Concept/Program: War emergency program to create fleet carriers from "surplus" light cruiser hulls. All were converted from Cleveland class light cruisers.
Design/Conversion: Conversion was very complete, including replacement of all cruiser superstructure and weapons with a hangar, flight deck and island; the funnels were trunked over to the starboard side. The hull was bulged for stability. Original carrier design included 2 single 5/38 DP guns, but these were replaced by 2 quad 40 mm. The CVL conversion took the hull to the limits of its capabilities. These ships were poor seaboats, very lively in heavy weather, and difficult to fly from; in some cases CVEs were considered better aviation platforms.
Variations: CVL 22 completed with the 5 inch guns of the original CVL design, but soon replaced by 40 mm.
Modifications: These ships underwent few modifications during WWII. Postwar several were updated as ASW and light strike carriers but there was insufficient growth margin for major improvements.
Modernization: No major modernizations.
Classification: Initially reclassified as fleet carriers (CV), but changed to light fleet carriers (CVL) 15 July 1943. Survivors reclassified as aircraft transports (AVT) while in reserve postwar.
Operational: During WWII they served alongside the "big" fleet carriers, but also undertook some transport and support missions. A common task group configuration was two Essex class and one CVL. All served in the Pacific from completion to the end of hostilities.
Postwar they could not operate as multi-role carriers, but did serve as light attack, ASW and training carriers as a bridge between the CVEs that had served in those roles and the big converted Essex class ships.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Laid up immediately following WWII, but several returned to service as ASW, light strike and training carriers. These were again decommissioned to reserve when larger ships became available. Other Notes: Three ships served in foreign navies after they were decommissioned from US service. Other than CVEs built for transfer, these were the only US carriers transferred abroad.
Redesignated CVL 22 15 July 1943. Served with the Carrier TF during WWII. Torpedoed 20 Nov 1943 with serious damage.
Used as target ship for Operation Crossroads atom bomb tests 7/1946 to gauge effect of nuclear weapons on modern ships. Survived first bomb test with little damage; second test collapsed flight deck. Decommissioned 8/1946. Employed as a radiation research hulk for several years, and docked at San Francisco. Sunk as target 30 Jan 1951, stricken 27 Feb 1951.
Redesignated CVL 23 15 July 1943. Served with the Carrier TF during WWII. Bombed 24 October 1944 during Battle of Leyte Gulf; serious damage and fires resulted. Cruiser Birmingham came alongside to assist. Fires were nearly brought under control when bombs stored in aft torpedo magazine exploded, causing massive destruction aboard and seriously damaging Birmingham. Fires spread out of control; ship was abandoned and scuttled with torpedoes. Contrary to commonly published reports, no torpedoes were involved in the fatal explosion.
Redesignated CVL 24 15 July 1943. Served with the Carrier TF during WWII. Hit by kamikaze 30 Oct 1944. Decommissioned to reserve 13 Jan 1947.
Transferred to France 6/51, overhauled during reactivation. Renamed Bois Belleau and commissioned in French service 9 Sept 1953, designated R97. Returned to USN 9/60, stricken for disposal 1 Oct 1960. Scrapped at Chester PA in 1962.
Redesignated CVL 25 15 July 1943. Served with the Carrier TF
during WWII. Decommissioned to reserve 13 Jan 1947. Redesignated as
aviation transport (AVT 1) 16 May 1959 while in reserve. Stricken
for disposal 1 Nov 1959, scrapped at Portland OR, 1961.
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Redesignated CVL 26 15 July 1943. Served with the Carrier TF during WWII. Decommissioned to reserve 11 Feb 1947.
Recommissioned as training carrier 15 Sept 1950. Half the boilers remained mothballed with their stacks capped; speed presumably reduced to ~20 knots. Served as training carrier until replaced by Saipan, decommissioned to reserve 16 Jan 1956. Redesignated as aviation transport (AVT 2) 5/59 while in reserve. Stricken for disposal 1 June 1970 and subsequently scrapped.
Redesignated CVL 27 15 July 1943. Served with the Carrier TF during WWII. Decommissioned to reserve 11 Feb 1947.
Transferred to France 8 Jan 1951, overhauled during reactivation. Renamed Lafayette and commissioned into French service 2 June 1951, designated R96. Returned to USN March 1963. Stricken for disposal 20 March 1963, scrapped at Baltimore in 1964.
