Here at LSOZI, we take off every Wednesday for a look at the old steam/diesel navies of the 1833-1954 period and will profile a different ship each week. These ships have a life, a tale all their own, which sometimes takes them to the strangest places.- Christopher Eger
Warship Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024: The Little Giant
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Catalog #: NH 43506
Above we see the brand new Independence-class light carrier USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, some 80 years ago today– 17 January 1944– painted in a fresh Measure 33, Design 7a camouflage pattern. She would soon be in combat in the Marshall Islands, beginning a 16-month fight across the Pacific that would end with her Air Group plastering the Japanese Home Islands from Okinawa to Hokkaido.
The Indies
In 1942, the Navy had its ass in a bind.
Starting the war with just six large-deck fleet carriers, within the first six months of combat was down to just four, and by the end of the year; just a single one of these (Enterprise) was still afloat and operational.
While the first huge and ultra-modern 34,000-ton Essex-class carriers were building as fast as the riveters could rivet and the welders could chip slag, they would not be able to arrive in numbers until 1944. This put the Big Blue behind the Japanese 8-ball in naval warfare.
FDR, himself always a Navy man (he won a naval warfare essay contest while a teenager and slept with Mahan’s The Influence of Sea Power upon History on his nightstand before being appointed Asst. Scty of the Navy during World War One), came up with the idea to convert a bunch of cruisers that were already partially complete at the New York Navy Yard over to flat-tops. Although the Navy balked, FDR was the commander and chief, so guess who won?
USS Cleveland CL-55 1942. The Navy wanted between 40-50 of these hardy little cruisers. They settled for much less, and nine of those became aircraft carriers while still under construction
The 14,000-ton Cleveland class light cruisers were designed after the gloves came off in 1940 and the U.S. no longer had to abide by the Washington and London Naval treaties of the 1920s and 30s. As such, these were very large cruisers, at just a hair over 600 feet long, and very fast (33 knots). Designed to carry a dozen 6-inch and a supplemental dozen 5-inch guns, they were also heavily armed.
In all the Navy wanted something on the order of 40 of these cruisers to lead destroyer groups, escort convoys, scout ahead of battle groups, and screen carriers and battleships. Well, FDR carved nine whose hulls were nearing completion but did not have decks, guns, or superstructures installed yet.
A scale model of the Independence-class light carriers and the Cleveland-class light cruiser. Note the hulls.
It was not that hard of a concept. Many of the first carriers were auxiliaries, cruisers, and battleships that had their topside removed and covered with a flat top. Langley, the first U.S. carrier, was a collier. Lexington and Saratoga, the country’s second and third carriers respectively, were originally laid down as battlecruisers.
The first of the class of FDR’s “cruiser carriers,” laid down originally as the cruiser Amsterdam but commissioned instead as the USS Independence, was commissioned on 14 January 1943 and rushed to the fleet. Over the next nine months, eight sisters would join her, roughly one every 45 days on average. They were all constructed in the same yard to keep the program streamlined.
A “30/30” ship, they could make 30+ knots and carry 30+ aircraft while having legs long enough to cross the Pacific and operate on their own for a few weeks before she needed to find an oiler. While they were still much smaller than a regular fleet carrier such as the Enterprise that could carry 80-90 aircraft, they could still put a few squadrons in the air and fill lots of needs.
Simultaneously, they were much faster than the similarly sized quartet of converted oilers that had already been rushed into service and could keep up with a fast-moving battle force. Initially classified as normal fleet carriers (CV), all were re-designated “small aircraft carriers” (CVL) on 15 July 1943.
