Drawing made by G.J. Frans Naerebout and published in Op de Lange Deining written by G.A.J. Bovens
Motto First in Defense had she several nicknames like Zippo. Earlier pennants AVT-59 and CVA-59. Of the Forrestal-class with as sister ships the Saratoga, Ranger and Independence. Her building was ordered on 12 July 1951 and her keel was laid down on 14 July 1952 at the shipyard of Newport Nwes Shipbuilding, launched on 11 December 1954, delivered to the US Navy on 129 September 1955, commissioned on 1 October, stricken and decommissioned on 11 September 1993 and finally sold on 22 October 2013 to be broken up at Brownsville, Texas. The first American aircraft carrier with an angled flight deck, optical landing system and a steam catapult for launching the planes. With a displacement of 59.650 (standard)-81.101 (full load) were her dimensions 300 (waterline)-325 (over all) x 39,42-72,5 (extreme) x 11 metres or 990’-1.067’x 129’4”-1.067’ x 129’4”-238’ x 37’. The steam turbines delivered the 260.000 shp via 4 shaft allowing a speed of 233 knots. Her crew numbered 552 officers+4.988 enlisted. She was able to carry 85 planes with her. Her own armament consisted of 8-5” guns which were later removed, Mk 29 NATO Sea Sparrows and Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS.
