Why Did US Navy Give Away a Supercarrier For FREE?

Check out Atomic Aerials YT channel for their amazing drone footage: / atomicaerials
Is a decommissioned aircraft carrier really worth 1 penny? Well that is what USS Kitty Hawk and USS Kennedy were each sold for, but the reason, is #NotWhatYouThink #NWYT
Music:
Fly Baby Fly - Fabien Tell
Going Somewhere - V.V. Campos
Progressive Progress - Howard Harper-Barnes
Money Job - Gerhard Feng
Kowli - i.am.in / koli
Preparing the Machinery - Jon Bjork
Footage:
Courtesy of Atomic Aerials
Courtesy of Huntington Ingalls
Courtesy of EMR Metal Recycling
Videoblocks
Envato Elements
National Archives
US Department of Defense
Note: "The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement."

[@Idahoguy10157]

A vessel becoming a museum ship is extremely rare. I’m betting since WW2 at least 99% get scrapped or sunk.

[@skussy69]

Well the sunken ones can be visited at least

[@ronniejensen8142]

Yet we did preserve all four examples of the Iowa class.

[@yukiko_5051]

@@ronniejensen8142 Yeah, that's what 1% is

[@wavynavy2989]

@@skussy69 True

[@villagewingnut2920]

RIP the Big E... Enterprise had such a colorful history and she was scrapped.

[@bodypillowbitch]

my grandfather was a part of the commisioning crew of this carrier, and to see it being sold and scrapped for a penny after all the stories hes told me about it just hits differently

[@qwertyuiop1234567180]

They did the same damn thing to the USS Enterprise CV6 of WWII. I think that was one of the most horrible mistakes they could have made. Most decorated ship in US Naval history and it was destroyed for scrap

[@patrickkeyes6682]

if he was part of the first crew he's a plank holder and at least gets a piece of her right?

[@bodypillowbitch]

@@patrickkeyes6682 exactly right, we have talked about going down there to try and snag a piece since we live in texas ourselves

[@bodypillowbitch]

@@qwertyuiop1234567180 i agree mane, shits so saddening to see happen

[@austinhernandez2716]

The scrap value is millions

[@jeanday9747]

It's really sad to see 2 super carriers sold as scrap. When I was in the Navy I remember seeing USS KITTY HAWK in the bay. It's sad to think that future generations won't be able to see these ships. Would have been better to turn them into museums.

[@TheAnnoyingBoss]

We got uss midway bro. And ol iron sides

[@michaelkendall662]

I sailed with the Kitty Hawk in the Pacific when I was in the USN

[@krashd]

@@TheAnnoyingBoss And several dozen more war ship museums in almost every city...

[@particles343]

We have 5 museum carriers. That's enough really. They take up space and money and resources. At least if a war starts we'll have 5 ready to go-ish.

[@michaelkendall662]

@@particles343 we have 7 LPDs and 2 LPHs that can act as smaller carriers in addition to the 11 current supercarriers....my understanding is the LPDs have had their well decks modified to take space away and add it as hanger space for servicing and 2 of them recently deployed with 20 F-35Cs aboard

[@Halpin2006]

This same fate happened to USS Ranger, CV-61 in 2014. Ranger was also taken all the way around South America, up to Southern Texas, and scrapped in the same yards as Kitty Hawk. Which is also sad as Ranger had served in Korea waters, all of the Vietnam conflict, and Desert Storm. Just like handsome old ladies, these ships were taken for "cremation" after they had long been retired. Breaks a sailor's heart!

[@gordonbergslien30]

Ranger may have sailed in Korean waters but she wasn't laid down until August of 1954, more than a year after the Korean War ended.

[@jonathanborg6242]

if it were up to people like you we'd have a shipyard full of old useless ships rotting away just so people can look at it for nostalgia's sake. I don't mean to get on yer case er nothin' but I don't see any good coming out of that mentality. These things are massive pain's in the butt, if a company wants to take it off our hands to salvage it, then good on them!

[@jameshisself9324]

@@gordonbergslien30 That is correct, but Ranger also conducted many large scale exercises with South Korea and visited as a port call many times. My first exposure to Kimchi!

[@frankgordon8829]

@@jonathanborg6242 I was on the KH when it went into dry dock for 16mos. in Bremerton. They had a section where the old, rusty ships were. I went on the USS Arizona, which thankfully WAS turned into a monument. But at that time it was just a bunch of rust. I noticed a brass plaque stating that was the spot the surrender was signed in WWII. I thought then, WTF are we letting this immense piece of history just rust away!

[@bullreeves1109]

The main issue I have with the Kitty Hawk and JFK being scrapped is that they are the last conventionally powered Super Carriers. Nuclear Powered Carriers have been deemed too hazardous to be turned into museums. As learned when people wanted the Enterprise(65) saved. So really the Kitty Hawk and JFK were the last chance of ever having a Super Carrier museum.

[@ralphy1989]

They arent nuclear powered.

[@bullreeves1109]

@@ralphy1989 Exactly the point My friend.

[@cowerdnerddespacito9518]

@@ralphy1989 that’s the point

[@houseplant1016]

Shame for the later generations.

[@NotTurtleish]

@@ralphy1989 if you read thats the point

[@nathansoganich1565]

Next time can I buy it??? PLEASEEEEEE

[@NotWhatYouThink]

Start saving ... 😉

[@aviationist1018]

Then I’ll Buy Gerald R. Ford

[@ilickedyourballs69420]

@@aviationist1018 ill wait till you get over 13 billion USD

[@aviationist1018]

@@ilickedyourballs69420 haha

[@temosofthecommunistrepubli2637]

@@NotWhatYouThink one Pennie

[@Hunter-zp5hd]

I spent 2 cruises on that ship as part of VFA-27. At the time, I thought it was a pretty rough job, but I have good memories of my time on that ship as I get older. I miss all the guys I worked with. But it’s simply not practical to keep the ship as a museum. All things must pass, and now we have new ships and sailors doing the job. Rest in peace, Hawk!

