 REVISED: 2/26/09
 
CV were the general-purpose large carriers, CVN when nuclear powered. All CVs were changed to CVA Oct 1, 1952 as strike-only carriers, and CVAN when nuclear powered. CVA Attack Carriers were redesignated CVS Antisubmarine Carriers when downgraded to that role. Other designations: CC as Command Ship, CVB Large-Aircraft Carrier, CVE Escort Carrier (SEE BELOW), CVL Light Carrier (SEE BELOW), and CVT Training Carrier, changed to AVT. LPH for Landing Platform, Helicopter (now called Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter)). For a more complete exposition, see the Navy's page about
USS Pennsylvania "Flight deck" (Library of Congress)While not an official aircraft carrier, cruiser USS Pennsylvania, at anchor on San Francisco Bay, holds the double honors of having the first airplane to fly from (11/14/10) and to (1/10/11 ?>1/18/11) the deck of a ship (p: Eugene Ely), and as the first ship to hoist aboard an aircraft (2/17/11), at San Diego (p: Glenn Curtiss). 
Langley aircraft deck (USN)CV-1/AV-3 Langley - 1924-1942. The collier USS Jupiter was modified with a wooden deck to became our nation's first official aircraft carrier; length: 542' disp: 15,150 speed: 15.5 (kts) crew: 468 aircraft: 30-35. Crippled by Japanese bombers, scuttled 2/27/42. 
Lexington in SF drydock Note plane taking-off (postcard) Lexington (USN)CV-2 Lexington - 1925-1942; length: 850' disp: 38,746 speed: 34 crew: 3,300 aircraft: 90. Fatally damaged in Coral Sea battle, scuttled 5/8/42.  Saratoga (USN)CV-3 Saratoga - 1927-1946; Lexington class. Converted to troop ship after the war. Sunk in atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll 7/25/46.  Ranger (USN)CV-4 Ranger - 1934-1946; length: 730' disp: 17,577 speed: 29 crew: 2,000 aircraft: 86. Scrapped 2/x/47.  Yorktown (USN)CV-5 Yorktown - 1937-1942; length: 761' disp: 25,484 speed: 33 crew: 2,200 aircraft: 100. Sunk by Japanese submarine 6/7/42. CV-/CVA-/CVS-6 Enterprise - 1938-1947; Yorktown class. Sold 7/1/58, scrapped 9/?/58.  Wasp (USN)CV-7 Wasp - 1940-1942; Yorktown class. Crippled by torpedoes and fire, scuttled 9/15/42.  Hornet (USN)CV-8 Hornet - 1941-1942; length: 820' disp: 34,881 speed: 33 crew: 2,631 aircraft: 100. Immobilized by torpedoes and bombs, scuttled 10/26/42.  Essex (USN)CV-/CVA-/CVS-9 Essex - 1942-1969; length: 820' disp: 34,881 speed: 33 crew: 2,631 aircraft: 100. Scrapped 1973.  Yorktown (USN)CV-/CVA-/CVS-10 Yorktown - 1943-1970; Essex class. Transferred to museum at Charleston SC in 1973.  Intrepid (USN)CV-/CVA-/CVS-11 Intrepid - 1943-1974; Essex class. Transferred to museum at New York City in 1982.  Hornet (USN)CV-/CVA-/CVS-12 Hornet - 1943-1947, 1953-1970; Essex class. Sold for scrap in 1993, repossessed and underwent preservation as a floating museum at Alameda CA. CV-/CVA-/CVS-13 Franklin - 1944-1947; Essex class. Scrapped 1966. CV-/CVA-/CVS-14 Ticonderoga - 1944-1973; modification of Essex class, similar specifications. Scrapped 1974. CV-/CVA-/CVS-15 Randolph - 1944-1969; Ticonderoga class. Scrapped 1973. CV-/CVA-/CVS-/CVT-/AVT-16 Lexington - 1943-1947, 1955-1991; Essex class. Transferred to museum at Corpus Christi TX 1991. CV-/CVA-/CVS-17 Bunker Hill - 1943-1947; Essex class. Scrapped 1973. CV-/CVA-/CVS-18 Wasp - 1943-47, 1951-1972; Essex class. Scrapped 1973. CV-/CVA-/CV-19 Hancock - 1944-1947, 1954-1976; Ticonderoga class. Scrapped 1976. CV-/CVA-/CVS-20 Bennington - 1944-1946, 1951-70; Essex class. Scrapped 1994. CV-/CVA-/CVS-21/LPH-4 Boxer - 1944-1969; Ticonderoga class. Scrapped 1971. CVL-22 Independence - 