(June 2001)
USS Enterprise Visits Portsmouth
The American nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) made a brief, four day visit to Portsmouth this month. Arriving on June 13th, the 89,600-ton warship was too large to enter Portsmouth Harbour, and instead she anchored in the Solent off Stokes Bay.
Vessels from the Enterprise's battlegroup also payed visits to British ports: the nuclear powered submarine USS Hampton (SSN 767) arrived at Portsmouth on June 4th and a cruiser, the USS Philippine Sea (CG58), entered Southampton on June 13th.
Enterprise is on a scheduled six-month deployment in the Mediterranean and had already visited ports in France and Italy, including Toulon, Cannes and Naples. Following her visit to Portsmouth, Enterprise and other NATO warships will be taking part in the Joint Maritime Course off the Scottish coast.
The USS Enterprise was the world's first nuclear powered aircraft carrier and at 335.64 metres in length she is also the world's longest warship. Entering service in the early 1960s, the 'Big E' saw service during both the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War.
The following four pictures of Enterprise and Hampton are kindly provided by Russ Price. The full collection of 27 pictures can be found here.
Above: The USS Enterprise (CVN 65) anchored in the Solent. The 89,600-ton warship was simply too large to enter Portsmouth Dockyard. Photograph courtesy of Russ Price.
Above: A bow shot of the USS Enterprise. Photograph courtesy of Russ Price.
Above: USS Enterprise's tower superstructure. Photograph courtesy of Russ Price.
Above: The nuclear submarine USS Hampton (SSN 767) alongside in Portsmouth Dockyard. Behind her is a Royal Navy Type 42 Destroyer. Photograph courtesy of Russ Price.