Key Points and Summary – The USS America (CV-66), a decorated Kitty Hawk-class supercarrier that served from Vietnam to the Gulf War, met a unique and controversial end.
-Instead of becoming a museum, the decommissioned carrier was intentionally sunk in a 2005 live-fire exercise (SinkEx).
(Follow our new YouTube Channel.)
-For four weeks, the Navy subjected the massive warship to a relentless barrage of explosives to test its durability.
-USS America proved incredibly resilient, withstanding the onslaught for far longer than expected before finally being scuttled.
-Her sacrifice provided invaluable data that directly informed the design and survivability of the next-generation Ford-class carriers.
USS America: The Aircraft Carrier That Wouldn’t Sink
The USS America was the third and final Kitty Hawk-Class supercarrier built for the U.S. Navy. First laid down in 1961, USS America had a long and eventful service life serving from Vietnam to the Gulf War. Its career came to an end in the 90s when she was finally pulled from active service.
The carrier laid in rest until 2005 when the Navy made the controversial decision to sink it as part of a sinking exercise (SinkEx). Despite being blasted by various ordinances for several weeks, the USS America proved tougher than expected and sank after four weeks of bombardment.
The USS America’s Last Assignment
On April 19, 2005, the USS America was towed out to sea from Philadelphia for her final mission. The exact location of the tests was initially kept secret but was later revealed to be southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Over the course of four weeks, the ship was subjected to a series of controlled explosions, missile strikes, torpedo hits, and underwater blasts.
The goal was to simulate real-world combat scenarios and gather data on how a modern supercarrier would withstand various forms of attack, both above and below the waterline.
The world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), sails in the Atlantic Ocean, July 4, 2025. Gerald R. Ford, a first-in-class aircraft carrier and deployed flagship of Carrier Strike Group Twelve, incorporates modern technology, innovative shipbuilding designs, and best practices from legacy aircraft
carriers to increase the U.S. Navy’s capacity to underpin American security and economic prosperity, deter adversaries, and project power on a global scale through sustained operations at sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tajh Payne)
USS America proved to be incredibly resilient. Her double-hulled construction, extensive internal compartmentalization, and sheer size made her difficult to sink. Despite the relentless assault, the ship remained afloat longer than anticipated. In the end, Navy personnel had to board the vessel and place internal charges to ensure she would go down.
This final act underscored the ship’s toughness and the effectiveness of her design.
Carriers are Surprisingly Hard to Sink
The decision to sink the USS America was not made lightly. According to Admiral John B. Nathman, then Vice Chief of Naval Operations, the data collected from the test would be invaluable in designing future carriers, including the Ford-class. Nathman emphasized that America’s final mission was not about destruction but about learning and innovation. Her sacrifice would help improve hull integrity, damage control systems, and survivability features in future warships.
The information gathered from the test was used to reinforce bulkhead and hull designs, enhance shock resistance to underwater explosions, and inform the development of automated systems for fire suppression and flooding control.
Although the goal was not to sink the carrier immediately, the USS America still proved to be a tough nut to crack. Despite being pounded by various types of missiles, torpedoes, and bombs, the ship refused to sink easily. The sheer bulk of the old Kitty Hawk-class carrier meant that she could withstand immense amounts of battle damage and still remain floating. Finally, it was decided to scuttle the ship using charges placed on board.
Ford-Class Aircraft Carrier. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
On May 14, 2005, after enduring weeks of punishment, the USS America was finally scuttled and sank to the ocean floor. She became the largest warship ever intentionally sunk and the only U.S. supercarrier to be lost in such a manner.
The sinking was not publicized until several days later, reigniting debate among veterans and historians. Some felt that the ship deserved a more dignified end, perhaps as a museum or memorial, and that intentionally sinking a carrier called the America was a touch insensitive. Others, however, accepted the Navy’s rationale and took pride in the ship’s final mission, viewing it as a noble contribution.
Design of the USS America
Commissioned on January 23, 1965, the USS America was the third Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carrier and the fourth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name “America.” Originally intended to be a nuclear-powered vessel, the ship was ultimately constructed with conventional propulsion due to budget constraints following the costly development of the USS Enterprise. Built by Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia, the America was a formidable presence on the seas. At over 1,048 feet in length and displacing more than 83,000 tons when fully loaded, she was a floating fortress. Her steam turbines generated 280,000 horsepower, enabling speeds exceeding 34 knots. The ship could carry nearly 80 aircraft and housed a crew of over 5,000 personnel, making it a self-contained city at sea and a powerful symbol of American military might during the Cold War.
Throughout her 31 years of active service, the USS America participated in numerous military operations and global deployments. During the Vietnam War, she completed three deployments to the Pacific, supporting air operations over Southeast Asia. In the decades that followed, she played a key role in Cold War deterrence, patrolling the Atlantic and Mediterranean and participating in NATO exercises. The America also took part in humanitarian missions and crisis response operations, showcasing the versatility of U.S. naval aviation.
One of her most notable contributions came during the Persian Gulf War, where she supported Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm by launching air strikes and providing logistical support to coalition forces.
Ford-Class Aircraft Carrier. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
In 4 Words: One Last Big Sacrifice
Despite her distinguished service, the USS America was decommissioned on August 9, 1996, and placed in the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia. For years, veterans and naval enthusiasts advocated for the ship to be preserved as a museum or memorial, citing her historical significance.
However, the Navy had other plans. In a decision that sparked considerable debate, the America was selected for SinkEx, a classified live-fire test designed to evaluate the survivability of aircraft carriers under modern combat conditions.
The sinking of the USS America went a long way towards improving the survivability of future carriers.
The data collected during her final mission had a lasting impact on naval architecture and defense strategy. Engineers used the findings to improve the design of the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) and subsequent carriers, making them more survivable in the face of modern threats such as anti-ship missiles and torpedoes. The America’s final act was one of selfless contribution, ensuring that future generations of sailors would be better protected.
About the Author:
Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
More Military
The U.S. Navy’s Submarine Crisis Is Real
Frank Smith
July 22, 2025 at 9:11 am
Not challanging the goal of he SinkEx but what would the salvage value of such a large ship been?
Gil
July 22, 2025 at 9:47 am
Why not extend these extremely durable and unsinkable super carriers to more like 70-80 years of service to get more value? The extra cost of servicing to extend its life is a savings compared to what a newer carrier would cost in future inflation costs.
George
July 22, 2025 at 9:57 am
Just think of the kind of infrastructure we could have created with the $1T we’ve spent on our military for decades that has also not won anything since WWII.
We’ve spent that money after making peace with the Russians all while China was filled with starving peasants.
When will people wake up?
MiddleAmerican
July 22, 2025 at 12:53 pm
While the sinkex was valuable, but it wasn’t entirely realistic. Every capital ship sunk since WWI has gone down, partially or mostly, due to secondary explosions and fire from onboard ordnance and fuel. The America didn’t have ordnance or normal fuel load onboard when sunk.
Lepke
July 23, 2025 at 2:00 am
I rather see a ship sunk than scrapped and torn apart. 2 ships I served on were sunk. One in a Sinkex and the other in a collision.