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USS Franklin (CV 13)

- later AVT 8 -
- decommissioned -


USS FRANKLIN was the fifth ESSEX - class aircraft carrier and also the fifth ship in the Navy to bear the name. Badly damaged by a Japanese air strike on March 19, 1945, the FRANKLIN returned to the United States in April 1945 and remained at Brooklyn, NY. Following the end of the war, FRANKLIN was opened to the public for Navy Day celebrations and on February 17, 1947, the ship was placed out of commission at Bayonne, N.J. On May 15, 1959, she was reclassified AVT 8. The FRANKLIN was stricken from the Navy list on October 1, 1964, and was sold for scrapping.

General Characteristics:Awarded: 1940
Keel laid: December 7, 1942
Launched: October 14, 1943
Commissioned: January 31, 1944
Decommissioned: February 17, 1947
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, Va.
Propulsion system: 8 boilers
Propellers: four
Aircraft elevators: three
Arresting gear cables: four
Catapults: two
Length: 876 feet (267 meters)
Flight Deck Width: 147.6 feet (45 meters)
Beam: 93.1 feet (28.4 meters)
Draft: 28.5 feet (8.7 meters)
Displacement: approx. 36,500 tons full load
Speed: 33 knots
Planes: 80-100 planes
Crew: approx. 3448
Armament: 12 5-inch (12.7 cm) 38 caliber guns, 68 40mm guns and 57 20mm guns


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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS FRANKLIN. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.


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USS FRANKLIN Cruise Books:


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Accidents aboard USS FRANKLIN:

DateWhereEvents
October 16, 1944off the Philippines USS FRANKLIN is attacked by three enemy planes, one of which scores with a bomb that hits the after outboard corner of the deck edge elevator, killing three and wounding 22.
October 30, 19441,000 miles off Samar USS FRANKLIN is attacked by enemy suicide bombers. Three doggedly pursue FRANKLIN, the first plummeting off her starboard side; the second hitting the flight deck and crashing through to the gallery deck, showering destruction, killing 56 and wounding 60; the third discharging another near miss at FRANKLIN before diving into the flight deck of USS BELLEAU WOOD (CVL 24). Both carriers retire to Ulithi for temporary repairs and FRANKLIN proceeds to Puget Sound Navy Yard arriving November 28, 1944, for battle damage overhaul.



March 19, 1945off Honshu, Japan USS FRANKLIN, which had maneuvered closer to the Japanese homeland than any other U.S. carrier, had launched a pre-dawn strike against the island of Honshu as well as a later strike against shipping in Kobe Harbor. Suddenly, a single Japanese plane came through the cloud cover, made a low level run on the ship and dropped two armor-piercing bombs. One struck the flight deck centerline, penetrating to the hangar deck which it devastated. The bomb also ignited fires through the second and third decks and knocked out the combat information center and air plot.

The second bomb hit aft and tore through two deck, fanning fires which detonated ammunition, bombs and rockets. FRANKLIN, within 50 miles of the Japanese mainland, lay dead in the water, took a 13-degree starboard list, lost all radio communications and was enveloped by fire. Many of the crew were either blown overboard, driven off by fire, or killed or wounded. Remaining were 106 officers and 604 enlisted, who by sheer valor and tenacity, saved the ship. Casualties totaled 724 killed and 265 wounded. FRANKLIN, the most heavily damaged aircraft carrier during the war, remained afloat and after a tow from USS PITTSBURGH (CA 72), proceeded under her own power to Pearl Harbor for emergency repairs.


June 21, 1945New York HarborUSS FRANKLIN suffers a boiler room fire during decoration ceremonies. Damage is slight.
May 14, 1946Brooklyn Naval Shipyard, New YorkUSS FRANKLIN leaks carbon dioxide fumes while at the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard, killing two.


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History of USS FRANKLIN:

USS FRANKLIN was launched by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Va., on 14 October 1943; sponsored by Lt. Cmdr. Mildred A. McAfee, USNR, Director of the WAVES; and commissioned on 31 January 1944, with Captain James M. Shoemaker in command.

FRANKLIN cruised to Trinidad for shakedown and soon thereafter departed in Task Group (TG) 27.7 for San Diego to engage in intensive training exercises preliminary to combat duty. In June she sailed via Pearl Harbor for Eniwetok where she joined TG 58.2.

On the last day of June 1944 she sortied for carrier strikes on the Bonins in support of the subsequent Marianas assault. Her planes scored well against aircraft on the ground and in the air as well as against gun installations, airfield and enemy shipping. On 4 July strikes were launched against Iwo Jima, Chichi Jima and Ha Ha Jima with her planes battering the land, sinking a large cargo vessel in the harbor and firing three smaller ships.

On 6 July she began strikes on Guam and Rota to soften up for the invasion forces, and continued until the 21st when she lent direct support to enable safe landing of the first assault waves. Two days of replenishment at Saipan permitted her to steam in Task Force (TF) 58 for photographic reconnaissance and air strikes against the islands of the Palau group. Her planes effected their mission on the 25th and 26th, exacting a heavy toll in enemy planes, ground installations, and shipping. She departed on 28 July en route to Saipan and the following day shifted to TG 68.1.

Although high seas prevented taking on needed bombs and rockets, FRANKLIN steamed for another raid against the Bonins. The 4th of August 1944 bode well, for her fighters launched against Chichi Jima and her dive bombers and torpedo planes against a convoy north of Ototo Jima rained destruction against the radio stations, seaplane base, airstrips and ships.

