Key Points and Summary – USS Independence (CV-62), the fourth Forrestal-class supercarrier, served from 1959–1998 across Cold War flashpoints and the post-Cold War Gulf.
-She served during the Cuban Missile Crisis, became the first Atlantic Fleet carrier to deploy to Vietnam (7,000+ sorties in 1965), and later supported Lebanon and Grenada.
-After a Service Life Extension Program in the late ’80s, Independence led the first carrier entry into the Persian Gulf for Desert Shield and shifted homeport to Yokosuka, Japan, enabling rapid Pacific response—from Southern Watch to the 1996 Taiwan Strait crisis.
-Decommissioned in 1998, CV-62 was scrapped in 2017–2019.
USS Independence (CV-62): The Forrestal-Class Workhorse That Spanned the Cold War
The USS Independence (CV-62) was a Forrestal-class aircraft carrier in the United States Navy, and the fifth ship to bear the name “Independence.”
Commissioned in 1959, the Forrestal-class carriers were the first of the “supercarrier” line, which became a staple of the U.S. Navy.
The USS Independence served for almost forty years, taking part in operations in Vietnam and the Middle East. After the Cold War ended, the ship was finally decommissioned on September 30th, 1998.
Construction and Commissioning
The USS Independence was constructed at the New York Naval Shipyard. She was laid down on July 1, 1955, launched on June 6, 1958, and officially commissioned on January 10, 1959.
As the fourth and final ship of the Forrestal class, she was part of a new generation of supercarriers designed to accommodate jet aircraft and support both conventional and nuclear missions.
The Forrestal-class carriers were revolutionary for their time, incorporating angled flight decks, steam catapults, deck-edge elevators, and enhanced aviation fuel capacity.
These innovations allowed for safer and more efficient aircraft operations, setting the standard for future carrier designs.
Following her commissioning, Independence underwent a shakedown cruise and initial training before joining the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean in 1960.
In her early years, the carrier took part in frequent patrols and she quickly became a key player in American naval strategy. During the Berlin Crisis in 1962, she supported U.S. presence in Europe, and later that year, she participated in the naval blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
These deployments demonstrated her strategic importance and her ability to respond rapidly to global events.
Cold War Service
In 1965, Independence made history by becoming the first Atlantic Fleet carrier to deploy to Vietnam. During this deployment, her air wing launched over 7,000 sorties in support of combat operations.
Notably, her aircraft executed the first successful attack on a North Vietnamese surface-to-air missile site and evaded the first large-scale SAM barrage in aviation history. For her performance, she earned the Navy Unit Commendation and returned to Norfolk in December 1965. Throughout the late 1960s, she continued to deploy to the Mediterranean and participated in NATO exercises, including testing the British Harrier jump jet for carrier operations.
The 1970s and 1980s saw Independence engaged in a variety of Cold War operations. In 1973, she was positioned off Crete during the Yom Kippur War for potential evacuation operations. In 1974, she assisted in recovering remains after the terrorist bombing of TWA Flight 841.
In 1979, she hosted the first female Navy pilot to qualify for carrier landings, marking a significant milestone in naval aviation history. In 1980, she deployed to the Indian Ocean during the Iran Hostage Crisis, backing up operations with the USS Nimitz.
PHILIPPINE SEA (Feb. 5, 2024) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) transits the Philippine Sea, Feb. 5, 2024. Theodore Roosevelt, flagship of Carrier Strike Group Nine, is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. An integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 7th Fleet operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary to execute the U.S. Navy’s role across the full spectrum of military operations – from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. U.S. 7th Fleet works together with our allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and other principles that underpin security for the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Andrew Benvie)
She later transited the Suez Canal, becoming one of the first carriers to do so since 1967.
Service in the Middle East
USS Independence also supported peacekeeping efforts in Lebanon in 1982 and participated in the Invasion of Grenada in 1983.
From 1985 to 1988, she underwent a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP), which modernized her systems and extended her operational life. This overhaul ensured that she remained a capable and relevant asset in the Navy’s fleet.
In 1990, USS Independence was the first carrier to enter the Persian Gulf in over 15 years, leading Task Group 800.1 during Operation Desert Shield. She remained on station for 112 days, helping to reestablish a permanent U.S. naval presence in the region.
In 1991, she changed homeports to Yokosuka, Japan, becoming the Navy’s only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier. This strategic move allowed for rapid response to regional crises and reinforced U.S. commitments in the Pacific.
Post Cold War Service
While based in Japan, Independence played a central role in Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the no-fly zone over southern Iraq. Her aircraft were the first coalition planes on station when the operation began in August 1992.
In 1995, she was recognized as the most battle-experienced ship in the Navy’s active fleet and became the first carrier to fly the First Navy Jack, the “Don’t Tread on Me” flag, from her bow.
In 1996, Independence was deployed to the waters near Taiwan during the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, providing a stabilizing presence amid rising tensions with China. She was joined by the USS Nimitz in a show of force in an attempt to restore regional stability and deter China.
President Bill Clinton visited the ship in April 1996 during a state visit to Japan, highlighting her importance in U.S.-Japan relations.
In 4 Words: The Cold War Workhorse
Her final deployment in 1997 included a four-month tour with multiple port visits, including a historic stop in Guam, the first by a carrier in 36 years. On September 30, 1998, after nearly 40 years of service, Independence was decommissioned.
She was stored at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, where she remained for several years.
Although initially considered for preservation as a museum ship, Independence was ultimately deemed unsuitable due to her deteriorated condition. She was used as a parts hulk for other carriers before being towed to Brownsville, Texas, in March 2017 for scrapping.
The dismantling process was completed by early 2019, marking the end of the Forrestal-class carriers, as her three sister ships had already been scrapped.
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
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.
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