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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 SHIP TYPES -- FLEET AIRCRAFT CARRIERS --
Independence class small aircraft carriers, (CVL 22-30)
(Converted from Fiscal Year 1941 light cruisers)
Fifteen Essex and Ticonderoga class aircraft carriers were extensively modernized under the SCB-27 program.
The nine ships of the Independence class were all converted from Cleveland class light cruisers building at the New York Shipbuilding Coporation shipyard, Camden, New Jersey. Initially classified as "aircraft carriers" (CV), all were redesignated "small aircraft carriers" (CVL) on 15 July 1943, while four ships were still under construction. Individual ships' construction data follows:
Independence
(CV/CVL-22). Keel laid in May 1941 as Amsterdam (CL-59); reclassified as an aircraft carrier in January 1942; launched in August 1942; commissioned in January 1943.
Princeton
(CV/CVL-23). Keel laid in June 1941 as Tallahassee (CL-61); reclassified as an aircraft carrier in February 1942; launched in October 1942; commissioned in February 1943.
Belleau Wood
(CV/CVL-24). Keel laid in August 1941 as New Haven (CL-76); reclassified as an aircraft carrier in February 1942; launched in December 1942; commissioned in March 1943.
Cowpens
(CV/CVL-25). Keel laid in November 1941 as Huntington (CL-77); reclassified as an aircraft carrier in March 1942; launched in January 1943; commissioned in May 1943.
Monterey
(CV/CVL-26). Keel laid in December 1941 as Dayton (CL-78); reclassified as an aircraft carrier in March 1942; launched in February 1943; commissioned in June 1943.
Langley
(CVL-27). Originally planned as Fargo (CL-85); reclassified as an aircraft carrier in March 1942; keel laid in April 1942; name changed from Crown Point to Langley in November 1942; launched in May 1943; commissioned in August 1943.
Cabot
(CVL-28). Keel laid in March 1942 as Wilmington (CL-79); reclassified as an aircraft carrier in June 1942; launched in April 1943; commissioned in July 1943.
Bataan
(CVL-29). Originally planned as Buffalo (CL-99); reclassified as an aircraft carrier in June 1942; keel laid in August 1942; launched in August 1943; commissioned in November 1943.
San Jacinto
(CVL-30). Originally planned as Newark (CL-100); reclassified as an aircraft carrier in June 1942; keel laid in October 1942; name changed from Reprisal to San Jacinto in January 1943; launched in September 1943; commissioned in December 1943.
Independence class "as-built" design characteristics:
Displacement: 11,000 tons (standard)
Dimensions: 622' 6" (length overall); 71' 6" (hull); 109' 2" (over flight deck)
Powerplant: 100,000 horsepower, steam turbines, four propellers, 31.5 knot maximum speed
Aircraft (Typical operational complement, October 1944):
34 planes, including 25 F6F fighters and 9 TBM torpedo planes.
This page features limited pictorial coverage of Independence class small aircraft carriers, with links to pages concerning individual ships.
For coverage of other classes of U.S. Navy fleet aircraft carriers, see: Fleet Aircraft Carriers -- Overview and Special Image Selection.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
For more views of Independence class small aircraft carriers, see:
Independence
(CV/CVL-22);
Princeton
(CV/CVL-23);
Belleau Wood
(CV/CVL-24);
Cowpens
(CV/CVL-25);
Monterey
(CV/CVL-26);
Langley
(CVL-27);
Cabot
(CVL-28);
Bataan
(CVL-29); and
San Jacinto
(CVL-30).
For coverage of other classes of U.S. Navy fleet aircraft carriers, see: Fleet Aircraft Carriers -- Overview and Special Image Selection.
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Page made 27 October 2001