[@briancclevenger]

It broke my heart when I first heard that Kitty Hawk was closed to those that served at the decommissioning ceremony. Then if that wasn't bad enough, the Navy scraped her for a penny. This was my first carrier after get my wings. I loved every minute at sea on her, every takeoff and landing. My shipmates were family and whether you were enlisted or an officer, we had each others backs when anyone targeted or threatened us. We pulled together when needed, and when we crossed the equator, well lets just say it was fun being a shellback. To every man and woman who served, I say thank you and if we served on the hawk together, lets throw down some at a cook out.

[@snugglyhugs8698]

5 years. Crossing of the Line Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom Battle E I both hated and loved this place I called home. Farewell Kittyhawk, or as my fav captain said "The battle-cat galactica"

[@albertbresca8904]

sounds as if vets tried to get together enough money to get a museum set up but couldn't get enough together ... but they tried it seems....

[@saiyamang5397]

Served from 01 to the end of 05 in deck department maintaining parts of her Hull, refueling and steering her wherever she needed to go.... Breaks my damn heart to know that the only way that future generations will see the hawk will be in videos.

[@mattcero1]

Just sink the damn things in very deep parts of the ocean! Or perhaps create a man made reef it it's not classified. I always laugh at how many sentimental fools comment and come out of the woodwork during videos like these. Get over it! Nothing lasts forever, PERIOD! I was in from '89 to '98 and flew 53's, heavy combat support and really don't give two shits about any old Navy "equipment" and neither should anyone else. Quit living in the past and get a life.

[@Chuck8541]

@@mattcero1 Found the veteran nobody likes.

[@SpringDivers]

Let's not forget that USS Forrestal's fate was the same. She was the first supercarrier. A better part of four years of my life was spent on board.

[@kwaktak]

Yes, as was with the Saratoga, Ranger, Independence and Constellation. All sold for a penny.

[@wksmjsjsnsjs4887]

Saratoga was sunk by a nuclear test was she not?

[@cleveland2286]

@@wksmjsjsnsjs4887 wrong saratoga When a ship is stricken from the naval register, her name can be reused on a future ship. In this case, Saratoga was indeed sunk by the atomic tests of Bikini Atoll, although her name was reused for a Forrestal class supercarrier only a few years after WW2. Even USS Saratoga CV-3, the one you are thinking of, was not the original Saratoga.

[@wksmjsjsnsjs4887]

@@cleveland2286 uss saratoga CV-3 was sunk by the nuclear test and from what I read yes u are correct just had to wiki it

[@wavynavy2989]

It's sad.

[@AtomicAerials]

It has been beyond amazing getting to know the NWTY crew and finally hearing from people who share the same interest in machines, megastructures, and wacky Cold War engineering history that I love to shoot. All of you, fellow creators and commenters, are helping me find my creative voice and - more importantly - inspire me to complete the next trip and get the next shot. Thank you again for your inclusion!

[@SuperCompany007]

Not What Think You ?

[@jhollie8196]

I remember seeing the Kitty Hawk, Ranger and Connie mored in San Diego Bay as a kid in the 60-70’s. Was hoping to be assigned to one of the 3 when i was transferred to Sea Duty as a Marine. Ended up in Alameda on the USS Coral Sea. And enjoyed every minute and made life time friends. The Enterprise was docked on other side of pier.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

If that was late enough in the 1970s, you might have seen me ON Ranger.

[@badgersworldofmotorsports511]

I went on the Kitty Hawk when I was nine years old in San Diego, CA!! My uncle Tom was a combat photographer in Vietnam!! He was in Vietnam them but a friend in San Diego took my family on a tour of the Kitty Hawk!! Wish they would have made a museum of this ship!!

[@jonathanpalmer228]

If y’all want to support these museums that already hold these iconic ships they have KZbin channels I highly recommend. Especially USS Texas because she is the last dreadnaught to exist in the whole world and is in disrepair.

[@jonathanpalmer228]

@Yuri Setsuna she is but will still need all the support she can get. I couldn’t believe it when I found out she was the last dread naught

[@ImpmanPDX]

I like to think that Drachinifel had something to do with it, but that's just arrogant dreaming. I'm glad the naval history community is so strong :)!

[@fusioncannon]

@@ImpmanPDX also try to support the olympia

[@bolt2510]

Texas is my favorite ship. She deserves love

[@cpt.mirones5109]

Texas has been in bad shape since what? 20 years?. Its a general theme with Americans to get a Museum ship to do no maintenace on it and print money with the tourists and run off into the distance. atleast Falls of Clyde will finally be saved with sabotagement and greed from Authorities. only Took us 2 Years to fix up the Peking that was rotting away in NYC near Hamburg. Its all Talk but no Action from the US side. if watched as a little child on TV about the plans for Texas Drydocks and i am now 30 nuff said. Plenty of time to have done something let alone raise money for it and nothing came out of it.

[@TheLiamster]

It’s really sad the Kitty Hawk is being scrapped. As the last conventionally powered aircraft carriers, it should have been preserved as a museum ship.

[@verdant2215]

Didn't receive enough funds unfortunately

[@TheRezro]

@@verdant2215 It wouldn't be a problem if government would did its job.

[@verdant2215]

@@TheRezro I've been in the service for 4 years. Trust me it's garbage.

[@TheRezro]

@@verdant2215 Oh, it is. But that is not the point. There is literally no other Supercarrier, what could become a museum (residue radiation). In future, American kids would need go to China to see one.

[@AAAAAA-tj1nq]

dont the americans used the word "cent" and not "penny"? penny is not their currency.

[@andrewmanning9859]

My dad served on the kitty hawk. Did 2 world tours on it. He was in charge of flight preps for a f14 and a few other planes. RIP 🪦

[@MrIgottap]

I can relate. I’ve also had my bottom cleaned to prevent spreading marine life.

