The USS Oriskany was an Essex-class aircraft carrier that served in the United States Navy. Commissioned in 1950, the ship saw action in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. It was nicknamed the "Mighty O" and was known for its distinguished service and contributions to naval aviation. The USS Oriskany underwent several modernization and refitting programs during its operational years. In 1966, a major fire broke out on the ship, resulting in the deaths of 44 crew members. The carrier was eventually decommissioned in 1976 and later sunk as an artificial reef off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, in 2006. The USS Oriskany remains a popular diving destination and is considered one of the world's largest artificial reefs. Its rich history and significance in naval warfare have solidified its place in military and maritime history.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.