USS Independence, or ‘Indy’ was commissioned in 1959 as the last of the four Forrestal class carriers, she completed a 3-year Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) in June of 1988 which prepared her for another 15 years of sailing. In 1991 the Independence replaced CV-43 Midway as the US Navies forward deployed carrier in Yokosuka Japan. When war breaks out she is conducting a routine patrol with a reduced escort in the Sea of Japan, she will survive but the same cannot be said for some of her escort.
USS Independence CVBG
CV-62 Independence (FLAG)
CVW 5
VF-21 Free Lancers F-14A
VF-154 Black Knights F-14A
VFA-192 Golden Dragons F/A-18C (N)
VFA-195 Dam Busters F/A-18C (N)
VA-115 Eagles A-6E SWIP
VAQ-136 Gauntlets EA-6B
VAW-115 Liberty Bells E-2C
VS-21 Redtails S-3B
HS-12 Wyverns SH-3H
VQ-5(El) Sea Shadows ES-3A
CG-16 Leahy
CG-52 Bunker Hill (in port at war start)
CGN-36 California
DD-975 O'Brien
DDG-994 Callaghan (in port at war start)
FFG-48 Vandegrift