentally' rammed that Soviet sub in the Yellow Sea. We proudly wore "The Navy's only proven Sub Killer" T-shirts. (made in the Philippines) Wonderful times on the HAWK!!!

[@fanofmarilan9076]

In May of '86,I saw the Kitty Hawk,Ranger and Constellation docked end to end to end in San Diego.It was an awesome sight!

[@RetiredSailor60]

I was stationed in San Diego from 1984-89 on USS Cape Cod AD 43 and USS Kinkaid DD 965

[@johnknapp952]

Stationed on and off at NAS North Island from '77 to '93 and those were the carriers that were always there, and maybe the Coral Sea. Late '70's you would also see CGN-9 Long Beach and CG-11 Chicago moored there (weapons loading?).

[@elwin38]

It was the same way in the Summer of '88. They were all at North Island at the same time.

[@rickieodem488]

You can thank Mike Petters formerly of Northrop Grumman and now CEO of Huntington Ingalls, who is the sole shipbuilder of nuclear carriers. His army of lobbyists fought like tigers to kill off any hope of saving the conventional carriers, both in the mothball fleet and as a concept for the future. Greed in both Congress and the boardrooms once again rule the entire military strategy of America.

[@tomnewham1269]

As an Australian, USS Kitty Hawk was a favorite of mine. It use to make port call visits in Sydney and is one of a few super carriers to do so as nuclear powered ships are banned from Sydney Harbour. I know the US Navy would hold an open day when in Sydney and thousands of people would take the a tour. Unfortunately after 9/11 the tours stopped in fear that a terrorist attack could occur and so I missed out. I had always wanted to take a tour of her so when the tours stopped I was quite disappointed, bloody terrorists. I know a lot of people will disagree with me but I think it is the right decision to scrap her. Keeping her in mothballs is quite expensive and even if the need to return her to seas occurred, an air craft carrier is no good without an air wing and support craft. So on top of spending money on keeping her sea worthy, money would also need to be spent on maintaining an air wing and more support vessels in the mothball fleet. Sad as it is, but no government has a bottomless pit full of money and budgets do need to met.

[@braddblk]

The Kitty was my 2nd carrier, Enterprise being the 1st. We pulled into Perth on the Conny she was my 3rd. The cruise I made on the Ranger was supposed to make 3 ports in Australia, Perth, Hobart, and Sydney but we spent the deployment off of Oman and such.

[@qitrodz]

I met some young lads from the HMS Hobart, if I remember right. I think this was in either HK or Subic Bay. After 4 times I felt too stupid to keep asking "what are you saying?" But Hobart is a name that was used back then, so it is likely. Anyway, while fighting fires here, I have had more opportunity to work with Limeys and Aussies. All very good folks!

[@qitrodz]

@@braddblk I did a DET aboard the Ranger. It seemed very decrepit to me, when compared to the KH. HS-8 73-75, RimPacs and WestPac75. I was offered a ride on the Nimitz, but talked my way out of it. WestPac75 was supposed to have a stop in Sidney, but we never made it.

[@dfurtman]

Thank you for covering the story of my old ship. I served onboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) from 1998-2002 in Yokosuka, Japan, crossdecking from the USS Independence (CV-62) in July 1998.

[@muskaos]

I was on Kitty Hawk 1996-2000, so we sailed together. I was in ATO in Japan, but I was in Supply before the home port change.

[@godlugner5327]

I've always hoped someone would purchase a decommissioned aircraft carrier hull and replace the flight deck with hills of grass to make it a floating island.

[@Masada1911]

I’ve always hoped that somebody would purchase a decommissioned aircraft carrier and use it as a school for young Japanese girls to learn driving tanks around But your idea sounds pretty cool too

[@orellaminx3530]

Golf course. Rich people would eat that up.

[@jessicacolegrove4152]

Panzer vor

[@cleverusername9369]

That would be basically impossible to maintain on any kind of long term basis, unfortunately. It's a nice idea, but ships that aren't under consistent, sometimes quite labor intensive maintenance deteriorate quickly.

[@Strato13]

That would be awesome. Similar concept much Ike the floating park on the Hudson River in NYC. But on a much larger scale.

[@oryanlee]

I live in Bremerton and seen it as it was towed out... I like this guys' outlook on war and readiness/availability. Should be an advisor.

