USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42)

History of the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42)

Even before the European campaign of World War II (1939-1945) subsided, American war planners focused on forcing Japan to surrender in the Pacific. This means that some valuable aircraft carriers are needed to travel across the vast oceans and fight the enemy directly.

The nuclear program that eventually led to Japan's surrender in August 1945 made progress, but more conventional routes were sought, and modern aircraft carriers were built as quickly as possible to compensate for losses and enhance regional power.

On December 1, 1943, the New York Naval Shipyard began construction of a new United States Navy (USN) aircraft carrier to be named USS Coral Sea. The ship will be part of a three-man aircraft carrier class (Midway-class) led by USS Midway (CV-41). She was built so long that the ship wasn't launched until April 29, 1945, and her sea trials spanned Japan's official surrender, meaning the ship arrived too late to see action in WWII . When the airline entered service on October 27, 1945, it was renamed the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42) (in honor of the late Great War President who died on October 12

The Roosevelt became the second Midway-class ship to go to sea between 1945 and 1946. The third ship was eventually named the Coral Sea (USS Coral Sea (CV-43)). Six were originally planned, but only these three were completed by the end of the war.

The route was adopted as a successor to the earlier 24 powerful Essex-class ships and was replaced by the forthcoming 4 powerful Forrest-class carriers.

The Roosevelt had a displacement of 45,000 tons, a length of 968 feet, a beam of 113 feet, and a draft of 35 feet. Her machine is traditional, using a steam turbine that produces over 212,000 horsepower and a top speed of 33 knots.

Her crew numbered about 4,100, and her early air wing consisted of nearly 140 planes (with the addition of larger jets, that number dwindled to about 45 over the years). The weapon was decisively influenced by the combat experience of the US Navy in WWII, as it was primarily a network of 18 x 5"/54 Mark 16 anti-aircraft (AA) guns with 21 x 40 mm/60 caliber Bofors supporting anti-aircraft guns (missiles) Will be considered for use in later US aircraft carriers as this technology proved more suitable for naval service.) Armor guards measure 7.6 inches and deck protection up to 3.5 inches.

The CVB-42's first mission was to conduct the "trial" cruises they needed to train personnel and prove their own systems were suitable for U.S. Navy operations. She was in Rio de Janeiro in early 1946 when Brazil's new president was sworn in.

From there, she conducted several restricted operations in Caribbean waters before deploying to the Mediterranean from August to October. Once there, their services were deployed to support the current Greek government, which was trying to repel the advance of communist forces. In addition, the ship was in service in the region as a show of force against a new world enemy, the Soviet Union.

Roosevelt was then transferred to the East Coast of the United States until July 1947, when she then sailed into port at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a much-needed overhaul. This work continued until September 1948 and modernized some of her key components.

The ship then returned to Mediterranean waters and patrolled the area until it was recalled home in February 1949. On October 1, 1952, USS Roosevelt CVB-42 was reclassified as CVA-42.

In the years that followed, Roosevelt returned to the Mediterranean several times. On January 7, 1954, she sailed along the West Coast of the United States for a refit at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Unable to pass through the narrow passage of the Panama Canal, the Roosevelt instead bypassed Cape Horn in southern South America to reach its destination. She arrived in Puget Sound on March 5 and was decommissioned on April 23, 1954, for upcoming work (which included a sloping flight deck, new steam catapults, and revised bridge structure). After refit work was completed, the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt was recommissioned in 1957.

She was transferred to the Gulf of Maine to test her various new systems (including testing her new "Regulus" missile installation). This led to several deployments in the Mediterranean, the last completed in 1960. By this time, many of her anti-aircraft guns had been dismantled. As early as 1958, Roosevelt assumed a humanitarian role, rallying Americans and Cuban allies as the "Cuban Revolution" worsened. By the late 1960s, her wings had been further developed to carry fewer but more technologically advanced aircraft, such as the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II.

From 1966 to 1967, she participated in activities related to the Vietnam War (1955-1975) and was awarded a Battle Star for her contributions. A nearly year-long overhaul followed, during which the firefighting systems on the aircraft carrier were modernized and improved. She returned to service on May 26, 1969.

When Roosevelt was in Mediterranean waters, she was stationed in the Middle East (possible humanitarian aid) during the Yom Kippur War in 1973. On June 30, 1975, Roosevelt's designation was last changed to CV-42.

In June 1976, it received a fleet of Navy Hawker Siddeley AV-8A Harrier VTOL attack aircraft.

The 1940s airline had its best days in the second half of the 1970s. Her last trip was recorded in February 1977, when Marines AV-8A Harriers were seen approaching her deck. Her services were no longer needed (and her structure was in very bad shape), and she officially retired on September 30, 1977, and was the first in her class to retire.

Soon after, her name was removed from the naval register, and her hull was sold as scrap on April 1, 1978. Only the USS Midway survived, becoming a well-preserved floating museum ship (now in San Diego).

The USS Midway was not decommissioned until 1992, while the USS Coral Sea was decommissioned a few years earlier in 1990.

During her tenure at sea, the USS Theodore Roosevelt served under various nicknames, including "Funky French," "Foo-De-Roo," and "Rosie." In addition to her Battle Star, the ship received the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Navy Expeditionary Medal (three stars), the Navy Vocational Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal (five stars), and the Navy "E" Ribbon (Combat "E" Device ). Excellent) and the Republic of Vietnam Merit Cross (Galantry Cross).

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