In May 2022, the decommissioned supercarrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) arrived in Brownsville, Texas, for dismantling. The storied ship served the US Navy faithfully for nearly five decades, commissioned in 1961 at a construction cost of $264 million (equivalent to $2.5 billion today).
In 2021, Kitty Hawk was sold to a scrap company for a nominal one cent. While ongoing discussions debate the financial value of this esteemed vessel, the invaluable contribution of her nearly 50 years of service remains indisputable.
Captivating military personnel and civilians alike
The construction of the USS Kitty Hawk, the inaugural vessel of the Kitty Hawk-class of aircraft carriers, began at the New York Ship Building Corporation in December 1956. Launched in May 1960 and commissioned a year later, the vessel embarked on her early journeys, including visits to South America and cruises along the Japanese coast.
Service during the Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War, the USS Kitty Hawk played a role in Southeast Asia, later undergoing modifications to further enhance her versatility as a multi-purpose carrier. Throughout the 1970s, she operated in the Western Pacific, engaging in humanitarian efforts, like rescuing Vietnamese refugees and providing support following the assassination of Korean President Park Chung-hee. Kitty Hawk was also dispatched to the Arabian Sea during the Iran Hostage Crisis.
For the remainder of her service, the vessel carried out deployments 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 the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) would replace the USS Kitty Hawk at United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan.
The decommissioning process began in 2008, and the vessel was officially retired in 2019 in Bremerton, Washington. More than 2,000 people filled Kitty Hawk’s hangar bay during a ceremony to honor the legacy of the Navy’s oldest active warship on the day of her retirement.
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.
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