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USS Antietam CV-36

Throughout America's history, there have been thousands of ships helping to protect our country's borders. One such ship was the USS Antietam CV-36. Built in Philadelphia in 1942, this ship played a vital role in United States history during World War II.

There have actually been three versions of the USS Antietam. The first was built in the Philadelphia Navy Yard in the late 1800s to use in the Civil War, but buy the time she was commissioned and finished, the war was over. She was then used as a storeship and barracks at the yard itself. Another Antietam was built in 1987 and built in Baltimore. This ship sailed in Operation Earnest Will in the Arabian Gulf near Kuwaiti, as well as in other major Pacific operations. Today, this ship's home port is San Diego, California.

The ship in question, however, is the USS Antietam CV-36. This version was the second of the Antietam to be built and the most active of the three. The USS Antietam CV-36 was begun in 1942 and launched in August of 1944. Commissioned in 1945, she was sponsored by Mrs. Millard E. Tydings, wife of a Senator from Maryland, and captained by James R. Tague. The USS Antietam CV-36 was an aircraft carrier set to serve our country throughout World War II.

The ship traveled to the Chesapeake Bay in March of 1945 for her shakedown cruise. Repairs were made and she officially departed the eastern seaboard on May 19, 1945. She sailed through the Panama Canal, stopped in San Diego, California, and continued on to Pearl Harbor. The ship remained in Hawaii until August, providing mission training support. Upon leaving the islands, the USS Antietam provided occupation support to the Navy, bound for Asia. After a quick stop in Guam for inspections, she reached Okinawa on August 30, 1945.

The USS Antietam CV-36 remained in Asia waters for over three years, providing air support for Allies in Northern China, Manchuria, and Korea. Later, she served in surveillance missions in the Yellow Sea when China broke out into civil war. While posted in this area of the world, the USS Antietam CV-36 routinely provided support for troops in Japan, the Philippines, Okinawa, and the Marianas. In 1949, the ship set back for the United States to be deactivated from duty.

After deactivation, the ship remained a part of the United State Navy's reserve fleet in Alameda, California. In 1950, she was reactivated due to the communist invasion of South Korea. The ship left port under the command of Captain George J. Dufek in 1951, and served in the only combat mission of her career later that year. During this Asian tour, the USS Antietam CV-36 made four trips into the combat zone off the coast of Korea from a base in Yokohama, Japan. Her aircrafts completed combat air control missions, as well as logistics interdiction, reconnaissance patrols, and night heckler missions. They flew in almost 6000 sorties during this short time period. In 1952, the USS Antietam concluded her missions and returned to the United States.

After sailing in the Pacific this second time, she wasn't inactive for long. In August of 1952, the carrier became part of the Atlantic Fleet. She underwent major renovations and became the Navy's first angled deck aircraft carrier. During this time, she operated out of Rhode Island. In 1953, the ship was redesigned once again, this time to carry antisubmarine warfare. She operated on the Easter seaboard and in the Mediterranean Sea until 1956, and then went on to complete goodwill visit in Allied countries. While there, she helped in an emergency crisis when problems broke out in the Suez. She returned home after helping to evacuate American citizens from Egypt.

Once home, the USS Antietam CV-36 served for two years in Mayport, Florida as a training ship for new Navy pilots. She also helped with conducting tests, notably with the Bell automatic landing system, and participated in Naval Academy cruises. In 1961, she helped provide support in Texas after Hurricane Carla, and later that year, she carried medical supplies and doctors to Honduras to help in the wake of Hurricane Hattie.

In 1963, the USS Antietam CV-36 was decommissioned is berthed in reserve in Philadelphia. In 1973, she was officially removed from the Navy's list of reserve ships and less than a year later was sold to Union Minerals & Alloys Corp for scrap metal. However, during her service time in the United State Navy, as you can see, she played a vital role in helping United States troops remain victorious during missions. She earned a number of awards, especially during World War II and the Korean Conflict.

However, keep in mind that this ship's history is a bit marred by the use of asbestos in her building. If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on the USS Antietam CV-36, or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, Asbestos.com offers a free packet with more information. Enter your contact information in the form in the right column and we'll send a copy immediately.

Aircraft Carriers Index

USS America USS Antietam CV 36 K USS Antietam CV 36 USS Badoeng Strait CVE 116 USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Belleau wood CVL 24 USS Bennington CV 20 USS Bon Homme Richard CVa USS Boxer CV USS Bunker CV USS Cabot CVL 28 USS Constellation CV USS Coral Sea CV USS Corregidor CVE 58 USS Sable ix USS San jacinto CVL USS Saratoga CV USS Saratoga CV3 USS Shangri La

USS Cowpens CVL 25 USS Enterprise CV 6 USS Enterprise CVN USS Essex CV 9 USS Forrestal CV USS Franklin CV 13 USS Hancock CV 19 USS Hornet CV 12 USS Hornet CV 8 USS Independence C1 USS Independence CVL 22 USS Intrepid CV 11 USS Kearsage CV 33 USS Kearsage CV USS Kitty Hawk USS Sicily CVe USS Sitkoh bay USS Tarawa CV USS Ticonderoga CV USS Valley forge CV

USS Lake Champlain CV 39 USS Langley CV 1 USS Langley CVL 27 USS Lexington CV 16 USS Lexington CV 2 USS Leyte CV 32 USS Midway CV USS Oriskany CV USS Phillipine Sea CV USS Point cruz CVE USS Princeton CV USS Princeton CVL USS Randolph CV USS Ranger CV USS Rendova USS Wasp CV 18 USS Wasp CV 7 USS Wolverine IX 64 USS Yorktown CV 10 USS Yorktown CV 5

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