uss franklin

The USS Franklin: A Resilient Carrier in World War II

During World War II the USS Franklin (CV-13) emerged as a pivotal element of the U.S. Navy's Pacific operations marking the transition from battleship supremacy to carrier-based naval power. The USS Franklin undertook important missions during 1944 including operations at the Mariana and Palau Islands, Philippines, and Iwo Jima before enduring one of the most catastrophic air attacks in the history of U.S. naval warfare. The USS Franklin became an emblem of American determination by surviving near-total destruction and returning to port using its own power. The article investigates the advanced design features of the Franklin as well as its distinctive qualities and crucial battle roles while drawing from historical documents and crew accounts alongside critical viewpoints to underscore its significance.

Design and Construction

The construction of the USS Franklin started on December 7, 1942 at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Virginia marking the first anniversary of Pearl Harbor which demonstrated the United States’ commitment to restoring naval power. Rear Admiral Mildred H. McAfee sponsored the ship when it was launched on October 14, 1943 before it entered service under Captain James M. Shoemaker on January 31, 1944. Franklin served as an Essex-class carrier that used speed along with aircraft capacity and defensive armament to project air power across vast distances and challenge Japanese carrier forces and air power.

The ship Franklin measured 872 feet between its waterline while maintaining a 93-foot beam width and a 28 feet 7 inches draft. The ship's standard displacement measured 27,100 tons but increased to 36,380 tons when loaded to full capacity. The ship operated using four Westinghouse geared steam turbines and eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers to produce 150,000 shaft horsepower which enabled it to reach a maximum speed of 33 knots while sustaining a range of 20,000 nautical miles at 15 knots. The ship's armament featured twelve 5-inch/38-caliber dual-purpose guns within four twin and four single mounts and thirty-two 40 mm Bofors guns deployed in eight quadruple mounts together with forty-six 20 mm Oerlikon guns which were upgraded to counter kamikaze attacks. The 862-foot flight deck held an air group with 90 to 100 aircraft including Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters, Curtiss SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, and Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers. The ship’s armor consisted of a 4-inch belt alongside 2.5-inch hangar deck protection with an additional 1.5-inch flight deck shielding, plus 4-inch bulkheads safeguarded vital compartments. Four elevators and two catapults on the ship enabled aircraft operations while it operated with around 2,600 officers and enlisted personnel.

The Franklin’s design emphasized flexibility and survivability. The carrier could endure substantial damage thanks to its compartmentalized hull and redundant systems while its sizable air wing permitted continuous offensive missions. The SK-2 air-search radar as part of advanced radar systems increased situational awareness while the Combat Information Center (CIC) managed both air and anti-aircraft operations. The Essex-class design integrated lessons from previous carriers such as Yorktown by maintaining offensive strength and defensive protections to make Franklin an adaptable ship for rapid carrier battles in the Pacific.

What Made Franklin Special

The Franklin distinguished itself through its steadfast endurance and the crew's remarkable bravery when they faced near-destruction in March 1945. During a Japanese air raid near Kyushu on March 19, 1945, catastrophic explosions and fires killed 807 crewmembers and wounded 487 individuals but the Franklin managed to stay afloat and returned to New York under its own power which was a unique achievement among U.S. carriers. This survival, detailed in Joseph A. Springer’s Inferno: Joseph A. Springer’s Inferno: The Epic Life and Death Struggle of the USS Franklin in World War II demonstrates how Franklin achieved the status of being the U.S. carrier that sustained the most damage yet survived until the end of the war. The damage-control operations led by Medal of Honor recipients Lieutenant Commander Joseph T. O’Callahan and Lieutenant (jg) Donald A. Gary were crucial to saving the ship.

The advanced design specifications made the Franklin distinguishable from other ships. The spacious hangar deck and strong anti-aircraft equipment on the Essex-class ships enabled them to host large air groups and provide effective defense in intense air battles. The coordinated air operations during the Truk and Marianas strikes demonstrated the ship’s technological superiority because its radar and CIC systems operated more effectively than those of the Japanese. The USS Franklin Museum documents highlight pride in “Big Ben’s” air group which consisted of elite squadrons VF-13 and VB-13. The vessel’s moniker Thomas Franklin inspired sailors who connected with American technological prowess.

Franklin symbolized the industrial strength of the U.S. Navy through its status as one of twenty-four Essex-class carriers constructed to decisively defeat Japan's diminishing naval forces. Franklin demonstrated its adaptability through pre-war goodwill activities like Caribbean training cruises and its wartime function as a mobile airfield. The Franklin became a legendary figure in the Navy because of its survival narrative and battle accomplishments which led to post-war initiatives to maintain its legacy through memorials and documentaries.

