USS Leyte (CV-32) - Korean War Aircraft Carrier

Nation:  United StatesType:  Aircraft CarrierShipyard:  Newport News ShipbuildingLaid Down:  February 21, 1944Launched:  August 23, 1945Commissioned: April 11, 1946Fate:  Sold for scrap, 1970 Specifications Displacement:  27,100 tonsLength:  888 ft.Beam: 93 ft. (waterline)Draft:  28 ft., 7 in.Propulsion:  8 Ãâ€" boilers, 4 Ãâ€" Westinghouse geared steam turbines, 4 Ãâ€" shaftsSpeed:  33 knotsComplement: 3,448 men Armament 4 Ãâ€" twin 5 inch 38 caliber guns4 Ãâ€" single 5 inch 38 caliber guns8 Ãâ€" quadruple 40 mm 56 caliber guns46 Ãâ€" single 20 mm 78 caliber guns Aircraft 90-100 aircraft A New Design Designed in the 1920s and early 1930s, the US Navys  Lexington- and  Yorktown-class aircraft carriers were planned to fit within the restrictions set forth by the  Washington Naval Treaty. This placed limitations on the tonnage of different types of warships as well as capped each signatory’s total tonnage. These types of rules were furthered by the 1930 London Naval Treaty. As world tensions increased, Japan and Italy left the treaty structure in 1936. Upon the collapse of this system, the US Navy began work on a design for a new, larger class of aircraft carriers and one which utilized the lessons learned from the  Yorktown-class. The resulting design was longer and wider as well as incorporated a deck-edge elevator system. This had been used earlier on  USS  Wasp  (CV-7). In addition to carrying a more sizable air group, the new class mounted a greatly enlarged anti-aircraft armament. Work began on the lead ship,  USS  Essex  (CV-9) on April 28, 1941. With the US entrance into  World War II after the  attack on Pearl Harbor, the  Essex-class rapidly became the US Navys standard design for fleet carriers. The first four ships after  Essex  followed the types original design. In early 1943, the US Navy made multiple changes to improve future vessels. The most noticeable of these alterations was the lengthening the bow to a clipper design which allowed the addition of two quadruple 40 mm mounts. Other changes included moving the combat information center below the armored deck, improved aviation fuel and ventilation systems, a second catapult on the flight deck, and an additional fire control director. Though known as the long-hull  Essex-class or  Ticonderoga-class by some, the US Navy made no distinction between these and the earlier  Essex-class ships. Construction The first ship to move forward with the revised  Essex-class design was USS  Hancock  (CV-14) which was later re-dubbed Ticonderoga.  It was followed by additional vessels including USS Leyte (CV-32).  Laid down on February 21, 1944, work on Leyte began at Newport News Shipbuilding.  Named for the recently fought Battle of Leyte Gulf, the new carrier slid down the ways on August 23, 1945.  Despite the end of the war, construction continued and Leyte entered commission on April 11, 1946, with Captain Henry F. MacComsey in command.  Completing sea trails and shakedown operations, the new carrier joined the fleet later that year. Early Service In the fall of 1946, Leyte steamed south in consort with the battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-64) for a goodwill tour of South America.  Visiting ports along the continents western coast, the carrier then returned to the Caribbean in November for additional shakedown and training operations.  In 1948, Leyte received a compliment of new Sikorsky HO3S-1 helicopters before moving to the North Atlantic for Operation Frigid.  Over the next two years it participated in several fleet maneuvers as well as mounted an air power demonstration over Lebanon to help deter a growing Communist presence in the region.  Returning to Norfolk in August 1950, Leyte quickly replenished and received orders to move to the Pacific due to the beginning of the Korean War. Korean War Arriving at Sasebo, Japan on October 8, Leyte completed combat preparations before joining Task Force 77 off the Korean coast.  Over the next three months, the carriers air group flew  3,933 sorties and struck a variety of targets on the peninsula.  Among those operating from Leytes deck was Ensign Jesse L. Brown, the US Navys first African American aviator.  Flying a Chance Vought F4U Corsair, Brown was killed in action on December 4 while supporting troops during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.  Departing in January 1951, Leyte returned to Norfolk for an overhaul.  Later that year, the carrier began the first of a series of deployments with the US Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean.   Later Service Re-designated an attack carrier (CVA-32) in October 1952, Leyte remained in the Mediterranean until early 1953 when it returned to Boston.  Though initially selected for deactivation, the carrier received a reprieve on August 8 when it was selected to serve as an anti-submarine carrier (CVS-32).  While undergoing conversion to this new role, Leyte suffered an explosion in its port catapult machinery room on October 16.  This and the resulting fire killed 37 and injured 28 before it was extinguished.  After undergoing repairs from the accident, work on Leyte moved forward and was completed on January 4, 1945.   Operating from Quonset Point in Rhode Island, Leyte commenced anti-submarine warfare activities in the North Atlantic and Caribbean.  Serving as flagship of Carrier Division 18, it remained active in this role for the next five years.  In January 1959, Leyte steamed for New York to begin an inactivation overhaul.  As it had not undergone the major upgrades, such as SCB-27A or SCB-125, that many other Essex-class ships had received it was deemed surplus to the fleets needs.  Re-designated as an aircraft transport (AVT-10), it was decommissioned on May 15, 1959.  Moved to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet in Philadelphia, it remained there until being sold for scrap in September 1970. Selected Sources DANFS: USS Leyte (CV-32)NavSource: USS Leyte (CV-32)Hull Number: USS Leyte (CV-32)