User:XSG/USS Intrepid (CV-11)

World War II

Marshalls,  Jan. – Feb. 1944

After training in the Caribbean, Intrepid departed Norfolk 3 December 1943 for San Francisco, then to Hawaii. She arrived Pearl Harbor 10 January and prepared for the invasion of the Marshall Islands, the next objective in the Navy's massive island-hopping campaign. She sortied from Pearl Harbor with carriers Cabot and Essex 16 January to raid islands at the northeastern corner of Kwajalein Atoll 29 January 1944 and pressed the attack until the last opposition had vanished, 2 February. The raids destroyed all of the 83 Japanese aircraft based on Roi-Namur before the first landings were made on adjacent islets 31 January. That morning Intrepid's aircraft strafed Ennuebing Island until 10 minutes before the first marines reached the beaches. Half an hour later that islet, which protected Roi's southwestern flank and controlled the North Pass into Kwajalein Lagoon, was secured, enabling marines to set up artillery to support their assault on Roi.

Her work in the capture of the Marshall Islands finished, Intrepid headed for Truk, the tough Japanese base in the center of Micronesia. Three fast carrier groups arrived undetected daybreak of the 17th, sinking two destroyers and 200,000 tons of merchant shipping in 2 days of almost continuous attacks in Operation Hailstone. Moreover, the carrier raid demonstrated Truk's vulnerability and thereby greatly curtailed its usefulness to the Japanese as a base.

The night of 17 February 1944 an aerial torpedo struck Intrepid's starboard quarter, 15 feet below her waterline, flooding several compartments and jamming her rudder hard to port. By racing her port screw and idling her starboard engine, Captain Sprague kept her on course until 2 days later strong winds swung her back and forth and tended to weathercock her with her bow pointed toward Tokyo. Sprague later confessed: "Right then I wasn't interested in going in that direction." At this point the crew fashioned a jury-rig sail of hatch covers and scrap canvas which swung Intrepid about and held her on course. Decorated by her crazy-quilt sail, Intrepid stood into Pearl Harbor 24 February 1944.

After temporary repairs, Intrepid sailed for the West Coast 16 March and arrived Hunter's Point, California, the 22d. She was back in fighting trim in June and departed for 2 months of operations out of Pearl Harbor, then to the Marshalls.

• 3 December 1943: Intrepid sailed from Naval Station Norfolk for San Francisco, then to Hawaii.
• 10 January: She arrived at Pearl Harbor and prepared for the invasion of the Marshall Islands, the next objective in the Navy's massive island-hopping campaign.
• 16 January: She left Pearl Harbor with carriers Cabot and Essex.
• 29 January–2 February 1944: She raided islands at the northeastern corner of Kwajalein Atoll and pressed the attack until the last opposition had vanished.
• 31 January: By then, the raids destroyed all of the 83 Japanese aircraft based on Roi-Namur. The first landings were made on adjacent islets. That morning, Intrepid's aircraft strafed Ennuebing Island until 10 minutes before the first Marines reached the beaches. 30 minutes later, that islet - which protected Roi's southwestern flank and controlled the North Pass into Kwajalein Lagoon - was secured, enabling Marines to set up artillery to support their assault on Roi.
• 2 February 1944: Her work in the capture of the Marshall Islands was now finished. Intrepid headed for Truk, the tough Japanese base in the center of Micronesia.
• 17 February: Three fast carrier groups arrived undetected at daybreak.
• 17 February–18 February: The three carrier groups sank two Japanese destroyers and 200,000 tons (180,000 tonnes) of merchant shipping in two days of almost continuous attacks in Operation Hailstone. The carrier raid demonstrated Truk's vulnerability and thereby greatly curtailed its usefulness to the Japanese as a base.
• 17 February 1944: That night, an aerial torpedo struck Intrepid's starboard quarter, 15 ft (5 m) below her waterline, flooding several compartments and distorting her rudder. By running her port engines at full power and stopping her starboard engines or running them at ⅓ ahead, Captain Sprague kept her roughly on course. Her crew moved all the aircraft on deck forward to increase her headsail to further aid in control.
• 19 February: Strong winds overpowered the improvised steering and left her with her bow pointed toward Tokyo. Sprague later confessed: "Right then I wasn't interested in going in that direction." At this point the crew made a jury-rig sail of wood, cargo nets, and canvas to further increase her headsail, allowing Intrepid to hold her course.
• 24 February 1944: Intrepid reached Pearl Harbor.
• 16 March: After temporary repairs, Intrepid sailed for the West Coast.
• 22 March: She arrived at Hunter's Point, California.
• June 1944: She was back in fighting trim and departed for two months of operations out of Pearl Harbor, then to the Marshalls.