[@runbum2010]

Another reason floated by The Battle Ship New Jersey YT channel is that the designs of these air craft carriers are too similar to the current operating Nimitz and Ford classes, and thus, too much strategic information would be available to potentially hostile groups. Imagine finding out the reason an active duty super carrier was sank in combat is because enemies visited YOUR ORGS museum and gleaned enough relevant info.

[@1badsteed]

On museum ships, typically, a large portion of the interior is off limits anyway. Could always restrict and seal off any areas deemed at risk.

[@harrisonashley1631]

I can understand that. It's still disappointing to watch.

[@clonetrooper8669]

This ship needs to be preserved it’s the last example of a non nuclear American super carrier.

[@TheRezro]

Was...

[@Pimps-R-us]

These ships are paid for by the TAX PAYERS. It needs to be sold for scrap for as much possible and the money go back to the Tax Payers or back into the military funding budget

[@TheRezro]

@@Pimps-R-us So you say that tax payers should pay for utilization instead?

[@clonetrooper8669]

@Yuri Setsuna I see you are a man of culture as well.

[@Grak70]

@@Pimps-R-us they explained why these ships weren’t sold at a negotiated price. The cost of scrapping them exceeds the value of the scrap.

[@marionscott9724]

I was stationed on cv64 and cv63 which is uss constellation and uss kitty hawk its sister ship. Both very massive ships. I loved my navy tours on those ships and sad to see there both now gone. I wish they would have tried to make them a museum so people can really see how big they are in person.

[@mreye3054]

I have lived right next to the shipyard for most of my life and every time I went past the shipyard I would see the kitty hawk then one day it was gone it was really weird but now I know why and I even know it’s name. Thank you, NWYT this was fun to learn

[@pharma37]

I served on the Kennedy. Fun times.

[@raythestingray1068]

i saw the kitty hawk on a boat ride while on a class trip to Catalina island off the coast of long beach, California. apparently they made a pit-stop there to figure out whether or not this thing could fit through the panama canal. while on the boat I was trying to see the number on the sides of the ship to ID it, no luck. I conicidentaly came across this video and finally found out that it was USS kitty hawk, what luck man, the kitty hawk was one of my fav aircraft carriers swell.

[@wavynavy2989]

It's sad to see it go.

[@raythestingray1068]

@@wavynavy2989 yea, they almost got it to stay. But the navy revoked the contract and sold her

[@robertboyes2505]

All aircraft carriers built during the 1950's through out the 1990's, are 130 feet wide at the water line, which is 20 feet wider than the Panama Canal lock gates. The Panama canal lock gates are only 110 feet. The Navy has been trying since the 1960's to get the Panama Canal widen and there is way too much red tape to get through with the Panamanian government, because Panama controls the Panama Canal. Even the USS Midway CV-41 and the USS Coral Sea CV-43, that were built in the middle 1940's were too wide for the Panama Canal and they are 121 feet at the water line. The Kitty Hawk will be pulled and pushed around the tip of South America to Brownsville, Texas.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

I saw her more than a few times, when I was stationed on USS Ranger and homeported on "Carrier Row" at North Island Naval Air Station (Coronado). No US fleet carrier since the Essex/Ticonderoga class would fit through the Panama Canal, even with the newer upgraded "supermax" capable locks - too wide. Depth would not be an issue, nor length - some of the "supermax" container ships are a little longer and deeper in draft. It wasn't even CLOSE for the pre-upgrade locks.

[@muleepete8]

She was my first WESPAC in 1975 with VA-195 Dambusters. Nice memories.

[@xroaddog934]

I worked on the USS MISSOURI during it's remodel before re-commisioning. I was a Fire Watch for Welders working on the ship to keep the danger's of having a ship Fire. Will remember that ship until the day I die and I have a original News Paper clipping of a photo shot from above during it's time at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard while it was in dry dock.😎

[@HondoDogman]

Its final destination is in my town :D, I really cannot wait to see history come to a close directly in front of my eyes, though i do wish they'd keep it as a museum, it is still interesting to have such a historical ship so close.

[@Hunter-dy8wg]

Post could videos of it on your yt

[@crazywarriorscatfan9061]

It's disappointing that the kitty hawk is being scrapped. I hope that the JFK will be saved

[@frostyacidity8030]

@@meisya9906 shut up

[@bullreeves1109]

Sadly she was already sold to the same scrapping company.

[@ZaHandle]

@@meisya9906 nah bro i don’t want AIDs

[@wavynavy2989]

Same

[@robertboyes2505]

Bad news, the JFK is scheduled to be scrapped at the same time as the Kitty Hawk, in Brownsville, Texas.

[@jonathansingleton9246]

That's AWESOME. I loved sailing, the best job and only job I ever liked was working on ships. 👍👍

[@knobbiesshreaded3137]

My brother served on USS JFK when she was brand spanking new. Saw her come into port in Pensacola circa 1969. Slow and easy because she was BIG! Damn, I must be getting old.

[@larrygrimes824]

I served on her from 1968-71 and don’t recall that. During try hat time we we’re home ported in Norfolk and visited Boston, Jamaica, Guantanamo Bay Cuba and made two Med cruises. Maybe you saw a different ship?

[@knobbiesshreaded3137]

@@larrygrimes824 Thanks for the reality check! How about Jacksonville? My Florida geography got a bit mixed up. No offense, found his pic in the Cruise Book. (#9) in fourth pic of VA-83. I suppose it is still possible I've got the port wrong. I was young. Would be surprised if you two hadn't bumped into each other at some point on the ship. Not lurking but, I saw your pic in the cruise book. (My brother passed a few years ago) I honor him by remembering him.

