US Aircraft Carrier Functions
Editor's Note: The following content is a transcription of a period document or a collection of period statistics. It may be incomplete, inaccurate, or biased. The reader may not wish to take the content as factual.
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| Class | Commission Date | Naval Battles | Invasion Support | Raiding Enemy Bases | Blockading Enemy Shipping | Battling Enemy Raiders | Anti-Submarine Action | Combat & Fleet Escort | Transport & Replenishment | Training & Trials | Repatriation | |
Fleet (CV) and Light (CVL) Carriers | ||||||||||||
| Saratoga (CV-3) | Lexington | 16-Nov-27 | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Lexington (CV-2) | Lexington | 14-Dec-27 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Ranger (CV-4) | Ranger | 04-Jun-34 | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Yorktown (CV-5) | Yorktown | 30-Sep-37 | X | X | ||||||||
| Enterprise (CV-6) | Yorktown | 12-May-38 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Wasp (CV-7) | Wasp | 25-Apr-40 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Hornet (CV-8) | Yorktown | 01-Jan-41 | X | X | X | |||||||
| Essex (CV-9) | Essex | 31-Dec-42 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Independence (CVL-22) | Independence | 14-Jan-43 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Lexington (CV-16) | Essex | 17-Feb-43 | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Princeton (CVL-23) | Independence | 25-Feb-43 | X | X | X | |||||||
| Belleau Wood (CVL-24) | Independence | 31-Mar-43 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Yorktown (CV-10) | Essex | 15-Apr-43 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Bunker Hill (CV-17) | Essex | 24-May-43 | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Cowpens (CVL-25) | Independence | 28-May-43 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Monterey (CVL-26) | Independence | 17-Jun-43 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Cabot (CVL-28) | Independence | 24-Jul-43 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Intrepid (CV-11) | Essex | 16-Aug-43 | X | X | X | |||||||
| Langley (CVL-27) | Independence | 31-Aug-43 | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| San Jacinto (CVL-30) | Independence | 15-Nov-43 | X | X | X | |||||||
| Bataan (CVL-29) | Independence | 17-Nov-43 | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Wasp (CV-18) | Essex | 24-Nov-43 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Hornet (CV-12) | Essex | 29-Nov-43 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Franklin (CV-13) | Essex | 31-Jan-44 | X | X | X | |||||||
| Hancock (CV-19) | Essex | 15-Apr-44 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Ticonderoga (CV-14) | Essex | 08-May-44 | X | X | X | |||||||
| Bennington (CV-20) | Essex | 06-Aug-44 | X | X | ||||||||
| Shangri-La (CV-38) | Essex | 15-Sep-44 | X | X | ||||||||
| Randolph (CV-15) | Essex | 09-Oct-44 | X | X | ||||||||
| Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) | Essex | 26-Nov-44 | X | X | X | |||||||
| Antietam (CV-36) | Essex | 28-Jan-45 | ||||||||||
| Boxer (CV-21) | Essex | 16-Apr-45 | ||||||||||
| Lake Champlain (CV-39) | Essex | 03-Jun-45 | ||||||||||
| Total Carriers | 33 | 24 | 28 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 15 | |
| Percent of Carriers | 73% | 85% | 82% | 9% | 0% | 3% | 15% | 15% | 3% | 45% | ||
Escort Carriers (CVEs) | ||||||||||||
| Langley (CV-1) | Langley | 20-Mar-22 | ||||||||||
| Long Island (CVE-1) | Long Islalnd | 02-Jun-41 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Charger (CVE-30) | Charger | 03-Mar-42 | X | X | ||||||||
| Copahee (CVE-12) | Bogue/Attacker | 15-Jun-42 | X | X | ||||||||
| Nassau (CVE-16) | Bogue/Attacker | 20-Aug-42 | X | X | ||||||||
| Santee (CVE-29) | Sangamon | 24-Aug-42 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Sangamon (CVE-26) | Sangamon | 25-Aug-42 | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Altamaha (CVE-18) | Bogue/Attacker | 15-Sep-42 | X | X | ||||||||
| Chenango (CVE-28) | Sangamon | 19-Sep-42 | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Suwanee (CVE-27) | Sangamon | 24-Sep-42 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Bogue (CVE-9) | Bogue/Attacker | 26-Sep-42 | X | X | X | |||||||
| Card (CVE-11) | Bogue/Attacker | 08-Nov-42 | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Core (CVE-13) | Bogue/Attacker | 10-Dec-42 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Barnes (CVE-20) | Bogue/Attacker | 20-Feb-43 | X | X | X | |||||||
| Block Island (CVE-21) | Bogue/Attacker | 08-Mar-43 | X | X | ||||||||
| Breton (CVE-23) | Bogue/Attacker | 12-Apr-43 | X | X | ||||||||
| Croatan (CVE-25) | Bogue/Attacker | 28-Apr-43 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Prince William (CVE-31) | Brogue/Ruler | 09-Apr-43 | X | X | X | |||||||
| Liscome Bay (CVE-56) | Casablanca | 07-Aug-43 | X | X | X | |||||||
| Casablanca (CVE-55) | Casablanca | 08-Jul-43 | X | X | X | |||||||
| Coral Sea/Anzio (CVE-57) | Casablanca | 27-Aug-43 | X | X | ||||||||
| Corregidor (CVE-58) | Casablanca | 31-Aug-43 | X | X | X | |||||||
| Mission Bay (CVE-59) | Casablanca | 13-Sep-43 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Guadalcanal (CVE-60) | Casablanca | 25-Sep-43 | X | X | ||||||||
| Manila Bay (CVE-61) | Casablanca | 05-Oct-43 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Natoma Bay (CVE-62) | Casablanca | 14-Oct-43 | X | X | X | |||||||
| St. Lo/Midway (CVE-63) | Casablanca | 23-Oct-43 | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Tripoli (CVE-64) | Casablanca | 31-Oct-43 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Wake Island (CVE-65) | Casablanca | 07-Nov-43 | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| White Plains (CVE-66) | Casablanca | 15-Nov-43 | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Kalinin Bay (CVE-68) | Casablanca | 27-Nov-43 | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Solomons (CVE-67) | Casablanca | 21-Nov-43 | X | X | ||||||||
| Kasaan Bay (CVE-69) | Casablanca | 04-Dec-43 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) | Casablanca | 09-Dec-43 | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) | Casablanca | 15-Dec-43 | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Tulagi (CVE-72) | Casablanca | 21-Dec-43 | X | X | X | |||||||
| Gambier Bay (CVE-73) | Casablanca | 28-Dec-43 | X | X | X | |||||||
| Nehenta Bay (CVE-74) | Casablanca | 03-Jan-44 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Hoggatt Bay (CVE-75) | Casablanca | 11-Jan-44 | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Kadashan Bay (CVE-76) | Casablanca | 18-Jan-44 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Marcus Island (CVE-77) | Casablanca | 26-Jan-44 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Salvo Island (CVE-78) | Casablanca | 03-Feb-44 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Ommaney Bay (CVE-79) | Casablanca | 11-Feb-44 | X | X | X | |||||||
| Petrof Bay (CVE-80) | Casablanca | 18-Feb-44 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Rudyerd Bay (CVE-81) | Casablanca | 25-Feb-44 | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Saginaw Bay (CVE-82) | Casablanca | 02-Mar-44 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Sargent Bay (CVE-83) | Casablanca | 09-Mar-44 | X | X | X | |||||||
| Shamrock Bay (CVE-84) | Casablanca | 15-Mar-43 | X | X | X | |||||||
| Shipley Bay (CVE-85) | Casablanca | 21-Mar-43 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Sitkoh Bay (CVE-86) | Casablanca | 28-Mar-43 | X | |||||||||
| Steamer Bay (CVE-87) | Casablanca | 04-Apr-43 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Cape Esperance (CVE-88) | Casablanca | 09-Apr-44 | X | X | ||||||||
| Takanis Bay (CVE-89) | Casablanca | 15-Apr-44 | X | X | ||||||||
| Thetis Bay (CVE-90) | Casablanca | 21-Apr-44 | X | X | ||||||||
| Makassar Strait (CVE-91) | Casablanca | 27-Apr-44 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Windham Bay (CVE-92) | Casablanca | 03-May44 | X | |||||||||
| Makin Island (CVE-93) | Casablanca | 09-May-44 | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Lunga Point (CVE-94) | Casablanca | 14-May-44 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Bismark Sea (CVE-95) | Casablanca | 20-May-44 | X | X | ||||||||
| Salamaua (CVE-96) | Casablanca | 26-May-44 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Hollandia (CVE-97) | Casablanca | 01-Jun-44 | X | X | ||||||||
| Kwajalein (CVE-98) | Casablanca | 07-Jun-44 | X | X | ||||||||
| Admiralty Islands (CVE-99) | Casablanca | 13-Jun-44 | X | X | ||||||||
| Bougainville (CVE-100) | Casablanca | 18-Jun-44 | X | |||||||||
| Matanikau (CVE-101) | Casablanca | 24-Jun-44 | X | X | ||||||||
| Attu (CVE-102) | Casablanca | 30-Jun-44 | X | X | ||||||||
| Roi (CVE-103) | Casablanca | 06-Jul-44 | X | X | ||||||||
| Munda (CVE-104) | Casablanca | 08-Jul-44 | X | X | ||||||||
| Commencement Bay (CVE-105) | Commencement Bay | 27-Nov-44 | X | |||||||||
| Block Island (CVE-106) | Commencement Bay | 30-Dec-44 | X | |||||||||
| Gilbert Islands (CVE-107) | Commencement Bay | 05-Feb-45 | X | X | ||||||||
| Cape Gloucester (CVE-109) | Commencement Bay | 05-Mar-45 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Vella Gulf/Totem Bay (CVE-111) | Commencement Bay | 09-Apr-45 | X | X | ||||||||
| Kula Gulf (CVE-108) | Commencement Bay | 12-May-45 | X | X | ||||||||
| Salerno Bay (CVE-110) | Commencement Bay | 19-May-45 | ||||||||||
| Siboney/Frosty Bay (CVE-112) | Commencement Bay | 14-May-45 | X | |||||||||
| Puget Sound (CVE-113) | Commencement Bay | 18-Jun-45 | ||||||||||
| Bairoko/Portage Bay (CVE-115) | Commencement Bay | 16-Jul-45 | ||||||||||
| Total Carriers | 78 | 18 | 41 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 18 | 64 | 26 | 38 | |
| Percent of Carriers | 23% | 53% | 10% | 6% | 0% | 24% | 23% | 82% | 33% | 49% | ||
Notes
This table includes only ships that operated between July 1937 and August 1945 and that had flight decks for both launching and recovering aircraft at sea.
USS Langley was the first US aircraft carrier. Before the war began, she was reclassified as a seaplane tender. She was used during the early months of war to ferry aircraft and conduct anti-submarine patrols, just as an escort carrier would do. Because she could still transport, launch and retrieve aircraft, Langley is included here as an escort carrier rather than a seaplane tender.
"Naval Battles" involve ship-to-ship combat with exchanges of munitions via aircraft and/or gunfire.
"Invasion Support" includes close air support for invasion troops, cover for warships at or in transit to invasion area, and support during an amphibious assault, including both Combat Air Patrol and anti-submarine patrols. This does not include only replenishment of aircraft. It must involve combat actions of Air Squadrons.
"Raiding Enemy Bases" includes raiding, related support, and anti-shipping sweeps. This does not include raids immediately prior to or during "Invasion Support."
"Blockading Enemy Shipping" involves sinking enemy merchant shipping and mine laying by aircraft but not routine patrolling.
"Battling Enemy Raiders" involves search and destroy action against enemy surface raiders.
"Anti-Submarine Action" involves specialized action against submarines, such as being deployed in a hunter-killer group. It does not involve only convoy escort or Combat Air Patrol as part of invasion support.
"Convoy & Fleet Escort" involves Combat Air Patrols for transports and warships, including self (in transit or minesweeping) If no Air Squadron embarked, assume CVE is only ferrying aircraft, not providing convoy defense. Does NOT include air cover for warships enroute to invasions or following invasions, which is included with "invasion support".
"Transportation & Replenishment" involves transport of personnel and/or aircraft. It includes transporting CVEs on their initial voyage from US to UK and launching aircraft for Malta.
"Training and Trials" involves training pilots for other carriers, not just training their own air squadrons.
"Repatriation" involves returning troops and/or POWs to home ports, including formal opeations such as the US Navy's operation MAGIC CARPET.
An "X" in a column indicates that the carrier performed in the capacity named in the column heading sometime during the war.? ww2dbase
Source(s):
Richard Frank (1990). Guadalcanal-The Definitive Account of the Landmark Battle.
Evan Mawdsley (2019). The War For The Seas- A Maritime History of World War II.
Jonathan Parshall & Anthony Tully (2005). Shattered Sword- The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway.
Francis Pike (2019). Hirohito's War- The Pacific War 1941-1945.
Craig Symonds (2018). World War II At Sea.
William Y'Blood (1983). Hunter-Killer US Escort Carriers in the Battle of the Atlantic.
William Y'Blood (1987). The Little Giants- U.S. Escort Carriers Against Japan.
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
Imperial Japanese Navy Page
Naval War In The Pacific, 1941-1945
Royal and Dominion Navy Warships
Wikipedia
Added By:
Bob Bryant
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