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USS Oriskany

U.S. Navy•488 members

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About this Unit

USS Oriskany insignia

USS Oriskany

U.S. Navy

The USS Oriskany was an aircraft carrier that served in the United States Navy from 1950 to 1976. It was named after the Battle of Oriskany during the Revolutionary War. The ship was later sunk off the coast of Florida to become an artificial reef and popular diving site. In 2006, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

USS Oriskany insignia

About USS Oriskany

About this Unit

The USS Oriskany was an aircraft carrier that served in the United States Navy from 1950 to 1976. It was named after the Battle of Oriskany during the Revolutionary War. The ship was later sunk off the coast of Florida to become an artificial reef and popular diving site. In 2006, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Historical Facts

The USS Oriskany was the only US Navy aircraft carrier intentionally sunk as an artificial reef.
During the Vietnam War, the Oriskany served multiple tours and earned two battle stars for its service.
The ship was named after the Battle of Oriskany, which was fought during the American Revolutionary War.
The Oriskany was featured in the 1963 film "4 for Texas" starring Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
The ship's flight deck was over 900 feet long, making it one of the largest aircraft carriers of its time.
During its time in service, the Oriskany was involved in various operations around the world, including the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Lebanon Crisis.
The ship was decommissioned in 1976 and remained in storage until it was sunk in 2006 off the coast of Florida.
The Oriskany's sinking was the largest artificial reef project in the world at the time, creating a new habitat for marine life.
Scuba divers now visit the wreck of the Oriskany to explore its underwater remains and witness the marine life that has taken residence there.
The USS Oriskany holds a special place in naval history as a symbol of both wartime service and environmental conservation.