[@larrygrimes824]

@@knobbiesshreaded3137 I’m sorry for the loss of your brother. He was part of a A-7E squadron stationed aboard the JFK for our first Med cruise from 04/69-12/69. It was the newest ship in service at that time so can understand why it was his favorite. The locals loved JFK (the man) so we were usually welcomed in overseas ports. It doesn’t really matter where you saw this great ship, it never failed to impress.

[@ImpmanPDX]

My dad was an engineer for the scrapping of the USS Bon Homme Richard. I think it was also sold for a penny. I went to San Pedro with him a couple of times: I was only 10 at the time so I couldn't go on the boat, but one of the tug deckhands got an NES for the break room so I had something to do. It was amazing to see that thing come apart piece by piece. I know a few token things like the bell were removed and archived, but pretty much everything else went in the recycling bin. Also at least we have the Midway!

[@dillongamer1131]

There's that many carriers at this point I always get confused between them

[@ilickedyourballs69420]

@@meisya9906 wtf

[@whirledpeaz5758]

Here is a nice comprehensive list. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_carriers_of_the_United_States_Navy

[@seanthe100]

The kitty hawk is still a beautiful ship despite it's age looks so majestic.

[@davidbotwinik2764]

As a young child I saw the Kitty Hawk under construction at the New York Ship Yard in Camden, NJ around 1959-60.

[@hzhang1228]

i always had the fantasy to turn one of these carriers into a post apocalyptic themed apartment/mall with emergency services and a hotel. and of course, an anti zombie system. :)

[@VerdeMorte]

Hire a private mercenary army, steal it in transport past Chile, tow it off into international waters, dock at inhospitable uninhabited island, start repair work. Motorstormers did it in Pacific Rift. I mean why the fuck not?

[@TurnRacing]

that would probably actually make more money than another damn museum

[@SvensktTroll]

@@VerdeMorte into international waters and have gambling and lawlessness hotel for all the bandits out in the world

[@VerdeMorte]

@@SvensktTroll That would be a Saudi grabbed Cruise ship. Already happened.

[@SvensktTroll]

@@VerdeMorte Well cant have enough pirate ships around the world ;-)

[@thisguyyyyyyy2723]

I think it’d be interesting + more economical if they removed certain non-sensitive items, equipment, and structures from decommissioned super carriers and made those into a small museum. Imagine for instance, removing the island from the deck and making that into a museum building on land, or using parts of the hangars/deck.

[@albertbresca8904]

apparently they are removing these items and auctioning them off... good to hear it is not all being trashed....

[@WhatisAPaladin]

love when the title of a video asks the viewers a question and the answer in legit in the thumbnail.

[@frankgordon8829]

The Kitty Hawk was the last oil burner & as I saw ships that tied up right behind or in front of us, Oriskany, Constellation, etc. I thought "Man, that's when you know you're old when you ship get scrapped." I really felt it when I heard the KH was being scrapped.

[@jesusisking8471]

I was a part of the last crew to sail on board a frigate before it decommissioned. To be a part of that ships last crew to sail on it was a special feeling knowing that it had been all over the world with many missions. The ceremony is special and you are become a part of the ship’s history and the end of it at that.

[@Dumbrarere]

Reading some articles on the sale for a penny, it was mentioned that NAVSEA outright rejected the Kitty Hawk Veterans Association's bid to turn the ship into a museum. Which makes the sale to the shipbreaking company in Texas for a mere penny rather suspect, imo, because idk about you, but it reads to me like they never had any intention of seeing nonprofits oversee the continued maintenance and operations of a supercarrier to begin with, regardless of museum status. What they should have done instead was remediate the ship and scuttle it, to turn it into an artificial reef like the carrier USS Oriskany. That way, Kitty Hawk would at least be preserved in some form or another, even if it is at the bottom of the ocean.

[@alexabadi7458]

Great instructive video, thank you.

[@bamagaming2094]

As a veteran of the USS Kitty Hawk, this video saddens me because she was my home for 3 years. I have alot of good and not so good memories while on board. She may not ever sail again, but in the hearts and minds of those who served on her she will be missed.

[@VegetaLF7]

Same here, I was part of the decommissioning crew and I was hoping she'd get the museum treatment, would have liked to have gone back to see her again.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

The Kitty Hawk sale "for a penny" was not actually uncommon. As I recall, Ranger (CV-61) among other Forestall/Improved Forestall class carriers had that happen to them as well.

[@brucebailey6688]

They sell them for a penny as not to take money from the following years budget. I spent 25 years('83-"08) working on repairing Navy Ships in San Diego. Most of my time was at North Island Naval Base Coronado. I have spent many many hours on the Kitty Hawk and others. Worked the decommissioning of Ranger, Kitty Hawk, Constellation and others.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@brucebailey6688 As I recall, contract law requires an exchange of values for a valid contract. Otherwise there would be no "penny" (or sometimes $1) on some contracts as a payment. We didn't quite overlap - I served on Ranger from '79 to '81.

[@exotic80]

@@bricefleckenstein9666 yeah you cant really give away a billion dollar ship, cause then id be a gift, and a billions of dollars showing up in any tax form is not a fun number to see

[@foxbodyblues6709]

I believe they are sold for $1 because there is only one scrap yard that can reliably handle this class of ship. It is don’t as a favor, because the scrapper is unlikely to make money on this ship. I heard Ryan explain this on the New Jersey’s channel.

[@apex_blue]

Kitty hawk with that paint job and the fog makes it look like a ghost ship.

[@apex_blue]

@Yuri Setsuna lol

[@alistairdiren5790]

@Yuri Setsuna Grey Kitty

[@wmryan9646]

So sad to see these beautiful ships taken out and scraped. I remembered my father was so sad to see his beloved B-17’s scrapped after the war.

