The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Midway (CV-41) conducts an

File: USS_Iowa_(BB-61)_off_the_coast_of_Lebanon-2.jpg (362KB, 1280x1024px) Image search: [Google]

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United States Navy warships underway in formation off the coast of Lebanon including, from left, the guided missile cruiser USS Belknap (CG-26), the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61), the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CV-43) and the amphibious assault ship USS Nassau (LHA-4).

This picture was taken on 16 August 1989 during the USS Coral Sea's final voyage. Like the USS Midway, the USS Coral Sea served continuously from 1947 to 1990. Due to massive cost overruns, the USS Coral Sea did not receive the extensive modernization the USS Midway did 1966, leaving her far more outdated by the time she was decommissioned in 1990 than the USS Midway. Due to her age and lack of upgrades, she had earned the nickname "Ageless Warrior".

File: NISMF_Philadelphia_1995_DN-SC-97-00422.jpg (4MB, 2840x1900px) Image search: [Google]

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An aerial view of the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard looking west/northwest on 30 October 1995. The shipyard closed on 30 September 1995, but the Navy Intermediate Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF) continued to store decommissioned and mothballed ships. Vessels visible, left to right: the battleships USS Iowa (BB-61), and USS Wisconsin (BB-64) at the DD wharf; naval auxiliaries USS Sylvania (AFS-2), USS Milwaukee (AOR-2) and USS Savannah (AOR-4) at pier 5; the aircraft carriers USS Forrestal (CV-59) and USS Saratoga (CV-60); at pier 4; the amphibious assault ships USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) and USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7) at pier 2. In the back pool is the heavy cruiser USS Des Moines (CA-134) and numerous destroyers and frigates.

The Iowa-class battleships were the last US battleships ever built. The Forrestal-class aircraft carriers were the first supercarriers, paving the way for the Kitty Hawk-class supercarriers and eventually the nuclear-powered USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and Nimitz-class supercarriers.

File: CVA-43_1_1955.jpg (1MB, 1893x1471px) Image search: [Google]

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The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) at sea in 1955 during a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea between March and September 1955. Visible are the aircraft of Carrier Air Group 17 (CVG-17): McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee fighters of fighter squadron VF-172 Blue Bolts (painted dark blue), F2H-3 Banshees of VF-171 Aces on the catapults (painted light grey/white), and two North American AJ-1 Savage bombers parked on the port aft flight deck. On the ramp some four Douglas AD Skyraiders are parked. CVG-17's tailcode "R" is clearly visible. The destroyer in the background appears to be USS Borie (DD-704).

This picture depicts the USS Coral Sea with her original center line flight deck configuration.

File: USS_Coral_Sea_(CVA-43)_refueling_USS_Porterfield_(DD-682)_1960.jpg (319KB, 779x483px) Image search: [Google]

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he U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) refueling the Fletcher-class destroyer USS Porterfield (DD-682), in 1960.

By comparison, this picture depicts the USS Coral Sea after her upgrade and reconfiguration to a modern angled flight deck during 1957-60.

File: Battle_Group_Alpha_(Midway,_Iowa)_underway,_1987.jpg (791KB, 2324x1416px) Image search: [Google]

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The battleship USS IOWA (BB 61) and the aircraft carrier USS MIDWAY (CV 41) are surrounded by other ships of Battle Group Alpha while underway in formation.

This picture was taken on 1 December 1987.

File: USS_Midway_(CV-41)_Coral_Sea_(CV-43)_and_Enterprise_(CVN-65)_off_Alaska_1983.jpg (1MB, 2780x1900px) Image search: [Google]

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The U.S. Navy aircraft carriers USS Coral Sea (CV-43), left, and USS Midway (CV-41), center, and the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN-65), right, underway during CINCPAC Exercise FLEETEX '83. The US Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the Canadian navy were participating in the exercise near the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.

This picture was taken on 13 April 1983.

It had suddenly come to my attention that WWII-era aircraft carriers served into the '90's, and alongside WWII-era battleships.
Only the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) served longer, a total of 51 consecutive years from 1962 to 2012, and not including the special cases of the USS Constitution and the USS Pueblo.
I hope you enjoyed this brief delve into US naval history.

>>30955576
I did.

Thanks op

>>30955593
ye

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I guess this the right tread to ask this question, why did the refitted Spruances have 61 VLS cells? Why not 64?

>>30955666
3 cells are occupied by an expanding loading crane.

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>>30955676
Thanks.