USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)

USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) was a long-hull constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. Commissioned shortly after the war's end, the ship was named for the pivotal Battle of the Philippine Sea and served extensively during the early Cold War. Its notable deployments included operations during the Korean War and as a recovery vessel for early NASA space missions, before being decommissioned in 1958.

Service history

Following shakedown operations in the Caribbean Sea and off Brazil, Philippine Sea joined the Pacific Fleet as part of Carrier Division 17. In 1948, the carrier participated in exercises in the Western Pacific and visited ports like Yokosuka and Hong Kong. Its most significant service began with the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950, where it launched aircraft from Task Force 77 for strikes against North Korean forces, supporting the Inchon Landing and the Chosin Reservoir campaign. In 1954, the carrier assisted in the evacuation of civilian refugees from Haiphong during Operation Passage to Freedom. Later, in 1959, it served as the primary recovery ship for the Mercury sub-orbital flight of Ham the chimpanzee, and in 1961 for the ''Freedom 7'' mission carrying astronaut Alan Shepard.

Construction and commissioning

The contract for the vessel was awarded to the Bethlehem Steel Corporation at its Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts on 14 June 1943. Her keel was laid down on 19 August 1944, and she was launched on 5 September 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Olea Virginia Jones. The carrier was officially commissioned into the United States Navy on 11 May 1946, with Captain Delbert S. Cornwell assuming command. Construction occurred during the final stages of World War II, and her commissioning post-dated the Surrender of Japan, placing her among the "long-hull" Essex-class carriers completed for peacetime service.

Design and description

As a long-hull or "Ticonderoga-class" unit of the design, Philippine Sea featured a lengthened bow known as the "clipper bow," which improved seaworthiness. Standard displacement was approximately 27,100 tons, with an overall length of 888 feet. Propulsion was provided by eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers driving four Westinghouse geared steam turbines, enabling a top speed of 33 knots. Her initial axial flight deck was equipped with two H-4-1 hydraulic catapults. Defensive armament included a battery of twelve 5"/38 caliber guns in twin and single mounts, supplemented by numerous Bofors 40 mm gun and Oerlikon 20 mm cannon positions. She could operate an air wing of 90 to 100 aircraft, including types like the F4U Corsair, F9F Panther, and AD Skyraider.

Decommissioning and fate

After over a decade of active service, Philippine Sea was decommissioned on 28 December 1958 at the Alameda Naval Air Station. She was subsequently transferred to the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Bremerton. The carrier remained in reserve for more than a decade before being stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 December 1969. In March 1971, the hull was sold to the Zidell Explorations company of Portland and subsequently broken up for scrap in Oregon.

Awards and legacy

For her service, Philippine Sea was awarded five battle stars for her combat operations during the Korean War. The ship's name was later revived for the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG-58), commissioned in 1989. The carrier's legacy is tied to its role in pivotal Cold War conflicts, its contribution to naval aviation development, and its direct support of the nascent American space program by recovering pioneering Project Mercury missions.

Category:Essex-class aircraft carriers of the United States Navy Category:World War II aircraft carriers of the United States Category:Cold War aircraft carriers of the United States Category:Ships built in Massachusetts Category:1946 ships