From U.S. Navy manual FM 30-50: Recognition Pictorial Manual of Naval Vessels, showing U.S. ship silhouettes showing the relative size of the various classes of aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. Note the big difference between the size of the large fleet carrier classes (top center), the assorted escort carriers (center to bottom), and the Independence class CVLs, which are right in the middle
Side-by-side comparisons show the principal fleet carriers of the Pacific War compared to an Independence-class CVL. Outside left are the prewar USS Saratoga (CV-3) and USS Enterprise (CV-6), moored near the short-hulled Essex-class USS Hornet (CV-12). Beyond the Hornet is moored the Independence-class USS San Jacinto (CVL-30). U.S. Navy photo 80-G-701512
Worth, in his Fleets of World War II, described the Indys as such:
These were not attractive ships. They had no deck edge elevator, just one catapult, and a small air group (usually 33 planes). Though meant to carry one or two 5-inch DP guns, they never received them. The armor layout provided modest protection, though the first two ships scrambled into service so hurriedly they never got their side armor. In spite of all of this, the design was a success. Not a war winner, it augmented the fleet’s main strength, having sufficient size and speed to bring modern aircraft into battle.
Meet San Jacinto
The second U.S. Navy warship named in honor of the 1836 battle that saw General Sam Houston and his outnumbered troops win independence for Texas by routing a Mexican army at the San Jacinto River, the first was a Civil War-era 4-gun screw frigate that earned a place in history with the Trent Incident that almost led to war with England.
Trent Incident, 8 November 1861. USS San Jacinto removes Confederate commissioners Mason and Slidell from the British Mali steamer Trent, in the old Bahama channel. Hand-colored engraving from The Illustrated London News Supplement, 7 December 1861. NH 73990
Laid down on 26 October 1942 at New York Shipbuilding Corporation’s yard in Camden, New Jersey, our subject was originally intended to be the light cruiser USS Newark (CL-100), then, after she was to become a light carrier, initially was going to be commissioned as USS Reprisal, recycling the name of an 18-gun brig purchased by the Continental Congress in 1776. However, before she was christened, it was decided to use the Reprisal moniker for a larger Essex-class fleet carrier, CV-35, and our then-twice renamed hull became the second USS San Jacinto, christened by Texas philanthropist Mary Gibbs Jones (wife of Jesse Holman Jones, then U.S. Secretary of Commerce).
USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) sliding down the building ways at the New York Shipbuilding Corp. yard, Camden, New Jersey, after she was christened by Mrs. Jesse H. Jones, 26 September 1943. 80-G-44590
She was a “freebee” of sorts to the Navy, as the citizens of Houston raised more than $85 million for the carrier’s construction and for the construction of another vessel, as a replacement for the recently lost cruiser USS Houston (CA-30).
According to her “short” 105-page War History, which makes great reading:
From her gaff under the Stars and Stripes she flew in battle the Lone Star State flag of Texas, a tribute to her name and to the citizens who subscribed to her cost.
More detail:
USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) underway off the U.S. east coast (position 36 55’N, 75 07’W) on 23 January 1944, with an SNJ training plane parked on her flight deck. Photographed from a Squadron ZP-14 blimp. The ship is painted in camouflage Measure 33, Design 7A. 80-G-212798
Same as the above, 80-G-212799
Her first embarked air wing was the newly formed Air Group 51 (AG51), including the TBM-1C Avengers of VT-51 and F6F-3 Hellcats of VF-51. Arriving onboard starting in January 1944, they would sail with San Jacinto until November 1944.
Party to celebrate first landing on USS San Jacinto (CVL-30). Cake cutting by LCDR T.B. Bradbury. 26 February 1944. 80-G-227307
Wrapping up her shakedown cruise and landing quals with her new squadrons, San Jacinto transited the Panama Canal in April 1944 and headed to the Pacific.
War!
USS San Jacinto (CVL-30), LCDR Albert B. Cahn gives the take-off signal to a TBM-1C Avenger of Torpedo Squadron 51, during exercises on 16 May 1944. 80-G-238772
San Jacinto Wed, 31 May 1944. Note the big Avengers on her deck. 80-G-265714
Attached to VADM Marc A. Mitscher’s Task Force 58/38 fast carrier striking force, San Jacinto tagged along for raids on the Marcus Islands (8-15 May) and Wake (23 May), from there got thrown in the deep end with the push into the Marianas Islands and the resulting “Marianas Turkey Shoot” on 19 June. It was the start of a run that saw our little carrier heavily involved in the war.
