USN · CV
Essex
Photos and infoEssex-class carrier, the name ship. Commissioned 31 December 1942. She struck Kwajalein on 4 December 1943 and, with Task Group 58.2, worked the Marshalls from 29 January to 2 February 1944. Her planes struck the Tokyo area on 16 and 17 February 1945 before the Iwo Jima landings, then supported the island. A kamikaze damaged her on 25 November 1944 and she stayed in the combat zone. Decommissioned 9 January 1947.
| Class | Essex class |
|---|---|
| Type | Aircraft carrier (CV) |
| Hull | CV-9 |
| Builder | Newport News |
| Launched | 1942-07-31 |
| Commissioned | 1942-12-31 |
| Fate | Afloat. Decommissioned 9 January 1947. She was brought back for the Korean War and was later sold for scrap. |
| Armament (class) | Fleet carrier. Flight deck, with the island set aft of amidships. |
| Command |
|
Laid down, displacement, length, beam, draft, speed, and complement are not stored for each hull, so this table leaves them out.
The armament line is the class drawing, not a measurement of this hull.
USS Essex (CV-9) underway on 20 May 1945. Public domain.
The pictures on this page are the originals.
No color version yet. Colored pictures and film will be added here.
Command
Duncan, Donald BradleyCaptain from 31 December 1942Relieved on 6 November 1943
Ofstie, Ralph AndrewCaptain from 6 November 1943Relieved on 7 August 1944CWWieber, Carlos WilhelmCaptain from 7 August 1944Relieved on 30 June 1945
Bowman, Roscoe LeroyCaptain from 30 June 1945Relieved on 1 November 1945LMMathews, Laurence Oldham Jr.Captain from 1 November 1945Relieved on 19 July 1946JSStrane, John RobertsOfficer in charge from 19 July 1946She was decommissioned on 9 January 1947Marshall Islands
1944-01-31 · with TG 58.2, 29 January to 2 February
Iwo Jima
1945-02-19 · Tokyo strikes 16 and 17 February, then planes to the island
Okinawa
1945-04-01 · with the fast carriers from 23 March to 28 May; not sunk