[@VE427HDT]

wow it's a shame to see the kitty hawk go, I remember seeing it in Fremantle my 1st time on its way back from the gulf I couldn't get over how big it was i actually walked into a pole all the sailors we laughing at me, we went on board talked to the guys and every one of them wanted to go home had a look at the jets a memorable time

[@jacobszymczak9323]

As someone commented on another video about these carriers, a reason they are being scrapped instead of becoming museums is its likely there are several parts of the design and layout that are still tactically significan to in service carriers. One was used in a sinkex to gather data so the Navy sees some tactical significance to these conventional carriers. Even if there's enough money to sustain the carrier as a museum, even with classified systems ripped out, its impossible to "hide" all aspects of the design. Very unfortunate that one of these couldn't be saved, same with Enterprise, but I feel there's a lot more behind the scenes going on in the decision other than straight money. At least I hope

[@cpt.mirones5109]

that behind the scene stuff you are looking for is called Asbestos and other Hazardus Material like paint. the Peking Restauration took a little longer because of it but still surprisingly was in Budget. In terms of Paint its Lead contents that can kill or criply salvage workers or anyone else if they would have to Restore it.

[@scottthewaterwarrior]

I was wondering if anyone would bring this up. The structural design being similar to modern carriers is likely a large part of this. I read at one point that the US had some concerns that the sunken USS America could be explored by rival powers to gain insight into how to sink current super carriers.

[@CountingStars333]

When your museum ships are the world's second strongest Navy :( can't save em

[@natsfan100]

I don't buy that. They could easily wall off or remove sensitive areas. The USS Intrepid has only a very small area that you can visit.

[@SonicArrow451]

Was thinking the exact same thing

[@sirsplintfastthepungent1373]

Welp, my "I bought my first car for a dollar" story just got a lot less impressive.

[@skussy69]

Best deal I got for a car was $250 and a case of beer for the dude to drop it off. Got 30,000 miles out of before the transmission exploded. I could go for a 1 dollar car

[@lielgoldshtein945]

Story?

[@Jupiter-ld4kg]

I was apart of the final Kitty Hawk crew and apart of the decommissioning team. I remember the ceremony we had in Bremerton and everything. I never would've thought it would have went out like that. It was my first command made alot of memories on that ship.

[@Jupiter-ld4kg]

@Doc Hardin that's what's up stayed until the end I was in S2

[@VegetaLF7]

@@Jupiter-ld4kg I was S8 and part of that final crew too. Such a shame to see her go out like this.

[@walterfloyd6534]

Great video and information!

[@barneyrubble4293]

I feel like they could maintain one nuclear supercarrier with the reactor tied to the citys power grid instead of decommissioned. That area would be a secure power plant, and other safe areas of the ship could operate as a museum, maybe even put a restuaraunt in the mess. Not only could the ship serve as a generator it could also be kept ready to enter service quickly if it's ever called for.

[@robbiejames1540]

I was about to list all the reasons why this couldn't possibly work, but actually, I can't think of any!

[@barneyrubble4293]

​@@robbiejames1540 The biggest one I could come up with was terrorism, which is why I figured the reactor would be it's own plant with guards and staff, as well as having the ship itself stationed next to a base.

[@robbiejames1540]

@@barneyrubble4293 Yeah, although I can't see much reason why it should be any more vulnerable than a normal nuclear power plant - rather less so, as it would be harder to get to it due to it's little moat. (Unless you want to run it as a museum ship as well, but you can visit nuclear power plants, so shouldn't be more of a problem here) Only thing I wonder is whether the water in the harbour would be able to keep up with the reactor cooling demands - a boiling harbour would be bad.

[@rburns9730]

Nuclear power plants don't last forever. There is something called "neutron embrittlement that weaken the entire reactor structure as it ages. These reactors are at the end of their lifecycle they aren't worth the astronomical cost to referb.

[@robbiejames1540]

@@rburns9730 Ah, I see, that makes a lot of sense.

[@jaybee9269]

Actually several conventional carriers were commissioned after USS Enterprise.

[@TheRezro]

SUPERcarriers

[@whirledpeaz5758]

Only 2: USS America CV-66 and USS Kennedy CV-67. USS Nimitz CVN-68 and all after her are Nuclear. Any others you are thinking of are Amphibious assault carriers, straight deck for Harriers and helicopters and now F-35B

[@jaybee9269]

@@whirledpeaz5758 >> I stand expanded!

[@TheRezro]

@@jaybee9269 You stand: STRAWMAN! Debate was always about SUPERcarriers. Assault Ships are not part of this debate.

[@mikekihm3777]

Connie was conventional non nuke

[@jeraldtrotta8497]

So sad I cried she was home proud to have served in her airwing 79 - 82

[@brandondeosingh3757]

I'm from Trinidad, would love to see this huge ship passing by

[@cavalier6362]

You know what other ship shouldn't have been scrapped? Both USS Enterprises. The WW2 one was the most decorated ship of WW2.

[@TheRezro]

But it would not bring bucks to Uncle Sam.

[@skussy69]

@@TheRezro yep, can't fight wars and have more historic ships if you don't have money. These ships live on with every civilian killed by a drone strike.

[@stampdatazz]

The current enterprise is not in pieces yet currently just sitting in a dry dock… its intact currently

[@martinkrebs6943]

*Most decorated ship of all time

[@magnum6763]

gonna have to point out, she wasn't historically significant back in the 1950s. She was some ordinary ship out in the USN reserve fleet, just like the hundreds of others. Museum ships weren't respected back then, and a lot were protested to be scrapped because of that. Men died on those decks. And back then, they weren't seen as respected machines, they were tools for making profits. Kids would run around with snacks dropping crumbs and everything. Some Veterans of the Enterprise said even though they fought for years on her, they still were happy to see her scrapped rather than be a museum ship. But the metal from the USS Enterprise CV-6 was retained by the USN for the construction of the USS Enterprise CVN-65, which will be used in the construction of USS Enterprise CVN-80. Which will then be used to make the USS Enterprise CVN-?. So the USS Enterprise still kinda lives on. And if the 20 Battlestars obtained by the USS Enterprise CV-6 might be impressive, the USS Nicholas earned 16 in WW2, a feat surpassed only by the USS O'Bannon for a Destroyer, she received 30 Battlestars for service in WW2, the Korean War, and the Vietnam war. Shes one of the most decorated ships in history and the most decorated Destroyer in history

