The Saipan-class aircraft carrier was a class of light aircraft carriers used by the United States Navy in 1944 and 1945 respectively. Both vessels in the class, like the larger Midway-class aircraft carrier, were not commisioned in time see service in the World War II. Despite this, both of the Saipan-class vessels served the US Navy as aircraft carriers until 1950.
Description[]
The Saipan-class aircraft carriers were classified as light carriers in the United States Navy and were basically a sister class to the earlier Independence-class aircraft carrier. Unlike the Independence-class ships that were built on hulls of the Cleveland-class light cruisers, the Saipan-class were built on the hulls of Baltimore-class heavy cruisers and were designed to use their machinery. The Saipan-class was also eight feet wider than the Independence-class, and had improved seakeeping, hull subdivision, armor protection, magazine volume, a stronger flight deck, larger airwing and a slightly faster speed than the Independence-class.
They had a displacement of 14,500 tons standard and 19,000 tons under full load. They were 208.7 meters long, 23.4 meters beam at the waterline and 35 meters beam overall and 8.5 meters draught. They were driven by the same geared steam turbines used in the Baltimore-class heavy cruisers, turning four shafts and developing up to 120,000 shp, giving them a top speed of 33 knots. Their crews were over 1,700 officers and men. Armament was only anti-aircraft guns, which were forty-two 40 mm Bofors AA guns in five quad and eleven dual mountings, and sixteen dual 20 mm AA guns. The airwing comprised of eighteen Grumman F6F Hellcats, twelve Curtiss SB2C Helldivers and twelve Grumman TBF Avengers, numbering forty-two aircraft in total.
History[]
The Saipan-class had a very brief service period from 1946 to 1950 as aircraft carriers, and saw no action in the War. They were rendered too small to function as carriers in the 1950s, as jet aircraft became more common. Instead of wasting the Saipan-class hulls, the US Navy converted USS Saipan (CVL-48) into the communications relay ship USS Arlington (AGMR-2), and her sister ship, USS Wright (CVL-49) into a command ship. They served in these roles until being decommisioned in 1970 and finally scrapped in 1980.
Ships in class[]
- USS Saipan (CVL-48) - later USS Arlington (AGMR-2) after conversion.
- USS Wright (CVL-49) - later USS Wright (CC-2) after conversion.
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