In May 2022, the retired supercarrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) reached Brownsville, Texas, to undergo dismantling. This legendary ship faithfully served the US Navy for almost fifty years, having been commissioned in 1961 at a construction cost of $264 million (equivalent to about $2.5 billion today).
In 2021, Kitty Hawk was sold to a scrap company for just one cent. While debates continue over the financial value of this storied vessel, the serious importance of her nearly fifty years of service is undeniable.
Captivating military personnel and civilians alike
The USS Kitty Hawk, the first ship in the Kitty Hawk-class of aircraft carriers, had its construction kick off at the New York Ship Building Corporation in December 1956. It was launched in May 1960 and officially commissioned a year later. The ship then set out on its initial voyages, which included trips to South America and cruises along the coast of Japan.
Service during the Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War, the USS Kitty Hawk served in Southeast Asia and later underwent upgrades to boost her adaptability as a multi-role carrier. In the 1970s, she operated in the Western Pacific, participating in humanitarian missions such as rescuing Vietnamese refugees and offering aid after the assassination of Korean President Park Chung-hee. Kitty Hawk was also sent to the Arabian Sea during the Iran Hostage Crisis.
For the rest of her service, the ship continued to be deployed in both the Middle East and the Pacific.
Weapons equipped by the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)
Armed with an arsenal that included RIM-7 Sparrow surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), two RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAMs) and two Phalanx Closed-In Weapon Systems (CIWS), the USS Kitty Hawk was a marvel in the US Navy’s fleet. She housed between 70 and 85 aircraft, accommodating Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowlers, E-2C Hawkeyes, Sikorsky SH-60F and HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopters, and a Grumman C-2A Greyhound.
Beyond her military significance, Kitty Hawk hosted a constellation of celebrities, with notable figures being US President John F. Kennedy, Nancy Sinatra and author John Steinbeck gracing her decks. The vessel even graced Hollywood when Disney utilized her for the filming of the 1966 movie, Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.
In a historic milestone, Kitty Hawk, in December 1967, earned the distinction of being the first carrier to receive the Presidential Unit Citation. This accolade recognized her exceptional service during the Vietnam War, particularly her contributions during the Tet Offensive.
Sold down the river
In 2005, the Navy announced that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) would replace the USS Kitty Hawk at United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka in Japan.
The decommissioning process commenced in 2008, with the ship officially retiring in 2019 in Bremerton, Washington. On its retirement day, more than 2,000 people assembled in Kitty Hawk‘s hangar bay for a ceremony to honor the legacy of the Navy’s oldest active warship.
Veterans tried to save her
While her fate was still undecided, the USS Kitty Hawk Veterans Association raised $5 million to preserve the carrier as a museum. Unfortunately, the Navy decided against the plan, in favor of scrapping the ship. In October 2021, the service sold the USS Kitty Hawk and another carrier, the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), to International Shipbreaking Limited for one cent each.
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In May 2022, Kitty Hawk reached her final destination in Texas to begin the scrapping process, which is expected to take between five and 10 years, at a cost of around $750 million.