Palaus and Philippines,  Sept. – Nov. 1944

Intrepid's aircraft struck Japanese position in the Palaus 6 and 7 September concentrating on airfields and artillery emplacements on Peleliu. The next day her fast carrier task force steamed west toward the southern Philippines to strike airfields on Mindanao 9 and 10 September. Then, after raids on bases in the Visayan Sea 12 through 14 September, she returned to the Palaus 17 September to support marines in overcoming opposition from hillside caves and mangrove swamps on Peleliu.

When the struggle settled down to rooting Japanese defenders out of the ground on a man-to-man basis, Intrepid steamed back to the Philippines to prepare the way for liberation.

She struck throughout the Philippines, also pounding Okinawa and Formosa to neutralize Japanese air threats to Leyte.

As Intrepid's aircraft flew missions in support of the Leyte landings 20 October 1944, Japan's Navy, desperately striving to hold the Philippines, was converging on Leyte Gulf from three directions. Ships of the U.S. Navy parried thrusts in four major actions collectively known as the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

The morning of 24 October, an Intrepid aircraft spotted Admiral Takeo Kurita's flagship, Yamato. Two hours later, aircraft from Intrepid and Cabot braved intense antiaircraft fire to begin a day-long attack on Center Force. Wave after wave followed until by sunset American carrier-based aircraft had sunk mighty battleship Musashi with her 18 inch (457 mm) guns and had damaged her sister ship Yamato along with battleships Nagato and Haruna and heavy cruiser Myoko forcing the latter to withdraw.

That night Admiral William Halsey's 3rd Fleet raced north to intercept Japan's Northern Force which had been spotted of the northeastern tip of Luzon. At daybreak aircraft took off to attack the Japanese ships then off Cape Engaño. One of Intrepid's aircraft got a bomb into light carrier Zuiho. Then American bombers sank her sister ship Chitosi, and an aircraft from either Intrepid or San Jacinto scored with a torpedo in large carrier Zuikaku knocking out her communications and hampering her steering. Destroyer Ayitsuki sank and at least 9 of Ozawa's 15 aircraft were shot down.

On through the day the attack continued and, after five more strikes, Japan had lost four carriers and a destroyer.

The still potent Center Force, after pushing through San Bernardino Strait, had steamed south along the coast of Samar where it was held at bay by a small escort carrier group of six "baby flattops", three destroyers, and four destroyer escorts until help arrived and it went back towards Japan.

As Intrepid's aircraft hit Clark Field 30 October a burning kamikaze crashed into one of the carrier's port gun tubs killing 10 men and wounding 6. Soon skillful damage control work enabled the flattop to resume flight operations.

Intrepid's aircraft continued to hit airfields and shipping in the Philippines.

Shortly after noon 25 November a heavy force of Japanese aircraft struck back at the carriers. Within 5 minutes 2 kamikazes crashed into the carrier killing 6 officers and 5 crew. Intrepid never lost propulsion nor left her station in the task group; and in less than 2 hours, had extinguished the last blaze. The next day, Intrepid headed for San Francisco, arriving 20 December for repairs.