USS San Jacinto (CVL-30), right foreground, steaming in formation with USS Lexington (CV-16) and a DD-348 class destroyer, during pre-invasion operations in the Marianas area, 13 June 1944. Both carriers belonged to Task Group 58.3. 80-G-238786
Attempted Japanese air attack on Task Force 58 intercepted by carrier-based planes west of Guam Island in the Mariana Islands. Shown is an attack on USS San Jacinto (CVL 30). Photographed from USS Healy (DD 672), June 19, 1944. 80-G-239292
Battle of The Philippine Sea, June 1944. Japanese plane shot down by USS San Jacinto gunners while attacking USS Enterprise (CV-6) on 19 June 1944. Originally caption calls this plane a “Judy” (Yokosuka D4Y). 80-G-238951
TBM-1C Avenger, of Torpedo Squadron 51 (VT-51) Takes off from USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) for a raid on Guam, 28 June 1944. The catapult operator is on the right. 80-G-238783
Chichi Jima, Bonin Island. Seaplane base and town under attack by U.S. carrier aircraft, 2 September 1944. Photographed by a USS San Jacinto plane. 80-G-248844
USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) rolling heavily and pitching in rough seas, while in route to raid Okinawa with Task Force 58, 6 October 1944. TBM Avenger torpedo planes of Torpedo Squadron 51 are parked at right, with landing gear well-lashed to the deck. Note palisade windbreak in an elevated position across the flight deck, forward of the planes. 80-G-284859
A VT-51 TBM “Avenger”, from USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) flying near Okinawa during the raids, 10 October 1944. A small ship is afire below. 80-G-284857
Battle off Cape Engaño, 25 October 1944. Arming a Torpedo Squadron 51 (VT-51) TBM torpedo bomber on USS San Jacinto (CVL-30). Probably taken before the squadron’s planes attacked the Japanese carrier force. The Torpedo is a Mark XIII, fitted with a wooden stabilizer around its tail and drag ring around its nose. 80-G-284708
Japanese Ise class battleship and destroyer in action during the battle off Cape Engano, 25 October 1944. Photographed by a TBM from USS San Jacinto, note damaged wingtip on plane. 80-G-284705
Operation Ten-Go. Japanese suicide splashing after being hit by anti-aircraft fire from Task Force 58 off the bow of USS San Jacinto (CVL-30). Note the part of the airplane in flight over the bow. 80-G-331605
Following Cape Engaño, our trusty Air Group 51 would move ashore at Guam, having lost 50 percent of its aircrew, and later be disestablished, with San Jac being their only carrier deployment.
They would be replaced on 24 January 1945 by Air Group 45 (F6F-3 and F6F-5P Hellcats of VF-45, and TBM-3s of VT-45) and would remain aboard until Air Group 49 (F6F-5 and F6F-5P Hellcats of VF-49, and TBM-3s of VT-49) replaced them in May 1945.
These two final groups would land some serious blows as San Jacinto moved into Japanese Home Waters along with other carrier strike groups and were able to catch the last remnants of the Combined Fleet sheltering there.
Incomplete 17,000-ton Japanese Unryū-class aircraft carrier Ikoma afire during attacks by U.S. Navy carrier planes, at Kobe, 19 March 1945. Ikoma’s stern is clearly visible, while her bow is obscured by smoke. Note the large “standard” type freighter off Ikoma’s starboard bow. Photographed from a USS San Jacinto plane. NH 95779
Same target and date as the above, NH 95780
Attack on a Japanese escort carrier in Kobe Harbor, 19 March 1945. She is probably the 11,000-ton Shimane Maru, which was then nearly complete at Kobe. Note the large cargo ship at the top of the photo. Taken from a USS San Jacinto plane. NH 95782
Bombs fall near an enemy escort carrier and several small cargo ships, in Kobe Harbor, 19 March 1945. The CVE is probably the Shimane Maru. Taken from a USS San Jacinto plane. NH 95783
Japanese aircraft carriers under attack at Kure on 24 July 1945. The ship on the left, receiving mostly bombs, is Amagi. A heavily camouflaged ship in the right center is Katsuragi. Photo by USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) plane. 80-G-490162
When news of the end of hostilities with Japan came on 15 August, San Jacinto began conducting mercy flights over identified Allied prisoner-of-war camps, dropping food and medicine until the haggard survivors could be rescued. Then, on 20 August, she was relieved and ordered back to San Francisco, arriving there on 14 September.
click to big up
San Jacinto participated in seven major campaigns, earned five battle stars (her Air Groups earned the full seven), and was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for her WWII service.
