uss independence

USS Independence: America’s Agile Airbase

During the extensive Pacific Theater operations of World War II the USS Independence (CVL-22) functioned as an essential component of American air power for the U.S. Navy. In 1943 the USS Independence began her service as the lead ship of her class after transforming a cruiser hull into a lightweight carrier which provided speed and flexibility to Navy carrier task forces. The USS Independence's participation in crucial Pacific battles like the Gilbert Islands campaign and the Battles of Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf showed her essential function in establishing American air dominance throughout the region. The Independence stood out because of its groundbreaking redesign, its capability to support larger fleet carriers during operations and its persistent performance in launching air strikes during intense battle situations. This article investigates her technical attributes alongside her wartime service and the unique characteristics that made her a pioneering light carrier through the end of the war in 1945 and showcases the U.S. Navy's carrier-based dominance over Japan.

A Converted Cruiser’s Compact Power

The Independence-class carriers emerged due to a critical demand from the U.S. Navy for carriers following the devastating losses at Pearl Harbor during the intensifying Pacific War. Independence started as the cruiser USS Amsterdam (CL-59) when its construction began at New York Shipbuilding Corporation on May 1, 1941 and was later relabeled as CV-22 (CVL-22) before its launch on August 22, 1942. On January 14, 1943, she entered service under Captain George R. Fairlamb Jr. with dimensions of 189.7 meters (622 feet) long by 21.8 meters (71.5 feet) wide and a standard displacement of 11,000 tons which increased to 15,100 tons when fully loaded. Her flight deck measured 171 meters (561 feet) by 22.3 meters (73 feet) and operated a modest air group consisting of 33 aircraft which included 12 F6F Hellcat fighters, 12 SBD Dauntless or SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, and 9 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers. The ship's anti-aircraft defense consisted of 26 40 mm Bofors guns in two quad and nine twin mounts as well as 22 20 mm Oerlikon guns which were improved during service. The vessel harnessed power from four-shaft General Electric turbines and four Babcock & Wilcox boilers to produce 100,000 shaft horsepower enabling a top speed of 31.6 knots while providing an 8,500 nautical mile range at 15 knots. The ship had light armor protection with a 5-inch (127 mm) belt and a 2-inch deck while depending on its speed and escort vessels for defense. The Independence stood out because of her cruiser hull design which allowed her to be built quickly and move nimbly while she operated as a compact carrier that performed exceptionally well against larger Essex-class carriers.

Advanced Systems for Carrier Warfare

Independence stood out due to its feature of systems specifically optimized to function effectively in the Pacific's carrier-focused battlespace. Her CXAM-1 radar system which received SK and SG upgrades enabled her to detect enemy aircraft at a distance of 100 miles during air and surface searches which proved essential for directing her air group and protection vessels. The combination of Mark 37 fire-control system with radar-guided 40 mm and 20 mm guns turned her ship into a powerful anti-aircraft platform that defeated Kamikaze attacks and bomber assaults. Despite its narrow flight deck she managed speedy aircraft operations through two catapults and three elevators which allowed her to launch up to 30 planes every 10 minutes. Her air group had versatility with half the number of Enterprise's aircraft and included Hellcats for air superiority along with Dauntlesses or Helldivers for precision bombing and Avengers for torpedo attacks. The ship operated as a floating airbase with 1,569 crew members including 360 aircrew who utilized advanced damage management systems such as compartmentalization and fire suppression to prevent severe damage. The Independence stood out due to her cruiser-like speed and maneuverability which let her swiftly navigate task forces while serving as a light carrier that added agility and firepower to larger fleets during wartime.

