Monterey 1945
Cabot 1963
| No | Name | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comm | Fate |
| CV22, 7.1943- CVL22 | Independence (ex-CL59 Amsterdam) | 427 | New York SB, Camden | 1.5.1941 | 22.8.1942 | 1.1.1943 | stricken 8.1946 |
| CV23, 7.1943- CVL23 | Princeton (ex-CL61 Tallahassee) | 429 | New York SB, Camden | 2.6.1941 | 18.10.1942 | 25.2.1943 | sunk 24.10.1944 |
| CV24, 7.1943- CVL24 | Belleau Wood (ex-CL76 New Haven) | 431 | New York SB, Camden | 11.8.1941 | 6.12.1942 | 31.3.1943 | to France 9.1953 (Bois Belleau) |
| CV25, 7.1943- CVL25, 5.1959- AVT1 | Cowpens (ex-CL77 Huntington) | 432 | New York SB, Camden | 17.12.1941 | 17.1.1973 | 28.5.1943 | aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 11.1959 |
| CV26, 7.1943- CVL26, 5.1959- AVT2 | Monterey (ex-CL78 Dayton) | 433 | New York SB, Camden | 29.12.1941 | 28.2.1943 | 17.6.1943 | aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 6.1970 |
| CVL27 | Langley (ex-Crown Point, ex-CL85 Fargo) | 443 | New York SB, Camden | 11.4.1942 | 22.5.1943 | 31.8.1943 | to France 1.1951 (La Fayette) |
| CVL28, 5.1959- AVT3 | Cabot (ex-CL79 Wilmington) | 434 | New York SB, Camden | 13.3.1942 | 4.4.1943 | 24.7.1943 | aviation transport 5.1959, to Spain 8.1967 (Dédalo) |
| CVL29, 5.1959- AVT4 | Bataan (ex-CL99 Buffalo) | 441 | New York SB, Camden | 31.8.1942 | 1.8.1943 | 17.11.1943 | aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 9.1959 |
| CVL30, 5.1959- AVT5 | San Jacinto (ex-Reprisal, ex-CL100 Newark) | 442 | New York SB, Camden | 26.10.1942 | 26.9.1943 | 15.12.1943 | aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 6.1970 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
10622 |
|
Displacement full, t |
14751 |
|
Length, m |
182.9 wl 189.7 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
21.8 wl 33.3 oa |
|
Draught, m |
7.39 full load |
|
No of shafts |
4 |
|
Machinery |
4 sets General Electric geared steam turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
100000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
31.6 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 2633 |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | 13000 (15) |
|
Armour, mm |
CVL22, 23: belt: 16, bulkheads: 127, main deck: 51 CVL24 - 30: belt: 127 on 16mm plating, bulkheads: 127, main deck: 51 |
|
Armament |
CVL22, 23: 2 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 8 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 22 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, 30 aircraft (F4F Wildcat, F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat fighters, SB2U Vindicator, SBD Dauntless, SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, SOC Seagull reconnaissance planes) CVL24 - 30: 2 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 8 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 22 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, 30 aircraft (F4F Wildcat, F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat fighters, SBD Dauntless, SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, SOC Seagull reconnaissance planes) |
| Sensors |
SK, SC-2, SG radars |
|
Complement |
1569 |
Aircraft facilities (fd - 3,773 m², ha - 1,313 m² / 6,957 m³): Flight deck: 169.2 x 22.3 m. Hangar: 78.6 x 16.7 x 5.3 m. There were 2 lifts in center line (12.7 t, 12.8 x 13.4 m). There was 1 H 2-1 catapult. Aircraft fuel stowage: 462 700 l.
| Year | fighters | torpedo bombers / attackers | ASW planes |
| 11.1943 Independence | 28 F6F-3 | 9 TBF-1 | --- |
| 6.1944 Monterey | 34 F6F-3 | 8 TBM-1 | --- |
| 7.1945 Belleau Wood | 25 F6F-5 | 9 TBM-3 | --- |
| 6.1952 Bataan | 15-20 F4U-4B | --- | 10-15 AF-2S/W |
Project history: In 1942 it appeared that the USN would not be able to get any fleet carriers before 1944 (planned date for the completion of Essex). President ordered the Navy to convert Cleveland class cruisers to carriers. It allowed to receive new aircraft carriers already in early 1943.
