The USS Forrestal, the first of the U.S. Navy’s supercarriers, was a testament to Cold War naval innovation, serving with distinction from the 1950s through the 1990s.

This mighty ship, introduced during a time of geopolitical tension and technological transformation, revolutionized naval aviation with its introduction of the angled flight deck, steam catapults, and an enclosed bow design that enabled operations in rough weather conditions.

Forrestal visited Joint Task Force 1 at Bikini Lagoon in the Marshall Islands for Test Able of Operation Crossroads to witness the detonation of an atomic bomb and its effects upon over 90 ships, along with weapons and equipment, in late June and early July 1946.

The explosion shocked the secretary, who repeatedly mentioned in interviews in the following days the enormous power released by the blast and its impact on observers. Despite the complexity of global issues heightened by the Cold War, the country faced urgent challenges and policymakers established a new national security framework to start operating promptly. Forrestal played a significant role in shaping the National Security Act of 1947, despite his initial resistance to merging services.

Forged at the height of the arms race with the Soviet Union, the Forrestal class represented a significant leap in carrier capabilities.

They were 25% larger than their Midway-class predecessors, and their design accommodated larger aircraft and nuclear weapons. The USS Forrestal and her sister ships were monumental symbols of American power projection at sea.

Notable for its role during crises and combat, the USS Forrestal saw action in the Mediterranean during the 1958 Lebanon crisis and the Vietnam War, where she suffered a catastrophic fire in 1967.

The fire, resulting from an accidental Zuni rocket launch, led to extensive damage and loss of life. This disaster led to crucial changes in shipboard damage control procedures that are still implemented in the Navy today.

The Forrestal’s service life extended well into the post-Cold War era, where she operated in support of U.S. policy objectives and participated in operations like Provide Comfort, aimed at protecting Kurdish refugees in Iraq.

Her role evolved over time, from a fearsome instrument of war to an auxiliary training carrier, emphasizing her adaptability and the Navy’s resourcefulness in extending the utility of its assets.

Despite its impressive service, the Forrestal’s lifespan was curtailed due to budget constraints and the changing landscape of naval warfare.

Efforts to convert the decommissioned supercarrier into a museum ship fell through, and she was eventually scrapped, with parts of her living on in other Navy vessels, showcasing the cycle of rebirth and continuity within the fleet.

Throughout her service, the Forrestal embodied the technological advancements and strategic imperatives of the Cold War and beyond.

Her legacy is not solely in her impressive deployments and the innovations she introduced but in the lessons learned from her trials and tragedies, which have indelibly shaped naval doctrine and ship design to this day.

As the last of her kind, the USS Forrestal’s impact resonates in the continuing evolution of carrier aviation and the U.S. Navy’s enduring global presence.

Relevant articles:
– Forrestal-Class: A U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier That Had Just One Mission, The National Interest
– USS Forrestal (CVA, United States Navy (.mil)
– Forrestal (CVA, United States Navy (.mil)
– First in Defense: The USS Forrestal, U.S. Naval Institute