1943-1946; length: 600' disp: 14,751 speed: 31.6 crew: 1,461 aircraft: 45. Atom bomb tests at Bikini Atoll July 1946, sunk as target ship 1/30/51. (SEE CVL data below.) CVL-23 Princeton - 1943-1944; Independence class. Fatally bombed at Leyte Gulf and scuttled 10/24/44. (SEE CVL data below.) CVL-24 Belleau Wood - 1943-47; Independence class. Scrapped 1962. (SEE CVL data below.) CVL-25/AVT-1 Cowpens - 1943-1947; Independence class. Scrapped 1961. (SEE CVL data below.) CVL-26/AVT-2 Monterey - 1943-1947, 1950-1956; Independence class. Scrapped 1970. (SEE CVL data below.) CVL-27 Langley - 1943-1947; Independence class. Scrapped 1964. (SEE CVL data below.) CVL-28/AVT-3 Cabot - 1943-1972; Independence class. Sole survivor of nine light carriers hurriedly produced and pressed into service following the attack on Pearl Harbor, CVL-28 was sold for scrap in 1995, but preservation efforts are presently under way. The boat was awarded nine battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism. CVL-29/AVT-4 Bataan - 1943-1947, 1950-1954; Independence class. Scrapped 1959. (SEE CVL data below.) CVL-30/AVT-5 San Jacinto - 1947-1970; Independence class. Scrapped 1970. (SEE CVL data below.) CV-/CVA-31 Bon Homme Richard - 1944-1947, 1951-1971; Essex class. Scrapped 1992. CV-/CVA-/CVS-32/AVT-10 Leyte - 1946-1959; Ticonderoga class. Scrapped 1969. CV-/CVA-/CVS-33 Kearsarge - 1946-1950, 1952-1970; Ticonderoga class. Scrapped 1974. CV-/CVA-/CV-34 Oriskany - 1950-1976; Ticonderoga class. Scrapped 1995, hulk sunk as an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico 5/18/06. CV-35 Reprisal - 1948-1949; never commissioned, used for tests only. Scrapped 1949.  Antietam (USN)CV-/CVA-/CVS-36 Antietam - 1945-1949, 1951-1963; Ticonderoga class. Scrapped 1974. First of the angled-deck carriers. CV-/CVA-/CVS-37/LPH-5 Princeton - 1945-1949, 1950-1970; Ticonderoga class. Scrapped 1973. CV-/CVA-/CVS-38 Shangri-La - 1944-1947, 1955-1971; Ticonderoga class. Scrapped 1988.  Lake Champlain (USN)CV-/CVA-/CVS-39 Lake Champlain - 1945-1947, 1952-1966; Ticonderoga class. Scrapped 1972. CV-/CVA-/CVS-40/AVT-12 Tarawa - 1945-1949, 1951-1960; Ticonderoga class. Scrapped 1968. CVB-/CVA-/CV-41 Midway - 1945-1955, 1957-1992; length: 900' disp: 59,901 speed: 33 crew: 3,583 aircraft: 137. Pending disposal. CVB-/CVA-/CV-42 Franklin D Roosevelt - 1945-1954, 1956-1977; Midway class. Scrapped 1980. 
Coral Sea and SF Bay Bridge 1961 (USN)CVB-/CVA-/CV-43 Coral Sea - 1947-1957, 1960-1991; Midway class (final displacement: 65,200); partially scrapped 1995. CV-44 - Cancelled 1943. CV-/CVA-/CVS-45/LPH-8 Valley Forge - 1946-1970; Ticonderoga class. Scrapped 1971. CV-46 Iwo Jima - Cancelled 1945. CV-/CVA-/CVS-47/AVT-11 Philippine Sea - 1946-1958; Ticonderoga class. Scrapped 1971. CVL-48/AVT-7/AGMR-2 Saipan - 1946-1957, Arlington 1966-1970; length: 664' disp: 19,086 speed: 33 crew: 1,677 aircraft: 48. Scrapped 1975. (SEE CVL data below.) AGMR redesignation as Arlington represented a Major Communications Relay Ship — "A" for Auxilary (non-combatant), "GMR" was just a letter group (AGM signified Missile Range Instrumentation Ship). Thanks to Jim Bohannan for dredging this one up! CVL-49/AVT-7/CC-2 Wright - 1947-1956, 1963-1977; Saipan class. Scrapped 1980. (SEE CVL data below.) CV-50 through CV-57 - Cancelled 1945. CVA-58 United States - Cancelled 1949. CVA-/CVA-/AVT-59 Forrestal - 1955-1993; length: 990' disp: 76,614 speed: 30+ crew: 4,676 aircraft: 100. Scheduled for scrapping. CVA-/CV-60 Saratoga - 1956-1994; Forrestal class. Scheduled for scrapping. 
