USS Independence remained operational to the end of the class's service life. Its final 1998 deployment took it to the Persian Gulf for Operation Southern Watch. The ship then returned to Yokosuka, where USS Kitty Hawk relieved it in the forward-based carrier role. Independence retired about three months short of forty years in service after an adaptable design had sustained intensive employment.
Chapter · 31:33-33:27
Independence retires directly from active operations
Independence completed Operation Southern Watch, returned to Yokosuka for relief by Kitty Hawk, and retired just short of forty years in service.