[@mahmoodali5043]

I'm still struggling to understand the point though. If they were practically given away for free, and that was counted as a favor by the scrap yard, why couldn't they just stay afloat at any insignificant point at any coast, with nothing maintained but the outer paint with the interior sealed off, call it a day and make it a visit site with no interior visits, until some organization gathered enough money ? That way it doesn't cost anything pretty much and may even generate revenue to the navy, whie preserving them

[@santaclaus6602]

Rust would probably destroy it pretty quickly. Anything that isn’t used or lived in (cars, homes etc) fall apart pretty fast

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

It still costs money in berthing space/fees. The SS United States costs $70,000 a month. Then you have do exterior maintenance, provide security, and maintain basic systems like fire fighting etc. You can't just leave it to rot. Vandals will get in and it becomes an environmental hazard. Eventually, the Hull will deteriorate and rust to the point where it can't be towed (Like the Queen Mary at Longbeach). Then you have to break it up institu at further additional cost.

[@cpt.mirones5109]

@@santaclaus6602 anything govermental related shipbuilding wise is made from Cor-Ten atleast since plenty of decades. so it wont just fall apart into a pile of dust and military stuff if not made from Cor-Ten are not build like a Soda Can thin as paper. also alot of time Steel and Iron Ships get eaten up from inside out because of lack of proper ventilation.

[@zman9774]

Because the money it would take to keep it a float there would be no profit and it would be a wast of time

[@daminox]

@@PreservationEnthusiast You hit the nail on the head. This is exactly why. (And if you haven't already, check out the Bright Sun Films youtube. He has some videos about the SS United States and other historical ships looking for an owner.)

[@Jameson4327]

Thanks for this sad information! I spent a few years on board her.

[@ozpin8329]

My uncle took me for a day cruise on the KittyHawk in the late 1990's before 9/11 changed everything, back when his air wing was stationed on it. Families of the crew were allowed on board and the ship left San Diego out into the nearby sea to have its pilots and a few smaller escort vessels put on a show. They made everyone vacate the angle deck and were using it to launch and recover planes for the airshow. The coolest part is that, once you're out at sea, the pilots had no speed limit they need to stay under. Two F-18s ended up making a supersonic pass right between the carrier and an escort cruiser and I'll never forget how it sounded - and felt - in my chest. Growing up in San Diego we had always seen the Blue Angels every year, but seeing an F-18 go supersonic with the shock cone, having them buzz you at "blink and you'll miss it" speed, and then realize they can go over twice as fast gives you an entirely new appreciation for it. Found out from my uncle later that the two pilots in question got reamed at because they were supposed to make the flyby higher up and out past the cruiser. My uncle also invited my grandfather (his father) for a Tiger Cruise in late 1999. A Tiger Cruise was when the Kittyhawk was coming home from deployment and had already offloaded crew that had transferred to different postings - usually dropping them off in Japan or Pearl Harbor - so there was extra room on the ship. Officers were allowed to invite a family member onboard the final leg from Pearl Harbor back to home port. He flew out there to meet my uncle, and it took a few days for the ship to arrive back home. She was an awesome ship, and it's sad to see she went like this.

[@zaaz73]

Breaks my heart to see historic ships like these get turned into scrap metal

[@catthecommentbothunter6890]

Same i dont wanna see a historic peace of machine being scrap:(

[@borntorazehell777]

It'd be better to be scraped than sit in a harbor to rust and be an eyesore. Can't save em all, it just means more money to spend on preservation and management.

[@wavynavy2989]

"Everything is bigger in Texas" I wish I was born in Texas 😳

[@faiz1042]

😳

[@gavinbrown5804]

😳

[@caddywhompas4573]

She’s not the same as she use to be I grew up north of Dallas went to school there I look at the new Texans now and I am shocked

[@pleiadecca]

Yokosuka in drydock. What a sight.

[@JoeSki253]

It was right across the street from the house, miss seeing her every day, it was a sad day when she got towed away

[@cantstophim]

Never fall in love with something that can not love you back. Kitty Hawk is just metal and technology the soul of the ship is it screw so Kitty Hawk lives as long as the crow is alive.

[@4x4gaming65]

Can the government not see that we need WAY bigger ports and boat building facilities I mean hell we should have a port to dismantle that ship.

[@TheRezro]

That is literally not the problem here.

[@ZaHandle]

meh the east coast ones are enough

[@Maritimesgestein]

The east coast always had the bigger port.

[@whirledpeaz5758]

Newport News/Huntington Ingalls is big enough, but they're busy decommissioning USS Enterprise CVN-65. And Building CVN79, 80 and 81

[@stampdatazz]

@@whirledpeaz5758 exactly correct currently work for the company

[@frankgordon8829]

I served on the Kitty Hawk & the guys who had been on there for a while said the ship DID go through the Panama Canal. They said the overhang of the flightdeck knocked all the "streetlights" down that was on each side. I'm sure Uncle Same got the bill.

[@AnshumanKumar007]

6:46 that is really funny... gave me a good laugh... Beauty and Beast are excellent names...especially for those trucks

[@freepilot7732]

I was saddened to see my ship the Constellation-CV-64 was being towed off the distance. I was flying my airplane along the coastline of Oregon at dusk seeing a silhouette of her with no life. Fairwell.

[@redalertsteve_]

Literally watched the kittyhawk carrier sit in the pier for months at PSNS. She was in really bad condition. Tbh the maintenance cost would’ve far exceeded the purchase price.