• 6 September and 7 September 1944: Intrepid's aircraft struck Japanese positions in the Palaus concentrating on airfields and artillery emplacements on Peleliu.
• 8 September: Her fast carrier task force steamed west toward the southern Philippines.
• 9 September and 10 September: She struck airfields on Mindanao.
• 12 through 14 September: She raided bases in the Visayan Sea.
• 17 September: She returned to the Palaus to support Marines in overcoming opposition from hillside caves and mangrove swamps on Peleliu.
• When the struggle settled down to rooting Japanese defenders out of the ground man-to-man, Intrepid steamed back to the Philippines to prepare the way for liberation. She struck throughout the Philippines, also pounding Okinawa and Formosa to neutralize Japanese air threats to Leyte.
• 20 October 1944: Intrepid's aircraft flew missions in support of the Leyte landings. Japan's Navy, desperately striving to hold the Philippines, was converging on Leyte Gulf from three directions.
• 23 October to 26 October 1944: Ships of the U.S. Navy parried thrusts in four major actions collectively known as the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
• 24 October morning: An Intrepid aircraft spotted Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita's flagship, Yamato. Two hours later, aircraft from Intrepid and Cabot braved intense antiaircraft fire to begin a day-long attack on Center Force. Wave after wave followed until by sunset American carrier-based aircraft sank battleship Musashi and damaged her sister ship Yamato, along with battleships Nagato and Haruna and heavy cruiser Myōkō, forcing Myōkō to withdraw.
• That night, Admiral William Halsey's 3rd Fleet raced north to intercept Japan's Northern Force which had been spotted off the northeastern tip of Luzon. At daybreak, aircraft took off to attack the Japanese ships then off Cape Engaño. One of Intrepid's aircraft got a bomb into light carrier Zuihō. American bombers then sank her sister ship Chitose, and an aircraft from either Intrepid or San Jacinto scored a torpedo hit on fleet carrier Zuikaku knocking out her communications and hampering her steering. Destroyer Akizuki sank and at least nine of Ozawa's 15 aircraft were shot down.
• Throughout the day, the attack continued and, after five more strikes, Japan had lost four carriers and a destroyer.
• The still-potent Center Force, after pushing through San Bernardino Strait, had steamed south along the coast of Samar where it was held at bay by a small escort carrier group of six "baby flattops", three destroyers, and four destroyer escorts until help arrived and it went back towards Japan.
• As Intrepid's aircraft hit Clark Field on 30 October, a burning kamikaze crashed into one of the carrier's port gun tubs killing 10 men and wounding six. Soon skillful damage control work enabled the flattop to resume flight operations.
• Intrepid's aircraft continued to hit airfields and shipping in the Philippines.
• 25 November, shortly after noon: A heavy force of Japanese aircraft struck back at the carriers. Within five minutes, two kamikazes crashed into the carrier killing six officers and five crew. (Actual report from Air Group 18 states "sixty were dead, fifteen missing, and about one hundred wounded." Intrepid never lost propulsion nor left her station in the task group, and in less than two hours had extinguished the last blaze.
• 26 November: Intrepid headed for San Francisco.
• 20 December: She arrived there for repairs.

Okinawa and Japan,  March – April 1944

Back in fighting trim in mid-February 1945, the carrier steamed for Ulithi, arriving 13 March. The next day she pushed on eastward for powerful strikes against airfields on Kyushu, Japan, 18 March. That morning a twin engine G4M "Betty" broke through a curtain of defensive fire turned toward Intrepid and exploded only 50 feet (15 m) off Intrepid's forward boat crane. A shower of flaming gasoline and aircraft parts started fires on the hangar deck, but damage control teams quickly put them out.

Intrepid's aircraft joined attacks on remnants of the Japanese fleet anchored at Kure damaging 18 enemy naval vessels including super battleship Yamato and carrier Amagi. Then the carriers turned to Okinawa as L-Day, the start of the most ambitious amphibious assault of the Pacific war approached. Their aircraft attacked the Ryukyus 26 and 27 March, softening up enemy defensive works. Then, as the invasion began 1 April, they flew support missions against targets on Okinawa and made neutralizing raids against Japanese airfields in range of the island.

During an air raid 16 April, a Japanese aircraft dove into Intrepid's flight deck forcing the engine and part of her fuselage right on through, killing 8 men and wounding 21. In less than an hour the flaming gasoline had been extinguished, and only 3 hours after the crash, aircraft were again landing on the carrier.

