Aircraft Carriers: USS Enterprise CVN-65

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Blackbat242
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: USS Enterprise CVN-65

Unread post by Blackbat242 »

Looked close, and the Viggie at "E"'s stern does have the hump, so RA-5C (as the A-5B didn't enter service before they were converted to -5Cs).

The A-5A (A3J-1) did not have that hump in the fuselage (which was mostly fuel - the two forward fuselage tanks were extended upward, going from 695 US gal. combined to 945 US gal, and a 210 US gal tank was added above the wing spar structure - 460 US gal total added).

Here is A-5A Vigilante BuNo 149286 of VAH-1 being launched CV-60 Operation Long Horn c1964:
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DonBoyer
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: USS Enterprise CVN-65

Unread post by DonBoyer »

The aircraft is an RA-5C. The F-111 was never equipped for carrier service. The RA-5C evolved from the original Vigilante, intended to be the navy's premier supersonic nuclear bomber, equipped with a tubular rear-ejecting bomb bay. Unfortunately, the bomb bay configuration and the overly complex bomb/fuel cell package it was intended to carry never worked right, and the A-5 was soon relegated to the Recon role, although it could carry two MK-28 thermonuclear bombs on wing pylons, but only at a sacrifice in speed.
Don G. Boyer

"For a successful technology, reality has to take precedence over public relations, because nature cannot be fooled."(Richard Feynman)
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Little h
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: USS Enterprise CVN-65

Unread post by Little h »

Thank you Jon and Don.

I guess Sean/Culverin can consider his query has been duly dealt with.
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Culverin
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: USS Enterprise CVN-65

Unread post by Culverin »

A trio of knowledge. Thanks for the replies.

The RA-5C Vigilante was certainly a big beast operated by 10 RVAH squadrons during its active career which appears strewn with high losses from a multitude of causes.

The first lost in combat was BU No 151615 NAA no 21 on October 16th 1965 from USS Independence over Vietnam although both crew survived were duly captured but survived their intern.
Appears 43 were built as 5C whilst all 18 B and 43 A models were reconfigured.

Vigilantes tested the carriers catapults and arrestors to their maximum limits and were a handful to land even on the huge decks of the time. To strike down additionally they had a folding tail. Was this a first and can the plane in question on Enterprise be identified ?

This info acknowledged courtesy Osprey Combat Aircraft - 51, RA-5C Vigilante units in combat by R.R.Powell. Copyright 2004.
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Blackbat242
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: USS Enterprise CVN-65

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I have no idea about the ID of the specific Viggie, but to answer your other question - no, it was not the first, nor the last.

The North American AJ (A-2) Savage (in service 1950-60) had a folding tail, as did the Douglas A3D (A-3) Skywarrior (in service 1956-91*). After the Viggie (in service 1961-79) came the Lockheed S-3 Viking (in service 1974-2009).


* -Electronics warfare EA-3Bs served aboard carriers to 1987, and their last operational deployment was in Desert Storm!

4.MIDWAY.AJ SAVAGE 2.jpg
5.USS MIDWAY.AJ SAVAGE.jpg
RA-3B folded.jpg
KA-3B tanker & RA-5C over Ranger Aug 64 - April 65.jpg
4th A3J-1 (BuNo 146697) carrier suitability tests CVA-60 25 July 1960.jpg
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Last edited by Blackbat242 on Wed Nov 20, 2019 5:32 am, edited 2 times in total.
SGT USMC '81-'89 VMA(AW)-121, VMA(AW)-242, CV-61 AIMD
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Blackbat242
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: USS Enterprise CVN-65

Unread post by Blackbat242 »

Apparently, we can only attach 5 photos if they are in-line.
15b.jpg
S-3 folded.jpg
S-3B VS-33 CVW-9 with cluster bombs.jpg
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SGT USMC '81-'89 VMA(AW)-121, VMA(AW)-242, CV-61 AIMD
Brian James
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: USS Enterprise CVN-65

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USS Enterprise...1978.
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designeraccd
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: USS Enterprise CVN-65

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She was truly a wonder when Newport News launched her: 8 nuke reactors......WOW!! The biggest, baaahhhdest carrier in the world and the first and only nuke! Quite something for the USN, who now cannot get a $13 BILLYUNN + CV to function properly. :x DFO
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Brian James
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: USS Enterprise CVN-65

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USS Enterprise (CVN 65) undergoing decommissioning in Newport News Shipbuilding Drydock 11, the same drydock she was built in over 50 years ago. April 27th, 2016.
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designeraccd
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: USS Enterprise CVN-65

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Here she is in the same dry dock, a long time ago........1960. DFO
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