A period of upkeep and recreation from 9 to 28 August ensued at Eniwetok before she departed in company with carriers USS ENTERPRISE (CV 6), USS BELLEAU WOOD (CVL 24) and USS SAN JACINTO (CVL 30) for neutralization and diversionary attacks aga inst the Bonins. From 31 August to 2 September spirited and productive strikes from FRANKLIN inflicted much ground damage, sank two cargo ships, bagged numerous enemy planes in flight, and accomplished photographic survey.

On 4 September 1944, she onloaded supplies at Saipan and steamed in TG 38.4 for an attack against Yap (3-6 September) which included direct air coverage of the Peleliu invasion on the 16th. The group took on supplies at Manus Island from 21-25 September.

FRANKLIN, as flagship of TG 38.4, returned to the Palau area where she launched daily patrols and night fighters. On 9 October she rendezvoused with carrier groups cooperating in air strikes in support of the coming occupation of Leyte. At twilight on the 13th, the Task Group came under attack by four bombers and FRANKLIN twice was narrowly missed by torpedoes. An enemy plane crashed FRANKLIN's deck abaft the island structure, slid across the deck and into the water on her starboard beam.

Early on October 14, a fighter sweep was made against Aparri, Luzon, following which she steamed to the east of Luzon to neutralize installations to the east prior to invasion landings on Leyte. On the 16th she was attacked by three enemy planes, one of which scored with a bomb that hit the after outboard corner of the deck edge elevator, killing three and wounding 22. The tenacious carrier continued her daily operations hitting hard at Manila Bay on 19 October when her planes sank a number of ships, damaged many, destroyed a floating drydock, and bagged 11 planes.

During the initial landings on Leyte (20 October 1944), her aircraft hit surrounding air strips, and launched search patrols in anticipation of the approach of a reported enemy attack force. On the morning of 24 October her planes sank a destroyer and damaged two others. FRANKLIN, with Task Groups 38.4, 38.3, and 38.2, sped to intercept the advancing Japanese carrier force and attack at dawn. FRANKLIN's four strike groups combined with those from the other carriers in sending to the bottom four Japanese carriers, and battering their screens.

Retiring in her task group to refuel, she returned to the Leyte action on 27 October, her planes concentrating on a heavy cruiser and two destroyers south of Mindoro. She was underway about 1,000 miles off Samar on 30 October when enemy bombers appeared bent on a suicide mission. Three doggedly pursued FRANKLIN, the first plummeting off her starboard side; the second hitting the flight deck and crashing through to the gallery deck, showering destruction, killing 56 and wounding 60; the third discharging another near miss at FRANKLIN before diving into the flight deck of BELLEAU WOOD.

Both carriers retired to Ulithi for temporary repairs and FRANKLIN proceeded to Puget Sound Navy Yard arriving 28 November 1944 for battle damage overhaul.

She departed Bremerton on 2 February 1945 and after training exercises and pilot qualification joined TG 58.2 for strikes on the Japanese homeland in support of the Okinawa landings. On 15 March she rendezvoused with TF 58 units and 3 days later launched sweeps and strikes against Kagoshima and Izumi on southern Kyushu.

Before dawn on 19 March 1945 FRANKLIN who had maneuvered closer to the Japanese mainland than had any other U.S. carrier during the war, launched a fighter sweep against Honshu and later a strike against shipping in Kobe Harbor. Suddenly, a single enemy plane pierced the cloud cover and made a low level run on the gallant ship to drop two semi-armor piercing bombs. One struck the flight deck centerline, penetrating to the hangar deck, effecting destruction and igniting fires through the second and third decks, and knocking out the combat information center and airplot. The second hit aft, tearing through two decks and fanning fires which triggered ammunition, bombs and rockets.

FRANKLIN, within 50 miles of the Japanese mainland, lay dead in the water, took a 13° starboard list, lost all radio communications, and broiled under the heat from enveloping fires. Many of the crew were blown overboard, driven off by fire, killed or wounded, but the 106 officers and 604 enlisted who voluntarily remained saved their ship through sheer valor and tenacity. The casualties totaled 724 killed and 265 wounded, and would have far exceeded this number except for the heroic work of many survivors. Among these were Medal of Honor winners, Lt. Cmdr. Joseph T. O'Callahan, S. J., USNR, the ship's chaplain, who administered the last rites organized and directed firefighting and rescue parties and led men below to wet down magazines that threatened to explode, and Lt. (j.g.) Donald Gary who discovered 300 men trapped in a blackened mess compartment, and finding an exit returned repeatedly to lead groups to safety. USS SANTA FE (CL 60) similarly rendered vital assistance in rescuing crewmen from the sea and closing FRANKLIN to take off the numerous wounded.

FRANKLIN was taken in tow by USS PITTSBURGH (CA 72) until she managed to churn up speed to 14 knots and proceed to Pearl Harbor where a cleanup job permitted her to sail under her own power to Brooklyn, N.Y., arriving on 28 April. Following the end of the war, FRANKLIN was opened to the public for Navy Day celebrations and on 17 February 1947, the ship was placed out of commission at Bayonne, N.J. On 15 May 1959 she was reclassified AVT 8.

FRANKLIN received four battle stars for World War II service.


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