Redesignated CVL 28 15 July 1943. Served with the Carrier TF during WWII. Hit by kamikaze 25 Nov 1944. Decommissioned to reserve 11 Feb 1947. Recommissioned 27 Oct 1948, modernized for service as ASW carrier. Decommissioned to reserve 21 Jan 1955. Redesignated as aviation transport (AVT 3) 5/1959 while in reserve.
Reactivation and modernization overhaul at Philadelphia Navy 1965-1967 in preparation for transfer to Spain. Transferred to Spain, renamed Dedalo and commissioned 30 Aug 1967, designated R01, later PH-01, then PA-01. Stricken from US NVR 1 Aug 1972, sold to Spain 5 Dec 1972. Operated helicopters and Harriers in Spanish service.
Decommissioned 5 Aug 1989 at New Orleans for preservation by Cabot/Dedalo Foundation, but preservation efforts failed and the ship was towed to Port Isabel, TX 18 October 1997 in preparation for scrapping at Brownsville, TX; moved to Brownsville for scrapping 9 August 1998. Scrapping started 10/2000.
Redesignated CVL 29 15 July 1943. Decommissioned to reserve 11 Feb 1947.
Recommissioned 13 May 1950, modernized as ASW carrier. Served as light CVA off Korea. Decommissioned to reserve 9 April 1954. Redesignated as aviation transport (AVT 4) 5/59 while in reserve. Stricken for disposal 1 Sept 1959 and subsequently scrapped.
Redesignated CVL 30 15 July 1943. Served with the Carrier TF during WWII. Decommissioned to reserve 1 March 1947. Redesignated as aviation transport (AVT 5) 5/59 while in reserve. Stricken for disposal 1 June 1970 and subsequently scrapped.
Concept/Program: Designed as a follow-on to the earlier light fleet carriers; this class attempted to remedy some of the problems the earlier ships had suffered.
Design: Hull design was based on the Baltimore class heavy cruisers. Instead of being fitted with bulges, the hull was widened several feet at the design stage. These hulls had a much greater growth margin than the earlier conversions. General configuration was the same as earlier CVLs.
Modifications: Both underwent minor updating prior to decommissioning and subsequent conversion to command/communication ships.
Modernization: There were several postwar plans to modernize them as fleet, ASW or training carriers. Plans for major modernization were cancelled because many Essex class hulls were available.
Classification: Initially classed CV, but changed to CVL. Became AVTs while in reserve, prior to conversion.
Operational: Saw service as ASW, training and fleet carriers prior to decommissioning.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Rendered surplus by availability of Essex class ships to fill most carrier roles; decommissioned to reserve in the 1950's.
Other Notes: Both were planned for reactivation and conversion to national command ships, but one was changed to communications relay ship. The ships' configurations following conversion were quite similar: the flight deck was converted to an "antenna farm" with catapults and arresting wires removed, a helicopter landing area was retained aft, and the hangar was converted to house communications facilities.
Initially served as training carrier, then for carrier-based jet aircraft test and development. From 1948 to 1954 she served as an operational fleet carrier. Replaced Monterey as training carrier 1954, and was in turn replaced by Antietam in 1957. Decommissioned to reserve 3 Oct 1957. Redesignated as an aviation transport (AVT 6) 15 May 1959 while in reserve.
Started conversion to National Emergency Command Post Afloat (NECPA) in 1963; redesignated CC 3 1 Jan 1964. Conversion to NECPA cancelled and replaced by conversion to major communications relay ship for service off Vietnam. Renamed Arlington 8 April 1965, redesignated AGMR 2 21 Aug 1965, recommissioned 27 Aug 1966.
Post-conversion displacement was 19,800 tons full load; carried 8 dual 3/50 AA and extensive communications facilities.
Decommissioned to reserve 14 Jan 1970. Stricken for disposal 15 Aug 1975 and subsequently scrapped.
Served in various duties, mostly pilot training and as an ASW carrier. Decommissioned to reserve 15 Mar 1956. Redesignated as an aviation transport (AVT 7) 15 May 1959 while in reserve.
Started conversion to National Emergency Command Post Afloat 3/1962. Completed conversion, recommissioned and redesignated CC 2 11 May 1963. Post-conversion displacement was 19,750 tons full load, carried 4 twin 40 mm AA, extensive Presidential command facilities.
Decommissioned to reserve 27 May 1970. Stricken for disposal 1 Dec 1977. Sold and scrapped in 1980.
