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The Famed Ex-USS John F. Kennedy Casts Off On Its Final Voyage (Updated)

Written by

Oleksandr Kaiukov

in

Introduction

On a cold, dreary Thursday in Philadelphia, a smattering of people came to the waterfront to see the former Kitty Hawk class aircraft carrier U.S.S. John F. Kennedy (CV-67) begin its final journey. Nicknamed “Big John,” the Kitty Hawk class sub-variant began a trip from the U.S. Navy’s Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility to the International Shipbreaking Limited facility in Brownsville, Texas. There it will be cut up and its remnants sold for scrap. After 17 years in Philadelphia, Big John is expected to arrive at its final destination sometime next month, a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) spokesman told The War Zone. It will transit south through the Atlantic Ocean, around the Florida peninsula, and then across the Gulf of Mexico. No date has been set for the ship’s dismantling.

Big John and the former USS Kitty Hawk were sold for a penny apiece in October 2021 after years of debate about their fates. For a brief time, this even included talk of returning Kitty Hawk to service and rumors of selling Big John to India. There were several more grounded but unsuccessful attempts to keep them from the scrapper’s torch. The Navy set the John F. Kennedy aside for possible conversion into a museum ship after it was decommissioned. Multiple groups attempted to secure the vessel for that purpose, but none of those efforts proved successful. Nuclear-powered supercarriers cannot be museum ships, so these were the last opportunities for such a second life for the Navy’s largest warships.

Commissioned on Sept. 7, 1968, the flattop was the first Navy ship to be named John F. Kennedy and was the last U.S. conventionally powered aircraft carrier built. It was retired from service in 2007, 39 years later. The vessel was a one-of-a-kind derivative of the Kitty Hawk class design originally intended to be nuclear-powered. It entered service at the height of the Vietnam War, but did not see service there. However, it did support a variety of other missions, including the U.S. response to the bombing of Marine Corps Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1983 and the first Gulf War in 1991. The carrier and its air wing were called upon to provide combat air patrols after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the ship also took part in the early stages of the war in Afghanistan.

The Legacy of the USS John F. Kennedy

The USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) holds a significant place in U.S. naval history. As the last conventionally powered aircraft carrier, it marked the end of an era in naval engineering. The ship, commissioned in 1968, was initially designed to be nuclear-powered but was converted to conventional propulsion during construction. This change, along with other modifications, made it a unique derivative of the Kitty Hawk class.

Service History

Throughout its 39 years of service, the USS John F. Kennedy participated in numerous operations and conflicts:

  • Vietnam War: Although commissioned during the Vietnam War, the carrier did not see active combat in the region.
  • Operation El Dorado Canyon: In 1986, the USS John F. Kennedy was part of the naval force involved in the bombing of Libya.
  • Gulf War: The carrier played a crucial role in Operation Desert Storm, launching numerous combat sorties.
  • Post 9/11 Operations: Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the USS John F. Kennedy provided combat air patrols and supported operations in Afghanistan.

Decommissioning and Fate

Decommissioned in 2007, the USS John F. Kennedy was initially set aside for potential conversion into a museum ship. Despite multiple efforts, none of the proposals to turn the vessel into a museum were successful. In 2021, the Navy sold the carrier for scrapping, marking the end of an era for conventionally powered supercarriers.

The Scrapping Process

The scrapping of the USS John F. Kennedy highlights the challenges and costs associated with dismantling large naval vessels. The process involves:

  • Towing the Vessel: The carrier was towed from Philadelphia to Brownsville, Texas, where it will be dismantled.
  • Environmental Considerations: Scrapping a vessel of this size requires careful consideration of environmental impacts.
  • Cost Implications: The cost of dismantling a nuclear-powered vessel, such as the USS Enterprise, can reach up to $1.55 billion, highlighting the financial burden of scrapping large ships.

The Future of Aircraft Carriers

The USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), the second Ford-class supercarrier, is scheduled to enter service in July 2025. This new carrier represents the future of U.S. naval power, incorporating advanced technologies and nuclear propulsion.

Final Voyage

As of Thursday evening, the decaying Big John was still close to shore in the Delaware River, a sea-going tugboat towing it down the channel to the Atlantic Ocean. According to NAVSEA, once the ship hits open waters, it won’t be visible again from shore until it nears the Texas city of San Padre Island on the Gulf of Mexico. Here’s to the Big John’s legacy and all the sailors who called her home! After the Kennedy left the Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, a drone captured video of it being towed down the Delaware River toward the Atlantic Ocean as its final voyage continued.

Conclusion

The final voyage of the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) marks the end of an era for conventionally powered aircraft carriers. As the Navy transitions to more advanced, nuclear-powered vessels, the legacy of “Big John” will live on in the memories of those who served aboard and in the annals of U.S. naval history. The new USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) will carry on the name and tradition, representing the future of American naval power.

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