|
| |
|
Introduction
DUE TO THE CRITICAL NEED FOR
AIRCRAFT CARRIERS IN THE PACIFIC FORWARD AREA DURING THE EARLY PART OF
THE SECOND WORLD WAR, NINE SHIPS ORIGINALLY LAID DOWN FOR CONSTRUCTION
AS LIGHT CRUISERS (CL) WERE REORDERED TO BE COMPLETED AS AIRCRAFT
CARRIERS (CV) ON MARCH 18, 1942. THE ACTUAL DATES THAT EACH SHIP WAS
CLASSIFIED CV VARIES. THE FIRST FIVE CARRIERS OF THE CLASS WERE
COMMISSIONED AS CV'S. TO DISTINGUISH THEM FROM THE LARGER CARRIERS OF
THE FLEET, THEY WERE AGAIN RECLASSIFIED ON JULY 15, 1943 AS CVL. THE
REMAINING FOUR CARRIERS WERE COMMISSIONED AS CVL'S. THE INDEPENDENCE
CLASS CARRIERS, AS THE CVL'S WERE KNOWN, WITH THEIR INTENDED LIGHT
CRUISER NAMES FOLLOWS:
| 1. USS INDEPENDENCE CVL-22 |
USS AMSTERDAM CL-59 |
| 2. USS PRINCETON CVL-23 |
USS TALLAHASSEE CL-61 |
| 3. USS BELLEAU WOOD CVL-24 |
USS NEW HAVEN CL-76 |
| 4. USS COWPENS CVL-25 |
USS HUNTINGTON CL-77 |
| 5. USS MONTEREY CVL-26 |
USS DAYTON CL-78 |
| 6. USS LANGLEY CVL-27 |
USS FARGO CL-85 |
| 7. USS CABOT CVL -28 |
USS WILMINGTON CL-79 |
| 8. USS BATAAN CVL-29 |
USS BUFFALO CL-99 |
| 9. USS SAN JACINTO CVL-30 |
USS NEWARK CL-100 |
NOTE --- THE LANGLEY WAS FIRST
CALLED CROWN POINT, AND THE SAN JACINTO WAS FIRST CALLED REPRISAL. THE
INDEPENDENCE CLASS CARRIERS DISPLACED 11,000 TONS: 15,800 TONS FULL
LOAD; OVERALL LENGTH, 623 FEET; BEAM, 71 1/2 FEET; WIDTH, 109 FEET;
DRAFT 26 FEET; SPEED 33 + KNOTS; TWENTY-SIX 40MM AND FORTY 20MM AA
MOUNTS, AIRCRAFT IN EXCESS OF 45. COMPLEMENT OF 1,569 MEN. ALL NINE OF
THE LIGHT CARRIERS SAW EXTENSIVE ACTION IN THE PACIFIC DURING WW II.
USS BATAAN CVL-29
THE UNITED STATES SHIP BATAAN WAS NAMED IN HONOR
OF THAT GALLANT GROUP OF AMERICAN AND FILIPINO FIGHTING MEN WHO DEFENDED
THE PENINSULA OF BATAAN. IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE WAR, THESE MEN PUT UP
ONE OF THE MOST MAGNIFICENT BATTLES IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF HUMAN
WARFARE. DEPRIVED OF AIR SUPPORT, FACED BY VAST SUPERIOR NUMBERS, SHORT
OF AMMUNITION, SUPPLIES AND FOOD, THESE BRAVE MEN FOUGHT A BITTER
STRUGGLE AGAINST INSURMOUNTABLE ODDS, BUT, A STRUGGLE THAT PROVED THE
FIGHTING METTLE OF FILIPINO AND AMERICAN ALIKE. BATAAN FELL, BUT THE
SPIRIT THAT MADE IT STAND FOR MONTHS AGAINST THOSE OVERWHELMING ODDS --
A BEACON TO ALL THE LIBERTY LOVING PEOPLES OF THE WORLD -- THAT SPIRIT,
INVINCIBLE, THE SPIRIT OF BATAAN, CAN NEVER FALL. IT IS TO THE MEMORY OF
THE BRAVE HEROES WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES AT BATAAN THAT THE ACTIVITIES OF
THE USS BATAAN, IN OUR ENDEAVOR TO ASSIST IN MAKING THIS WORLD A BETTER
PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE, ARE DEDICATED.
|
|
|
