USS Randolph CV-15

A Ticonderoga class aircraft carrier, USS Randolph (CV-15) was built at Newport News, Virginia by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company. Randolph was launched June 28, 1944 and was sponsored by Rose Gillette, wife of U.S. Senator Guy M. Gillette of Iowa. USS Randolph was commissioned October 29, 1944 with Captain Felix Locke Baker in command. Following her shakedown cruise off Trinidad, Randolph then steamed through the Panama Canal, arriving in San Francisco at the end of December, 1944.

Departing San Francisco with Air Group 12 on board, USS Randolph arrived at Ulithi Atoll in February of 1945 and from there, commenced combat operations with Task Force 58. After sending her planes against Tokyo airfields, the Tachikawa engine plant and a strike against Chichi Jima, Randolph provided several aerial sweeps in support of the invasion of Iwo Jima and two against Haha Jima. Striking again at three airfields in the Tokyo area and once at Hachijo Jima on February 25, USS Randolph then returned to Ulithi. While anchored at Ulithi, Randolph was struck by a Japanese Kamikaze bomber on March 11, 1945. Over 25 crewmen were lost including four reported missing and 105 crewmen were injured.

After being repaired locally, USS Randolph was returned to service with the Okinawa Task Force on April 7, 1945. Randolph flew combat air patrols against Okinawa in spite of being under daily air attack. Serving as flagship from the middle of May till her return to the Philippines on May 29, Randolph continued to provide air support for the occupation of Okinawa Shima. On her return to combat operations, now as part of Admiral Halsey's famed Third Fleet, USS Randolph made a series of strikes up and down the Japanese home islands. Her combat operations ceased after strikes on Kisarazu airfield and surrounding installations on the morning of the surrender on August 15, 1945.

With the end of World War II, USS Randolph became part of the Magic Carpet service. Arriving in Norfolk in October of 1945, she was rigged to return American servicemen. She then made two round trips to the Mediterranean over the next two months as part of the Atlantic Fleet. In 1946 and 1947, USS Randolph served as a training ship for reservists and midshipmen. She made two visits to European waters and one to the Caribbean in her capacity as a training ship. Randolph was placed out of commission on February 25, 1948, and berthed at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.

USS Randolph, after receiving modernization, was re-commissioned in July 1953 as an attack aircraft carrier. After shakedown off Guantanamo Bay and with the new classification of CVA-15, she was deployed to the Mediterranean in 1954 for duty with the Sixth Fleet. With Carrier Air Group 14, Randolph participated in Fleet and NATO exercises through 1954 and 1955. Randolph then returned to Norfolk for further modernization. Arriving at the Norfolk Navy Yard in June of 1955, Randolph received an angled flight deck and enclosed "hurricane" bow.

Departing Norfolk in January of 1956, Randolph conducted air operations off the east coast of North America and during this period became the first Atlantic Fleet carrier to launch a Regulus guided missile. On July 14, USS Randolph steamed east to rejoin the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. Randolph stood ready as Israel, Britain and France invaded the United Arab Republic in October of 1956. Randolph situated near the Suez Canal and provided air cover and reconnaissance for the evacuation of U.S. nationals from Alexandria. Returning to the United States in February of 1957, USS Randolph would make two more trips to the Mediterranean for duty with the Sixth Fleet.

Converted to an anti-submarine support aircraft carrier, USS Randolph was reclassified CVS-15 on March 31, 1959. Over the following decade, Randolph participated in anti-submarine exercises in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and off Northern Europe. USS Randolph also served as support and primary recovery ship for the "Mercury" manned space flights in the early sixties, and was part of the Cuban missile crisis operations. USS Randolph was placed out of commission on February 13, 1969. Berthed in the Reserve Fleet at Philadelphia, she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in June of 1973, and sold for scrapping in May of 1975.

USS Randolph carried a complement of 3448 officers and men and 90 to 100 aircraft. Displacing 27,100 tons, her length was 888 feet, waterline beam 93 feet and her armament consisted of four twin 5 inch127 mm guns, four single 5 inch 127 mm guns, 8 quadruple Bofors 40 mm guns and 46 single Oerlikon 20 mm cannons. Randolph earned three Battle Stars for her service in World War II.

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