Ranger in drydock (USN)CVA-/CV-61 Ranger - 1957-1993; Forrestal class. Reserve status. CVA-/CV-62 Independence - 1959-1998; Forrestal class. Decom: 9/30/98 at Bremerton WA. CVA-/CV-63 Kitty Hawk - 1961-(2008). Builders: CVA-63: New York Shipbuilding Corp, Camden NJ; CV-63: New York Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn NY. Powerplant: 8 boilers, 4 geared steam turbines, 4 shafts, 280,000 shaft horsepower. Length, overall: 1062.5' (323.8 meters). Flight deck width: 252' (76.8 meters). Beam: 130' (39 meters). Displacement, full load: about 80,800 tons (82,096.69 metric tons). Speed: 30+ kts (34.5+ mph). Aircraft: 85. Crew: Ship's Company 3,150, Air Wing 2,480 CVA-/CV-64 Constellation - 1961-(2003); Kitty Hawk class. CVAN-/CVA-65 Enterprise - 1961-(2013); length: 1040' disp: 89,084 speed: 30+ crew: 5,382 aircraft: 80. Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Co, Newport News VA. Powerplant: 8 nuclear reactors, 4 shafts. Length overall: 1,101' (335.64 meters). Flight deck width: 252' (75.6 meters). Beam: 133' (39.9 meters). Displacement, full load: 89,600 tons (91,037.91 metric tons). Speed: 30+ kts (34.5 mph). Aircraft: 85. Crew: Ship's Company 3,350, Air Wing 2,480. CVA-/CV-66 America - 1965-1996; Kitty Hawk class. Decom: 9/?/96. CVA-/CV-67 John F Kennedy - 1968-(2018). Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Co, Newport News VA. Powerplant: 8 boilers, 4 shafts, 280,000 total shaft hp. Length overall: 1052' (315.6 meters). Flight deck width: 252' (76.8 meters). Beam: 130' (39.6 meters). Displacement, full load: 82,000 tons (83,315.95 metric tons). Speed: 30+ kts (34.5 mph). Aircraft: about 85. Crew: Ship's Company 3,117, Air Wing 2,480. CVAN-/CVN-68 Nimitz - 1975->. Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Co, Newport News VA. Powerplant: 2 nuclear reactors, 4 shafts. Length overall: 1,092' (332.85 meters). Flight deck width: 252' (76.8 meters). Beam: 134' (40.84 meters). Displacement, full load: about 97,000 tons (98,556.67 metric tons). Speed: 30+ kts (34.5+ mph). Aircraft: 85. Cost: about $4.5 billion. Crew: Ship's Company 3,200, Air Wing 2,480. CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower - 1977->; Nimitz class.  Carl Vinson (USN)CVN-70 Carl Vinson - 1982->; Nimitz class. CVN-71 Theodore Roosevelt - 1986->; Nimitz class. CVN-72 Abraham Lincoln - 1989->; Nimitz class. CVN-73 George Washington - 1992->; Nimitz class. CVN-74 John C Stennis - 1995->; Nimitz class.  Harry S Truman (USN)CVN-75 Harry S Truman - 1998->; Nimitz class.  Ronald Reagan (USN)CVN-76 Ronald Reagan - Christened 2001, commissioned 7/12/03. Nimitz class.  George H W Bush (USN)CVN-77 - George H W Bush. Replacement for CV-64, christened 10/7/06. Nimitz class.  Gerald R Ford Computer concept (USN)CVN-78 -
CVE-1 Long Island AVG-2 to -5 - Planned conversions of merchant ships cancelled in 1941 CVE-6 HMS Battler CVE-7 HMS Attacker CVE-8 HMS Hunter CVE-9 Bogue CVE-10 HMS Chaser CVE-11 Card CVE-12 Copahee CVE-13 Core CVE-14 HMS Fencer CVE-15 HMS Stalker CVE-16 Nassau CVE-17 HMS Pursuer CVE-18 Altamaha - Lost in a storm CVE-19 HMS Striker CVE-20 Barnes CVE-21 Block Island - Lost in action CVE-22 HMS Searcher CVE-23 Breton CVE-24 HMS Ravager CVE-25 Croatan CVE-26 Sangamon CVE-27 Suwanee CVE-28 Chenango CVE-29 Santee CVE-30 Charger, HMS Charger CVE-31 Prince William CVE-32 Chatham, HMS Slinger CVE-33 Glacier, HMS Atheling CVE-34 Pybus, HMS Emperor CVE-35 Raffins, HMS Ameer CVE-36 Bolinas, HMS Begum CVE-37 Bastian, HMS Trumpeter CVE-38 Carnegie, HMS Empress CVE-39 Cordova, HMS Khedive CVE-40 Delgada, HMS Speaker CVE-41 Edisto, HMS Nabob CVE-42 Estero, HMS Premier CVE-43 Jamaica, HMS Shah CVE-44 Keeweenaw, HMS Patroller CVE-45 Prince, HMS Rajah CVE-46 Niantic, HMS Ranee CVE-47 Perdido, HMS