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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # 80-G-434496:  USS Leyte in Sasebo harbor, Japan, November 1950

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIP TYPES -- FLEET AIRCRAFT CARRIERS --

Ticonderoga Class (CV 14-15, 19, 21, 32-33, 38-40, 45 & 47),
Fiscal Years 1941 (#s 14-19), 1942 (# 21), 1943 (#s 32-40) and 1944 (#s 45-47)

Throughout the very large program to build Essex class aircraft carriers, modifications were constantly made. The number of 40mm and 20mm anti-aircraft machine guns was greatly increased, new and improved radars were added, the original hangar deck catapult installation was deleted, the ventillation system was massively revised, details of protection were altered and hundreds of other large and small changes were executed. In fact, to the skilled observer, no two ships of the class looked exactly the same.

Beginning in March 1943, one visually very significant change was authorized for ships then in the early stages of construction. This involved reshaping the bow into a rather elegant "clipper" form to provide deck space for two 40mm quadruple gun mountings, thus greatly improving forward air defences. Thirteen ships were completed to this "long-hull", or Ticonderoga, class. Four of these were finished in 1944, in time to join their Essex class near-sisters in Pacific combat operations. The rest went into commission between early 1945 and late 1946.

Five of the Ticonderoga class were laid up in 1946-47, along with all of the Essexes. Eight stayed on active duty to form, with the three much larger Midways, the backbone of the post-war Navy's combat strength. Though the Truman Administration's defense economies sent three of the active Ticonderogas into "mothballs" in 1949, these soon came back into commission after the Korean War began. Ultimately, all thirteen had active Cold War service. Five of them were thoroughly rebuilt in the early 1950s under the SCB-27 program, and four of these were further modernized a few years later to the SCB-125 design. Another got a combined SCB-27 and SCB-125 redo, while yet another was given a modest reworking to test the revolutionary "angled deck" landing area.

Of the six unmodernized Ticonderogas, three decommissioned in the late '50s and early '60s and were promptly reclassified as aircraft transports (AVT), reflecting their very limited ability to safely operate modern aircraft. The other three, converted to amphibious assault ships (LPH), were active until about 1970. The two least modernized units went into reserve in the mid-1960s, and the rest passed out of the active fleet between 1969 and 1976. All were scrapped, most in the 1970s, although Shangri La survived until the late 1980s.

The Ticonderoga class numbered thirteen completed ships. Another (CV-34) was finished after heavy modifications, two more (CVs 35 and 46) were scrapped incomplete and six Fiscal Year 1945 ships were cancelled before being laid down. Construction of all twenty-two was assigned to six east coast shipyards:

  • Ticonderoga (CV-14) (name changed from Hancock in May 1943). Built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia. Keel laid in February 1943; launched in February 1944; commissioned in May 1944.
  • Randolph (CV-15). Built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia. Keel laid in May 1943; launched in June 1944; commissioned in October 1944.
  • Hancock (CV-19) (name changed from Ticonderoga in May 1943). Built by the Bethlehem Steel Company, Quincy, Massachusetts. Keel laid in January 1943; launched in January 1944; commissioned in April 1944.
  • Boxer (CV-21). Built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia. Keel laid in September 1943; launched in December 1944; commissioned in April 1945.
  • Leyte (CV-32) (name changed from Crown Point in May 1945). Built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia. Keel laid in February 1944; launched in August 1945; commissioned in April 1946.
  • Kearsarge (CV-33). Built by the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York. Keel laid in March 1944; launched in May 1945; commissioned in March 1946.
  • Antietam (CV-36). Built by the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania. Keel laid in March 1943; launched in August 1944; commissioned in January 1945.
  • Princeton (CV-37) (name changed from Valley Forge in November 1944). Built by the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania. Keel laid in September 1943; launched in July 1945; commissioned in November 1945.
  • Shangri-La (CV-38). Built by the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia. Keel laid in January 1943; launched in February 1944; commissioned in September 1944.
  • Lake Champlain (CV-39). Built by the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia. Keel laid in March 1943; launched in November 1944; commissioned in June 1945.
  • Tarawa (CV-40). Built by the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia. Keel laid in March 1944; launched in May 1945; commissioned in December 1945.
  • Valley Forge (CV-45). Built by the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania. Keel laid in September 1944; launched in November 1945; commissioned in November 1946.
  • Philippine Sea (CV-47) (name changed from Wright in February 1945). Built by the Bethlehem Steel Company, Quincy, Massachusetts. Keel laid in August 1944; launched in September 1945; commissioned in May 1946.
    In addition to these thirteen carriers, Oriskany (CV-34), built at the New York Navy Yard, was completed in 1950 to the much modified SCB-27A design; Reprisal (CV-35), laid down in July 1944 at the New York Navy Yard and launched in 1945, was scrapped incomplete after tests; and Iwo Jima (CV-46) was laid down at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in January 1945 but cancelled in August 1945 and broken up on the shipways. The six Fiscal Year 1945 ships, none of which received names, were assigned to Bethlehem Steel Company (CV-50), New York Navy Yard (CVs 51 & 52), Philadelphia Navy Yard (CV-53) and Norfolk Navy Yard (CVs 54 and 55). Their construction was cancelled in March 1945.

