USS Yorktown (CV-5)

USS Yorktown (CV-5) was a Yorktown-class aircraft carrier built by the Newport News Shipbuilding company and commissioned into the United States Navy on September 30, 1937. The ship was named after the Battle of Yorktown, a decisive victory for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, with support from King Louis XVI of France and the French Navy. The USS Yorktown (CV-5) played a significant role in the early years of World War II, participating in several key battles, including the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway, alongside other notable ships like the USS Enterprise (CV-6) and the USS Lexington (CV-2). The ship's design and construction were influenced by the Washington Naval Treaty and the London Naval Treaty, which limited the size and armament of naval vessels, as negotiated by countries like the United Kingdom, Japan, and the United States.

● Design and Construction

The USS Yorktown (CV-5) was designed to meet the requirements of the Washington Naval Treaty, which limited the size and armament of naval vessels, with input from notable naval architects like William Hovgaard and Rear Admiral David W. Taylor. The ship was built at the Newport News Shipbuilding company, with a length of 824 feet 9 inches and a beam of 109 feet 6 inches, similar to other Yorktown-class aircraft carriers like the USS Enterprise (CV-6) and the USS Wasp (CV-7). The ship's design was influenced by the USS Ranger (CV-4), the first purpose-built aircraft carrier in the United States Navy, and was constructed with a mix of welding and riveting, with materials like steel and aluminum, as used in other ships like the USS Iowa (BB-61) and the USS Missouri (BB-63). The ship was powered by nine Babcock & Wilcox boilers, which provided steam for the four General Electric turbines, similar to those used in the USS North Carolina (BB-55) and the USS Washington (BB-56).

● Service History

The USS Yorktown (CV-5) was commissioned into the United States Navy on September 30, 1937, with Captain Ernest D. McWhorter as its first commanding officer, who had previously served on the USS Saratoga (CV-3) and the USS Lexington (CV-2). The ship spent its early years operating in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, participating in exercises and fleet maneuvers, alongside other ships like the USS Arizona (BB-39), the USS Oklahoma (BB-37), and the USS Texas (BB-35). In 1940, the ship was transferred to the Pacific Fleet, where it operated out of Pearl Harbor and participated in exercises with other ships like the USS California (BB-44), the USS Maryland (BB-46), and the USS West Virginia (BB-48). The ship's air group consisted of Grumman F4F Wildcat fighters, Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers, and TBD Devastator torpedo bombers, which were also used by other carriers like the USS Enterprise (CV-6) and the USS Hornet (CV-8).

● Battle of

the Coral Sea The USS Yorktown (CV-5) played a significant role in the Battle of the Coral Sea, which took place from May 7 to May 8, 1942, alongside other ships like the USS Lexington (CV-2), the USS Chicago (CA-29), and the HMAS Australia (D84). The ship's air group launched attacks against the Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier Shōhō, sinking it on May 7, with the help of planes from the USS Lexington (CV-2) and the USS Yorktown (CV-5). The next day, the ship's air group launched attacks against the Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier Shōkaku, but failed to sink it, despite assistance from planes from the USS Enterprise (CV-6) and the USS Hornet (CV-8). The ship suffered significant damage during the battle, with over 60 aircraft lost, and was forced to return to Pearl Harbor for repairs, where it was joined by other damaged ships like the USS Astoria (CA-34) and the USS Portland (CA-33).

● Battle of Midway

The USS Yorktown (CV-5) participated in the Battle of Midway, which took place from June 4 to June 7, 1942, alongside other ships like the USS Enterprise (CV-6), the USS Hornet (CV-8), and the USS Hammann (DD-412). The ship's air group launched attacks against the Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carriers Akagi, Kaga, and Sōryū, sinking all three, with the help of planes from the USS Enterprise (CV-6) and the USS Yorktown (CV-5). However, the ship was severely damaged by Kamikaze attacks and torpedo hits, and was eventually abandoned, with the crew being rescued by the USS Hammann (DD-412) and the USS Hughes (DD-410). The ship sank on June 7, 1942, while being towed back to Pearl Harbor, and was later replaced by the USS Essex (CV-9), which was commissioned in December 1942.

● Fate

The USS Yorktown (CV-5) sank on June 7, 1942, while being towed back to Pearl Harbor, after being severely damaged during the Battle of Midway, with the loss of over 300 lives, including Captain Elliott Buckmaster, who had previously served on the USS Saratoga (CV-3) and the USS Lexington (CV-2). The ship's wreck was discovered in 1998, lying at a depth of over 16,000 feet, near the Midway Atoll, by a team led by Robert Ballard, who had previously discovered the wreck of the RMS Titanic.

● Legacy

The USS Yorktown (CV-5) played a significant role in the early years of World War II, participating in several key battles, including the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway, alongside other notable ships like the USS Enterprise (CV-6) and the USS Lexington (CV-2). The ship's bravery and sacrifice were recognized with three Battle Stars and the American Campaign Medal, as well as the World War II Victory Medal, which was also awarded to other ships like the USS Iowa (BB-61) and the USS Missouri (BB-63). The ship's legacy continues to be celebrated by the United States Navy and the National Park Service, which has designated the ship's wreck as a National Historic Landmark, along with other historic sites like the USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri (BB-63). Category:World War II aircraft carriers of the United States