[@necbranduc]

Yet there is the USS Midway, which is a museum stationed in San Diego. I really recommend visiting, it's amazing!

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

Saw Midway in Yokosuka at one point, though not close up. They were a bit upset about Ranger forcing them to leave drydock because Ranger needed some serious repairs after the Fortune collision.

[@garysharp4606]

I sailed on the kitty hawk, Ranger, Connie, Carl Vinson. Also the standley, fort fisher, California, dextrous and boxer.

[@AlaskanBallistics]

Another great video

[@AlaskanBallistics]

Just remember that if you cut Alaska in half, Texas would be the third largest state. Everything is smaller there.

[@apex_blue]

You missed the joke there is a saying in Texas that says everything is bigger in Texas.

[@attnielthomas7856]

@@apex_blue It is, and "don't mess with Texas."

[@apex_blue]

@@attnielthomas7856 yes, but actually no, it’s the catch phrase to stop littering

[@companymen42]

Would’ve been interesting to have it used for live fire practice to see truely how durable our ships are.

[@1COMIXMAN]

I grew up see in the kitty hawk moored at north island in san diego. I'm sad to they did This to such a beautiful lady I grew up wanting to visit but never could.I could just see it from across the bay or from the Coronado bridge or point loma.

[@mrunaltondre6051]

Atleast let the ship sail for the last time before it is turned into metal scrap Imagine the reaction of its past crew

[@yusufbektas1961]

Waste of time. if u scrap it,then just do it

[@apex_blue]

@@yusufbektas1961 they can’t didn’t you hear that there are no ports on the west coast that can dismantle her

[@Sway_to_the_music]

Let her stretch her legs one last time

[@1SCme]

I am surprised: *1. They weren't repurposed* as helicopter carriers and/or assault support ships and/or disaster relief ships minus the internal amphibious bay - essentially helicopter landing pads, possibly with an external amphibious bay. If I recall, US carriers have been temporarily re-tasked as helicopter support ships (I think Afghanistan). *2. They weren't sold to an ally.* It is larger than India's, UK's, and France's carriers. Japan wants to convert 2 of its smaller "Helicopter Carriers" to VTOL aircraft carriers as their elevators, etc. "just happened" to be able to support VTOL F-35Bs. *3. Cost of maintaining a museum ship* - I would have never estimated anything close to $5 million.

[@ivanli9472]

Probably too much money to upkeep

[@1SCme]

@@ivanli9472 Maybe, but I don't think helicopter carriers and assault support ships are on deployment as much decreasing cost, and doubt they are notably more expensive than the smaller carriers other nations built, particularly if you factor in their design and construction costs.

[@magnum6763]

thats for the USS New Jersey. The USS Kitty Hawk would have been upwards of 8 million +.

[@AlZooki]

The Queen Elizabeth class carriers are larger than Kitty Hawk

[@1SCme]

@@AlZooki *Nope, easily searched,* Kitty Hawk is longer, wider, carries more aircraft, and has a larger deck area.

[@butterfinger1171]

Uss America.. CV 66 It was a kitty hawk class They took it off the east coast and sunk Remember seeing it in 1987 across the Elizabeth river docked at Norfolk Naval yard going thru an overhaul. What a massive ship

[@dainius9264]

Its excacly what i think, you have never surprised me

[@justryan1325]

you can not turn a super carrier into a museum ship because that would give future adversaries a chance to decipher the engineering.......and build their own!

[@cookiecraze1310]

Well they're not really very up to date ships, and China is already building one (I think).

[@novat9731]

@@cookiecraze1310 You would be surprised how important technology from 50 to even 100 years ago can be. Best not risk it, and it's not like there was a lot of interest to preserve her anyway. Well, at least not before it was known she would be scrapped.

[@ZaHandle]

the Chinese got everything they needed to know already though

[@novat9731]

@@tomsoki5738 Then why is the first domestic Chinese carrier. A near copy of the 30-40 year old hull they bought. Building a supercarier is an extremely complex task. Certain things are simply not for sale, such as industry know how.

[@skussy69]

That's a good thing though, competition and reverse engineering is what pushes us to new advancements

[@appa609]

it's insane to me how being cut up and sold for scrap is viewed as more dignified than being a museum ship with substandard care. The pyramids aren't perfectly preserved either but they're a wonder of the world all the same

[@pdes_]

You convince me (or more importantly the Navy) what wonder a rusted out husk no one can step inside due to disrepair will inspire, and I'll consider your argument valid.

[@GamingSerb]

@LOAN NGUYEN not to mention their schematics are similar to current active carriers.

[@GamingSerb]

@LOAN NGUYEN yea ships are very cost effective due to cost if materials vs their size. Ain't no one gonna spring all that for a $5-10 admission fee of a museum 💀

[@GamingSerb]

@LOAN NGUYEN it's sad because it's huge and a piece of history but simutaneously also makes it very difficult to deal with.

[@appa609]

@@pdes_ I'd say mount it over the Chesapeake bay tunnel as if transiting with a light built onto the bridge. Every ship that enters or leaves Norfolk will see it, like the colossus of rhodes or statue of liberty

[@ericoneill865]

My dad was on the Kitty Hawk from 62 to 66 told me many stories, Kennedy and Bob Hope were both on the ship while he was there. Damn shame, hate that he is gone but glad he didn't have to see his ship disrespected

[@mattcero1]

Just sink the damn things in very deep parts of the ocean! Or perhaps create a man made reef it it's not classified. I always laugh at how many sentimental fools comment and come out of the woodwork during videos like these. Get over it! Nothing lasts forever, PERIOD! I was in from '89 to '98 and flew 53's, heavy combat support and really don't give two shits about any old Navy "equipment" and neither should anyone else. Quit living in the past and get a life.

