USS Kearsarge (CV-33)

The third USS Kearsarge (CV-33) (also CVA-33 and CVS-33) was a United States Navy Ticonderoga-class aircraft carrier.

She was launched 5 May 1945 by the New York Naval Shipyard, New York, sponsored by Mrs. Aubrey W. Fitch, and commissioned 2 March 1946, Captain Francis J. McKenna in command.

Kearsarge arrived at her homeport Norfolk, Virginia, 21 April 1946, and for the next year engaged in training operations along the East Coast and Caribbean. She cleared Norfolk 7 June 1947 on a midshipmen training cruise to the United Kingdom. Upon her return to the United States in August, the carrier engaged in maneuvers for 10 months before departing Hampton Roads 1 June 1948 for duty with the 6th Fleet. During her tour in the Mediterranean, units of the 6th Fleet were placed on alert to insure peace in the Mideast. Kearsarge returned Quonset Point, Rhode Island, 2 October, and operated along the Atlantic Coast and the Caribbean until 27 January 1950 when she sailed for the West Coast. The carrier arrived Puget Sound Navy Yard 23 February, and decommissioned there 16 June 1950 for a modernization overhaul that would enable her to handle new jet aircraft.

Kearsarge recommissioned 15 February 1952, Captain Louis B. French in command. Following shakedown, the carrier cleared San Diego 11 August for intensive flight training in the Hawaiian Islands. Her readiness complete, she sailed for the Far East to en gage in combat missions in the Korean War. Arriving Yokosuka 8 September, Kearsarge joined the fast carrier Task Force 77 off the east coast of Korea 6 days later. For the next 5 months the carrier's planes flew nearly 6,000 sorties against Communist forces in North Korea, unleashing considerable damage on enemy positions. She completed her tour in late February 1953, returning to her homeport of San Diego on 17 March. While serving in Korea her classification was changed to CVA-33.

Kearsarge sailed again for the Far East 1 July 1953 and operated with the 7th Fleet fast carrier force during the uneasy truce in Korea. The "Mighty Kay" also kept watch over the Formosa Straits to prevent the Communists from attacking the Chinese Nationalists on Taiwan. Kearsarge returned San Diego, 18 January 1954, to resume training operations off California. Clearing San Diego 7 October, she steamed toward her third deployment to the Far East. While operating with the 7th Fleet, the carrier stood by to assist the Nationalist Chinese in the evacuation of the Tachen Islands. From 6 to 13 February 1955, Kearsarge supported units of the fleet in the successful evacuation of 18,000 civilians and 20,000 military personnel from the islands. Her cruise ended at San Diego 12 May and for the next 3 years operated on the annual deployment schedule to the Far East and training operations off California.

During the summer of 1958, Kearsarge was fitted out as an antisubmarine warfare support carrier and reclassified CVS-33. Following intensive training in her new role, the carrier sailed 5 September 1959 for 7th Fleet operations in the Far East. Early in her tour, Japan was hit with a violent typhoon, and Kearsarge played an important role in providing relief to the victims. Her planes landed parties of medical and supply units, while her crew and air group donated clothing and money to the distressed people. After participating in SEATO exercises and 7th Fleet operations, she cleared Yokosuka, 3 March 1960, for her homeward voyage. Three days later in stormy waters 1,200 miles off Wake Island, four Russians were rescued after drifting 49 days in disabled landing craft. They were flown back to their country after Kearsarge arrived Alameda, California on 15 March; and the carrier received thanks from the Soviet Union for this gesture.

A year of training operations preceded her next deployment from San Diego which began 3 March 1961. The antisubmarine carrier steamed to Southeast Asian waters as the Communists intensified their effort to overthrow the government in Laos. The demonstrations of the 7th Fleet were observed by the enemy and the crisis abated. After 6 months in the Far East, Kearsarge arrived Puget Sound 1 November for the second phase of her modernization.

Upon completion of repairs and training, Kearsarge departed Long Beach, 1 August 1962, to station herself in the Pacific missile range as a recovery ship in the Project Mercury orbital space flight of astronaut Walter Schirra. In October, after a flawless flight, the carrier played her role in the "Space Age" by retrieving Schirra and his space capsule and returning him to Honolulu for flight back to the States.

Kearsarge resumed training exercises, continuing these for 6 months before arriving Pearl Harbor 29 April 1963 to once again take part in the space program. The carrier repeated her earlier recovery by plucking astronaut Gordon Cooper on 18 May 1963, after he orbited the earth 22 times in his capsule "Faith 7." She returned the space hero to Pearl Harbor, then departed 4 June on her eighth cruise to the Far East. Operations with the 7th Fleet included keeping watch on the unsettled problems in Southeast Asia. Kearsarge returned Long Beach, 3 December, for training exercises off California.

Six months later, 19 June 1964, the antisubmarine carrier was deployed on her ninth Far Eastern cruise. Arriving Yokosuka 30 July, Kearsarge was dispatched to the South China Sea, following the North Vietnamese patrol boat attack on U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. While U.S. Navy planes destroyed North Vietnam oil and supply depots, Kearsarge provided antisubmarine protection for the 7th Fleet. The decisiveness of American action persuaded the Communists to delay their objectives for the time being; and Kearsarge returned Long Beach, 16 December.

After overhaul during the first half of 1965, Kearsarge operated off the West Coast until sailing for the Far East 9 June 1966. Steaming via Hawaii and Japan, she reached "Yankee Station" 8 August and operated off Vietnam through 24 October. The next day she headed for the Kuala Lumpur area and anchored in the Strait of Malacca on the 30th. She returned via Subic Bay to "Yankee Station" 5 November and operated there through the 23rd. The next day, the carrier started home via Hong Kong and Japan, arriving San Diego 20 December. She operated on the West Coast until departing San Diego 18 August and reached Pearl Harbor 10 days later to prepare for future action.

Made redundant by the general fleet drawdown of the late 1960s and early 1970s, USS Kearsarge was decommissioned 13 February 1970. Following three years in the Reserve Fleet, she was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in May 1973 and sold for scrapping in February 1974.

(need 1966-1970 op hist)

Kearsarge received two battle stars for Korean War service and five battle stars for Vietnam service.

External link

• Navy photographs of Kearsarge (CV-33)

See USS Kearsarge for other Navy ships of the same name.

This article includes information collected from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.