[@Akira_Hibiki]

Is there any way I can get a piece of her? Please. All other avenues I've tried have not worked out. A bolt. A hinge. I don't care. I never knew my dad was in the army. But i certainly knew he worked on the Kitty Hawk. He worked at the Philadelphia shipyards a long time ago. It would be nice to have this connection to him through the Kitty Hawk. I know asking strangers online for help is often asking for trouble, but i have no other options.

[@bigldp9652]

Your best bet is to contact the USS Kitty Hawk Veterans Foundation as they have close ties with the ship and are trying to get it to not be scrapped as we speak.

[@Akira_Hibiki]

@@bigldp9652 Thank you

[@ravenbarsrepairs5594]

Per a facebook post from company, "Our ebay store is dormant as these recycling contracts require complete demil. No items can be sold. We are requesting permission to mint some challenge coins from Brass removed from these vessels now." That was in reference to USS STEPHEN W. GROVES.

[@Akira_Hibiki]

@@ravenbarsrepairs5594 Crap. Thank you.

[@richardmillhousenixon]

@@Akira_Hibiki If you can get in direct contact with the scrapping crew, they might be able to "misplace" a bolt for you

[@2strokesforlife]

I remember as a kid we took a 3rd grade field trip on the USS Kitty Hawk and we all got hats and a tour of the ship one of the best field trips that I remember

[@cleverusername9369]

As a proud North Carolinian it saddens me to see her go. Kitty Hawk being in NC, after all.

[@waldoman321]

My Uncle served aboard both the Kitty Hawk and the Oriskany during his two tours in Vietnam and service in the Navy.

[@davidjames7306]

My father was a plank owner, and I remember the day the crew boarded, damn shame, but we move forward

[@arkyump]

I was on the Kitty for two years. Our Kitty Hawk Veterans organization tried to buy it from the navy but they wouldn’t sell it. You’re right, it would take millions of dollars to make her int a museum ship. The other problem was there wasn’t any port that wanted her. At one time Long Beach and Pensacola were interested but they fell through.

[@donaldcarter1206]

Yokosuka is a very harsh duty station for ships. I worked on the Indy there in 95 and externally was in bad shape. We would chip the paint to weld something up and would more often than not put a hole in it. The same time frame i was working on the Kitty in San Diego and externally was pretty good but i went to Yokosuka in 2003 to work on it while it was in dry dock and it was looking a bit rough. I bet it was as bad as the Indy when it left.

[@ricksadler797]

Sad to see her go , Thank you for the kind words toward the ship I was hoping they’d save

[@stevenedington6265]

I would love to had seen the Kitty Hawk preserve as a museum ship. I served aboard the USS Johnston DD821 in the mid 70’s. I seen the problems aging ships face. On the Johnston there were places that normal wear compromised water tight integrity. As a ship to be brought back in to service it may not have been practical. As a ship to have been made into a museum ship, I think it would have been desirable.

[@weaselman24]

Wow. I remember getting a personal tour with some friends of mine when I was in the military when she visited Australia many years ago. An impressive machine and a hell of a tour.

[@chopper7352]

Ryan raises some very valid points. One can only hope the DoD & Govt have considered these issues, especially given the testing times we live in ....with an emerging Superpower on the rise (if not risen) & an old one on the march again.

[@50megatondiplomat28]

Honestly I think they are far more interested in applying modern race and gender theory to the military at large and purging ideological opponents right now. That's what all signaling and evidence shows. That's what a few of the many people fleeing the military are telling me.

[@ДжонПартлов]

Just curious, what old superpower is on the March again? Russia? If that’s the case, I think everybody’s gonna be ok except for donbass region of Crimea and maybe the rest of ukraine.

[@brucesim2003]

@@ДжонПартлов How very shortsighted. A journey starts with a single step. You don't stop a bully from the beginning, you get all sorts of trouble later, when he's bigger and harder to control. And the people in the Donbass just have to suck it?

[@M167A1]

Unfortunately there really wasn't any realistic expectation that any carrier from the reserve fleet would be able to be recommissioned in operational in time to use during a given conflict. There's always so much money to go around and it doesn't make sense to pay To maintain vessels you are never going to be able to use. Personally I think the day of the aircraft carrier is over, for reasons of cost and their inherent vulnerability.

