US Fleet Carriers from Langley to Ford Class

Data




No CVE in this chart

I changed the name to US Fleet carriers...otherwise we would have to add a LOT more Escort and Jeep carriers to the mix.

Over the next few days, I will list pics of all of the US Navy Fleet carriers...five at a time. Here's the first five:


USS Langley, CV-1, Commission: Apr 1913 Decom: Feb 1942 Disposition: Sunk


USS Lexington, CV-2, Commission: Dec 1927 Decom: May 1942 Disposition: Sunk


USS Saratoga, CV-3, Commission: Nov 1927 Decom: Aug 1946 Disposition: SinkEx 1946


USS Ranger, CV-4, Commission: Jun 1934 Decom: Oct 1946 Disposition: Scrap 1947


USS Yorktown, CV-5 Commission: Sep 1937 Decom: Jun 1942 Disposition: Sunk

Of these first five, three were sunk by Japanese forces in World War II (two were scuttled), one was sunk in a US Navy SINKEX in 1946, and the last, the USS Ranger, was scrapped in 1947.

USS Enterprise, CV-6, Commission: May 1938 Decom: Feb 1947 Disposition: Scrap 1959


USS Wasp, CV-7, Commission: Apr 1940 Decom: Sep 1942 Disposition: Sunk


USS Hornet, CV-8, Commission:Oct 1941: May 1938 Decom: Oct 1942 Disposition: Sunk


USS Essex, CV-9 Commission: Dec 1942 Decom: June 1969 Disposition: Scrap 1975


USS Yorktown, CV-10, Commission: Apr 1943 Decom: June 1970 Disposition: Museum

Of the eight fleet carriers commissioned by the US Navy before World War II started, five were sunk by the Japanese.

The USS Enterprise, CV-6, was awarded a for her service during World War II.

The citation states:

Enterprise Citation said:

For consistently outstanding performance and distinguished achievement during repeated action against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific war area, 7 December 1941, to 15 November 1942. Participating in nearly every major carrier engagement in the first year of the war, the Enterprise and her air group, exclusive of far-flung destruction of hostile shore installations throughout the battle area, did sink or damage on her own a total of 35 Japanese vessels and shot down a total of 185 Japanese aircraft. Her aggressive spirit and superb combat efficiency are fitting tribute to the officers and men who so gallantly established her as an ahead bulwark in the defense of the American nation.

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In addition, Enterprise received the and 20 for World War II service, making her the most ship in history.

The Essex class (along with the Midway Class) were the ones that after World War II were modernized and ultimately received angled decks and operated jet aircraft off of.

All CV were sunk in 1942, CVL/CVE some after and Mister Big E which in part in almost all the battles the survivor of those took place around Guadalcanal.

Some Essex build in 18 months ! worck 24/24 ! World record for big Combat ships.

FORBIN said:

All CV were sunk in 1942, CVL/CVE some after.

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Yes...the US Navy lost five of its first eight carrier in 1942 alone. That looked pretty grim at the time...but was less grim because of the huge victory at Midway.

But the US even more carriers thereafter, though no more fleet carriers. Since they are not fleet carriers they will not be included on this thread in terms of full detail and pics.

One was a light carrier. Purpose built carriers developed on a light cruiser hull.

Princeton, CVl-23, was sunk in 1944. She displaced about 15,000 tons full load.

Numerous escort carriers were lost. These were built on merchant man hulls and had little military grade protection in terms of damage control, water tight integrity. etc. Each of these displaced about 11,000 tons full load. The list includes.

Liscome Bay, CVE-56, sunk in 1943
Block Island, CVE-21, sunk in 1944, the only carrier loss to the Germans (U-Boat)
Gambier Bay, CVE-72, sunk in 1944 (Battle off Samar)
St. Lo, CVE-63, sunk in 1944 (Battle off Samar)
Ommaney Bay, CVE-79, sunk in 1945
BIsmark sea, CVE-05, sunk in 1945, the last US carrier loss in combat, off Iwo Jima

So after those five carriers in 1942, the US lost the following thereafter:

1 was sunk in 1943
4 were sunk in 1944
2 were sunk in 1945

The US Navy lost a total of 12 carriers in World War II.

CV-11 Intrepid Commissioned: Aug 1943 Decomm: Mar 1974 Disposition: Museum


CV-12 Hornet Commissioned: Nov 1943 Decomm: Jun 1970 Disposition: Museum


CV-13 Franklin Commissioned: Jan 1944 Decomm: Feb 1947 Disposition: Scrap 1966


Franklin was severely damaged 50 miles off the Japanese coast on 1945. She would certainly have sunk but for the heroic damage control efforts of her crew (including two medal of honor recipients). She lost over 800 killed and 480 injured, the most of any surviving US warship in World War II, and second only to the USS Arizona. She was ultimately towed away from the battle zone and repaired. I recommend the book, "INFERNO: The Epic Life and Death Struggle of the USS Franklin in World War II. Amazing story.


CV-14 Ticonderoga Commissioned: May 1944 Decomm: Sep 1973 Disposition: Scrap 1975

CV-15 Randolp Commissioned: Oct 1944 Decomm: Feb 1969 Disposition: Scrap 1975

CV-16 Lexington Commissioned: Feb 1943 Decomm: Nov 1991 Disposition: Museum


CV-17 Bunker Hill Commissioned: May 1943 Decomm: Jan 1947 Disposition: Scrap 1973


CV-18 Wasp Commissioned: Noov 1943 Decomm: Jul 1972 Disposition: Scrap 1973


CV-19 Hancock Commissioned: Apr 1944 Decomm: Jan 1976 Disposition: Scrap 1976


CV-20 Bennington Commissioned: Jan 1944 Decomm: Jan 1970 Disposition: Scrap 1994