USS Princeton (CVL-23)

USS Princeton (CVL-23) was a that served with the United States Navy during World War II. Originally laid down as the ''Cleveland''-class light cruiser Tallahassee (CL-61), her construction was converted to a carrier following the attack on Pearl Harbor to meet urgent naval aviation needs. Commissioned in early 1943, she participated in several major campaigns across the Pacific Theater before her dramatic loss during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The wreck of the carrier was discovered in 2021, resting in the deep waters of the Philippine Sea.

Design and construction

The vessel was one of nine light cruisers ordered under the 1940 Two-Ocean Navy Act that were redesigned as light carriers following America's entry into World War II. Her conversion was overseen by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey, utilizing the existing hull and machinery of the planned Cleveland-class cruiser. This design compromise resulted in a smaller, faster carrier with a narrow flight deck and a single hangar deck, capable of operating around 45 aircraft, primarily F6F Hellcat fighters and TBF Avenger torpedo bombers. Her armament for anti-aircraft defense included numerous 40 mm and 20 mm mounts, and she was powered by four General Electric turbines driving four shafts. The ship was launched on 18 October 1942 and commissioned as USS Princeton on 25 February 1943, under the command of Captain George R. Henderson.

Service history

Following shakedown training in the Caribbean Sea, Princeton transited the Panama Canal to join the Pacific War. She was assigned to Task Force 38 (TF 38), part of the Third Fleet under Admiral William F. Halsey Jr.. Her air group saw extensive action, providing air cover and conducting strikes during the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign, including the Battle of Tarawa. She supported operations during the Marianas and Palau Islands campaign, such as the Battle of the Philippine Sea, where her aircraft helped defend the fleet against Japanese air attacks. Princeton also launched sorties against targets in the Philippines, Formosa, and Okinawa in preparation for the liberation of the Philippines.

Loss at the Battle of Leyte Gulf

On the morning of 24 October 1944, during the opening phases of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Princeton was operating east of Luzon with Task Group 38.3 under Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman. A single Yokosuka D4Y dive-bomber ("Judy") from the Japanese Sixth Base Air Force penetrated the combat air patrol and placed a 550-pound bomb on her flight deck. The bomb penetrated to the hangar deck, igniting catastrophic fires among fueled and armed aircraft. Efforts to control the blaze, including assistance from the light cruiser USS ''Birmingham'' and destroyer USS ''Morrison'', were initially successful. However, a massive secondary explosion in the aft magazine later in the afternoon devastated both Princeton and Birmingham, causing severe casualties. With the fires uncontrollable, the remaining crew was evacuated and the carrier was scuttled by torpedoes from the destroyer USS ''Reno''.

Wreck discovery

The wreck of USS Princeton was located in March 2021 by the Caladan Oceanic expedition team, led by entrepreneur and explorer Victor Vescovo. The carrier rests upright in approximately 16,400 feet (5,000 meters) of water in the Philippine Sea, within the Philippine Trench. The discovery, made using a deep-submergence vehicle, provided the first images of the vessel since her sinking. The wreck site is considered a war grave and is protected under international law, including the Sunken Military Craft Act.

Legacy

USS Princeton earned nine battle stars for her World War II service. Her name was later carried by a (CV-37) and a (CG-59). The loss of Princeton and the severe damage to USS ''Birmingham'' highlighted the vulnerability of light carriers to determined air attack and influenced U.S. Navy damage control procedures. The story of her crew's bravery and the tragic casualties aboard both ships remains a significant chapter in the history of the U.S. Pacific Fleet during the climactic battles of 1944.

Category:Independence-class aircraft carriers Category:Ships built in Camden, New Jersey Category:World War II aircraft carriers of the United States Category:Ships sunk in the Philippine Sea Category:Maritime incidents in October 1944