Aircraft Carrier Wrecks

[Russ Matthews]

The "USS Lexington CV-2" thread posed the question as to whether the wreckage of that ship has ever been found (it has not) .. and also prompted people to wonder about a number of other historic sunken flattops.

I thought it would be fun/helpful to compile a list of which carrier wrecks are known to have been located and documented to date (April 2015).

1. HMS Ark Royal
2. Graf Zeppelin
3. HMS Hermes
4. USS Independence (CVL-22)
** Kaga
5. USS Oriskany (CV-34)
6. USS Saratoga (CV-3)
7. USS Yorktown (CV-5)

**A compelling case was made that a 1999 expedition to Midway photographed debris from this Japanese carrier, but the main body of the wreckage eluded searchers.
http://www.combinedfleet.com/MidwayFind.htm

[old iron]

Recent article on the Independence here http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/04/17/sunken-aircraft-carrier-rediscovered-off-california-coast/25943521/

Anyone have a link to the Graf Zeppelin? Are there any artist drawings of it current repose?

[lucky52]

Speaking of carriers,I think this is CV-21 (LPH-4) anchored near Beaumont,Tx. N 30 01 33.5 W 94 00 27.0

[Sasquatch]

Lucky52,

CV-21 was the first Boxer carrier...and Essex-class ship sold for scrap in 1971.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Boxer_(CV-21)

If this is the second Boxer carrier, it's the helo carrier (LHD-4). But NavSource shows the latest photo of her still active in January of this year.
http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/08/0804.htm

There is another class of helo carriers that look a lot like the LHDs...they are LHAs, and LHA-4 was USS Nassau, which was decommissioned in 2011. I'm guessing that's the helo carrier shown at those coordinates.

The subtle differences between LHAs and LHDs involve well decks for amphib landing craft and other stuff like that; best to google 'em up for all the details, as I don't know them.

The two linked photos show some of the visual differences between the two classes, mostly the islands and the forward deck and hull area:

http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/07/10070169.jpg

http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/07/10070168.jpg

-Tom

[sandiego89]

LHA-4 at Beaumont is indeed the decommissioned/in-reserve USS NASSAU. Tarawa Class.

Tarawa class LHA's no longer active.

[Sasquatch]

In general, sandiego89, you are correct. However, let me confuse things further about modern helo carriers, if I may. Actually, it was the Navy did the confusing, but I digress.

Take a look at the new USS America (LHA-6). Not exactly a sister of the earlier LHAs, but a version based on a LHD, USS Makin Island (LHD-8). But wait, there’s more. USS Makin Island (LHD-8) was different from previous LHDs herself. Most noticeable, visually, are the canted stacks on these two ships, ala the supercarrier USS John F Kennedy (CV-67). But there are many other differences, so again, I recommend additional study if you want to sort them out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_America_(LHA-6)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Makin_Island_(LHD-8)

It’s beer-thirty on the west coast here now, so I’m off for me grog.

Have a great weekend everybody!

-Tom
ex- swabbie

[lucky52]

Well rats,I thought it was a WW 2 survivor stashed away over there.