USS Independence CVL-22

The USS Independence CVL-22 started out classified as CV-22. She was the first ship built as a light aircraft carrier and was built smaller than her Essex class cousins. The vessel was constructed and launched by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation out of Camden, New Jersey in August of 1942. Her body started out as a light cruiser, but the Navy had a need for more carriers as opposed to cruisers, so she was converted to be able to carry and launch aircraft.

In July of 1943, she was reclassified CVL-22 after completing shakedown and training in the Caribbean. She weighed in at 11,000 tons and her over-all length was 622.5 feet. At her widest point she measured 109.2 foot across. She could travel at speeds of about 31 knots, could carry around 45 aircraft and her crew consisted of 1,569 officers and enlisted men. She had a small armament of guns consisting of 26 Bofors 40mm guns.

In July of 1943, she was reclassified CVL-22 after completing shakedown and training in the Caribbean. She weighed about 11,000 tons and her overall length was 622.5 feet. At her widest point, she measured 109.2 feet across. The Independence could travel at speeds of about 31 knots and could carry around 45 aircraft. She had a small armament of guns consisting of 26 Bofors 40mm guns.

The carrier's first mission saw her joining with two of the larger carriers, the Essex (CV-9) and the Yorktown (CV-10), for an attack on Marcus Island. The attack was launched at the beginning of September and the Independence's aircraft, along with planes from the other two carriers, destroyed over 70 percent of the island's installations. From there, she assisted with a similar strike against installations on Wake Island in October.

In November of that year, during an attack on Raboul, the gunners on the Independence shot down their first Japanese airplanes. In all, they shot a total of six of them out of the air. The Independence then headed to Tarawa where they commenced attacks to support amphibious landings on the island. Towards the end of November, several enemy planes began an attack, coming in low over the water. Her crew shot another six of those planes, but not before they were able to drop several torpedoes in to the water. The Independence took one on her starboard side. She made way to Funafuti to undergo some temporary repair and then set sail for San Francisco in January, 1944 to receive more permanent repairs.

While the carrier had been undergoing repairs, another aircraft catapult was installed and the crew trained for night time operations. The end of August found the carrier taking part in the Battle of Peleliu, providing night time combat air patrol and reconnaissance for Task Force 38. The task force's mission was to secure forward bases from which assaults could be launched for the final assaults on the Philippine Islands.

There were no Japanese counterattacks as the U.S. forces continued to pound on the Philippines. The crew of the Independence continued to provide for night time defensive protection, but switched some of their forces to regular daylight assaults. A few Japanese counter strikes began to appear, but were repulsed.

At the end of October, three Japanese forces moved against American forces in an effort to kick them out of the Leyte Gulf. Planes from the carrier spotted one of the forces in Sibuyan Sea and launched a series of attacks. These aircraft, along with planes from a couple of other ships, were able to sink the giant Japanese battleship called the Musashi and severely damage one of their cruisers.

In the second part of the Battle for Leyte Gulf, the Independence's night flyers discovered four Japanese carriers and followed them until dawn. At that point, there was a massive attack on the carriers and all four of them were sunk. This battle, along with others taking place at roughly the same time, pretty much spelled the end of the Japanese naval might.

The carrier continued taking part in missions throughout the Philippine Islands. They were instrumental in undertaking night raids and scouting missions. By the end of January, 1945, the night time operations had pretty much come to an end and the Independence returned, briefly to Pearl Harbor for repairs. After they were completed, she set sail for Okinawa to begin pre-invasion attacks against bases on the island. Then, during July and August, the Independence took part in attacks against the island of Japan, itself.

After the end of the war, the planes from the Independence helped search out prisoner of war camps and helped cover landings of occupation forces. Her final part in the war took place as she helped escort returning veterans home to America.

The Independence's final acts of service to America took place as she was placed about a half a mile away from ground zero in atomic bomb testing at the Bikini Atoll. She didn't sink during the first test, but did receive fairly moderate damage. She played a roll in a final bomb test and then was decommissioned in August of 1946. In January of 1951, the vessel was finally scuttled and sunk off the coast of California. The Independence had received eight Battle Stars for her World War II service.

Unfortunately, the naturally occurring mineral asbestos was often incorporated in products used throughout the ships built for World War II. Common areas that contained asbestos were those that needed to be insulated or fire-resistant. If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on the USS Independence CVL-22, you may be at risk of developing an asbestos-related illness such as mesothelioma. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease or wish to have more information about asbestos, please fill out the request form on this page.

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