USS Enterprise CVN 65 – History of the World's First Nuclear Carrier & Navy Decals
USS Enterprise (CVN 65): The Big E — America's Most Legendary Carrier
No ship in the modern U.S. Navy carries more legend than USS Enterprise. “The Big E” served for over 50 years, participated in nearly every major American military operation from the Cuban Missile Crisis to the War on Terror, and remains the only ship of her class ever built.
Ship History
USS Enterprise (CVN 65) was commissioned on November 25, 1961, at Newport News Shipbuilding — the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. At 1,123 feet long, she was the longest naval vessel ever built at the time.
Her service record is unmatched:
- 1962 — Cuban Missile Crisis naval blockade
- 1965–1969 — Multiple Vietnam War combat deployments
- 1991 — Operation Desert Storm
- 2001 — First carrier to launch strikes in Afghanistan after 9/11
- 2012 — Final deployment before decommissioning on December 1, 2012
Enterprise earned 26 battle stars — more than any other U.S. Navy ship in the nuclear era. Her crew of approximately 5,000 sailors and airmen made her a floating city.
Hull Number Explained
CVN 65 designates:
- CV — Aircraft carrier
- N — Nuclear powered
- 65 — Her hull number
She was the sole Enterprise-class carrier; no sister ships were ever built due to cost.
Shop USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Products
The Big E deserves a place of honor. Find your CVN 65 gear here: