Independence class CV
(USA / France)
|
Name |
No. |
Comm. |
Xfer |
Decom. |
Fate |
|
Lafayette (ex-USS Langley, ex-USS Crown Point, ex-USS Fargo) |
R-96 (ex-CVL-27, ex-CV-27, ex-CL-85) |
13 Aug 1943 |
2 June 1951 |
20 Mar 1963 |
Scrapped (Baltimore, MA) 1964 |
|
Bois Belleau (ex-USS Belleau Wood, ex-USS New Haven) |
R-97 (ex-CVL-24. Ex-CL-76) |
31 Mar 1943 |
9 Sep 1953 |
1 Oct 1960 |
Scrapped (Chester, PA) 1962 |
Notes: Near-sisters of the Spanish navy’s Dedalo (ex-USS Cabot), these two ships were originally laid down as gun cruisers in 1941 however with the outbreak of WWII were converted during construction into light aircraft carriers. Declared surplus by the USN after the war, they were loaned to France under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP). The ships had two elevators, two hydraulic catapults, a 7-ton crane, and eight arrestor wires.
In contrast to the Spanish navy which was very pleased with Dedalo, the French navy did not particularly care for this class. The conversion left the cruiser hulls slightly topheavy, and they were poor flying platforms in rough weather. The cruiser conversion meant that the air wings‘ armories were on the hangar deck, next to hot airplane engines and welding gear. The ships were returned to the USN after relatively short careers with France.
Bois Belleau kept the same name with both navies, somewhat unusual amongst transferred ships. The name refers to a battle where US Marines fought alongside the French army in WWI.
Combat usage:
Lafayette embarked squadrons 12F (Hellcat fighters) and 9F (Helldiver attack planes) in Toulon and proceeded to Indo-China where the carrier flew air strikes against rebel positions. After the end of the Indo-China war, it was used to restore order to western Morocco after a terrible 1960 earthquake, and also (now embarked with the Vought Corsairs of 15F) in the Algerian war. She served alongside the larger Arromanches during the Suez Crisis; however the failure of a catapult limited her role during the brief fighting.
Bois Belleau embarked her air wing (squadrons 11F and 3F) of Grumman Hellcat fighters and Helldiver attack planes on 3 May 1954, and almost immediately commenced combat operations against rebels in French Indo-China. After a refit in Hong Kong (where the Vought Corsair-equipped 14F squadron replaced 11F), Bois Belleau relieved Arromanches in the Gulf of Tonkin and flew airstrikes until the 1 August 1954 cease-fire. After this she served in NATO’s Mediterranean force, seeing no more combat.
Displacement: 11,000t standard 14,800t full Dimensions: 622’5”x109’3”x26’ Machinery: 4 Burmeister & Wain 565psi boilers, 4 General Electric geared steam turbines, 4 shafts Max speed: 31.6kts Complement: 1400 peacetime, 1461 combat (designed for 1569)
AIR WING
|
Early 1950s |
Mid/late 1950s |
Early 1960s |
|
x14 Hellcat or Corsair
x10 Dauntless or Helldiver |
x14 Corsair
x10 Helldiver |
x24 Corsair
(or helo-only:)
x12 SH-34 Seabat |
WEAPONS-Guns
x26 (9 twin/2 quad) Mk2/Mk4 40mm 2NM AA/surface
(WWII-era 20mm deleted)
SENSORS-Radar
AN/SPS-4 (I) 25NM surface search (range, bearing)
DRBI-10 (A) Heightfinder: 120NM large/high, 80NM small/low (replaced Type SP)
AN/SPS-6 (L) 2D air search: 127NM large/high, 25NM small/low; 8NM surface search (replaced Type SK-2)
SENSORS-EW
Mk51 EO FC for Mk4 guns
Mk3 IFF
ARMOUR SCHEME
Belt: 5” with 1 ½” tapers Hangar deck: 3” Second deck: 2” Main bulkheads: 5”
