Independence class aircraft carrier
Appearance
The Independence class light carriers served in the US Navy during World War II. Nine were built in total.
USS Independence (CVL-22)
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Independence in San Francisco Bay, 15 July 1943.
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Island of the Independence in 1945
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Afire aft, soon after the "Able Day" atomic bomb air burst test at Bikini on 1 July 1946.
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Launching at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Camden, New Jersey, on 18 October 1942
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In 1943
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1001 a.m.: On fire after hit by japanese bomb, 24 October 1944
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1055 a.m.: cruiser Birmingham fighting fires on Princeton
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damaged flight deck and elevator
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Reno fighting fires on Princeton
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1524 a.m.: Second heavier explosion aft on Princeton, with Birmingham alongside
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after 1604 a.m.: Birmingham at left, and a destroyer pull away from Princeton following the big explosion that destroyed the carrier's stern
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1746 a.m.: Final explosion after torped by destroyer Irwin and cruiser Reno.
USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24)
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A Japanese bomber explodes as it crashes into the sea near USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24), during an attack on Task Group 58.2 off the Mariana Islands, 23 February 1944.
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On fire, 1944
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French Bois Belleau, former Belleau Wood, at Norfolk Naval Base, December 1953.
USS Cowpens (CVL-25)
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Launch of Cowpens, 17 January 1943
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In Philadelphia, 25 June 1943
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At Sea, 17 July 1943
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Cowpens during the raids on the Marshall Islands, November-December 1943
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A TBM Avenger torpedo plane landing on board the carrier, at the time of the Marshalls-Gilberts raids, November-December 1943
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F6F Hellcats warming up on deck, January 1944.
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Cowpens at sea, 31 August 1944
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Cowpens heavy rolling in Typhoon Cobra on 18 December 1944.
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Cowpens bow
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At Tokyo Bay with Mount Fuji in the back.
USS Monterey (CVL-26)
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Monterey after commission at Delaware River
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Monterey (right) during Gilberts Operation, November 1943
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During Hollandia-Operation in March 1944
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Monterey catapults a F6F Hellcat fighter during operations in the Marianas area, June 1944.
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Navy crewmen aboard the Independence-class light aircraft carrier USS Monterey pushing a Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter to the flight deck elevator in June 1944.
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Monty's crew spelling out Mardi Gras 1953 in 1953.
USS Langley (CVL-27)
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Langley rolling during Typhoon Cobra on 18 December 1944
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Langley as french La Fayette in 1951
USS Cabot (CVL-28)
[edit]USS Bataan (CVL-29)
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HMS Belfast (C35) coming alongside USS Bataan (CVL-29) off the coast of Korea on 27 May 1952
USS San Jacinto (CVL-30)
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Four aircraft carriers, circa mid-September 1945. The ships are (from front to back): USS Saratoga (CV-3); USS Enterprise (CV-6), USS Hornet (CV-12) and USS San Jacinto (CVL-30).