USS Antietam (CV-36)

History of USS Antietam (CV-36)

The Essex class formed the primary aircraft carrier design of the United States Navy (USN) during World War II (1939-1945). Of the 32 ships planned, 24 were eventually completed, many of which worked well in the 1970s, showing how important the design would become during the Cold War (1947-1991).

One of the family members became the USS Antietam (CV-36), who arrived in 1945 despite being out of service in World War II. During the Korean War (1950-1953), however, there was a considerable "residence", the first of several major "proxy wars" between the Soviet Union and the United States.

USS Antietam was built to "long hull" (as opposed to "short hull") specifications and was enacted on March 15, 1943. She was launched on August 20, 1944, and officially commissioned on January 28, 1945.

At the time of construction, the ship displaces 27,100 tons (under standard load), has an overall length of 888 feet, a beam of 93 feet, and a draft of 28.6 feet. Power comes from 8 boiler units feeding 4 150,000 hp Westinghouse gear steam turbines on 4 shafts under the stern.

Therefore, under ideal conditions, the boat can sail at 33 knots. There are approximately 3,450 crew members on board, including an air wing, security personnel and many special role crew members.

Up to 100 aircraft can be transported in its deck and hangar space. These include fixed-wing, strut-powered designs that allow for attack, defense, and support, albeit directly supporting jet-powered types over time. The hangar lift provides the necessary access to the deck below for rigging and refueling, as well as repairs and general maintenance.

Straight-line flight deck design, the carrier has a simple stern-to-bow runway for aircraft launch and recovery, and the island superstructure is offset to starboard.

Armor protection ranges from 4" on the belt and 2.5" on the hangar deck to 1.5" on the shelter deck and 1.5" on the conning tower. Mounted armament consisted of 4 x 5" twin gun mounts, another 4 x 5" single mount and 8 x 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft (AA) guns mounted on the edges of the boat.

In addition, the ship is equipped with 46 x 20 mm Oerlikon guns for aircraft defense.

The aircraft carrier USS Antietam was built in the waters of Philadelphia on the east coast of the United States. According to the tradition of the time, it completed sea trials in the Caribbean waters in March 1945, and then arrived in the Pacific theater through the Panama Canal (May-June) . Following the unconditional surrender of the Japanese Empire, the ship was ordered to occupy Japanese/Chinese waters for the foreseeable future.

She retired on June 21, 1949, as her services were no longer needed during the massive postwar crisis.

Her retirement was short-lived after Soviet-backed North Korea invaded the US-backed Democratic South, and war broke out on the Korean peninsula. The USS Antietam was reactivated for war service and stationed in Korean waters until the late 1950s. It will mark her only combat engagement in her entire high seas career. The ship angrily used her jets during the mission, eventually launching some 6,000 sorties from her deck. Mission types range from assault and reconnaissance to maritime patrols and night invasion missions.

Her war career ended in March 1952, after which she moved to Yokosuka, Japan.

From there she became part of the Pacific Reserve Fleet and sailed through the Panama Canal into Atlantic waters in August 1952. In December, she was rebuilt as a CVA-36 with a sloping flight deck - the first warship of its kind in naval history - during which time she was used as an Allied display to show the UK the viability of a sloping deck and Efficiency Royal Navy. She also participated in joint drills in various friendly matches.

In August 1953, she became an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft carrier in response to the threat posed by the Soviet Navy's growing underwater power. Beginning in January 1955, she sailed across the Mediterranean during the Suez Crisis in October 1956 and was ordered to stand.

After a period of training in home waters (near Pensacola, FL), the mighty ship and her crew were greeted. In 1961, after two major hurricanes Kara and Heidi, she was dispatched to humanitarian relief.

Due to more training, she was placed in reserve in January 1963 and remained there until May 1973. Her name was removed from the Navy register that year, and she was sold for scrap in February 1974.

While serving at sea, the ship and its crew received several awards for their service: Asia Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Navy Career Medal (ASIA Clasp), Chinese Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal (with star), Korean War Service Medal (2 Battle Stars) and United Nations Medal of Korea.

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