Introduction
CV‑62 was a United States Navy aircraft carrier that was planned during the early 1960s as the successor to the nuclear‑powered CVN‑61, the original USS Enterprise. The designation CV‑62 was assigned to a hull that was intended to carry the advanced aircraft of the era, including the early versions of the Grumman A-6 Intruder and the North American F-111B. Although the vessel was never constructed, the plans for CV‑62 influenced the design of later carriers and contributed to the evolution of naval aviation strategy in the Cold War period.
Background and Naming
The United States Navy employs a hull classification system in which “CV” denotes an aircraft carrier. The numeral following the designation indicates the sequential order of the vessel within that classification. CV‑62 was therefore the next number after CV‑61, which was assigned to the original USS Enterprise, a nuclear‑powered supercarrier commissioned in 1961. The decision to assign a hull number to CV‑62 reflected the Navy’s intent to expand its carrier fleet in response to increasing Soviet naval capabilities and the growing importance of carrier‑based air power in maritime strategy.
While the name “Enterprise” was associated with CV‑61, the planned CV‑62 was not intended to carry that name. Instead, it was to be named after a different American hero or naval tradition, reflecting the practice of naming carriers after states, cities, or notable figures. However, because the ship was never built, the name never entered official usage.
Design and Construction
Planning and Approval
The early 1960s saw a surge in naval procurement driven by the escalation of the Cold War. The U.S. Congress approved the construction of a new class of nuclear‑powered carriers to replace the aging fleet and to provide a platform for emerging aircraft technologies. In 1963, the Navy issued a request for proposals (RFP) to major shipyards, inviting detailed designs for CV‑62. The RFP emphasized increased displacement, advanced flight deck systems, and enhanced aircraft handling capabilities.
After evaluating proposals from Newport News Shipbuilding, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and Mare Island Naval Shipyard, the Navy selected the Mare Island design as the baseline for CV‑62. The chosen design proposed a hull length of 950 feet, a beam of 115 feet, and a displacement of approximately 60,000 tons when fully loaded. The ship would be powered by a dual‑reactor nuclear propulsion plant, providing 250,000 shaft horsepower and enabling a sustained speed of 30 knots.
Design Features
Key design features of CV‑62 were intended to incorporate lessons learned from CV‑61 and to anticipate future aircraft developments:
- Extended Flight Deck – A flight deck 150 feet longer than that of CV‑61 was planned, allowing for simultaneous launch and recovery of multiple aircraft types, including larger, heavier fighters and early versions of the A-6 Intruder.
- Advanced Arresting Gear – The carrier would have employed a state‑of‑the‑art arresting gear system, featuring dual magnetic arresting cables and improved shock absorption to accommodate high‑speed aircraft landings.
- Catapult System – A modern steam catapult system with a 120-foot stroke was proposed to launch heavier aircraft without relying on external aircraft carriers.
- Hangar Configuration – Two hangar decks, each 250 feet in length, would have housed 120 aircraft, with a modular bay system to allow rapid reconfiguration for varying mission sets.
- Command and Control – Integrated combat information center (CIC) upgrades were planned, including a fully digital navigation and weapons control suite, to enhance situational awareness during fleet operations.
Additionally, CV‑62’s design incorporated a more sophisticated vertical and horizontal flight deck lighting system, allowing operations to continue during low‑visibility conditions. The carrier’s superstructure would have featured a radar‑absorbent material coating to reduce detection by hostile radar systems.
Construction Phases
Construction of CV‑62 would have proceeded in three primary phases:
- Keel Laying – The keel was scheduled to be laid on 15 March 1965 at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. The ceremony would have marked the formal commencement of the vessel’s construction.
- Hull Fabrication – Over the next 18 months, the hull plates would have been welded together in a modular fashion, with the propulsion plant installed in the lower decks.
- Fit‑Out and Trials – The final phase would have involved the installation of the flight deck, hangars, weaponry, and electronic systems. Subsequent sea trials were planned for late 1968 to test performance, stability, and propulsion efficiency.
During the construction period, the Navy anticipated significant involvement from subcontractors, including firms specializing in nuclear reactor technology, advanced metallurgy, and precision engineering. The project was estimated to cost $1.2 billion in 1960s dollars, with funding sourced through a combination of congressional appropriations and Navy capital outlays.
Technical Specifications
Although CV‑62 was never completed, its planned technical specifications were documented in Navy design manuals. The following table summarizes the principal data:
- Displacement: 60,000 tons (full load)
- Length (overall): 950 feet (289 meters)
- Beam: 115 feet (35 meters)
- Draft: 40 feet (12 meters)
- Propulsion: 2 nuclear reactors, 250,000 shp, 2 shafts
- Maximum Speed: 30 knots (55 km/h)
- Range: 12,000 nautical miles (22,000 km) at 15 knots
- Aircraft Capacity: 120 aircraft (mixed types)
- Hangar Space: 2 hangar decks, each 250 feet long
- Crew: 3,000 personnel (including air wing)
- Armament: 8 × 5"/54 caliber guns (planned), 6 × 20mm Phalanx CIWS (planned)
- Defense Systems: Advanced radar suite, electronic countermeasures, and missile launch platforms (planned)
These specifications indicate that CV‑62 would have been one of the largest and most technologically advanced aircraft carriers of its time, surpassing the size of its predecessor CV‑61 and aligning with contemporary trends toward larger, more capable naval aviation platforms.
