USS Wasp (CV-7)

The USS Wasp (CV-7) was an American aircraft carrier which was used by the US Navy in World War II. She was the last of the pre-war carriers to be limited on tonnage by the 1922's Washington Naval Treaty. When she was ordered, the only requirement was to have the same capabilities as the Yorktown-class carrier on a 14,700-ton hull. With 219.5 m (720 feet) in length, Wasp's hull was shorter than the USS Ranger's by some 12 m (40 feet). However, she had a slightly greater beam. After only two years of service, she would be sunk by the Japanese submarine I-19 on September 15, 1942, off the coast of Guadalcanal Island.

Technical Description

The USS Wasp had an asymmetrical hull to offset the weight of the starboard-side island without the use of ballast and the fitting of the first deck-edge elevator. An unusual machinery arrangement was used with the forward and aft engine rooms being separated by two set of three-abreast boiler rooms. The boiler uptakes were vented out of a stack which was part of the starboard-side island.

Aside from her two flight deck catapults, the Wasp had catapults installed in both ends of her hangar deck, not just forward as in Yorktown. In addition to her two deck elevators, a deck-edge elevator was fitted on the port side of the forward hangar bay. She was powered by two Parsons steam turbines, with two shafts, and six water-tube boilers. As designed, she had an air group of 72 aircraft. This US Navy's carrier was fitted with one CXAM-1 radar.

Operational History

USS Wasp (CV-7) was laid down in 1936 and launched on April 4, 1939. After one year of sea trials, she was commissioned on April 25, 1940. She was first assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. In August 1941, she ferried P-40 aircraft to Iceland. After the United States entry into the war, she was used to escort high-value convoys from her base in Main to England.

By late May 1942, Wasp was transferred from the Atlantic Fleet to the Pacific to take part in the first phase of the island-hopping campaign of the Pacific Theater of Operations. Arriving too late for Midway, she was part of the covering force for the landings on Guadalcanal in August 1942. Thus, she remained in the Solomons area throughout August. On September 15, 1942, USS Wasp was hit by the Japanese submarine I-19, with three torpedoes which struck the ship near the forward gas tanks and magazines, while she was refueling aircraft.

Specifications

Type: aircraft carrier

Builder: Fore River Shipyard (General Dynamics)

Displacement: 14,700 tons standard; 18,450 tons full-load.

Length: 219.5 m (720 feet)

Beam: 30.5 m (100 feet)

Draft: 7.1 m (23.3 feet)

Propulsion: two Parsons steam turbines; two shafts; six water-tub boilers, generating 70,000 shp.

Maximum Speed: 29.5 knots

Range: 12,000 nautical miles (22,000 km/ or 14,000 miles)

Compliment: 2,167 sailor and officers

Armament: eight 127-mm (5-inch) AA guns; sixteen 28-mm (1.1-inch) AA guns.

USS Wasp (CV-7) - flight operations during WW2 (footage)

Above, aerial view of USS Wasp in May 1942. Her flight deck full of aircraft.

USS Wasp after being struck by torpedoes on September 15, 1942. The fuel tanks and ammo have just blown up.

USS Wasp in late 1939, during sea trials.