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No longer being updated, now see page 34.
The point of this is to combine our knowledge and photo resources to help us build better and more accurate models of the Enterprise (CVN-65) in any scale. I'm going to list all of Enterprises' overhauls and then list the modifications that are noticeable from the EXTERIOR ONLY. I won't show any photos in this first post, but please do provide photos to help identify some of these modifications. Also, any updates or corrections are much appreciated and will be updated here on this first post. This is meant as a helpful guide, not an absolute record from official US Navy records.
Launched: September 24, 1960
Commissioned: November 25, 1961
Shakedown: February 1962
First Overhaul/refit (November 1964 to June 22, 1965)
1) Mast was raised ten (10) feet
2) Second yardarm was installed on the mast
Second Overhaul/refit (June 1966 to September 1966)
1) The two Mark 25 launchers for Sea Sparrows were added. They were placed where the Terrier launchers were intended.
2) Waist catapult bridle catcher removed.
The Infamous Fire (January 14, 1969) with damage repaired by March 1969
Third Overhaul/refit (August 1969 to January 1971)
- NO External Modifications?
Redesignated CVN-65 on June 30, 1975
Forth Overhaul/refit (January 15, 1979 to March 1982) Complex Overhaul - THE BIG ONE
1) Beehive ECM equipment housing was removed.
2) Billboard style SPS-32 and SPS-33 radars were removed from the island
3) Starboard bow sponson added.
4) Port bow sponson added.
5) The port Mark 24 launchers that were added in the second overhaul was replaced by a Mark 29.
6) The starboard Mark 24 was replaced by a Mark 29 launcher but moved forward to a newly created sponson added near the bow. The old location of the Mark 24 remained empty.
7) Radar guidance detectors for the Mark 29s were added to the island at the forward starboard side and the aft port side. To protect these radars from exhaust from the flight deck, conical shields were placed around the three that hung over the flight deck. Shields also provide protection from the radiation for the flight deck crew. The forth was on the starboard side only and did not have the shield.
8 ) The aft port sponson was extended further aft and wrapped slightly around to the fantail? (need to confirm)
9) Three (3) Mark 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems were added. One was added to the forward port sponson mentioned in number 4 above. A second was added to the starboard side of the island. The third was added to the extended aft port sponson mentioned in number 8 above.
10) Automatic landing control radar, AN/SPN-41 was added on the aft starboard side of the flight deck? Also see next entry. (need to confirm)
11) Automatic landing control radar, AN/SPN-41 was added to the fantail, at the flight path centerline? Also see above entry. (need to confirm)
12) Box like life rafts replaced with new raft holders and canister style life rafts? (need to confirm)
13) AN/SPS-48 air search radar was added just forward of the mast on top of the island.
14) AN/SPS-49 radar was added just aft of the mast on top of the island.
15) SPN-43 radar was attached to the main mast on the aft side, just above the AN/SPS-49.
16) SPS-55 replaced the SPS-10/58 (aka AN/SPS-67 - digital version of the SPS-10/58)
17) AN/SPS-12 was removed
18) Number 65 on the port and starboard side of the island was moved up and outward to where the billboard radar had previously been located. The starboard one was moved aft a bit as well.
19) The "Big E" lettering was added on the aft billboard on the island. (but also noted as being added in the Spring of 1987??)
20) Framework with ladder was added off the top of the pri-fly deck. It is located at the forward port side of the island.
21) Flight deck operations camera platform and enclosure added.
22) A hinge-down style stern dock installed.
September 1985
1) Text "USS Enterprise CVN-65" painted on the front of the island was painted there for the "Peace in the Pacific" ceremony on September 2, 1985 for the 40th anniversary of the end of WWII. (thank you Ned Wilson)
Dry-dock at Hunters Point, San Francisco (September 1986 till Spring 1987)
1) CIWS mounts were upgraded and internal ammo supply to an external ammo storage.
2) The forward port CIWS sponson was doubled in size by length. The other 2 mounts had large cradle structures added.
3) Chaff launchers were added at various points around the ship, with the platforms to support them.
4) The Large "BIG E" on the back of the island was first painted on in the spring of 1987 right after being towed back to Alameda from the dry-docking but before work-ups began.
Operation "Praying Mantis" (April to July 1988)
1) The "Hormuz Highway patrol" graphic over Elevator 3 was painted on as were the sinking ship markings on the island. (thank you Ned Wilson)
Winter of 1988/1989
1) camera enclosure was updated. (thank you Ned Wilson)
World Cruise (September 1989 to March 1990)
1) world criuse painting over elevator #1.
2) Bert Kinsey photographed the ship for his detail and scale book in the summer of 1990. (thank you Ned Wilson)
Fifth Overhaul/refit (March 1990 to September 23, 1994) the Refueling and Complex Overhaul started in October 12, 1990. Additional updates through 1995.
1) Port forward sponson enlarged to provide maintenance access out of the weather for the CIWS. (this may have been done in September 1986, see above)
2) Structure outboard to the island on the starboard side was enlarged to provide maintenance access out of the weather for the CIWS.
3) New approach radar replaced the previous aft flight deck mounted approach radar. Old one was a cube on a frame stand, new one is ball shaped on a solid enclosure .
4) New approach radar added to the fantail.
5) Weather SATCOM dome added to port side, just off catapalt four.
