Changes

| authorized=

| authorized=

| keellaid=16 March 1934

| keellaid=16 March 1934

| launched=03 October 1936

| launched=3 October 1936

| commissioned=12 May 1938

| commissioned=12 May 1938

| decommissioned=17 February 1947

| decommissioned=17 February 1947

| status=Sold for scrapping, 01 July 1958

| status=Sold for scrapping, 1 July 1958

| type=Aircraft carrier<br/>''Yorktown''-class

| type=Aircraft carrier<br/>''Yorktown''-class

| displ=19,800 t

| displ=19,800 t

| length=809 ft 6 in

| length=809&nbsp;ft 6 in

| beam=83 ft 1 in waterline<br/>114 ft flight deck

| beam=83&nbsp;ft 1 in waterline<br/>114&nbsp;ft flight deck

| draft=28 ft

| draft=28&nbsp;ft

| speed=33 knots

| speed=33 knots

| test=

| test=

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. ''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.

''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 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==

The [[Battle of the Philippine Sea]] over, ''Enterprise'' and her companions continued to support the Saipan campaign through 5 July. ''Enterprise'' then sailed for Pearl Harbor and a month of rest and overhaul. Back in action waters on 24 August, the carrier sailed with TF 38 in that force's aerial assault on the Volcano and Bonin Islands from 31 August to 2 September, and Yap, Ulithi, and the Palaus from 6 to 8 September. After operating west of the Palau Islands, the "Big E" joined other units of TF 38 on 7 October, and shaped course to the northward. From 10 to 20 October her aviators roared over [[Okinawa]], [[Taiwan|Formosa]], and the [[Philippines]], blasting enemy airfields, shore installations, and shipping in preparation for the assault on Leyte. After supporting the Leyte landings on 20 October, ''Enterprise'' headed for Ulithi to replenish but the approach of the Japanese fleet on 23 October, brought her racing back into action. In the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]] (23-26 October), ''Enterprise'' planes struck all three groups of enemy forces, battering battleships and destroyers before the action ended. The carrier remained on patrol east of Samar and Leyte until the end of October, then retired to Ulithi for supplies. During November, her aircraft struck targets in the Manila area, and the island of Yap. The "Big E" returned to Pearl Harbor on 6 December 1944.

The [[Battle of the Philippine Sea]] over, ''Enterprise'' and her companions continued to support the Saipan campaign through 5 July. ''Enterprise'' then sailed for Pearl Harbor and a month of rest and overhaul. Back in action waters on 24 August, the carrier sailed with TF 38 in that force's aerial assault on the Volcano and Bonin Islands from 31 August to 2 September, and Yap, Ulithi, and the Palaus from 6 to 8 September. After operating west of the Palau Islands, the "Big E" joined other units of TF 38 on 7 October, and shaped course to the northward. From 10 to 20 October her aviators roared over [[Okinawa]], [[Taiwan|Formosa]], and the [[Philippines]], blasting enemy airfields, shore installations, and shipping in preparation for the assault on Leyte. After supporting the Leyte landings on 20 October, ''Enterprise'' headed for Ulithi to replenish but the approach of the Japanese fleet on 23 October, brought her racing back into action. In the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]] (23-26 October), ''Enterprise'' planes struck all three groups of enemy forces, battering battleships and destroyers before the action ended. The carrier remained on patrol east of Samar and Leyte until the end of October, then retired to Ulithi for supplies. During November, her aircraft struck targets in the Manila area, and the island of Yap. The "Big E" returned to Pearl Harbor on 6 December 1944.

Sailing 24 December for the Philippine area, ''Enterprise'' carried on board an air group specially trained in night carrier operations. She joined TG 38.5 and swept the waters north of Luzon and of the China Sea during January of 1945, striking shore targets and shipping from Formosa to Indo-China. After a brief visit to Ulithi, the "Big E" joined TG 58.5 on 10 February 1945, and provided day and night combat air patrol for TF 58 as it struck Tokyo on 16 and 17 February. She then supported the marines on [[Iwo Jima]] from the day of the landings, 19 February, until 9 March when she sailed for Ulithi. During one part of that period, ''Enterprise'' kept aircraft aloft continuously over Iwo Jima for 174 hours. Departing Ulithi 15 March, the carrier continued her night work in raids against Kyushu, Honshu, and shipping in the Inland Sea of Japan. Damaged slightly by an enemy bomb on 18 March, ''Enterprise'' entered Ulithi 6 days later for repairs. Back in action on 5 April, she supported the Okinawa operation until again damaged (11 April), this time by a suicide plane, and forced back to Ulithi. Off Okinawa once more on 6 May, ''Enterprise'' flew patrols around the clock as the menace of the kamikaze increased. On 14 May 1945, the "Big E" suffered her last wound of World War II when a suicide plane destroyed her forward elevator, killing 14 and wounding 34 men. The carrier sailed for repairs at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, arriving 7 June 1945.

Sailing 24 December for the Philippine area, ''Enterprise'' carried on board an air group specially trained in night carrier operations. She joined TG 38.5 and swept the waters north of Luzon and of the China Sea during January 1945, striking shore targets and shipping from Formosa to Indo-China. After a brief visit to Ulithi, the "Big E" joined TG 58.5 on 10 February 1945, and provided day and night combat air patrol for TF 58 as it struck Tokyo on 16 and 17 February. She then supported the marines on [[Iwo Jima]] from the day of the landings, 19 February, until 9 March when she sailed for Ulithi. During one part of that period, ''Enterprise'' kept aircraft aloft continuously over Iwo Jima for 174 hours. Departing Ulithi 15 March, the carrier continued her night work in raids against Kyushu, Honshu, and shipping in the Inland Sea of Japan. Damaged slightly by an enemy bomb on 18 March, ''Enterprise'' entered Ulithi 6 days later for repairs. Back in action on 5 April, she supported the Okinawa operation until again damaged (11 April), this time by a suicide plane, and forced back to Ulithi. Off Okinawa once more on 6 May, ''Enterprise'' flew patrols around the clock as the menace of the kamikaze increased. On 14 May 1945, the "Big E" suffered her last wound of World War II when a suicide plane destroyed her forward elevator, killing 14 and wounding 34 men. The carrier sailed for repairs at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, arriving 7 June 1945.

==After the war==

==After the war==

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[[category:United States Navy]]

[[Category:United States Navy]]

[[Category:Aircraft Carriers]]

[[Category:Aircraft Carriers]]

[[Category:World War II]]

[[Category:World War II]]