USS Oriskany (CV-34)

USS Oriskany (CV-34) was a US Navy Essex-class aircraft carrier that played a significant role in the Cold War, participating in several major conflicts, including the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The ship was named after the Battle of Oriskany, a pivotal battle fought during the American Revolutionary War near Oriskany, New York. The USS Oriskany was also known for its Saratoga-class aircraft carrier-inspired design, which was influenced by the USS Saratoga (CV-3) and the USS Lexington (CV-2). The ship's construction was overseen by the New York Navy Yard, with President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox attending the keel-laying ceremony.

● History

The USS Oriskany was one of the 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II, with its keel laid on May 1, 1944, at the New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York. The ship was launched on October 13, 1945, and commissioned on September 25, 1950, with Captain Frederick C. Stelter as its first commanding officer. The USS Oriskany was initially assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, with its homeport at the Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia. The ship's early career was marked by deployments to the Mediterranean Sea, where it participated in exercises with the Sixth Fleet and visited ports in Greece, Turkey, and Italy. The USS Oriskany also played a key role in the development of naval aviation, with the ship serving as a testbed for new aircraft, including the Grumman F9F Panther and the North American FJ-1 Fury.

● Design and construction

The USS Oriskany was designed to be a versatile and powerful aircraft carrier, with a displacement of over 27,000 tons and a length of 872 feet. The ship was powered by eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers, which produced 150,000 horsepower and gave the ship a top speed of over 30 knots. The USS Oriskany's flight deck was 862 feet long and 108 feet wide, with a island superstructure that housed the ship's command center and air traffic control. The ship was equipped with a hydraulic catapult and a barrier system, which allowed it to launch and recover aircraft quickly and safely. The USS Oriskany's design was influenced by the USS Midway (CV-41), with the ship featuring a similar armored flight deck and hull design. The ship's construction was also influenced by the USS Yorktown (CV-10), with the USS Oriskany featuring a similar elevator system and arresting gear.

● Service history

The USS Oriskany played a significant role in the Korean War, with the ship deploying to the Pacific Ocean in 1952 and participating in several major operations, including the Battle of Chosin Reservoir and the Battle of Inchon. The ship was also involved in the Vietnam War, with the USS Oriskany deploying to the Gulf of Tonkin in 1964 and participating in several major operations, including the Gulf of Tonkin incident and the Battle of Ia Drang. The USS Oriskany was also involved in several other conflicts, including the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Dominican Civil War. The ship was homeported at the Alameda Naval Air Station in California, with the USS Oriskany serving as the flagship of Carrier Division 9 and participating in several major exercises, including the Rim of the Pacific and the Unitas exercise. The USS Oriskany was also visited by several notable figures, including President John F. Kennedy, President Lyndon B. Johnson, and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara.

● Decommissioning and fate

The USS Oriskany was decommissioned on September 30, 1976, and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on July 25, 1989. The ship was sold for scrapping in 1994, but was instead donated to the State of Florida for use as an artificial reef. The USS Oriskany was sunk on May 17, 2006, off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, in an area known as the Gulf of Mexico. The ship's sinking was attended by several notable figures, including Governor Jeb Bush and Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter. The USS Oriskany is now a popular destination for scuba diving and marine life enthusiasts, with the ship's wreck serving as a habitat for a variety of fish and invertebrates. The USS Oriskany's legacy continues to be celebrated by the United States Navy, with the ship's history and accomplishments commemorated at the National Museum of the United States Navy in Washington, D.C. and the USS Oriskany Museum in Pensacola, Florida. Category:Essex-class aircraft carriers