Enterprise, Long Beach, and Bainbridge were advanced during Burke's CNO tenure, then circled the world together in 1964. Nuclear propulsion let the task force operate without the normal dependence on tankers and overseas bases. Most of the fleet remained conventionally powered, so the three ships demonstrated an endurance available to only part of the force. The cruise presented that endurance as a diplomatic message, with a few ships intended to signal more than their numerical share of the fleet.
Notable Point · 42:01-43:49
Task Force One's nuclear endurance and diplomatic signaling
The 1964 world cruise by Enterprise, Long Beach, and Bainbridge demonstrates how a few nuclear ships could advertise reach beyond their numerical contribution to the fleet.