Key Roles in Major Battles

Early Operations and Training (1944)

The Franklin completed its initial sea trials in the Caribbean soon after its January 1944 commissioning to improve its air group efficiency and crew teamwork. Franklin became part of Task Force 58 with Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher in the Pacific Fleet by June 1944 to start preparations for the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign. The initial operations centered around the incorporation of Franklin's air group through mock strike exercises and anti-submarine patrol missions. The ship’s radar and CIC systems demonstrated strong performance in managing air operations which prepared the vessel for its first battle experience. Franklin underwent crucial training to prepare for its demanding carrier operations in 1944 despite not yet participating in major battles.

Mariana and Palau Islands Campaign (June–September 1944)

Franklin entered its first substantial combat mission during the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign which aimed to establish bases for launching B-29 bomber attacks on Japan. During Task Group 58.1 operations, Franklin participated in the Saipan invasion (June 15–July 9, 1944) by launching F6F Hellcats, SB2C Helldivers, and TBF Avengers against Japanese airfields, defenses, and shipping. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea (June 19–20, 1944), known as the “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot,” Franklin’s air group joined U.S. fighters in destroying much of Japan’s carrier air power. Franklin’s aircraft helped destroy over 600 Japanese planes while operating behind strong destroyer and cruiser protection which kept Franklin itself unharmed.

Franklin’s air group performed pre-invasion strikes and close air support for Tinian between July 24 and August 1 and Guam between July 21 and August 10 to attack Japanese fortifications and troop concentrations. Helldivers and Avengers from Franklin attacked Tinian’s airfields while Hellcats targeted defensive positions to support Marine and Army landings. During September 1944 Franklin provided air support for the Peleliu and Angaur invasions by attacking Japanese fortifications across the Palau Islands. From October 13 to 14 Franklin's air group attacked Japanese airbases in Formosa and endured heavy anti-aircraft fire while reporting minimal aircraft losses. Franklin demonstrated the capability to maintain continuous air power through his operations while the Peleliu mission resulted in significant losses against entrenched enemy positions.

Philippines Campaign (October 1944–January 1945)

The Franklin was crucial to the Philippines campaign starting with its involvement in the Leyte invasion throughout October 1944. Task Group 38.4 deployed strikes against Japanese airfields and ships throughout Visayas and Luzon to support General Douglas MacArthur’s Leyte landing operations. During the Battle of Leyte Gulf on October 24–26 Franklin's air group fought in the Battle off Samar where they attacked Japanese surface vessels including the battleship Yamato. The aircraft from Franklin succeeded in damaging both cruisers and destroyers which aided in pushing back Admiral Takeo Kurita’s Center Force. On the 30th of October 1944 Franklin suffered a kamikaze attack that launched a 550-pound bomb while patrolling off Samar. As a result of the kamikaze attack on October 30, Franklin suffered aircraft carrier damage and personnel losses with 56 killed and 60 wounded before needing repair work at Ulithi until November 27.

Once the repairs were completed Franklin returned to Task Force 38 to support the Luzon invasion in January 1945. Between January 3 and 9 the air group targeted Japanese infrastructures such as airfields and railroads along with shipping operations in northern Luzon in support of operations at Lingayen Gulf. Franklin’s aircraft engaged in severe kamikaze attacks that resulted in several enemy planes being shot down while the ship itself suffered minimal damage from near-miss attacks. The upgraded 40 mm and 20 mm guns on its anti-aircraft gunners demonstrated effective defense capabilities for the task group. The operations played a crucial role in securing the Philippines while dismantling Japan’s air defenses to enable the ultimate offensive toward Japan.

Iwo Jima campaign: February and March 1945.

Franklin experienced its greatest battle action during the Iwo Jima campaign followed by bombing missions against Japan. During its service with Task Group 58.2 in February 1945 Franklin launched strikes against Japanese defenses and provided close air support to Marines during the invasion of Iwo Jima which lasted from February 19 to March 26. The ship’s air group attacked bunkers and other military targets which allowed the United States to secure airfields on the island. Franklin’s aircraft executed air sweeps over Chichi Jima to eliminate Japanese air threats.