From the opening of her War History, a great (if somewhat verbose) summation:
She was to write a record in the heart blood of Japan across 16 flaming months and seven major campaigns. She was to destroy 712 Japanese aircraft [12 by ship’s guns, 148 shot down by Air Group, 256 destroyed on the ground, plus 296 “damaged”), sink or damage six aircraft carriers, two battleships, four cruisers, ten destroyers, and 200,000 tons of auxiliaries, merchant ships, small craft, expend with telling effects 930 tons of bombs, 5,436 rockets, 42 torpedoes, 1,478,750 .50 caliber machine gun bullets [and another 22,530 .30 caliber rounds from aerial gunners], fly 11,120 sorties [on 309 offensive missions], steam 153,883 combat miles, and spend 471 days in combat.
A breakdown of air group targets:
Meanwhile, her onboard AAA gunners fired 14,740 40mm Bofors shells and another 19,160 20mm. Their engagements:
She conducted many replenishments underway across 357 days at sea including 86 meetings with oilers, received 218 destroyers alongside for mail, passengers, and freight; and received munitions from AEs 19 times.
She lost 40 officers and men during the conflict, most from her embarked Air Groups.
Further, as noted by the War History:
She was to earn and wear in honor the respectful sobriquet of “The Little Queen,” first bestowed by one of her famous big sisters, accepted with prideful love by her crew. Late in her combat career, the daring and accomplishments of her Air Group earned her the name of “The Little Giant.”
Still, her type was unneeded with so many brand-new Essex-class fleet carriers around, San Jacinto was decommissioned on 1 March 1947 and mothballed at San Diego. Reclassified as an auxiliary aircraft transport (AVT-5) on 15 May 1959 while still laid up, she was struck from the Navy list on 1 June 1970.
She had been the last of her class in U.S. Navy possession, sold to the breakers in December 1971 after sitting on red lead row for 24 long and unkind years.
Epilogue
Her war diary and plans are in the National Archives.
San Jac is perhaps best known for a young aviator of Torpedo Fifty-One (VT-51), Lt.(j.g.) George H. W. Bush, USNR. While leading a four-plane division in a strike against a radio station on Chichi Jima on 2 September 1944, antiaircraft fire downed “Barabara,” Bush’s Avenger, and he was recovered by the submarine USS Finback (SS-230), lifeguarding for the strike. Bush returned to San Jacinto in November 1944 participated in operations in the Philippines, and rotated out when AG 51 left the carrier, having flown 58 combat missions.
Portrait montage of squadron officers of VT-51 and senior officers of its parent carrier, USS San Jacinto, circa mid-1944. The ship’s Commanding Officer, Captain Harold M. Martin, is seen in the upper left. Officer second from right, second row from bottom, is George H.W. Bush.
The rescued Avenger pilot went on to become the 41st President of the United States. He finished the war with VT-153 which was stateside working up to deploy when the Japanese admitted defeat. He was credited with 126 carrier landings and 1,228 flight hours. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Air Medals, and shared in San Jac’s Presidential Unit Citation.
In 1986, a new Ticonderoga class cruiser, CG-56, would become the third USS San Jacinto. The Ingall’s built ship was commissioned on 23 January 1988, by then vice-president George H. W. Bush in Houston having passed the San Jacinto battlefield on her way there and back out to sea.
She was decommissioned last September, capping a 35-year career.
Manhattan, N.Y. (May 24, 2017) The missile-guided cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56) renders honors as it approaches the Statue of Liberty during the 29th annual Fleet Week New York’s (FWNY) Parade of Ships. (U.S. Navy photo 70524-N-UN744-064 by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Travis Simmons/Released)
Ships are more than steel
and wood
And heart of burning coal,
For those who sail upon
them know
That some ships have a
soul.
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