Trouncer CVE-48 Sunset, HMS Thane CVE-49 St Andrews, HMS Queen CVE-50 St Joseph, HMS Ruler CVE-51 St Simon, HMS Arbiter CVE-52 Vermilion, HMS Smiter CVE-53 Willapa, HMS Puncher CVE-54 Winjah, HMS Reaper CVE-55 Casablanca CVE-56 Liscombe Bay - Lost in action CVE-57 Coral Sea, Anzio CVE-58 Corrigedor CVE-59 Mission Bay CVE-60 Guadalcanal CVE-61 Manila Bay CVE-62 Natoma Bay CVE-63 Midway, St Lo - Lost in action CVE-64 Didrickson Bay CVE-65 Wake Island CVE-66 White Plains CVE-67 Solomons CVE-68 Kalinin Bay CVE-69 Kasaan Bay CVE-70 Fanshaw Bay CVE-71 Kitkun Bay CVE-72 Tulagi CVE-73 Gambier Bay - Lost in action CVE-74 Nehenta Bay CVE-75 Hoggatt Bay CVE-76 Kadashan Bay CVE-77 Marcus Island CVE-78 Savo Island CVE-79 Ommaney Bay - Lost in action CVE-80 Petrof Bay CVE-81 Rudyard Bay CVE-82 Saginaw Bay CVE-83 Sargent Bay CVE-84 Shamrock Bay CVE-85 Shipley Bay CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay CVE-87 Steamer Bay CVE-88 Cape Esperance CVE-89 Takanis Bay CVE-90 Thetis Bay CVE-91 Macassar Strait CVE-92 Windham Bay CVE-93 Makin Island CVE-94 Lunga Point CVE-95 Bismark Sea - Lost in action CVE-96 Salamaua CVE-97 Hollandia CVE-98 Kwajalein CVE-99 Admiralty Islands CVE-100 Bougainville CVE-101 Mantanikau CVE-102 Attu CVE-103 Roi CVE-104 Munda CVE-105 Commencement Bay CVE-106 Block Island CVE-107 Gilbert Islands CVE-108 Kula Gulf CVE-109 Cape Gloucester CVE-110 Salerno Bay CVE-111 Vella Gulf CVE-112 Siboney CVE-113 Puget Sound CVE-114 Rendova CVE-115 Bairoko CVE-116 Badoeng Strait CVE-117 Saidor CVE-118 Sicily CVE-119 Point Cruz CVE-120 Mindoro CVE-121 Rabaul CVE-122 Palau CVE-123 Tinian (built, but never commissioned) CVE-124 to -139 - cancelled.
Thanks to Jim Bohannan for research There were nine ships of the Independence class (CVL) of 1940-42. From Fahey's Ships and Aircraft of the United States Fleet: CVLs normally carried about 45 aircraft, a Composite Squadron of Fighters, VSBs and VTBs. On some missions only Fighters were borne. They sometimes provided air cover for the larger CVs while their Groups were on strikes. Five CVLs were laid down as Light Cruisers of the Cleveland Class. They were reordered from New York Ship as CVs on 3/18/42. With four later ships they became CVLs in June 1943. CVL-22 Independence (ex-CL-59 Amsterdam) CVL-23 Princeton (ex-CL-61 Tallahassee) CVL-24 Belleau Wood (ex-CL-76 New Haven) CVL-25 Cowpens (ex-CL-77 Huntington) CVL-26 Monterey (ex-CL-78 Dayton) CVL-27 Langley (ex-CL-85 Fargo) CVL-28 Cabot (ex-CL-79 Wilmington) CVL-29 Bataan (ex-CL-99 Buffalo) CVL-30 San Jacinto (ex-CL-100 Newark) Two additional CVLs comprised the Saipan class of 1943 — an adaptation of the Baltimore class CA design. Built as carriers from the keel up, they were cleaner than the converted CVLs of the Independence class: CVL-48 Saipan CVL-49 Wright
Bastard children though they may have been in the proud carrier group, IX-64 Wolverine and IX-81 Sable served their country well while landlocked on the Great Lakes. Converted from side-wheeler excursion steamers to flat-tops, they were used in training thousands of fledgling Naval aviators in the manly art of carrier operations. Wolverinewas built originally in 1942 as civil Seeandbee, acquired for conversion by USN 3/12/42, commissioned 8/12/42, and stricken 11/28/45. Sable was built by the American Shipbuilding Co in 1924 as civil Greater Buffalo, acquired by USN 8/7/42, commissioned 5/8/42, and stricken 11/28/45. SOURCES: -- Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet,James C Fahey (Gemsco, various editions 1945-73; Naval Institute Press 1976) -- Naval Historical Center. Internet site: http://www.history.navy.mil -- USN Vessel Registry. Internet site: http://www.nvr.navy.mil -- US Warships since 1945,Paul Silverstone (US Naval Institute Press) |