The following day, Intrepid retired homeward via Ulithi and Pearl Harbor arriving San Francisco 19 May for repairs.

Intrepid stood out of San Francisco 29 June and enlivened her westward voyage 6 August as her aircraft smashed Japanese on bypassed Wake Island. The next day she arrived Eniwetok where she received word 15 August to "cease offensive operations."

The veteran carrier got under way 21 August to support the occupation of Japan. She departed Yokosuka 2 December and arrived San Pedro, California, 15 December 1945.

• Mid February 1945: Back in fighting trim, the carrier steamed for Ulithi.
• 13 March She arrived at Ulithi.
• 14 March 1945: She set off eastward.
• 18 March: She made powerful strikes against airfields on Kyūshū. That morning a twin-engined Japanese G4M "Betty" broke through a curtain of defensive fire turned toward Intrepid and exploded only 50 ft (15 m) off Intrepid's forward boat crane. A shower of flaming gasoline and aircraft parts started fires on the hangar deck, but damage control teams quickly put them out.
• Intrepid's aircraft joined attacks on remnants of the Japanese fleet anchored at Kure damaging 18 enemy naval vessels, including battleship Yamato and carrier Amagi.
• The carriers turned to Okinawa as L-Day, the start of the most ambitious amphibious assault of the Pacific war, approached.
• 26 March and 27 March: Their aircraft attacked the Ryūkyūs, softening up enemy defensive works.
• 1 April 1945: The invasion began on 1 April. They flew support missions against targets on Okinawa and made neutralizing raids against Japanese airfields in range of the island.
• 16 April: During an air raid, a Japanese aircraft dived into Intrepid's flight deck forcing the engine and part of her fuselage right on through, killing eight men and wounding 21. In less than an hour the flaming gasoline had been extinguished, and only three hours after the crash, aircraft were again landing on the carrier.
• 17 April: Intrepid retired homeward via Ulithi and Pearl Harbor.
• 19 May: She arrived at San Francisco for repairs.
• 29 June: Intrepid left San Francisco.
• 6 August: In passing, her aircraft smashed Japanese on bypassed Wake Island.
• 7 August: She arrived at Eniwetok.
• 15 August: At Eniwetok she received word to "cease offensive operations."
• 21 August: The veteran carrier got under way to support the occupation of Japan.
• 2 December: She departed Yokosuka.
• 15 December 1945. She arrived San Pedro, California.

Post-war service

Intrepid shifted to San Francisco Bay 4 February 1948. Her status was reduced to "in commission in reserve" 15 August before decommissioning 22 March 1947(?) and joining the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

Intrepid recommissioned at San Francisco 9 February 1952 and got underway 12 March for Norfolk. She decommissioned in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard 9 April 1952 for conversion to a modern attack aircraft carrier. Reclassified CVA-11 1 October, she recommissioned in reserve 18 June 1954. She became the first American carrier to launch aircraft with steam catapults on 13 October 1954. Two days later she went into full commission as a unit of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

• 4 February 1948: Intrepid shifted to San Francisco Bay.
• 15 August: Her status was reduced to "in commission in reserve".
• 22 March 1947(?): She was decommissioned and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet.
• 9 February 1952: Intrepid recommissioned at San Francisco.
• 12 March 1952: She got underway for Norfolk.
• 9 April 1952: She decommissioned in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for conversion to a modern attack aircraft carrier.
• 1 October: She was reclassified CVA-11.
• 18 June 1954: She recommissioned in reserve.
• 13 October 1954: She became the first American carrier to launch aircraft with steam catapults.
• 15 October 1954: She went into full commission as a unit of the Atlantic Fleet.

1955 – 1961

After shakedown out of Guantanamo Bay in 1955, Intrepid departed Mayport, Florida, 28 May 1955 for the first of two deployments in the Mediterranean with the 6th Fleet. She returned to Norfolk from the second of these cruises 5 September 1955. The carrier got under way 29 September for a 7-month modernization overhaul in the New York Navy Yard, followed by refresher training out of Guantanamo Bay.

