Class

Essex class "Short Hull"

Builder

Bethlehem Steel Co.

Quincy Massachussetts

Laid down

18. March 1942

Launched

17. August 1943

Commissioned

24. November 1943

Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign

NALJ

Decommissioned

17. February 1947

Recommissioned

10. September 1951

On 26. April 1952, USS Wasp collided with destroyer minesweeper USS Hobson DMS-26 while conducting night flying operations en route to Gibraltar. USS Hobson lost 176 of the crew, including her skipper. Rapid rescue operations saved 61 men. Although USS Wasp sustained no personnel casualties her hull was severely damaged, with a 30 x 50 foot bite gouged out of the bow. With the carrier urgently needed for duty in the Mediterranean, preparations for repairs were begun immediately.

The carrier carefully proceeded to Bayonne, N.J., entered drydock there on 8. May 1952 and her damaged bow was cleared out with blow torches. The following day, the bow of aircraft carrier USS Hornet CV-12 then undergoing conversion in Brooklyn, N.Y. was cut off and floated by barge across the bay. Fitted into position under Wasp that afternoon, the bow was fitted with steel plates to close any remaining gaps and workers began round-the-clock welding operations. This remarkable repair task, which including replacing 61 lifeboats and refitting the carrier's anchor chain, was completed in only 10 days, enabling the carrier to get underway on 21. May 1952. Shifting south to Norfolk, the crew spent a short three days preparing for deployment and the carrier sailed east across the Atlantic on 24. May 1952.

Redesiganation from CV-18 to CVA-18

1. October 1952

Redesiganation from CVA-18 to CVS-18

1. November 1956

Upgrade at Boston Naval Shipyard as part of the (SCB-144) FRAM II program. They received a bow-mounted AN/SQS-23 sonar, as well as improved displays in the Combat Information Center.

S-2E

S-2E

S-2E

Decommissioned

1. July 1972