Decommissioning and Fate
After decommissioning, Independence remained in mothballs for five and a half years before being struck on 8 March 2004. During her time in mothballs, ex-Independence was said to have been heavily stripped to support the active carrier fleet, especially the Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carriers. Her port anchor and both anchor chains were used on the new Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush. The recycling of parts and the poor material condition of the ship at the time she was withdrawn made a strong argument against retaining her as a potential museum ship. Her sisters Saratoga and Ranger were retained, and Ranger remains on donation hold as of 2010; Saratoga however was redesignated for scrapping in April 2010. In April 2004, Navy officials identified Independence as one of 24 decommissioned ships available to be sunk as artificial reefs. As of February 2008 however, she was scheduled to be dismantled in the next five years along with USS Constellation. She is still available for donation as a reef while awaiting a contract for her dismantling to be awarded.
As of 26 January 2012 the Navy's Naval Sea Systems Command posted a notice of solicitation for the towing and complete dismantlement of multiple CV-59/CV-63 Class Aircraft Carriers in the United States, to include ex-USS Forrestal (CV-59), ex-USS Independence (CV-62), and ex-USS Constellation (CV-64).
Coordinates: 47°33′09″N 122°39′24″W / 47.5525°N 122.6566°W / 47.5525; -122.6566 (USS Independence (CV-62))
Read more about this topic: USS Independence (CV-62)
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