[@M167A1]

It's not that simple boss. Like a lot of borders the Russian Ukrainian frontier is just lines on a map that don't really reflect the people on the ground. I have cousins in the area who consider themselves to be Russian. Likewise Europe has a disturbing habit of invading Russia and it's not really a big surprise that they don't want nato, an organization whose mission was fulfilled in 1990, expanding to their border. It pains me to say it, but we're on the wrong side here. By all means we should defend the Polish eastern border, but anything Eastward is going to put the Russians into a position they will not think they can back down from.

[@warshipsdd-2142]

Was on the Kitty in 63 when she was based at North Island, so sad to see her going for scrap. Agree with everything you so well stated.

[@warrior7ra]

I shared these exact sentiments with my Congressmen and Senator it went right over their head. I was told that it is a Navy decision. What, who controls the Navy and makes sure they are doing the right thing since historically the opposite is true. Personally I think either the Hawk or the old JFK should be kept in Ready Reserve and the other turned into a Museum Ship allowing for recall in a crisis. I would make the Hawk the museum Ship to ensure her ultimate survival, but I am biased I served on her in the early 90's as an RM and she was a great ship even when we had to take over the Constellations WestPac. My son is on the Nimitz so I have seen them nearly side by side and was able to get a brief tour of my old ship as well as seeing the Nimitz and Kitty Hawk is in better condition the reefers on Nimitz are not working most of the heads are secured and non functional I joked to my son and his Div O that they should switch ships and see what a real ship is (Ok I was only half joking) after Nimitz had to go back to port after only 4 days under way due to a cooling leak in her reactor this last Nov. and the Theodore Roosevelt was in at the same time and while she looks a little better than Nimitz the Kitty Hawk which hadn't been manned or painted in over ten years still looked better. The modern Navy doesn't impress me.they haven't had a successful design of a surface vessel in 25 years the littoral's are an absolute joke, the massive waste of time and money that was the Zumwalt's and the waste that was the patrol boats that are being sold to foreign countries with Two of them only being two years old 10's of billions in the gutter but proven vessels go cut them up. Absolutely idiotic.

[@dennisammann9104]

10-4 Mr McGregor! Well said, Bravo Zulu. 😀👍

[@seanpeacock4290]

Personally I would rather have the military tell the politicians what to do and not the other way around. Politicians are the ones who keep trying to scrap the A10 Thunderbolt because it is an old design, and despite there not being a better aircraft for that roll.

[@dennisammann9104]

@@seanpeacock4290 I love the A-10! 😀🇺🇸

[@Bill23799]

The Captain of the Nimitz should have sent out a detachment of men from the ship to hit every Auto Parts dealer in port and buy up every bottle of " Bar's Leaks " radiator sealer. that would have fixed that coolant leak on the reactor. Hey, it worked for the USS Nautilus. Haha, this is not a joke. It really happened.

[@warrior7ra]

@@seanpeacock4290 actually it's the Air Force that wants to kill the A10 it was the Senate that saved it because the Army and the line soldier begged for it. The Air Force is only behind the Navy Dept in bad decisions.

[@gonavy1]

Never served on board the USS Kitty Hawk but had some good friends who did. ⚓

[@johnknapp952]

The Kitty Hawk was the only ship I was attached to as ship's company ('93-'94). Compared to all the time I spent TAD to FF's as part of LAMPS Detachments, life on a CV was easy. She was also the last ship I was on.

[@seafodder6129]

My last ship as well. I was the MMC in 4MMR during her SLEP in Philly back in the '80's. Also the last ship ship I served on going to the breakers. Now they're all just pictures on my "I Love Me" wall...

[@tamirashields479]

Served on Uss Kitty Hawk in Philly while finishing SLEP in 1990. Loved the ship and miss the friends I served with. Very sad to see her go. I live in Washington and was able to see her a few months ago and get a few photos to go along with the ones I have when I served. Pray they name another carrier after her to continue the legacy.

[@johngrimlock5727]

I actually built the Academy 1/800 Kitty Hawk recently. Very disappointed to see Kitty Hawk get sold for scrap. While it would be a logistical hurdle, seeing her as a museum ship would have been absolutely incredible.

[@AngryPenguin22]

I had a model of the Kiutty Hawk when I was a kid too. I got it after it was in our port and got a fantastic tour. I'll never forget just how rough and sticky the runway surface was. Something I remember talking to my Mom or Dad about how much it would hurt to fall or get dragged on it. Good memories!