USS Intrepid (CVS-11) in the South China Sea, 1968, after 1957 angled-deck conversion.

Boasting a reinforced angled flight deck and a mirror landing system, Intrepid departed the United States in September 1957 for NATO's Operation Strikeback, the largest peacetime naval exercise up to that time in history. Operating out of Norfolk in December she conducted Operation Crosswind, a study of the effects of wind on carrier launches. Intrepid proved that carriers can safely conduct flight operations without turning into the wind and even launch aircraft while steaming downwind.

During the next 4 years Intrepid alternated Mediterranean deployments with operations along the Atlantic coast of the United States and exercises in the Caribbean.

• 1955: Shakedown out of Guantánamo Bay.
• 28 May 1955: Intrepid departed Mayport, Florida, for the first of two deployments in the Mediterranean with the 6th Fleet.
• 5 September 1956: She returned to Norfolk from the second of these cruises.
• 29 September She got under way for a seven-month modernization overhaul in the New York Navy Yard, followed by refresher training out of Guantánamo Bay.

USS Intrepid (CVS-11) in the South China Sea, 1968, after 1957 angled-deck conversion.

• September 1957: Now she had a reinforced angled flight deck and a mirror landing system. Intrepid departed the United States for NATO's Operation Strikeback, the largest peacetime naval exercise up to that time in history.
• December 1957: Operating out of Norfolk in December she conducted Operation Crosswind, a study of the effects of wind on carrier launches. Intrepid proved that carriers can safely conduct flight operations without turning into the wind and even launch aircraft while steaming downwind.
• 1958 - 1961: Intrepid alternated Mediterranean deployments with operations along the Atlantic coast of the United States and exercises in the Caribbean.

1962 – 1965

On December 8, 1961 she was reclassified to an anti-submarine warfare carrier, CVS-11. She entered the Norfolk Navy Yard March 10, 1962 to be overhauled and refitted for her new antisubmarine warfare role. She left the shipyard 2 April carrying Air Antisubmarine Group 56.

After training exercises, Intrepid was selected as the principal ship in the recovery team for astronaut Scott Carpenter and his Project Mercury space capsule. Shortly before noon on May 24, 1962, Carpenter splashed down in Aurora 7 several hundred miles from Intrepid. Minutes after he was located by land-based search aircraft, two helicopters from Intrepid, carrying NASA officials, medical experts, Navy frogmen, and photographers, were airborne and headed to the rescue. One of the choppers picked him up over an hour later and flew him to the carrier which safely returned him to the United States.

After training midshipmen at sea in the summer and a thorough overhaul at Norfolk in the fall, the carrier departed Hampton Roads January 23, 1963 for warfare exercises in the Caribbean. Late in February she interrupted these operations to join a sea hunt for Venezuelan freighter, Anzoátegui whose mutinous second mate had led a group of pro-Castro terrorists in hijacking the vessel. After the Communist pirates had surrendered at Rio de Janeiro, the carrier returned to Norfolk March 23, 1963.

Intrepid operated along the Atlantic Coast for the next year from Nova Scotia to the Caribbean perfecting her antisubmarine techniques. She departed Norfolk June 11, 1964 carrying midshipmen to the Mediterranean for a hunter-killer at sea training with the 6th Fleet. While in the Mediterranean, Intrepid aided in the surveillance of a Soviet task group. En route home her crew learned that she had won the coveted Battle Efficiency "E" for antisubmarine warfare during the previous fiscal year.

Intrepid operated along the East Coast during the fall. Early in September she entertained 22 NATO statesmen as part of their tour of U.S. military installations. She was at Yorktown October 18-19, 1964 for ceremonies commemorating Lord Cornwallis' surrender 183 years before.

During a brief deployment off North Carolina, swift and efficient rescue procedures on the night of November 21, 1964 saved the life of an airman who had plunged overboard while driving an aircraft towing tractor.