Cleveland class light cruisers were used as design base. Hulls were blistered improving stability, and increasing the breadth at about 1.5m. Only seven ships had armoured belt, first two did not have side armour. Internal arrangement was altered slightly; machinery became unaltered. Despite growth of displacement, breadths and draught, speed was decreased slightly. Flight deck had one catapult (all ships received one more in 1944-1945). Hangar dimensions were less than on of Bogue and Casablanca escort carriers and that predetermined the main lack of design, small air group. Under the design artillery included two 127/38mm DP guns, 8 twin 40mm and 16 single 20mm guns. However after trials of Independence 127mm guns were replaced by two quadruple 40mm Boforses, all later ships were commissioned with this armament. As a whole Independence class carriers appeared as rather successful, but too cramped ships. Their air group was three times less, than on Essex, and endurance twice. Besides, Essex class carriers (for which temporary replacement Independence class was built) were built much faster, than originally planned, and Essex was commissioned earlier, than Independence.
Ship protection (CVL22, 23): There were only 16mm plating at waterline and 51mm main deck.
(CVL24-30): 127mm belt was closed at ship ends by 127mm bulkheads and connected with 51mm main deck.
Modernizations: 1944 - 1945, all survived: + 1 H-II-1 catapult (2nd).
To 1945, Independence, Belleau Wood, Bataan: - 18 x 1 - 20/70, SC-2 radar; + 2 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, SP radar
To 1945, Cowpens, Langley, Cabot: - 2 x 4 - 40/56, 22 x 1 - 20/70, SC-2 radar; + 1 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 5 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 4, SP radar
To 1945, Monterey: - 2 x 4 - 40/56, 22 x 1 - 20/70, SC-2 radar; + 1 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 8 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 4, SP radar
To 1945, San Jacinto: - 2 x 4 - 40/56, SC-2 radar; + 1 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, SP radar
1/1946, Independence, Belleau Wood, Bataan: 2 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 10 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 1 catapult, 30 aircraft, SK, SP, SG radars
1/1946, Cowpens, Langley, Cabot: 9 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 5 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 24, 1 catapult, 30 aircraft, SK, SP, SG radars
1/1946, Monterey: 9 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 8 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 24, 1 catapult, 30 aircraft, SK, SP, SG radars
1/1946, San Jacinto: 9 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 22 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 1 catapult, 30 aircraft, SK, SP, SG radars
1946 - 1948, all survived: catapult was replaced by H 4B.
early 1950s, all survived: - SP radar; + SPS-4 radar, SLR-2 ECM suite
late 1950s, all survived: - SK, SG, SPS-4 radars, SLR-2 ECM suite; + SPS-6, SPS-8, SPS-10, SPS-17 radars, WLR-1 ECM suite
1960s, some survived: - SPS-17 radar; + SPS-40 radar, ULQ-6 ECM suite
Naval service: Princeton 24.10.1944 was badly damaged as a result of 250kg air bomb hit from Japanese D4Y bomber and followed fire. She was finally torpedoed by cruiser Reno. Independence 20.11.1943 was damaged by hit of Japanese air torpedo and was under repair till August, 1944; 1.7 and 25.7.1946 she was badly damaged at nuclear tests off Bikini and sunk at tests of new weapons 29.1.1951. Belleau Wood 30.10.1944 was badly damaged by kamikaze and returned to service in January, 1945.
Belleau Wood 1943
© Ivan Gogin, 2014-15