[@bradleynorton3365]

QUESTION for Ryan or others at BNJ: How much would it cost (or what level of endowment would it require) to maintain a ship like Kitty Hawk as a museum ship for, say, the next fifty years?

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

Probably at least $5million per year, plus $40 mil to get her through two drydocks in that time, which isn't really enough. And then several tens of million more in set up just for a pier, building, exhibits and initial restoration to make the place vistitable. Hundreds of millions of dollars at least

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Powerball type money. Just to get off the topic of worships. The Queen Mary as an ocean liner faces the same issue. The City of Long Beach cannot afford it's upkeep. It's future in great doubt.

[@edwardweeden2834]

Thank You! Very muchppreciate this post. I was a 'birdfarmer' in the 1970s and served as the COMTAC Materials Custodian. Only served on one twice - my favorite - Ranger. Good ship. Participated in the attempted rescue of POWs in Vietnam. 13 Battle Stars. Only carrier to launch a U-2 on a tactical operation. Succeeded Nimitz after the disaster of Eagle Claw. Closest carrier to Kuwait during Gulf War I. Sad to see my 'home' sold for a single dollar to Brownsville! Very expensive to maintain, but certainly cheaper than a new ship construction - non nuclear! We always hate it when a family member dies . . . one of these non-nuke supercarriers should have been made museums on each coast. My votes for their locations would have been Portland and Jacksonville. The hull numbers - 61 and 63. Now none of us will ever see a supercarrier museum - they're all nukes now, and BuShips will never let a nuke carrier be a museum.

[@anthonylowder6687]

I remember seeing the Kitty Hawk back in 1985 when I was a recruit at the RTC in San Diego. We were going out for Damage Control practice and there she was….my first look at a carrier and I was amazed even though I could see her from a distance. Our Navy is in really sorry shape and the way things are going we are going to pay the price for this someday.

[@jerry2york]

I served aboard CVA-63 from 64 - 66. We had a fire late 65, lost 2 wonderful shipmates. Two unidentified guys saved me and and a friend, if you read this - belated "Thank-you." I was at the decommissioning in 2009 and been following her recycling. Heart breaking to see her vanish, so many emotional memories that will be with us until we vanish. Proud to have done my part while she was active.

[@michaelsullo3698]

Sorry to see my first ship (73-75) go to scrappers. The Kitty Hawk Association was raising money to put her in Long Beach near Queen Mary but a few years ago The Navy said no. I wihed we could have saved her.

[@arnaldoalbelda1769]

I will miss USS KITTY HAWK from ex US NAVAL BASE, SUBIC BAY PHILIPPINES employee. I was apprentice graduate from 1977 to 1981. I work at the base until it closed down year 1992. I was a.machinist apprentice and work o many aircrart carrier including USS KITTY HAWK. Cannot forget the days i worked with this beautiful floating metal. GOD BLESS and THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[@kylehardman9135]

sad to see kitty hawk go would have been nice to see her as a museum

[@nielsenricky]

As a kid I was lucky enough to go onboard Constellation during one of her family & friends days. The family member serving was an officer, so I was able to tour the bridge & meet the captain and 1st officer. What an exciting day for a 7 year old!

[@cameronmccreary4758]

I remember when the Kitty Hawk used to retrieve the space capsule's for NASA in the Pacific Ocean after splashdown, during the 1960s and '70s. It's too bad that they're scrapping it because it's history. The nickname is claimed to be " Battlecat." I too had a model of the Kitty Hawk. Alot of airplane glue headaches.

[@josephberg784]

I knew a couple who met on Kitty Hawk in the early 2000s. They both said she was an engineering nightmare. So much had been jury rigged and made do over time that once a rusted bulkhead gave way and a whole other compartment was discovered that had been plated over at some point in the past, complete with 1970s beer cans!

