Aircraft carrier USS John F Kennedy to be decommissioned

[Scott Newman]

http://www.komotv.com/news/national/6663622.html

 

[Michael H. Standart]

We've been discussing this in the 2007 decommissionings thread, however I wasn't aware that the decom ceremony was scheduled for this Friday. Considering the poor condition the ship is it, they'll really just be putting her out of her misery.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

And the JFK has now passed into history. From the Navy Times:

After storied career, JFK’s saga finally ends

quote:

By Mark D. Faram - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Mar 23, 2007 16:50:51 EDT

NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. – And then she was gone.

After nearly 39 years of service, the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy was decommissioned the morning of March 23 at Naval Station Mayport.

“In my judgment, the legacy of this ship is the role she played in winning the Cold War,” said Adm. John B. Nathman, commander of the Navy’s Fleet Forces Command and himself a naval aviator. “This ship sent a powerful message to the Soviet Union and made them quit ... You have served with honor and distinction, and I thank you.”

Story at http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/03/ap_jfk_decommission_kennedy_070323/

 

[Michael H. Standart]

The Navy Newsstand's take on the JFK decommissioning can be read at http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=28500

 

[Tarn Stephanos]

It was an amazing sight when she arrived in Boston for the last time- The local press savored the idea that perhaps she could one day be added to the Charlestown Navy yard accross the harbor- and join the USS Constitution, and the USS Casin Young as tourist attractions..Of course they'd have to dredge the harrbor, she'd touch bottom before she'd make anywhere near her bearth...
regards

Tarn Stephanos

Boston MA

 

[Michael H. Standart]

>>The local press savored the idea that perhaps she could one day be added to the Charlestown Navy yard accross the harbor- <<

That would be nice but perhaps not very realistic. There have been a lot of efforts to save carriers as museums since the Forrestal was decommissioned. The Midway is a notable success, but of the efforts to save even one of the supercarriers, the only one that looks promising is the group trying to get the USS Ranger. Since this is my first ship, if it comes to pass, I mean to make a special effort to go see her.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The Navy Times:

Tugs to pull JFK into history

quote:

NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. – After nearly three years of uncertainty, the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy will be towed at first light July 24 away from this base that has been its home port since the mid-1990s.

Right now, its destination is Philadelphia, where the ship is expected to arrive at the old Philadelphia Naval Shipyard no later than Aug. 1 for a two-year congressionally mandated “ready” period. Beyond that, there’s only speculation: The ship could eventually become a museum at best, or a test target or artificial reef – the fates of other aged flattops.

On paper, JFK is still a commissioned ship in the Navy, a technicality that will most likely end Sept. 30, when the fiscal calendar rolls into 2008.

“That’s most likely when that will happen,” said Capt. Brad Robinson, the ship’s last executive officer, who has been the officer in charge of Kennedy’s crew and decommissioning efforts since the flag was hauled down for the last time March 24.

For the rest, go to http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/07/navy_jfk_mothballed_070718w/

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From the Navy Times:

JFK’s departure from Mayport delayed

quote:

The aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy will remain in its berth at Mayport Naval Station, Fla., for at least an extra day, and may not end up leaving port until Friday. Navy Times has also learned that when JFK does depart Mayport, it may not end up at the old Philadelphia Naval Shipyard as originally planned.

The delay was confirmed by Navy officials late Monday, hours before the JFK had been slated to be pulled out by the fleet ocean tug USNS Powhatan on Tuesday. The Navy blamed the delay on mechanical problems with the towing gear.

Story at http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/07/navy_jfk_070723/

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The Navy Times:

Tugs tow out JFK, but uncertainty persists

quote:

After a two-day delay, oceangoing tugs towed the decommissioned aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy out to sea Thursday, bound for an interim berth at Naval Base Norfolk, Va., as Navy officials figure out where and how to permanently mothball the ship.

A number of concerns about the initial plan to berth the ship at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia led officials to decide to put it temporarily in Norfolk, said Katie Dunnigan, a spokeswoman for Naval Sea Systems Command. When the Kennedy arrives, the Navy will begin “evaluating all its options and considering how we’re going to proceed,” she said.

More at http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/07/navy_jfk_tow_070725w/


Another take on this story can be viewed at http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topstories/news-article.aspx?storyid=87915

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The Navy Times:

JFK arrives at interim berth in Norfolk

quote:

After a six-day transit up the Atlantic coast from its former homeport in Florida, the decommissioned aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy arrived Tuesday at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., pulled by tugs into the port to which Navy commanders had said the ship would never return.

More at http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/07/navy_jfk_arrives_070731w/

Comment: Since this ship is going to be retained as a mobilzation asset for around two years, the immidiate issue was getting her to a port that has better protection against hurricanes then what Mayport has to offer. Having been station at Norfolk, I can tell you that this protection doesn't amount to much at the Naval Station itself. If a real blow threatens, the JFK would probably have to be moved down the Elizabeth River to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Since the ultimate destination of Philidelphia is still up in the air, I doubt we'll be hearing any more about this for awhile.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The Navy Times:

Senators lobby Mullen for Mayport flattop

quote:

For a sailor living in Norfolk, Va., a move to sunny Florida may have its own appeal. For the Navy, it may make strategic sense to disperse its most precious assets. But for lawmakers, ships and sailors also mean a steady stream of money into local economies, and they are loath to cut off the spigot.

During his confirmation hearing for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff before the Senate Armed Services Committee on July 31, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen was pressed by Florida senators about his support for moving a Norfolk-based nuclear carrier to Mayport, Fla., following the recent loss of the conventionally powered John F. Kennedy to decommissioning.

Full story at http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/08/navy_carrier_mayport_070812w/

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Just a quick note that the USS John F. Kennedy is now listed officially as being out of commission and in reserve as of August 1st, 2007. See http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/CV67.htm

Curiously, no maintainace catagory is assigned.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

A follow on story from The Navy Times:

Decision on Mayport carrier 2 years away

quote:

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The two biggest piers at Naval Station Mayport, Fla., likely will remain empty until at least 2009, lawmakers said this week. Early hopes of bringing in temporary ships have faded.

The Pentagon has been considering eventually sending a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to Mayport replace the decommissioned carrier John F. Kennedy.

But with that decision still a couple of years away, the folks representing the region in Congress had been looking to fill the void at Mayport by bringing some big ships on a temporary basis.

For the rest, click on http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/09/navy_mayport_cvn_070921w/

Comment: Getting a decision made on something like this is really a lot like elephants mating.

a)The important action happens in a high place.
b)It's done with a lot of screaming and trumpeting and
c)It takes two years to get results.

Hmmmmmmm...the timing at least is just about right!

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The Navy Times:

Kennedy being towed to Philadelphia
Very brief story at http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/ap_kennedy_031808/

 

[Michael H. Standart]

An updated story from the Navy Times with photo appears at http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/navy_JFKtransit_032008w/

The tow has been slowed down due to rough weather but the ship is expected to arrive on Saturday at the latest.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The Navy Times:

An outpouring of memories upon JFK arrival

quote:

PHILADELPHIA – Mike McVey owes his life to the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy – well, at least his livelihood.

On Saturday, he stood on the bank of the Delaware River, not far from his home in Middletown, Del., and watched his old ship go by – heading to a berth at the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and indefinite storage.

“I’m here to pay my respects to her today – I probably didn’t respect her enough when I was stationed on her from 1971 to 1974 – but I'm here today, and that’s what counts,” said McVey, a former second class machinery repairman on the ship.

For the rest and a photo slideshow, go to http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/navy_jfkarrives_032208/

See also http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/080322-G-7444G-006.jpg for a high resolution photo.