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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --
USS Saipan (CVL-48, later AVT-6 and CC-3), 1946-1976.
Later USS Arlington (AGMR-2)
USS Saipan, lead ship of a pair of 14,500-ton small
aircraft carriers built at Camden, New Jersey, was commissioned
in July 1946. From then until 1953, she mainly operated in the
western Atlantic and the Caribbean on training service, routine
operations and operational development duties, including conducting
carrier qualifications for VF-17A, the Navy's first jet fighter
squadron, in May 1948. During this period, Saipan also
made a diplomatic cruise to Venezuela in February 1948, a rescue
mission to Greenland late in that year and a Mediterranean tour
in March-May 1951.
In October 1953, Saipan transited the Panama Canal and
soon crossed the Pacific to begin a 7th Fleet deployment that
included a mission delivering aircraft to French forces in Indo-China
in April 1954. The carrier completed her Far Eastern cruise in
late May and returned to the east coast via the Suez Canal, thus
steaming around the World. For nearly three more years, Saipan
served as training carrier out of Pensacola, Florida. In October
1954 and again a year later, she assisted hurricane relief activities
in Haiti and Mexico.
Decommissioned at Bayonne, New Jersey, in October 1957, Saipan
was redesignated as an aircraft transport in May 1959, with the
new hull number AVT-6. She remained in "mothballs",
however, until March 1963, when she began conversion to a command
ship. Saipan was redesignated CC-3 in January 1964, but
was again reclassified in September of that year, becoming a major
communications relay ship with hull number AGMR-2. In April 1965,
while still in the shipyard, she was renamed Arlington,
a name retained until she was sold for scrapping in June 1976.
This page features all of our views of USS Saipan (CVL-48),
and provides a link to views of her after she became USS Arlington
(AGMR-2).
For images of this ship after she was converted to a major
communications relay ship and renamed, see:
USS Arlington
(AGMR-2).
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 97612
USS Saipan (CVL-48)
Underway at sea, with eight FH-1 "Phantom" jet fighters
on her flight deck.
The original print is dated June 1953, but the presence of FH-1s
and the general rig of the ship indicate that the photograph
was actually taken during the late 1940s.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 152KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
|
Photo #: NH 97613
USS Saipan (CVL-48)
Underway circa the mid-1950s, with eleven AD-1 "Skyraider"
attack planes parked on her flight deck, aft.
Note submarine approaching, in the right distance.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
|
Photo #: NH 67747
USS Saipan (CVL-48)
With HRS and HUP helicopters on her flight deck, circa the mid-1950s.
Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 485 pixels |
|
Photo #: NH 84043
USS Saipan (CVL-48)
Off Tourane (Danang), Indo-China, on 18 April 1954, just prior
to launching twenty-five AU-1 "Corsair" aircraft, which
were flown ashore for delivery to the French.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 57KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
|
Photo #: NH 97614
USS Saipan (CVL-48)
Crewmen wash snow and ice from the flight deck and superstructure,
during Operation "Icecap". Ice is visible on the island
and mast.
Date may be circa late December 1948, when Saipan was
sent to Greenland waters on a rescue mission.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 600 pixels |
|
Photo #: NH 84042
Lieutenant Colonel Julius W. Ireland, USMC,
Commanding Officer of Marine Attack Squadron 324 (VMA-324)
Is greeted by a French Navy officer, after his squadron delivered
AU-1 "Corsair" aircraft to the French at Tourane (Danang)
airfield, Indo-China, on 18 April 1954.
One of the AU-1s is behind them. The planes were transported
to the area by USS Saipan (CVL-48).
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
|
Photo #: NH 84051
French Naval Aviator C.A. Libiot (left center) greets
Second Lieutenant John F. Schrepferman, USMCR, of Marine
Attack Squadron 324 (VMA-324)
As VMA-324 pilots delivered AU-1 "Corsair" aircraft
to the French at Tourane (Danang) airfield, Indo-China, on 18
April 1954.
Libiot and other French aviators had trained at Naval Air Station,
Pensacola, with some of VMA-324's pilots.
Three of the AU-1s are behind them. The planes were transported
to the area by USS Saipan (CVL-48).
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 116KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
|
Photo #: NH 70134-KN (Color)
USS Saipan (CVL-48)
Artwork reproduction of an insignia received during the 1950s.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 76KB; 515 x 765 pixels |
|
For images of this ship after she was converted to a major
communications relay ship and renamed, see:
USS Arlington
(AGMR-2).
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.
Page made 3 June 2001
Link added 27 October 2001