Operational History
Commissioning
Had construction proceeded to completion, CV‑62 would have been commissioned in late 1969, following a series of sea trials and crew training exercises. The commissioning ceremony would have been held aboard the vessel in San Diego, California, with dignitaries from the Navy, Congress, and the Department of Defense in attendance. The commissioning would have signaled the arrival of a new generation of carrier‑based aviation, capable of supporting both offensive strike missions and defensive escort duties.
Service Deployments
CV‑62 was projected to serve as the flagship of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Its deployment schedule would have included extensive participation in the following operations:
- Operation Sea Dragon (1970) – Deployment to the Vietnam theater, providing close air support and interdiction missions against North Vietnamese supply lines.
- Joint Task Force 7 (1973) – Participation in NATO maritime exercises in the North Atlantic, demonstrating carrier strike capabilities to allied navies.
- Operation Enduring Freedom (1981) – Deployment to the Middle East, supporting maritime interdiction and air cover for naval forces in the Persian Gulf.
- Shuttle Operations (1984–1989) – Regularly operating in support of the Space Shuttle program, providing a rapid response launch platform and a recovery station for the Space Shuttle orbiters.
During these deployments, CV‑62 would have hosted a mix of aircraft types, including early variants of the F-14 Tomcat, the A-6 Intruder, the E-2 Hawkeye early warning aircraft, and the S-3 Viking anti‑submarine platform. The carrier’s advanced flight deck and arresting gear systems were designed to handle the increasingly heavier and faster aircraft entering service during the 1970s and 1980s.
Decommissioning and Fate
In the absence of construction, CV‑62’s planned decommissioning date was projected for the early 1990s, following a 25‑year service life typical of carrier classes. The decommissioning process would have involved the removal of nuclear reactors and the decontamination of the vessel’s nuclear fuel assemblies. The hull, if completed, might have been sold for scrap or repurposed as a museum ship; however, due to the cancellation, no physical hull existed for this eventuality.
Legacy and Impact
The cancellation of CV‑62 had a notable influence on subsequent U.S. Navy carrier design. Lessons drawn from the project’s design studies were incorporated into the CVN‑65 Gerald R. Ford class. Key innovations that trace back to CV‑62 include:
- Enhanced Flight Deck Design – The extended flight deck and improved catapult system informed the layout of the Gerald R. Ford’s angled flight deck, allowing simultaneous launch and recovery operations.
- Advanced Arresting Gear – The magnetic arresting cables and shock absorption mechanisms pioneered in CV‑62’s plans were adapted for the Ford-class carriers, improving safety and reducing wear on aircraft.
- Integrated Combat Information Center – The digital CIC concepts tested in the CV‑62 study formed the basis of the Ford-class’s integrated battle management system.
- Nuclear Propulsion Reliability – The research into dual-reactor redundancy and maintenance protocols contributed to the increased reliability of subsequent nuclear carriers.
Moreover, the cancellation of CV‑62 was part of a broader shift in U.S. naval procurement strategy during the late 1960s. Budget constraints, changing geopolitical priorities, and advances in aircraft technology prompted the Navy to consolidate resources into fewer, more capable vessels. As a result, the Gerald R. Ford class emerged as a more cost-effective solution than a fleet of numerous smaller carriers would have been.
Variants and Planned Modifications
During the design phase, several variants of CV‑62 were considered to address evolving threats and operational requirements. Although none were pursued, the following configurations were documented:
- CVN‑62A – Anti‑Submarine Warfare Focus – This variant would have featured enhanced sonar suites, additional ASW aircraft, and a dedicated anti‑submarine warfare (ASW) command center.
- CVN‑62B – Stealth Carrier – Incorporation of radar‑absorbent coatings, reduced radar cross‑section of superstructure, and emission control suites to minimize detection by enemy sensors.
- CVN‑62C – Expeditionary Warfare Platform – Designed for rapid deployment of expeditionary units, this variant would have included modular containerized logistics modules and enhanced support for amphibious operations.
Each variant explored different strategic emphases, but the overarching decision to cancel the project in favor of consolidating resources under the Gerald R. Ford design limited the exploration of these alternatives.
See Also
- List of United States Navy aircraft carriers
- Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carrier
- USN nuclear propulsion program
- Cold War naval aviation
- Aircraft carrier design evolution
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