Early in the next year Intrepid began preparations for a vital role in NASA's first manned Gemini flight, Gemini 3. On March 23, 1965 Lt. Comdr. John Young and Maj. Gus Grissom in Molly Brown splashed down some 50 miles from Intrepid after history's first controlled re-entry into the earth's atmosphere ended the pair's nearly perfect three-orbit flight. A Navy helicopter lifted the astronauts from the spacecraft and flew them to Intrepid for medical examination and debriefing. Later Intrepid retrieved Molly Brown and returned the spaceship and astronauts to Cape Kennedy.

After this mission Intrepid entered the Brooklyn Navy Yard in April for a major overhaul to bring her back to peak combat readiness.

• 8 December 1961: She was reclassified to an anti-submarine warfare carrier, CVS-11.
• 10 March 1962: She entered the Norfolk Navy Yard to be overhauled and refitted for her new antisubmarine warfare role.
• 2 April 1962: She left the shipyard carrying Air Antisubmarine Group 56.

• After training exercises, Intrepid was selected as the principal ship in the recovery team for astronaut Scott Carpenter and his Project Mercury space capsule.
• 24 May 1962, shortly before noon: Carpenter splashed down in Aurora 7 several hundred miles from Intrepid. Minutes after he was located by land-based search aircraft, two helicopters from Intrepid, carrying NASA officials, medical experts, Navy frogmen, and photographers, were airborne and headed to the rescue. One of the choppers picked him up over an hour later and flew him to the carrier which safely returned him to the United States.
• 1962 summer: Training midshipmen at sea.
• 1962 autumn: A thorough overhaul at Norfolk.
• 23 January 1963: The carrier departed Hampton Roads for warfare exercises in the Caribbean.
• Late February 1963: She interrupted these operations to join a sea hunt for the Venezuelan freighter Anzoátegui, whose mutinous second mate had led a group of pro-Castro terrorists in hijacking the vessel. The Communist pirates had surrendered at Rio de Janeiro.
• 23 March 1963: The carrier returned to Norfolk.
• Intrepid operated along the Atlantic Coast for the next year from Nova Scotia to the Caribbean perfecting her antisubmarine techniques.
• 11 June 1964: She left Norfolk carrying midshipmen to the Mediterranean for a hunter-killer at sea training with the 6th Fleet.
• While in the Mediterranean, Intrepid aided in the surveillance of a Soviet task group. En route home her crew learned that she had won the coveted Battle Efficiency "E" for antisubmarine warfare during the previous fiscal year.
• 1964 autumn: Intrepid operated along the East Coast.
• Early September 1964: She entertained 22 NATO statesmen as part of their tour of U.S. military installations.
• 18 October–19 October 1964: She was at Yorktown for ceremonies commemorating Lord Cornwallis's surrender 183 years before. The French Ambassador attended the ceremony and presented the U.S. with 12 cannon cast from molds found in the Bastille, replicas of those brought to our forces by Lafayette. In exchange, the U.S. gave France 12 new F-8 Crusader aircraft.
• Night of 21 November 1964: During a brief deployment off North Carolina, swift and efficient rescue procedures saved the life of an airman who fell overboard while driving an aircraft towing tractor.
• Early 1965: Intrepid began preparations for a vital role in NASA's first manned Gemini flight, Gemini 3.
• 23 March 1965: Lieutenant Commander John Young and Major Gus Grissom in Molly Brown splashed down some 50 nmi (90 km) from Intrepid after history's first controlled re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere ended the pair's nearly perfect three-orbit flight. A Navy helicopter lifted the astronauts from the spacecraft and flew them to Intrepid for medical examination and debriefing. Later, Intrepid retrieved Molly Brown and returned the spaceship and astronauts to Cape Kennedy.
• After this mission, Intrepid entered the Brooklyn Navy Yard in April for a major overhaul to bring her back to peak combat readiness. The shipyard had already been closed and the work force transferred to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. In fairness, it should be noted that for political reasons, Senator Robert Kennedy had Intrepid sent to Brooklyn, instead of her home yard of Norfolk, for the overhaul. This caused severe dislocation problems for the families of the crew after many long sea periods. however the yard workers profited for they were then paid per diem rates for working away from Philadelphia and living at home in Brooklyn.

