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The seventh ship to bear the name, ''Enterprise'' was launched 3 October 1936 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, Virginia, and sponsored by Mrs. Claude A. Swanson, wife of the Secretary of the Navy.  She was commissioned 12 May 1938, Captain N. H. White in command.

The seventh ship to bear the name, ''Enterprise'' was launched 3 October 1936 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, Virginia, and sponsored by Mrs. Claude A. Swanson, wife of the Secretary of the Navy.  She was commissioned 12 May 1938, Captain N. H. White in command.

''Enterprise'' sailed south on a shakedown cruise which took her to [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Brazil]]. After her return she operated along the east coast and in the Caribbean until April of 1939 when she was ordered to duty in the Pacific. Based first on San Diego and then on Pearl Harbor, the carrier trained herself and her aircraft squadrons for any eventuality, and carried aircraft among the island bases of the Pacific. ''Enteprise'' had just completed one such mission, delivering Marine Corps Fighter Squadron 211 to [[Wake Island]] on 2 December 1941, and was en route to Hawaii when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

''Enterprise'' sailed south on a shakedown cruise which took her to [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Brazil]]. After her return she operated along the east coast and in the Caribbean until April of 1939 when she was ordered to duty in the Pacific. Based first on San Diego and then on Pearl Harbor, the carrier trained herself and her aircraft squadrons for any eventuality, and carried aircraft among the island bases of the Pacific. ''Enterprise'' had just completed one such mission, delivering Marine Corps Fighter Squadron 211 to [[Wake Island]] on 2 December 1941, and was en route to Hawaii when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

==World War II service==

==World War II service==

Repaired at Pearl Harbor from 10 September to 16 October, ''Enterprise'' departed once more for the South Pacific where with ''Hornet'', she formed TF 61. On 26 October, ''Enterprise'' scout planes located a Japanese carrier force and the [[Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands]] was underway. ''Enterprise'' aircraft struck carriers, battleships, and cruisers during the struggle, while the "Big E" herself underwent intensive attack. Hit twice by bombs, ''Enterprise'' lost 44 killed and had 75 wounded. Despite serious damage, she continued in action and took on board a large number of planes from ''Hornet'' when that carrier had to be abandoned. Though the American losses of a carrier and a destroyer were more severe than the Japanese loss of one light cruiser, the battle gained priceless time to reinforce Guadalcanal against the next enemy onslaught.

Repaired at Pearl Harbor from 10 September to 16 October, ''Enterprise'' departed once more for the South Pacific where with ''Hornet'', she formed TF 61. On 26 October, ''Enterprise'' scout planes located a Japanese carrier force and the [[Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands]] was underway. ''Enterprise'' aircraft struck carriers, battleships, and cruisers during the struggle, while the "Big E" herself underwent intensive attack. Hit twice by bombs, ''Enterprise'' lost 44 killed and had 75 wounded. Despite serious damage, she continued in action and took on board a large number of planes from ''Hornet'' when that carrier had to be abandoned. Though the American losses of a carrier and a destroyer were more severe than the Japanese loss of one light cruiser, the battle gained priceless time to reinforce Guadalcanal against the next enemy onslaught.

''Enterprise'' entered Noumea, New Caledonia, on 30 October for repairs, but a new Japanese thrust at the Solomons demanded her presence and she sailed on 11 November, repair crews from ''Vestal'' (AR-4) still on board, working vigorously. Two days later, "Big E" planes swarmed down on an enemy force and disabled a battleship which was sunk later by other American aircraft, and on 14 November, aviators from ''Enterprise'' helped to despatch a heavy cruiser. When the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal ended on 15 November 1942, ''Enterprise'' had shared in sinking 16 ships and damaging 8 more. The carrier returned to Noumea on 16 November to complete her repairs.

''Enterprise'' entered Noumea, New Caledonia, on 30 October for repairs, but a new Japanese thrust at the Solomons demanded her presence and she sailed on 11 November, repair crews from ''Vestal'' (AR-4) still on board, working vigorously. Two days later, "Big E" planes swarmed down on an enemy force and disabled a battleship which was sunk later by other American aircraft, and on 14 November, aviators from ''Enterprise'' helped to dispatch a heavy cruiser. When the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal ended on 15 November 1942, ''Enterprise'' had shared in sinking 16 ships and damaging 8 more. The carrier returned to Noumea on 16 November to complete her repairs.

Sailing again on 4 December, ''Enterprise'' trained out of Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, until 28 January 1943 when she departed for the Solomons area. On 30 January her fighters flew combat air patrol for a cruiser-destroyer group during the [[Battle of Rennell Island]]. Despite the destruction of a large majority of the attacking Japanese bombers by ''Enterprise'' planes, ''Chicago'' (CA-29) was sunk by aerial torpedoes. Detached after the battle, the carrier arrived at Espiritu Santo on 1 February, and for the next 3 months operated out of that base, covering U.S. surface forces up to the Solomons. Enterprise then steamed to Pearl Harbor where, on 27 May 1943, Admiral [[Chester W. Nimitz]] presented the ship with the first Presidential Unit Citation won by an aircraft carrier. On 20 July 1943 she entered Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington for a much-needed overhaul.

Sailing again on 4 December, ''Enterprise'' trained out of Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, until 28 January 1943 when she departed for the Solomons area. On 30 January her fighters flew combat air patrol for a cruiser-destroyer group during the [[Battle of Rennell Island]]. Despite the destruction of a large majority of the attacking Japanese bombers by ''Enterprise'' planes, ''Chicago'' (CA-29) was sunk by aerial torpedoes. Detached after the battle, the carrier arrived at Espiritu Santo on 1 February, and for the next 3 months operated out of that base, covering U.S. surface forces up to the Solomons. Enterprise then steamed to Pearl Harbor where, on 27 May 1943, Admiral [[Chester W. Nimitz]] presented the ship with the first Presidential Unit Citation won by an aircraft carrier. On 20 July 1943 she entered Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington for a much-needed overhaul.