[@MadSafe322]

Ayyy I subscribed to ur channel👍

[@lonesomealaskan2599]

The fact that we get free videos on KZbin by Not What You Think is truly a gift. 👏 👏 👏

[@BrickOsBudProductions]

I wonder what other military vehicles would be worth a penny in the future 🤔

[@ciaran4962]

M1abrams tank for a penny

[@tdoyr2119]

A-10 Warthog

[@Someone-xq6is]

Even if they sold it for a penny, I don't think they are dumb enough to sell it to civilian.

[@tdoyr2119]

@@Someone-xq6is they sell us miniguns, why not supercarriers and gunships?

[@dirkkarmel5209]

What do you wish ? Outdated military equipment, is trash.

[@charlesbaldo]

I was on the USS Forrestal CVA59. Which was the firs Super carrier It was also scrapped in Brownsville. Every time I shave I like to think I may be using the Forrestal.

[@Geocub75]

I was part of the carrier airgroup on board such a shame that she was turned into scrapped, and of course, none of us were giving the opportunities to get a piece of her. The people on board were told not to take anything from the ship because it was all going to be used for a museum ship or else we would’ve taken brass fittings.

[@watermirror]

It should've been USS Enterprise, that way USN can avoid the huge deactivation cost of nuke fueled carriers

[@johnrafaelb.garcia269]

damn, i'd buy that and donate it to out contry

[@Ballzdp2]

This is just amazing to me

[@jimdickson1969]

Good video, thank you

[@nazbmn242]

When the US can spend trillions on pointless wars and can’t use a portion of their GDP on at least saving a single ship is just sad.

[@mikekihm3777]

Us spends trillions on remediation and the epa.

[@BernieTheBoxer]

The fact that the pacific fleet carriers were retired while stuck on the west coast given the significant logistics of getting them to proper scrappage facilities shows a truly alarming negligence by the US DoD. Their final operational voyages should clearly have been to the Texas yards.

[@mattcero1]

Maybe, they can't just absorb them immediately though. There are deals to be made and finalized.

[@mariorefugia818]

​@@mattcero1sino ba Ang totolong para isakatuparan Ang MALAYANG PAGLALAYAG

[@lordfrostdraken]

Damn, having the US military owe you one has got to be one of the best rewards ever

[@sharky3345]

I cant to wait to buy that carrier again ☺😮

[@ballbender9thousand944]

Imagine a Pirate Group steal the Carrier and be the second private company to own a navy , beside Pepsi Soviet Submarine fleet

[@GlitchedBlox]

It would get obliterated.

[@ballbender9thousand944]

@@GlitchedBlox by what Lmao , 2 Tug boat ?

[@GlitchedBlox]

@@ballbender9thousand944 F-35, F-16, F-22, A-10, F-18, F-22, AC-130, ATGMs, Cruise Missiles, Anti-Ship Missiles, JDAMs. Or they'll just parachute down and capture it back.

[@ballbender9thousand944]

@@GlitchedBlox ok master , ill accept the L

[@darthgamer2014]

Too bad we'll never see mobile museum ship. Could you imagine a museum ship going on world tour? Bringing it's history to other parts of the world.

[@skussy69]

Seems smart

[@spiralrevalution7080]

Well come to Evansville Indiana we have lst 325 which had a mission or what not at Normandy Beach they do offer tours for 15 a person

[@tylerneff]

I went on the uss midway and wow was it cool the first time I’ve ever been able to be on the flight deck we toured the whole thing it was so cool I would go back any time

[@bloodsongsToolreviews]

I mean it's better than when they decided to take a battleship run on for being unthinkable and drop two nuclear bombs on it and didn't even think it so then they fired upon it with Iowa class battleships as well as many other ships for 5 days until it was sent by torpedo

[@zeferinoresendiz1698]

Uss nevada diserved better

[@skussy69]

Did you just have a stroke? None of what you said makes sense lol

[@bloodsongsToolreviews]

@@skussy69 yes I did have a stroke it is better than when the Navy took their battleship USS Nevada as well as several actually a lot of ships and decided to drop two nuclear bombs on them in which the Nevada's still stood requiring every available ship in the area to fire upon it until it was finally sunk by a torpedo attack the ship had a reputation for being unsinkable and because of that Uncle Sam had to sink it even if it was his own ship

[@bloodsongsToolreviews]

@@skussy69 bikini atoll experiments

[@dirkkarmel5209]

This, by u.s. weapons. 40mins by united forrign countries .

[@scythium4703]

What a shame they're getting scapped, better visit all the museums while I can

[@apex_blue]

The museums aren’t getting scraped

[@TheRezro]

@@apex_blue Yet. This video also point toward larger problem.

[@apex_blue]

@@TheRezro the fact there will be no super carrier museum.

[@scythium4703]

@@apex_blue I mean some were scrapped, like the french Colbert

[@skussy69]

In this thread: Scapped Scraped

[@gtagamer3693]

That is USS North Carolina is the ship I been on multiple time’s. It’s in Wilmington NC across the cape fear river. I lived 15 min away from the actual ship. 9:09

[@TheBigExclusive]

Efforts were made to save a Super Carrier as a museum. But no museum could convince the navy they had the funds necessary to maintain the ship as a museum. The biggest museum ships are the Iowa Class Battleships. Those museums are stretched very thin when it comes to funding for maintenance as a museum. A super carrier is even bigger than a Battleship. So the Navy needed to be extra sure a museum could handle the size. Unfortunately, all proposals to save a super carrier failed. The Navy thought it would be best to scrap the super carrier instead of handing it off to a museum that doesn't have the funds to maintain. The last the thing the Navy wants to do is come back in 10 years to find that the museum couldn't afford to maintain the ship and the Navy had to tow it away before it sinks. Unfortunately This has actually happened to several museum ships.

[@--INDIGO--]

Hey US Navy! I have a shiny nickel burning a hole in my pocket. What kind of ship will that get me?

[@TheRezro]

Do you have few milion dollars to actually do the job, or even pay for the parking?