[@billb5669]

As sad as it is to see a beloved ship head for the scrappers or be sunk for a reef, the realistic point is that it gets to the point that spares and repair parts are impossible to find. I was in the Navy/Navy Reserve for 24 years and worked for the Naval Supply system for 29 years. I served on a destroyer and several tenders as well at several SIMA's. In supply most of my time was in parts procurement. Trust me when I say it is far easier to find parts for a 57 Chevy than a ship of the same age. Companies that made equipment for those ships are out of business or have merged so many times that tech data has been lost or thrown out. When the BB's were activated for the last time there were still spares in the supply system. Yes, it was not easy to bring them back but failures of major equipment was at times impossible to resolve. I know as I looked for equipment to support the BB's. Bird Farms had issues with getting circuit breakers. Decommissioned ships were cannibalized to keep active ships in service. So a fond farewell to the Battle Cat. You are not a supply problem any more.

[@jefferymaxfield7826]

I was Air Gunner Kittyhawk Jan 94 to dec 97! Great times! Great ship! So sad to see some of these carriers I served aboard being scrapped!

[@jamesrichardson1326]

I was on the Midway when she was forward deployed to Yokosuka. Good times.

[@bobmiller37]

Me to

[@jimjacobson4797]

Did two tours on Kitty Hawk, '78-'81, '87-'90. First as a JO Intelligence Officer and second as the ship's Intelligence Officer. Brought her out of SLEP and around SoAm to San Diego. An excellent ship with many fond memories.

[@dont-want-no-wrench]

worth mentioning that in the 80's reagan wanted to really expand the navy, basically to spend the russians into submission. so we dont need as many ships as they wanted then. currently there are huge threats to national security that wont be solved by more armaments-russian meddling, pandemic, etc.

[@TheBelrick]

The threat to usa these days is within. Chinese spies taking all the tech. Corrupt officials. Indoctrination leading to woke policies etc

[@terryschall1318]

i was on the kitty in the mid 70’s with VA 52 an am going to grieve for her . she was a great ship !!!!

[@fifthcolumn388]

I’ve always thought they should scuttle carriers near places with tourist interest but no suitable location for an airstrip.

[@TwistedSisterHaratiofales]

She was my home for 2 cruises. 1885 and 1987. This makes me cry.

[@TwistedSisterHaratiofales]

PS. Goodbye to my old home.

[@pitchpine5336]

You forgot to mention the Kitty Hawk was built within sight of Battleship NJ.

[@Jackylone-]

Love aircraft carriers, did time on the Midway (in Yokosuka Japan) and Constellation in the late 70's and early 80's. We tied up with The Kitty Hawk on North Island in San Diego. Miss my Navy carrier days!!!

[@carisi2k11]

recycle the steel to build new ford class ships and instead of naming your CVN's after presidents they should maybe call them yorktown, kitty hawk, constellation etc. Kitty Hawk and Constellation are the only super carriers I have seen in person when they docked in sydney in the early 2000's.

[@kingkush7134]

My grandpa served on this aircraft carrier, not sure when exactly tho but it was during the 60s and 70s tho... I remember always seeing him with the hat saying USS KittyHawk all the time, he was proud to serve on her...💯💯💯

[@zendoargos4988]

I agree with the idea of keeping some super carriers in reserve. With the logistical nightmare of keeping a nuclear carrier in reserve...is it powered up or sitting dead...the idea of keeping conventional super carriers around makes sense. Maybe the Navy should build a brand new conventionally powered super carrier class to pair with the nuclear carriers. I wouldn't go 1 to 1 nuclear and conventional, but 3 to 1 or 4 to 1. Build 3 of the Ford Class and then build a Ford-derived conventional carrier. There would be trade-offs due to the differences in power generation so the final ships wouldn't be the same, but you could have Ford Class technology in a conventional super carrier. Most of the world still uses conventional power plants for their carriers. Those carriers can't match the Nimitz class or Ford class, but they couldn't really match the Kitty Hawk class either. The Navy is unlikely to order another conventional super carrier, but it would have a great benefit in the long term if they did.

[@JCbull]

But our government has not made sense in decades

[@zendoargos4988]

@@JCbull decades? Did it ever actually make sense? It all seems like smoke and mirrors to me.

[@nikonmark37814]

I feel a connection with the Kitty Hawk because of my time spent on the USS Independence, CV-62 from October 74 - June 78 as the Indy was scrapped too. Old salty dogs like myself will always remember these mighty ships.

[@MaximusWolfe]

Mighty? The kitty hawk was a mass of shit. It was despised by everyone on board when I was on it.