1965 – 1974

This was the final Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) job performed by the New York Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn, New York, slated to close after more than a century and a half of service to the nation. In September, Intrepid, with her work approximately 75 percent completed, eased down the East River to moor at the Naval Supply Depot at Bayonne, New Jersey, for the completion of her multi-million dollar overhaul. After builder's sea trials and fitting out at Norfolk she sailed to Guantanamo on shakedown.

Mid-1966 found Intrepid with the Pacific Fleet off Vietnam. Here her pilots scored what is believed to be one of the fastest aircraft launching times recorded by an American carrier. Nine A-4 Skyhawks and six A-1 Skyraiders, loaded with bombs and rockets, were catapulted in 7 minutes, with only 28 seconds between launches. A few days later aircraft were launched at 26-second intervals. After 7 months of outstanding service with the 7th Fleet off Vietnam, Intrepid returned to Norfolk having earned her Commanding Officer, Captain John W. Fair, the Legion of Merit for combat operations in Southeast Asia.

In June of 1967, Intrepid returned to the Western Pacific by way of the Suez Canal just prior to its closing during the Arab-Israeli crisis. In mid-1970, Intrepid was home ported at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, relieving Yorktown (CV-10) as the flagship for Commander Carrier Division 16. Intrepid was decommissioned for the final time 15 March 1974.

Destined to be scrapped shortly thereafter, a campaign led by real estate developer Zachary Fisher and the Intrepid Museum Foundation saved the carrier, and established it as a museum ship which opened in New York City in August 1982 as the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum. In 1986, Intrepid was officially designated as a National Historic Landmark.

On July 4, 1993, the World Wrestling Federation held the "Stars and Stripes Challenge" aboard the vessel with numerous sports atheletes attempting to bodyslam WWF Champion Yokozuna, who was billed as weighing more than 500 pounds.

This was the final Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) job performed by the New York Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn, New York, which was slated to close after more than a century and a half of service to the nation.

• September 1965: Intrepid, with her work approximately 75% completed, eased down the East River to moor at the Naval Supply Depot at Bayonne, New Jersey, for the completion of her multi-million dollar overhaul. After builder's sea trials and fitting out at Norfolk she sailed to Guantánamo on shakedown.

Mid-1966 found Intrepid with the Pacific Fleet off Vietnam. Nine A-4 Skyhawks and six A-l Skyraiders, loaded with bombs and rockets, were catapulted in seven minutes, with only a 28-second interval between launches. A few days later planes were launched at 26-second Intervals. After seven months of service with the 7th Fleet off Vietnam, Intrepid returned to Norfolk having earned her Commanding Officer, Captain John W. Fair, the Legion of Merit for combat operations in Southeast Asia.

• 9 October 1966: Lieutenant, junior grade William T. Patton of VA-176 from Intrepid, Flying a propeller driven A-1 Skyraider, shot down one Mig-17. This was the first and only shoot down of an enemy jet aircraft by a propeller driven plane during the Vietnam Conflict. For the action, Lieutenant (jg) Patton was awarded the Silver Star.

In June 1967, Intrepid returned to the Western Pacific by way of the Suez Canal just prior to its closing during the Israeli-Arab crisis. There she began another tour with the 7th Fleet.

In 1968, she won the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for the Atlantic Fleet.

In 1969, Intrepid was home ported at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, relieving Yorktown as the flagship for Commander Carrier Division 16. In the fall, the ship was run aground by Captain Horus E. Moore, but was freed within two hours. From April-October 1971, Intrepid took part in NATO exercises, and made calls in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean ports of Lisbon, Plymouth, Kiel, Naples, Cannes, Barcelona, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Greenock, Rosyth, Portsmouth, and Bergen. During this cruise, submarine detection operations were conducted in the Baltic and at the edge of the Barents Sea above the Arctic Circle, under close scrutiny of Soviet air and naval forces. She subsequently returned to her homeport to be refitted and then made her final cruise in the Mediterranean, stopping in Barcelona and Malaga Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Nice, France; Naples, Italy; Palma, Majorca; and Piraeus, Greece.

• 15 March 1974: Intrepid was decommissioned for the final time.