'' Enterprise '' was beginning her voyage home from the Persian Gulf when the September 11 attacks were carried out . Without orders , the carrier returned to the waters off Southwest Asia near the Persian Gulf , outrunning her escorts . In October 2001 , the United States launched air attacks against Al-Qaeda training camps and Taliban military installations in Afghanistan . The actions were designed to disrupt the use of Afghanistan as a base for terrorist operations and to attack the military capability of the Taliban regime
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
USS Enterprise (CVN-65)