6) Between new weather SATCOM dome mentioned in number 5 above and catwalk, the INMARSAT antenna was added.
7) Boat dollies (original) and older style boats were removed and not replaced.
Sixth Overhaul/refit (1995)
1) Challange Athena SATCOM dome and platform added just forward and outboard of the LSO platform. Dome was a ball shape on a short pipe. Platform was mounted just forward of the LSO platform, but the angle of the deck put the SATCOM dome beside the LOS platform.
2) White SHF SATCOM domes added forward and aft of the island at the billboard location. They were set up in a stagered front to back arrangement.
Seventh Overhaul/refit (April 1996 to June 1996)
1) Old hinge-down style stern dock installed in 1982 was removed.
2) New Fantail fixed port call boarding platform. Only part of this platform was built to what is seen today. It was later strengthened and enlarged in mid 1997.
3) New boat dollies added and four new 50 foot utility boats and three 40 foot personnel boats.
4) New storage rack for gasoline installed along with a jettisonable locker on sponson number 10, which is the aft most sponson on the port side.
5) For you hanger detailers, a gymnasium was added at to hanger bay one in the forward port side.
6) Challange Athena SATCOM dome was changed to a large pill shaped dome.
Eighth Overhaul/refit (Spring 1997 to Summer 1997)
1) Challange Athena SATCOM dome, that large dome just aft of the LSO platform. Dome was before on the other side of the LSO platform.
2) Stern fixed boarding platform made symmetrical and strengthened. A second ladder and small platform were also added.
3) Motor Whale Boat and davit removed from Sponson 4 (portside amidships) and replaced by a slewing arm davit and two rigid hull inflatable boats
4) Aircraft Elevators 3 and 4 (starboard and port aft) have the open grid deck (unique to ENTERPRISE) removed and replaced with plate metal due to fatigue.
Ninth Overhaul/refit (1999 to 2000)
1) Remaining aircraft Elevators 1 and 2 (Starboard side) have the open grid deck removed and replaced with plate metal
2) Grey SHF SAT Comm domes added to Island (fore and aft).
Tenth Overhaul/refit (January 7, 2002 to May 7, 2003) Extended Drydock Selected Restricted Availability
1) Unconfirmed (could be the 2004/2005 refit) - The pair of sat domes on the front and aft of the island changed styles from pill shaped to ball on stick shaped.
Eleventh Overhaul/refit (September 3, 2004 to October 13, 2005) Extended Selected Restricted Availability
1) RAM launcher replaced the CIWS on the port forward sponson.
2) RAM launcher added to an aft starboard side sponson with an extension platform.
Twelth and Final Overhaul/Refit (April 12, 2008 to April 17, 2010)
1) A skull with sunglasses was painted over the center of the islands wings of gold markings (noted in 2009 and 2010). Style of the wings of gold also changed since 2007 with the battle E painted below in a smaller letter.
2) The approach radar added in the 1990 - 1994 refit has hot rod style flame markings added to the base.
3) Possibly removed in 2011, but the Boat and Aircraft (B&A) Crane was removed prior to the final cruise. The crane needed extensive depot level maintenance and the Navy did not want to spend the money. Rather than lay it up, it was removed.
Last Cruise - 22nd and final deployment w/ CVW-1 (March 11, 2012 to ?)
Inactivated December 1, 2012 and in process of being decommissioned.
Retirement was excellerated as Enterprise was by far the most expensive carrier in the Navy. The last reactor was defueled in December 2016. Was finally decommissioned on February3, 2017 and SOC.
Unknown dates things were added or modified:
1. When were the bomb jettison chutes added, the ones from the flight deck that clear the catwalks? (sometime after 1967 and before 1982)
2) Jet engine test stand added? (sometime before 1982)
3) When were the fight deck tie down points stopped being painted white?
4) When was the Tacan antenna added at the very top of the main mast?
5) When was the SLQ-17 electronic warfare antennas added? (sometime before 1990)
6) N/A - removed/answered
7) When were the two SMQ-10 weather satellite tracking antennas added? (I'm guessing 1979 fit)
8 ) Where the Mark 36 Chaff dispensers removed in the 1990 fit? Were they added in the 1979 fit?
9) When was the AN/SPS-67 radar added? (I’m guessing 1979 fit)
10) AN/SPS-12 2D air search radar for back up for the SCANFAR system. (added in the 1965 or or 1965 fit)
11) When was the front billboard "USS Enterprise CVN-65" lettering added? (looks like it was added in 1985 - see above)
12) Port side replenishment capability removed?
13) STREAM equipment added?
14) Sliding padeyes added to Elevator 2 and 3?
15) Fuel delivery systems replaced?
16) Overhead on Sponson 3 lowered for addition of avionic shops?
17) EA-6B avionics shops added to forward end of Bay 1?
18) When was the SHF SATCOM dome added to the fantail next to the approach radar? (Sometime after 2000)
19) Flight deck extension Next to the JBD for Cat 4 so the wingtip sidwinder could be armed just prior to launch.
20) External drain pipes or fuel pipes under elevator one were deleted around year 2001?
21) Hull stiffeners
I know I'm missing a lot but it's a good start. I might move this topic to the Picture Post if we get some photos. Now lets see some updates and reference photos.
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Last edited by Jon on Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:24 am, edited 17 times in total.
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