The Franklin sustained a severe Japanese air attack while operating 50 miles off Kyushu as part of Task Group 58.2 on March 19, 1945 likely from a Yokosuka D4Y Suisei dive bomber based in Shikoku. The flight deck was hit by two 550-pound semi-armor-piercing bombs at 0708 which triggered fires in the fueled and armed aircraft located in the hangar. Explosions and fires annihilated the ship's interior, killing 807 crewmembers and wounding 487 while destroying the CIC and air plot along with most of the hangar deck. The detonation of rockets and bombs along with fuel vapor produced additional destructive effects which resulted in Franklin listing 13 degrees to starboard. Lieutenant Commander O’Callahan led fire-fighting teams and Lieutenant Gary rescued trapped sailors among other heroic damage-control actions taken by the crew which saved the ship. The cruiser USS Santa Fe and destroyers towed Franklin until it could stabilize and then it reached Ulithi using its engines by March 24.

Despite being the most destructive single-ship disaster ever faced by the U.S. Navy the USS Franklin survived because of its superior design and dedicated crew. The ship remained afloat because its compartmentalization blocked flooding while redundant systems permitted partial power recovery. Following temporary fixes on Ulithi Franklin made its way to Pearl Harbor before heading to the Brooklyn Navy Yard where it reached port on April 28, 1945 to undergo extensive rebuilding.

Post-Attack and Fate (1945–1966)

The Franklin completed its combat operations following the March 19 attack while undergoing repairs which lasted until Japan's surrender in August 1945. Although the reconstruction rebuilt the vessel's flight deck and hangar and restored its systems completely, carrier priorities were redirected to newer ships after World War II ended. Franklin officially ended its service on February 17, 1947 before joining the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Bayonne, New Jersey. In 1952 the ship assumed the role of an attack carrier (CVA-13) and in 1953 became an antisubmarine carrier (CVS-13), later transforming into an auxiliary aircraft transport (AVT-8) in 1959 but it never resumed active service. The Portsmouth Salvage Company purchased Franklin for scrapping purposes after its removal from the Naval Vessel Register on October 1, 1964 and dismantled the ship by 1967. The USS Franklin Museum in Philadelphia safeguards its bell and many artifacts while books and documentaries such as The Big Ben Story honor its history.

Critical Analysis

Four battle stars awarded to Franklin demonstrate its vital role during the Pacific War as its air group attacked Japanese defenses and aided amphibious operations throughout the Mariana, Palau, and Philippines campaigns. The March 19, 1945, attack established the legacy of the ship by revealing its vulnerabilities and strengths. Operating carriers near enemy airbases posed significant dangers as the presence of fuel and ordnance in the hangar made the attack’s damage much worse. The Essex-class design superiority together with the crew’s damage control training is demonstrated by Franklin’s survival when contrasted to Yorktown’s destruction at Midway.

In Samuel Eliot Morison's History of United States Naval Operations in World War II the establishment narrative depicts Franklin as emblematic of American perseverance because its survival took precedence over its battle achievements. Survivor accounts such as those compiled by Springer illustrate the human impact through survivors like Radioman Robert C. Blanchard who recounted the devastating fires and the loss of shipmates. Military analysts maintain that U.S. naval tactics during 1945 placed carriers like Franklin in close range to Japan resulting in excessive kamikaze and conventional air attack vulnerability because of the strategic need to destroy enemy airfields. After World War II the repair and reserve status of the Franklin demonstrated how quickly military focus moved to jet-age carriers which led to the obsolescence of Essex-class ships even though they performed well during wartime.

One must interpret the Franklin’s narrative through the lens of the U.S. Navy’s substantial industrial superiority. The Franklin operated with the support of a large fleet that included advanced radar technology and fighter cover backed by robust logistics while Japan's carriers faced destruction by 1944. The air group on the USS Franklin displayed superior performance in the Philippine Sea because of better aircraft such as the F6F Hellcat combined with coordinated task force strategies. The March 19 attack demonstrated that advanced carriers have limitations against focused air strikes and highlighted how naval warfare continues to develop.

Final Thoughts

The USS Franklin (CV-13) stood as a powerful and enduring aircraft carrier which performed essential duties during World War II in the Pacific Theater. The Essex-class design of the ship provided substantial capabilities through its large air group and advanced radar systems which allowed for effective air power projection during key campaigns at Mariana and Palau Islands, Philippines, and Iwo Jima. The USS Franklin (CV-13) demonstrated remarkable resilience when it survived a devastating attack on March 19, 1945 that killed 807 crewmembers and earned itself the moniker "Big Ben" while its crew received four battle stars for their heroism and technological advances. Franklin was scrapped in 1967 but its legacy survives through preserved artifacts and survivor accounts about its story of survival against overwhelming odds.