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The CVS Anti-Submarine
Carrier
136427 weapons bay open at Anderson,
IN
During WWII the Navy found one of the most
effective means of combating submarines on the open seas was the use of small
escort carriers which used Grumman TBMs and F4Fs to spot and destroy submarines
as they escorted convoys across the North Atlantic. These small carriers
were built on the hulls of merchant ships, which were small and slow.
However, after WWII the aircraft that were being introduced were becoming
heavier and faster, with the introduction of jet powered aircraft, and the
targeted submarines were becoming faster also.. The small escort carriers
of WWII were therefore no longer suitable for the anti-submarine task. It
was decided to convert Essex class carriers of WWII to the anti-submarine
role, each of which would be escorted by smaller vessels which making up an
anti-submarine task force. Note in the photo below the (11) Trackers, (2)
AD-5Ws, and the (4) HSS-1s in the air, and the (2) Trackers on the deck.
Below is information about
the different CVS carriers.
The USS Wasp
CVS-18
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The Wasp as CVS-18 took part in the
blockade of Cuba in 1962 and was the prime recovery ship Geminis' 4, 6A, 7, 9,
and 12 in the mid sixties. She was decommissioned on 1 July 1972 and then
scrapped after thirty years of service for her country.
USS Wasp Home Page
USS Wasp Photo Page
The USS Randolph
CVS-15
The photos in this section of the USS
Randolph were taken by Tracker Air Group member Tom Fisher during his tour on
this carrier in the late 1950's. As this time there were (2) squadrons of
Trackers aboard, (1) detachment of AD-3W early warning Skyraiders, and one
squadron of Sikorsky HSS-1 Seabats aboard the Randolph. All of the these
aircraft types can be observed in the photos below and the photo below was taken
at Pier 86 in New York City.
    
Task Force Alpha
USS
Randolph History
USS Randolph Photo Page
The USS Hornet
CVS-12
The USS Hornet through the efforts of many
hard working dedicated persons has been saved for future generations as a Museum
in Alameda, CA. Unfortunately, most of the great WWII ships such as the
Hornet were long ago cut up for scrap long ago.
Note that the USS Hornet's Museum web site's
home page opening photo shows her in the CVS configuration with Grumman Trackers
on her deck.
USS Hornet Museum
US Hornet Photos
USS Yorktown
CVS-10
The USS Yorktown has been a great tourist
attraction in Charlestown, SC for many years. This is again the result of
a large amount of hard work by dedicated individuals to start such a project and
then maintain the Yorktown and the other ships on display with her over the
years.
USS Yorktown Museum
CVS-10
VS-23
USS Lake Champlain
CVS -19
The USS Lake Champlain, nicknamed "The
Champ", was the last of the straight deck carriers, finishing out her
service to the country in 1966. From 1960-64
The Champ was home to CVSG-54, which consisted of VS-22 and 32, HS-5, and VAW-33 Det
39)
USS Lake
Champlain Home Page Detachment
39 VAW-33
USS Essex
CVS-9
The
USS Essex was the first and namesake a class of 24 aircraft carriers
which formed the nucleus of the fast carrier task groups which were very
important to the defeat of Japan in the Pacific in WWII. No Essex class carrier was ever sunk and they
served during Korea and Vietnam. Today several are Museums located through
the US. (USS Lexington, USS
Hornet , USS Intrepid , USS
Yorktown ) USS
Essex Home Page USS
Essex Photo Album
USS Bennington
CVS-20 The
USS Bennington was another of the Essex Class carriers, which during WWII had
its air group participate in the sinking of the Japanese battleship
Yamato. While on cruise in 1953 she suffered a series of explosions which
left 103 of her crew dead. Converted to the CVS configuration in 1960, she
would serve 3 tours in in the South Chin Sea off of Vietnam from 1965 to
1969. HC-7, Det 110 Seadevils would operate from the Benny and perform SAR
with its helicopters. USS
Bennington Home Page USS
Bennington Photo Album HC-7
Seadevils |
