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The Aircraft Carriers
  Last Update: 26 Jun 2006

One of New York Ship's most significant contributions to the war effort in the Pacific came in the form of the "Sun Setter" light carriers, an entire class of 11,000-ton aircraft carriers based on Cleveland-class cruisers. Yorkship also built one of the Navy's first carriers (itself a conversion from a cancelled class of battle cruisers) and one of its last conventionally-powered supercarriers.

Designation C# Name(s)

(links are to photos)

 Keel Laid Ways Launched Delivered Description Notes
CV-3 199 Saratoga

(laid down as Battle Cruiser #3)

 Sep 25, 1920 O Apr 07, 1925 Nov 16, 1927 888ft, 33000dp, 8x8" 12x5" First fast carrier in USN. During Fleet Problem XIX in 1938, launched simulated surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Received 7 Battle Stars for WWII service. Declared surplus and assigned to Operation Crossroads (Bikini Atoll atomic tests). Survived air burst 1 July, sunk in lagoon by underwater test 25 July. Struck 1 Aug 1946. DANFS History
CVL-22 427 Independence (laid down as CL-59 Amsterdam) May 1, 1941 T Aug 22, 1942 Jan 14, 1943 Independence class light carrier, aka "Sun Setter"; 622ft, 11000dp Seriously damaged by aerial torpedo Nov 1943 near Tarawa. Repaired, took part in Battle of Leyte Gulf, Oct 1944, invasion of Okinawa, Mar 1945. Assigned to Operation Crossroads, badly damaged in 2nd A-bomb test. Decommissioned Aug 1946, sunk in weapons tests off California coast 29 January 1951. DANFS History
CVL-23 429 Princeton

(laid down as CL-61 Tallahassee)

 Jun 02, 1941 U Oct 18, 1942 Feb 25, 1943 Independence class Earned 9 Battle Stars in WWII. Struck by dive bomber in Battle of Leyte Gulf, torpedoed and sunk by destroyer Irwin and cruiser Reno when fires could not be contained. DANFS History
CVL-24

R97

 431 Belleau Wood

(laid down as CL-76 New Haven);

Bois Belleau

 Aug 11, 1941 U Dec 06, 1942 Mar 31, 1943 Independence class Damaged by kamikaze 30 October 1944 near Leyte, 92 killed. Decommissioned and placed in reserve 1947; transferred to France 1951 under MDAP and commissioned 1953 as Bois Belleau. Returned Sep 1960, stricken Oct 1960, scrapped 1962.
CVL-25 432 Cowpens

(laid down as CL-77 Huntington)

 Nov 17, 1941 U Jan 17, 1943 May 28, 1943 Independence class Stricken Nov 1959. Scrapped. DANFS History Web site.
CVL-26 433 Monterey

(laid down as CL-78 Dayton)

 Dec 29, 1941 U Feb 28, 1943 Jun 17, 1943 Independence class Stricken Jun 1970. Scrapped. DANFS History
CVL-27 443 Langley

(laid down as CL-85 Fargo)

 Apr 11, 1942 J May 22, 1943 Aug 31, 1943 Independence class Transferred to France 1951-1963. Sold for scrap, Feb 1964. DANFS History
CVL-28 434 Cabot

(laid down as CL-79 Wilmington)

 Mar 16, 1942 M Apr 04, 1943 Jul 24, 1943 Independence class Transferred to Spain Aug 1967, returned to US 1989 (private museum endeavor). Auctioned to salvors 10 September 1999. Preservation effort failed; scrapped. DANFS History
CVL-29 441 Bataan

(ordered as CL-99 Buffalo)

 Aug 31, 1942 T Aug 01, 1943 Nov 17, 1943 Independence class Stricken Sep 1959. Scrapped.
CVL-30 442 San Jacinto

(ordered as CL-100 Newark)

 Oct 26, 1942 U Sep 26, 1943 Dec 15, 1943 Independence class Stricken Jun 1970. Scrapped. DANFS History
CVL-48

AGMR-2

 469 Saipan

Arlington

 Jul 10, 1944 O Jul 08, 1945 Jul 10, 1946 Saipan class light fleet carrier, 664ft, 19000dp (based on Baltimore class heavy cruiser) Converted to communications relay ship, 1965. Decommissioned Jan 1970, with Inactive Fleet, San Diego. Sold for scrap Jun 1976. DANFS History
CVL-49

CC-2

 470 Wright Aug 21, 1944 M Sep 01, 1945 Feb 07, 1947 Saipan class Decommissioned, 1956, and placed in Bremerton Reserve. Recommissioned as command ship, 1963. Decommissioned, May 1970, and placed in Philadelphia Reserve. Sold for scrap, Aug 1980.
CVA- 63 514 Kitty Hawk Dec 27, 1956 Drydock May 21, 1960 Apr 25, 1961 Kitty Hawk class, 1047ft, 60000dp Commissioned, active fleet. Currently forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan. Slated for retirement 2008.

C# = New York Shipbuilding contract number

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