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USN Essex-class aircraft carrier 27,100 tons (standard) 36,380 tons (loaded) 820' x 93' x 28' 5" Armament (as built) 4 x 5"guns 4 x 127mm guns 8 x 40mm AA 46 x 20mm AA Aircraft: 90-100 Elevators: 3 |
Ship History Commissioned December 31, 1942 in the United States Navy (USN) as USS Essex (CV-9). with with Captain Donald B. Duncan in command. After a shakedown cruise, Essex departed via the Panama Canal to the Pacific Ocean arriving at Pearl Harbor during May 1943. Wartime History On August 31, 1943 Essex became flagship of Task Force 14 (TF 14) on a strike against Wake Island during October 5-6, 1943. On November 11, 1943 participated in carrier strikes against Rabaul along with USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) and USS Princeton (CVL-23). Afterwards, joined Task Group 50.3 (TG 50.3) for strikes against the Gilbert Islands (Kiribati) to support of the invasion of Tarawa (Betio). On November 18, 1943 Essex carrier aircraft conducted dive bombing missions against Tarawa (Betio). Lost was SBD Dauntless 28608 (MIA). On December 4, 1943 while refueling at sea she became flagship of TG 50.3 for a strike against Kwajalein. On January 24, 1944 TG 58.2 arrived at the dawn launching point for air strikes against Roi. For two days, Essex, USS Intrepid (CV-11), and USS Cabot (CVL-28) conducted carrier aircraft attacks in support of the invasion of Kwajalein-Roi until February 2, 1944. PARTIAL HISTORY During 1969, decommissioned for the last time. In 1975 sold for scrap and scrapped. References Contribute
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