[@danielparrish5336]

When the JFK was taken back from the naval reserve (i know thats not the same as being in the mothball fleet,) she had such severe material deficiencies that it became cost prohibitive to operate. They had shafts that sieved up, catapults that were permanently inoperative, hull deterioration that was so severe that some naval engineers even questioned her ability to be drydocked. Ive heard (unconfirmed) reports that in one of her last drydockings they found a portion of her hull big enough to drive a truck through had rusted away to the point it had just failed completely. Unfortunately something as complicated as a modern carrier is meant to be worked and sitting idle does more harm than good

[@ftgrat1]

I knew about the cat issues on JFK, and I believe the hull deterioration stories also, The ship looked pretty rough sitting in Philly when I visited her in 2012. She's the next one to get the tow to Brownsville! Served onboard JFK 1980-82. And a RIP to Kitty Hawk!

[@supercrew63]

it will be a shame losing her. Growing up in San Diego she was always a welcome sight. When she was in port on Christmas they had he lit up beautifully.. She will be greatly missed.

[@kskoog2019]

In 1972, my father convinced my brother to enlist in the Navy to prevent him from being drafted into the army. The recruiter promised my brother that he would be working on nuclear reactors...and he ended on the Kitty Hawk...he was not pleased with the Navy.

[@CheezyDee]

When I was in the Navy in the late 80's getting into 'Nukes' was a 6 year enlistment, pass or fail. Boot camp, then a year in nuke school, and if you pass, you go on a nuclear powered ship. If you failed, then you're just a "conventional" MM with a 6 year obligation and they dump you in the pit of a 40 year old ammunition ship with guys like me.

[@kskoog2019]

@@CheezyDee I was young at the time, but what I remember he was suppose to go into nuclear reactors but once he got in, there were no position available so he got assigned to the Kitty Hawk.

[@beckyumphrey2626]

@@CheezyDee not the case in Airdale side. I was a 6 year rent a crow. I went through A school and was rated as AT3. I got out of six and only did 4 by having too many remedial points in A School. It was a cool scam.

[@meatpopsicle1567]

Airdale here, from VS-38 Red Griffins flying the Lockheed S-3A Viking. I re-upped on the Hawk 4 July 1984. Two days later, I was launched off cat 1 onboard a C-2A Greyhound, bound for the States and my next squadron. My O level shop, AT/AE/AX, was on the O-3 level, starboard side aft, right under the Tomcats. We were given a chilled magazine as a space. Being a chilled storage space, there was no ventilation. This was in the days of cigarette smoking, so the shop filled up with smoke in a hurry. It was like working 12 hours in a bar, but without the booze and loud music. We all reeked after our shift ended. As for the condition of the boat when I was on it in 1984, I can safely say that the USS Constellation CV-64, which we sailed on during WESTPAC/IO 81/82, was a rustier bucket than the Kitty Hawk, even though the Hawk was older. Being out to sea is hard on vessels and aircraft. Rust never sleeps.

[@stevemc6010]

Really wish one these last two Kitty Hawks were saved too

[@kevinleap7896]

I can't remember exactly when. But at some point in time between The Korean and Vietnam war. My grandpa was on the Uss Kitty Hawk. He was a fist class gunners mate on there. It was amazing hearing the stories of what he did and had to go through. He was also on a few different destroyers as well

[@vburke1]

I'm guessing the likely increasing difficulty of running something that large with fossil fuels had a lot to do with her demise. I can't imagine the phenomenal problems trying to find resources to maintain one of those as a museum ship. Impractical to say the least.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

That's a very good point. From a logistics standpoint, the old ships are oddballs.

[@kilianortmann9979]

Not necessarily with fossile fuels, but with a conventional stem turbine power-plant. New carriers are nuclear, everything else diesel or gas-turbine. The only other class on steam boilers was the Sacramento-class replenisher and they were retired probably also for engine reasons. There is no one left that knows how to operate an oil fueled boiler.

[@robertakins284]

I served onboard the good ole Hawk for three years. My first year I worked on the flight deck as a Aviation Ordinance Mate. The last two years as a Interior Communications Technician. So many good friends and memories. Also played on the ships basketball team that went undefeated those 3 years. Shout out to Kerry, Friday and Victor(Baby Magic) Looked just like Magic. Played all over the world. Once set up a court on the flight deck while docked at Coranado. Played against Medowlark Lemons team for a airing on Wide world of sports. So we got to play against Wilt Chamberlain. This in 1980.