Monterey 1945
| No | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comm | Fate |
| CV22, 7/1943- CVL22 | Independence (ex-CL59 Amsterdam) | New York SB, Camden | 1/5/1941 | 22/8/1942 | 1/1/1943 | stricken 28/8/1946 |
| CV23, 7/1943- CVL23 | Princeton (ex-CL61 Tallahassee) | 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) | 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) | New York SB, Camden | 17/12/1941 | 17/1/1973 | 28/5/1943 | aviation transport 5/1959, stricken 1/11/1959 |
| CV26, 7/1943- CVL26, 5/1959- AVT2 | Monterey (ex-CL78 Dayton) | New York SB, Camden | 29/12/1941 | 28/2/1943 | 17/6/1943 | aviation transport 5/1959, stricken 1/6/1970 |
| CVL27 | Langley (ex-Crown Point, ex-CL85 Fargo) | New York SB, Camden | 11/4/1942 | 22/5/1943 | 31/8/1943 | to France 1/1951 (Lafayette) |
| CVL28, 5/1959- AVT3 | Cabot (ex-CL79 Wilmington) | New York SB, Camden | 13/3/1942 | 4/4/1943 | 24/7/1943 | aviation transport 5/1959, to Spain 30/8/1967 (Dedalo) |
| CVL29, 5/1959- AVT4 | Bataan (ex-CL99 Buffalo) | New York SB, Camden | 31/8/1942 | 1/8/1943 | 17/11/1943 | aviation transport 5/1959, stricken 1/9/1959 |
| CVL30, 5/1959- AVT5 | San Jacinto (ex-Reprisal, ex-CL100 Newark) | New York SB, Camden | 26/10/1942 | 26/9/1943 | 15/12/1943 | aviation transport 5/1959, stricken 1/6/1970 |
|
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 |
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 Bofors, 8 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors, 22 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 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 Bofors, 8 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors, 22 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 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-II-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 |
Ship 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 cruisers to carriers. It allowed to complete new aircraft carriers already in early 1943.
As base for creation of Independence class design Cleveland class light cruisers were used. For providing of stability hulls were equipped with blisters, that increased breadth at about 1.5m. Construction of armoured belt demanded some alterations; them have managed to fulfil only on last seven ships (first two never received side armour). In remaining internal "stuffing" of the ships, including main machinery, remained without alterations. Despite growth of displacement, breadths and draught, speed was decreased slightly. So, San Jacinto on trials 14220t displacement and 104805hp of engine power reached 31.74kt speed.
Flight deck has been equipped by one catapult (all ships received one more in 1944-1945). Sizes of hangar were less, than on escort carriers of Bogue and Casablanca classes, that has predetermined the main lack of design: small number of air group.
The artillery as designed included two 127/38mm DP guns, 8x2 40mm and 16õ1 20mm MGs. However after trials of Independence 127mm guns were replaced by two quadruple 40mm Boforses, all subsequent ships originally received the same 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 planed, and lead-ship was commissioned earlier, than Independence!
Ship protection: CVL22 and 23 had only 16mm plating at waterline.
Modernizations: 1944 - 1945, all survived: + 1 H-II-1 catapult (second).
To 1945, Independence, Belleau Wood, Bataan: - 18 x 1 - 20/70, SC-2 radar; + 2 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors, 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 Bofors, 5 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon, SP radar
To 1945, Monterey: - 2 x 4 - 40/56, 22 x 1 - 20/70, SC-2 radar; + 1 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors, 8 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon, SP radar
To 1945, San Jacinto: - 2 x 4 - 40/56, SC-2 radar; + 1 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors, SP radar
1946 - 1948, all survived: catapults were replaced by H-IVB.
Naval service: Princeton 24/10/1944 was badly damaged as a result of hit of 250kg bomb from Japanese D4Y bomber and following fire. She was finally torpedoed by cruiser Reno. Independence 20/11/1943 was damaged by hit of Japanese air torpedo and repaired 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 hit of kamikaze and repaired till January, 1945.
Belleau Wood 1943
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10