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USS Saratoga CV-3

USS Saratoga (CV-3) was originally laid down on September 20, 1920, as a Lexington class Battle Cruiser #3 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation at Camden, New Jersey. Construction was cancelled and re-ordered as an aircraft carrier on July 1, 1922, making Saratoga the second aircraft carrier of the U.S. Navy. She was launched on April 7, 1925 and sponsored by Mrs. Curtis D. Wilbur, wife of the Secretary of the Navy. USS Saratoga was commissioned on November 16, 1927 with Captain Harry E. Yarnell in command.

USS Saratoga was the first fast aircraft carrier and quickly proved her value to the U.S Navy. Her shakedown cruise started on January 6, 1928 and on January 11, the first aircraft on board was landed by future WWII hero, Marc A. Mitscher. Joining the Battle Fleet at San Pedro, California on February 21, the remainder of her first year was spent in final machinery shakedown and training. Participating in her first fleet exercise in January of 1929, Saratoga proved invaluable in demonstrating the versatility of a fast carrier based task force. In 1930 Saratoga participated in Fleet Problem X in the Caribbean. In this exercise, Saratoga and USS Langley were "disabled" by a surprise attack from USS Lexington, showing how quickly air power can swing the balance in a naval action. Along with Lexington and Langley, Saratoga was instrumental in defining carrier tactics and strategy. Continuing to assist in the development of carrier tactics, Saratoga exercised in the San Diego and San Pedro area until the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

USS Saratoga received a long deferred modernization at Bremerton Navy Yard in January of 1941which included widening her flight deck forward and additional small antiaircraft guns. Saratoga then participated in a landing force exercise in May and made two trips to Hawaii between June and October. Saratoga had just entered San Diego when the Japanese struck at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and departed the following day for Pearl Harbor. Arriving at Pearl Harbor, Saratoga immediately departed as part of the relief effort for Wake Island. After receiving reports of enemy carrier aircraft over Wake, the relief force was recalled on December 22. While continuing operations in the Hawaiian Island area, Saratoga was struck by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine on January 11, 1942. Making Oahu under her own power, temporary repairs were made, and Saratoga proceeded to Bremerton for permanent repairs and installation of a modern anti-aircraft battery.

Saratoga arrived in San Diego on May 25, 1942, departed June 1 and arrived at Pearl Harbor just after the Battle of Midway had ended. From June through August, Saratoga conducted combat operations and exercises in the Hawaiian Islands area. Serving as flagship for Rear Admiral F. J. Fletcher, Saratoga opened the assault on Guadalcanal on August 7. Aircraft launched from Saratoga sank the Japanese carrier Ryujo on August 24 and also damaged seaplane tender Chitose the same day. Resuming her patrols east of the Solomons, Saratoga was again struck by a torpedo that damaged her propulsion system. After temporary repairs at Tongatapu, she was escorted to Pearl Harbor by the cruiser New Orleans, arriving September 21.

After permanent repairs, Saratoga departed Pearl Harbor on November 10, 1942. Steaming to Noumea via Fiji, Saratoga conducted operations in the vicinity of Noumea for the next twelve months. On November 5 of 1943, Saratoga launched one of her most important and successful strikes of the war against Japanese cruisers at Rabaul. Her aircraft disabled most of the cruisers at the heavily defended port, ending the surface threat to Bougainville. Saratoga returned to strike Rabaul again on November 11, 1943. Striking at Nauru with USS Princeton as part of the Relief Carrier Group on November 19, Saratoga then provided air cover for troop transports to Makin and Tarawa. Departing for San Francisco on November 30, Saratoga underwent an overdue overhaul from December 9 to January 30. 1944, and received an augmented anti-aircraft battery.

Returning to Pearl Harbor on January 7, 1944, Saratoga then departed to support the drive in the Marshalls. Saratoga first struck at Wotje and Taroa, then attacked Engebi, providing close air support until the end of February. She left Majuro with an escort of three destroyers on March 4, 1944, to join the British Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean. After two highly successful operations against the port of Sabang, off the northwest tip of Sumatra, and Soerabaja, Java, in April, Saratoga was detached and departed for Bremerton, Washington.

Following her overhaul at Bremerton, Saratoga arrived at Pearl Harbor on September 24 and commenced training night fighter squadrons for the rest of the year. In January of 1945, Saratoga and Enterprise, designated as a night fighter task group, departed Pearl Harbor for the Iwo Jima operation. Saratoga then struck against targets in the Japanese home islands and provided air cover for the other carriers as they launched air attacks on Japan. On her way to carry out night patrols over Iwo Jima on April 21 1945, Saratoga was struck by several bombs destroying her flight deck forward. She was ordered to Eniwetok and then Bremerton for repairs.

USS Saratoga returned to Pearl Harbor on June 3, 1945 and resumed training operations until the Japanese surrender. Saratoga then began transporting servicemen home to the United States as part of Operation Magic Carpet. USS Saratoga was then assigned to Operations Crossroads at Bikini Atoll to test the effects of an atomic bomb on naval ships. She was sunk on July 25, 1946 and struck from the Navy List on August 15, 1946. Saratoga had received seven battle stars for her WWII service.

If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on the USS Saratoga (CV-3), 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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