Between 1961 and 1979, Vigilantes deployed aboard Forrestal, Saratoga, Ranger, Independence, Kitty Hawk, Constellation, Enterprise, America, John F. Kennedy, and the first Nimitz-class carriers. This breadth of service put the aircraft aboard successive generations of large US carriers. From those decks it provided long-range identification and reconnaissance, helping a task force detect and profile contacts before they approached. The Vigilante was therefore part of the US Navy's worldwide Cold War presence rather than an isolated design experiment.
Notable Point · 8:01-9:24
Vigilantes deployed across successive US supercarrier generations
Service aboard Forrestal, Kitty Hawk, Enterprise, John F. Kennedy, and early Nimitz-class carriers made the Vigilante part of the US Navy's worldwide Cold War presence.