USS Ranger (CV-4)

The USS Ranger (CV-4) was the first US Navy aircraft carrier to be entirely conceived as such from the outset, from the keel up. However, it was designed to comply with the limitations of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922. Being the only one of her class, she was laid down on September 26, 1931. She was built by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock, at the shipyards in Virginia. She was launched on February 25, 1933, being commissioned on June 4, 1934.

Technical Characteristics

When she was commissioned in 1934, the USS Ranger introduced several features that would become common in future US Navy prewar carrier designs. Although her original design did not have an island, it would soon be added to the plan right after construction had begun. She was also fitted with an open hangar, a gallery deck around the flight deck, and provision for cross-deck catapults mounted on the hangar deck. She had six hinged funnels, three on each side of the ship aft portion. However her narrow hull was provided with no underwater protection.

The Ranger's design was optimized to support the maximum number of aircraft. Her hangar deck was actually larger than that of the Lexington class. Two elevators were fitted close together amidships in an unusual arrangement, with the purpose of clearing space for the hangar deck catapults, although they were never really mounted. Thus, her aircraft capacity was 76 combat planes, including 36 fighters and 36 dive-bombers. At the time of her design, dive-bombers were seen as the most destructive anti-ship weapons. Despite being an advanced aircraft carrier when she was launched, the USS Ranger had several shortcomings. Her sea-keeping was relatively poor as heavy seas restricted flying to a significant degree. However, she would be fitted with the RCA CXAM-1 radar in November 1942.

Service

Since she was not fast enough for major fleet operations in the Pacific Theater of World War II, the USS Ranger (CV-4) was assigned for support operations in the Mediterranean Theater. In late 1942, she took part in Operation Torch, which was the Allied landings on the coasts of North Africa. In 1943, after taking part in an air raid against German bases in Norway, she would be sent home and refitted and, from then on, she would become a training carrier off the coast of Rhode Island for the new US Navy's pilots. After the war, in 1947, she was sold for scrap.

Specifications

Type: aircraft carrier

Displacement: 14,575 tons (standard); 17,577 tons (full-loaded)

Length: 234,4 m (769 feet)

Beam: 33.4 m (109 feet)

Draft: 6.8 m (22 feet, 5 inches)

Propulsion: 2 steam turbines, with 2 shafts, and 6 boilers, generating 53,500 SHP.

Maximum Speed: 29.3 knots (33.7 mph/or 54 km per hour)

Range: 10,000 nautical miles (12,000 miles/or 19,000 km)

Aircraft: 76 (Grumman F4F Wildcats, Douglas SBD Dauntless).

Compliment: 1,788 sailors and officers.

Below, the USS Ranger (CV-4) in 1936. Notice her six small stacks used to vent the ship smoke. They are in the cruising position. During flight operations, they were folded down and lowered at the same level with the hangar deck.

This photo shows the open bow of the Ranger, which was characteristic of US carriers in the 1930s.

HMS Victorious (R38)

HMS Victorious (R38) was one of the three Illustrious-class aircraft carriers used by the Royal Navy during World War II. Completed in 1941, she saw combat action in the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Pacific Theater of Operations, taking part in the attack on the German battleship Tirpitz in 1944. After the war, in 1950, she was selected for a major rebuild, which took no less than seven years to complete. In March 1968, after more than 26 years of service, she was decommissioned and scrapped.

HMS Victorious was laid down on May 4, 1937, and built by Vickers-Armstrong at the Newcastle shipyard, in Northeast England. She was launched on September 14, 1939, and commissioned on May 14, 1941. She first saw combat action ten days later, on May 24, when her Fairey Swordfish torpedo-bombers were scrambled to attack the German battleship Bismarck in the North Atlantic. This raid was carried out alongside HMS Ark Royal, whose aircraft would severely damage the Bismarck on May 26, forcing the Germans to scuttle it. In 1942, she took part in Operation Torch, which was the Allied landing in North Africa. In 1943, she carried out combat duties alongside the US Navy in the Pacific, with her aircraft participating in numerous air raids against the Japanese positions on Pacific islands.

Modernization

Between 1950 and 1958, HMS Victorious was rebuilt and upgraded to make her fit for the Cold War. During this process, her hull was lengthened, widened, and deepened. Her major addition to the hull was a huge sponson on the port side for a fully angled deck, with an 8.75 degrees. Her propulsion system was completely replaced, with new machinery and boilers. Two steam catapults were also installed, together with four new type arrester wires. When she went to sea again, she carried 18 fixed-wing aircraft and 5 helicopters. During the Cold War period, she carried Sea Vixen and Scimitar fighters as well as Blackburn Buccaneer strike aircraft.

Below, HMS Victorious (R38) sailing on the Atlantic in 1965.

Specifications (after rebuild)

Type: aircraft carrier

Displacement: 30,530 tons; 35,500 tons (full-loaded)

Length: 38 m (781 feet)

Beam: 47.8 m (157 feet)

Draft: 9.5 m (31 feet)

Propulsion: 3 Parsons steam geared turbines, with 3 shafts, supplied by 6 boilers, generating 110,000 SHP.

Speed: 31 knots

Range: 11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km)

Compliment: 2,400 sailors and officers.

Aircraft: Fairey Swordfish, Fulmar, Avenger, F4F Wildcat, and F4U Corsair aircraft during WWII.

Below, HMS Victorious in 1941, a couple of weeks before it was commissioned.

The bow of the British aircraft carrier in 1944. The noses of two Fairey Fulmars and one Albacore can be seen on the deck.

Below, HMS Victorious in 1943, operating with the US Navy.

The fully modernized British carrier turning to starboard in 1960.