Enterprise
"Actual" radio conversation released by the Chief of Naval Operations,
10-10-95.
Radio 1: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a
collision.
Radio 2: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to South to avoid a
collision.
Radio 1: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert your
course.
Radio 2: No. I say again, you divert your course.
Radio 1: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER ENTERPRISE, WE ARE A LARGE WARSHIP
OF THE US NAVY. DIVERT YOUR COURSE NOW!
Radio 2: This is a lighthouse. Your call.
* * *
There is a long history of ships being named Enterprise.
The television series Star Trek has made a lot of hay from this.
In fact one David Wells has
documented
that the name has been used by no fewer than
thirteen sailing ships, two yachts, a balloon, two blimps, an airship,
a World War 2 battle cruiser, several miscellaneous motored craft, the above aircraft carrier
and a space shuttle.
* * *
The earliest of them, despite the heavy use in the English language, was
actually a French vessel named L'Enterprise, captured by the British
in the Napoleonic Wars.
* * *
The use of intangible, inspirational names for British warships subsequently
found wide practice, such as in the Swiftsure, the Revenge,
the Conqueror,
the Inconstant (inconstant?),
and the Indefatigable.
By World War 2 the fleet included
the Repulse, the Renown,
the Revenge (for what?),
and the Victorious.
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