KUALA LUMPUR: Bernama story on the Kitty Hawk states that the ship is here until Merdeka. Anyhow, somehow a mistake crept into the story.

“He said it was also a meaningful event for all the crew before they brought the carrier home for decommissioning, due next year.

It will be replaced by the USS George Washington.

Built by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation at Camden, New Jersey, Kitty Hawk was commissioned at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on April 29, 1961 and was homeported in Yokosuka Naval Base, Yokosuka, Japan since 1998.

It was reclassified from an attack (CVA) to a multi-mission carrier (CV) in 1976 and was widely involved in the Vietnam war.

The 319-metre conventionally powered carrier carries approximately 85 aircraft including, F-14s, F-18s, S-3 A/B and SH-60 helicopters. Armaments include MK 29 NATO Sea Sparrow launchers, 20mm Phalanx CIWS Mk 15 cannons with a Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) System to boost and moves at 30 knots.”

F14s? Certainly not, the Tomcats were retired last year. The Kittyhawk now have four squadron of Super Hornets. Other aircraft are helicopter Sea Hawks, EA-6B Prowlers, E-2C Hawkeyes and Greyhounds.

— Malaysian Defence