The conventionally powered Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carrier USS America has left its mark on naval history, not just by its distinguished service, but also through extraordinary resilience in explosive tests. This formidable vessel was commissioned in 1965 and retired in 1996; it showed just how tough a U.S. supercarrier could be and set the bar for all future designs.
The USS America, affectionately known as “Big A,” made three tours in the theater during the Vietnam War, later patrolling the Persian Gulf, finally unleashing its power during Operation Desert Storm. Its strong design enabled it to take much punishment and was further demonstrated as fact during a series of explosive tests conducted almost a decade after its retirement. These tests, designed to simulate the worst of wartime conditions, demonstrated that sinking a U.S. aircraft carrier is no easy task. It took four weeks before America was finally sunk after it had withstood sustained simulated attacks.
For instance, the lessons learned from the endurance of the USS America have influenced the design of its subsequent carriers, including the Gerald R. Ford class. As mechanical engineer Blake Horner says, ” The whole point of the tests was to make future carriers more survivable, as well as see how warships reacted to underwater explosion and damage,”. Such an insight has been significantly valuable in increasing carriers’ survivability in modern times.
The USS America was more than just a hardy ship; it was the poster child for American sea power. It displaced 83,573 tons and was fully equipped with air defenses, including advanced radar, surface-to-air missiles, and close-in weapons systems. Through its tour of Vietnam, America would fly 10,500 sorties, dropping a total of more than 11,000 pounds of bombs without the loss of a single pilot.
In the 1980s, during the Reagan years, America participated in further conventional engagements off the coast of Libya, challenging Libyan surface-to-air missiles and small warships. During the First Gulf War, the carrier dispatched 3,000 sorties to attack Iraqi positions before taking some time for herself to patrol the no-fly zone over Iraq.
The decision to use the USS America rather than making her a floating museum was controversial but ultimately invaluable. The data obtained during the 25 days of explosive testing have been crucial in the development of the CVN-78, the USS Gerald R. Ford. As former Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Natham put it off the ship, “America will make one final and vital contribution to our national defense, this time as a live-fire test and evaluation platform.”
The legacy of USS America survives not in the deep where she now rests, but in the lessons learned that wove their way into the design of the new class of supercarriers. Indeed, that dedication to carrier survivability and design improvement will keep alive the story of USS America and keep her influencing the United States Navy as it projects maritime superiority.