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USS Cowpens CVL-25 (WWII)

The USS Cowpens, nicknamed "The Mighty Moo," was an eleven thousand ton Independence class aircraft carrier. She was launched on January 7, 1943, commissioned on May 28, and was active in the U.S. Navy until 1947.

The USS Cowpens in World War II

The USS Cowpens departed Philadelphia on August 29, 1943, and arrived at Pearl Harbor on September 19. She began her war career sailing for the early-October strike on Wake Island, after which she returned to Pearl Harbor to prepare for preliminary strikes on the Marshall Islands as a prelude to invasion. In December she was launching air strikes on Makin and Millie Atoll, and in December, on Wotie and Kwailalein, before returning to base on December 9.

In January 1944, the Cowpens sailed from Pearl Harbor as part of Task Force 58, a force that was involved in the invasion of the Marshall Islands. At the end of the month, her planes were launched against Eniwetok and Kwaialen to prepare for the assault landing on January 31. In February, the Cowpens was based at Majuro, and struck at Truk and the Marianas before returning to Pearl Harbor in early March. At the end of March, she returned to Majuro for attacks on the Western Carolines, and raids on Yap, Ulathi, Palau, and Woleai. During the invasion of Hollandia at the end of April she was operating off New Guinea, and she then participated in strikes on Satawan, Ponape, and Truk, before returning again to Majuro on May 14.

In June and early July, the Cowpens was involved in the Marianas operation, where her planes aided assault troops on the island of Saipan, and supported raids on Iwo Jima, Rota, Guam, and Pagan. The Cowpens also took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea on June 19 and 20. After brief repairs at Pearl Harbor she prepared for preinvasion strikes on the Palaus at the end of August. In September, she helped cover landings at Morotai, and then rejoined her task force against Luzon between September 21 and 24. Together with her task force group, the Cowpens helped to neutralize Japanese bases at Formosa and Okinawa between October 10 and 14. When the Canberra and Houston were struck down by torpedoes, she was among the group that helped provide air cover to allow the damaged vessels to withdraw safely.

At the end of October, the USS Cowpens provided combat air patrol for ships pursuing Japanese fleets during the Battle of Surigao Strait, a phase of the Battle for Leyte Gulf. In December, she continued to support the U.S. advance in the Philippines with air strikes on Luzon, but was damaged during the December 18 Typhoon Cobra. The Cowpens underwent preliminary repairs at sea, and reached Ulithi on December 21 for more extensive repairs.

After the much-needed repairs were completed, the Cowpens again set sail, this time to provide support for the Lingaven Gulf landings. During January 1945 she launched planes that struck targets at Luzon, Formosa, the Indo-Chinese coast, Okinawa, and the Hong Kong-Canton area. In early February, she aided in strikes against the Tokyo area to support initial landings at the end of the month, and was again at Okinawa by March 1.

The Cowpens subsequently returned to San Francisco for an overhaul, after which she completed retraining at Pearl Harbor before sailing for San Pedro Bay in Leyte. Rejoining her task force, she participated in what would be the final raids on the Japanese mainland, commencing on July 1. Until August 15 her planes were engaged in air strikes on Tokyo, Kure, Hokkaido and Honshu, and she was then stationed in Tokyo Bay until August 30, when occupation landings began.

During the intervening two weeks, she launched reconnaissance missions that patrolled airfields and shipping routes, and attempted to locate prisoner-of-war camps. Between November 8, 1945 and January 28, 1946, she voyaged to Pearl Harbor, Guam, and Okinawa to pick up veterans as part of "Magic Carpet" operations.

After WWII

On December 3, 1946, the Cowpens was placed on reserve at Mare Island. She was reclassified as an aircraft transport vessel on May 15, 1959, and redesignated AVT-1. However, just a few months later she was stricken from the Navy list and scrapped.

The USS Cowpens received a Navy Unit Commendation and twelve battle stars for her WWII service.

One important thing to note about Navy ships such as the USS Cowpens is that these ships often contained a large amount of asbestos, particularly in insulation and fire-proofing materials. Exposure to asbestos while in service aboard Navy ships is unfortunately all-too-common. If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on the Cowpens CVL-25 (WWII), 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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