Home for the last time: World's first nuclear aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise, completes her final voyage after 50 years at sea

Arrived at its pier at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia at the end of 25th deployment

First nuclear-powered carrier to transit through Suez Canal in 1986, and first to respond following 9/11 attacks


The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier ended its remarkable career at sea on Sunday when it pulled into its home port for the final time after participating in every major conflict since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

The USS Enterprise began shutting down its eight nuclear reactors almost as soon as it arrived at its pier at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, where thousands of cheering family members and friends welcomed the ship home from its 25th and final deployment after nearly eight months at sea.

'It's exceptionally emotional and exceptionally satisfying,' Rear Adm. Ted Carter, commander of the Enterprise Strike Group, said as Naval Station Norfolk came into view and his sailors manned the rails.

Voyager: In five decades at sea, the USS Enterprise has been involved in almost every major conflict since the Cuban Missile Crisis

Hero's welcome: Thousands gathered to cheer the Enterprise's homecoming from new sailors to men who served on its maiden voyage



One last port: In her five decades at sea the Enterprise has returned to port 24 times before this final voyage

The ship will never move on its own power again and will eventually be scrapped in Washington state, making its final voyage a sentimental one for those who have sailed aboard 'The Big E'.

Copies of the ship's daily newspaper, The Shuttle, were in short supply as sailors looked for memorabilia to take with them.

Countless personal photos were taken by sailors throughout the ship as it approached shore.

However, Adm. Carter is the first to say that the Enterprise's final deployment was anything but a sentimental victory lap.

Love: People waved signs for the Enterprise's return and fought for any scrap of memorabilia from the historic ship

Epic: The gargantuan ship's fighter planes flew more than 2,200 combat sorties and dropped 56 bombs in Afghanistan during her service

The ships' fighter planes flew more than 2,200 combat sorties and dropped 56 bombs in Afghanistan while supporting U.S. and international ground troops.

In a show of force to Iran, the ship also passed through the strategic Strait of Hormuz ten times, a figure that Carter said is more than double the typical amount.

CUBAN MISSILES, 9/11 AND CHASING PIRATES: THE COURAGEOUS LEGACY OF 'THE BIG E'

The U.S. Navy has had a boat named Enterprise since the American Revolutionary War. The first Enterprise belonged to the British before it was seized by America in 1775.

Seven boats carried the name Enterprise until in 1954, Congress agreed to build the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Eight nuclear reactors were needed to power the giant ship - a new but dangerous approach because it required reactors to be harnessed together which had never been done before. Enterprise was built with 60,000 tons of steel; 1,500 tons of aluminium; 230 miles of pipe and 1,700 tons of welding rods. More than 800 companies provided materials for the boat which was worked on by 900 engineers. Four years later, the ship, nicknamed The Big E, was set to launch and in October 1962, saw its first international action during the Cuban Missile Crisis. A blockade was placed on October 24 until after a tense four days, Soviet leader Nikita Krushchev agreed to dismantle nuclear arms in Cuba.

Following the 9/11 attacks, Enterprise headed to the North Arabian Sea to take a central role in Operation Enduring Freedom.

After returning home to Norfolk, Virginia to have extensive repairs, Enterprise deployed for the 21st time in January 2011 and carried out multiple anti-piracy missions. November 25, 2011 marked the remarkable boat's 50th anniversary, making it the oldest ship on duty in the U.S. fleet.



The Enterprise has been a frequent traveler to the Middle East over its career.

It was the first nuclear-powered carrier to transit through the Suez Canal in 1986, and it was the first carrier to respond following the 9/11 attacks, changing course overnight to head to the Arabian Sea.

An entire room on the ship serves as a museum to its history, which includes a large photo of the burning Twin Towers placed in a timeline that wraps around a wall.

The Navy will officially deactivate the Enterprise on December 1, but it will take several more years for it to be decommissioned as its reactors are taken out.

About 15,000 people are expected to attend the deactivation ceremony, which will be its last public ceremony after several days of tours for former crew members.

Those who have served on the ship have a unique camaraderie.

It is the second-oldest ship in the Navy after the USS Constitution, and its age has frequently shown. Sailors who work on the Enterprise have a saying: 'There's tough, then there's Enterprise tough.'

Things frequently break down, and spare parts for a ship that's the only one in its class aren't made anymore.

'She's just old, so you got to work around her,' said Petty Officer 2nd Class Danielle Almaraz, an electronic technician.



'We have to make our own parts sometimes because it just doesn't exist.'

Those deployed on the Enterprise knew life wouldn't be easy at sea, a fact highlighted last year when former commanding officer Capt. Owen Honors was fired for airing raunchy videos that he said were intended to boost morale.

During a hearing in which Honors was trying to avoid being kicked out of the Navy, he and his lawyers frequently referenced the difficult conditions on board.

Honors was found to have committed misconduct, but ultimately allowed to stay in the service. He is retiring in April.

Some of the ship's original crew members from 51 years ago - known as plank owners - were among the 1,500 civilians who joined the Enterprise for its last two days at sea, known as a Tiger Cruise.

'This is the end of an era that I helped start, so I was just honored that the captain invited me on board. There's no way I'd turn that down,' said original crew member Ray Godfrey of Colorado Springs, Colo.

The aircraft carrier is the eighth U.S. ship to bear the name Enterprise, with the first one being confiscated from the British by Benedict Arnold in 1775.

Current sailors and alumni like Godfrey are lobbying to have a future carrier also named Enterprise.

The ship's crew created a time capsule to be passed along to each Navy secretary until a new ship carries its name.

Other memorabilia on the ship, such as a pair of black fuzzy dice that hang in the ship's tower that were donated by the film crew of the 1986 Hollywood blockbuster movie 'Top Gun,' will be stored by the Naval History and Heritage Command.

Tough: Because of her advanced age the Enterprise had a reputation as a hard ship to work on, needing constant repairs - with engineers having to make parts because they are not in circulation

Reunited: Gina Shelton kisses her husband Petty Officer 2nd class Matthew Shelton as the Enterprise returns to Norfolk

Daddy's home: Balhar Purewal kisses her father Lt. Cmdr. Amarjeet Purewal at the Enterprise's return

Celebration: Three-year-old Makenna Wisk welcomes back her cousin Airman Corey Combs