    Ticonderoga class "as-built" design characteristics were identical to those of the Essex class except that overall length was 888 feet.

    This page features limited pictorial coverage of Ticonderoga class aircraft carriers, as built, with links to pages concerning related classes, modified versions and individual ships.

    For views of the closely-related Essex class and the various later modifications of the design, see:

  • Essex class aircraft carriers;
  • SCB-27 modernization of Essex/Ticonderoga class aircraft carriers;
  • SCB-125 modernization of Essex/Ticonderoga class aircraft carriers; and
  • Essex/Ticonderoga class Aircraft Carriers -- Miscellaneous Configurations

    For coverage of other classes of U.S. Navy fleet aircraft carriers, see: Fleet Aircraft Carriers -- Overview and Special Image Selection.

    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 89281

    USS Hancock (CV-19)


    Underway on 15 December 1944, during operations in the Philippines area.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 153KB; 740 x 640 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 92243

    USS Ticonderoga (CV-14)


    At sea off the Philippines, just prior to her first strike against the Japanese, 5 November 1944.
    The ship is painted in camouflage Measure 33, Design 10a.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 96051

    USS Shangri-La (CV-38)


    Comes alongside USS Attu (CVE-102) to transfer personnel and supplies, 3 September 1945.
    Attu's cruise book claims that this was the first side-by-side underway replenishment by two aircraft carriers.

    Collection of Captain Hays R. Browning, USNR.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-706709

    USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)


    Exercising at sea with another carrier and a heavy cruiser, circa 1948. The photograph was received by the Naval Photographic Center on 10 January 1949.
    Note: "E" painted on her stack, location of hull number below the after end of her island; and HO3S helicopter on her flight deck.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-434496

    USS Leyte (CV-32)


    At anchor in Sasebo harbor, Japan, in November 1950, during a break in her Korean War combat operations.
    Photographed by AFC O.H. Wilson.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 124KB; 585 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 97281

    USS Boxer (CV-21)


    Four F9F-2 "Panther" jet fighters roar past the carrier, with dive brakes, landing gear and arresting hooks down, preparing to land on board after returning from a mission over North Korea, 23 June 1951.
    The planes and their pilots are from Fighter Squadron 721 (VF-721), a Naval Reserve squadron formerly based at Naval Air Station, Glenview, Illinois.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-434525

    USS Antietam (CV-36)


    Underway off the east coast of Korea, while operating with Task Force 77. She has Air Group 15 embarked.
    Photo is dated 16 October 1951, soon after Antietam's arrival in the Korean War zone.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 157KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-K-18429 (Color)

    USS Philippine Sea (CVA-47)


    Makes a sharp turn to starboard, while steaming in the Western Pacific with the Seventh Fleet, 9 July 1955.
    Photographed by PH1 D.L. Lash.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-K-18427 (Color)

    USS Philippine Sea (CVA-47)


    Operating in the Western Pacific with the Seventh Fleet, 9 July 1955.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 107KB; 590 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 97313

    USS Princeton (CVS-37)


    Photographed circa the mid-1950s, with twelve S2F anti-submarine aircraft parked forward.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 147KB; 600 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97298

    USS Leyte (CVS-32)


    Off Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, while embarking Marines prior to the "invasion" of the Panama Canal Zone, during amphibious exercises in 1957. She has thirteen HRS and two HUS helicopters of Marine Air Group 26 on her flight deck.
    Photo was released by the Department of Defense on 2 July 1957.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 123KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     

    For more views of Ticonderoga class aircraft carriers, see:

  • Ticonderoga (CV-14);
  • Randolph (CV-15);
  • Hancock (CV-19);
  • Boxer (CV-21);
  • Leyte (CV-32);
  • Kearsarge (CV-33);
  • Antietam (CV-36);
  • Princeton (CV-37);
  • Shangri-La (CV-38);
  • Lake Champlain (CV-39).
  • Tarawa (CV-40);
  • Valley Forge (CV-45);
  • Philippine Sea (CV-47).

    For views of the closely-related Essex class and the various later modifications of the design, see:

  • Essex class aircraft carriers;
  • SCB-27 modernization of Essex/Ticonderoga class aircraft carriers;
  • SCB-125 modernization of Essex/Ticonderoga class aircraft carriers; and
  • Essex/Ticonderoga class Aircraft Carriers -- Miscellaneous Configurations

    For coverage of other classes of U.S. Navy fleet aircraft carriers, see: Fleet Aircraft Carriers -- Overview and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 8 October 2001