Early Operations: Striking from the Shadows

The Navy deployed Independence to combat operations in mid-1943 which demonstrated their lack of sufficient carriers. The ship finished her Caribbean shakedown before joining the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor where she became part of Task Force 15 under Rear Admiral Charles A. Pownall in July 1943. During August 31, 1943 attacks on Marcus Island, Independence's Hellcats and Dauntlesses bombed Japanese airfields which resulted in one aircraft loss but they successfully sank a patrol boat. During October operations at Wake Island her air group successfully destroyed 34 grounded aircraft and impaired the defenses without suffering any losses. Her role as a fast-strike platform became evident through these raids since her 31.6-knot speed enabled hit-and-run tactics while her small size minimized her target profile. During Operation Galvanic's Gilbert Islands campaign in November 1943 Independence provided support for the invasions at Tarawa and Makin. Her Avengers successfully sank a Japanese transport while her Hellcats achieved six aerial kills against Japanese Zeros on November 20. A Japanese air raid launched a G4M Betty torpedo against her which penetrated her starboard engine room and resulted in 17 crewmen fatalities. After suffering damage she managed to reach Funafuti at a speed of 20 knots because her crew performed effective damage control and prevented her from sinking. The U.S.S. Independence demonstrated exceptional durability when repairs completed in San Francisco by January 1944 revealed her cruiser hull could withstand hits that would have destroyed a larger carrier and proved her value in the initial Pacific campaigns.

The Battle of the Philippine Sea

Independence rejoined major battle operations during the Battle of the Philippine Sea from June 19 to 20, 1944, also known as the “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot.” Under the command of Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, Task Force 58 directed her operations within Task Group 58.2 alongside carriers Hornet and Bunker Hill while being protected by battleship Iowa and cruisers Indianapolis and San Juan. Captain Ralph E. Jennings led her air group consisting of 15 Hellcats, 9 Helldivers and 9 Avengers as they conducted attacks on Saipan and Tinian. The Hellcats of her squadron took down twenty Japanese Zeros and Vals while her radar-guided 40 mm guns accounted for three additional kills during Task Force 58's destruction of a Japanese 430-plane assault that resulted in 240 lost aircraft. Independence’s Avengers submarines caused the sinking of Hiyō and inflicted damage on Zuikaku while her fighter aircraft defended Enterprise against retaliatory strikes. Through her fast maneuvers she avoided the torpedoes launched by submarine I-184 without sustaining any damage. Her special contribution was her air group’s lethality—her Hellcats’ 20: Independence’s Hellcats achieved a 20:1 kill ratio and her Avengers executed precision strikes to weaken Japan’s air arm, her anti-aircraft guns protected the task force, establishing her as a dominant light carrier during the Marianas victory.

The Battle of Leyte Gulf

The Battle of Leyte Gulf from October 23–26, 1944 marked Independence's most intense action when she participated in the largest naval battle history has ever seen. Under Admiral William F. Halsey's command, she became part of Task Force 38 and operated within Task Group 38.2 with Intrepid, Cabot, and Essex while being escorted by New Jersey and the cruisers Vincennes and Miami. During the October 24 engagement in the Sibuyan Sea her Helldivers and Avengers deployed 17 bombs and 19 torpedoes to sink the Musashi while her Hellcats attacked the Yamato. At 2:00 AM on October 25 Independence’s radar-equipped Avengers from its night-trained air group conducted reconnaissance missions off Cape Engaño and identified Zuikaku within Ozawa’s Northern Force. Her daytime air strikes destroyed Zuikaku and Zuihō while also sinking Chitose and Chiyoda as Hellcats shot down 15 Zeros. Her Avengers made attacks against Kurita’s retreating Yamato off Samar but failed to land hits while disrupting its formation. Independence remained unharmed by maintaining a speed of 31.6 knots to avoid Kamikaze attacks. Her night operations stood out because her radar-equipped Avengers accomplished 24-hour strikes thanks to a U.S. innovation and her air group's 50+ sorties destroyed Japan’s carrier force which secured the victory at Leyte.

Late War: Okinawa and Japan’s Surrender

Post-Leyte, Independence continued her relentless pace. The Independence operated under Captain Edward C. Ewen in January 1945 to attack Formosa and Luzon where her Hellcats destroyed 10 planes and Helldivers sank a freighter. Over the course of the Okinawa campaign between April and June 1945 she aided the landings while her air group targeted Kamikaze bases located on Kyushu. During Operation Ten-Go on April 7 her Avengers attacked the Yamato which led to the ship sinking. Her 40 mm guns shot down eight Kamikazes but suffered a near-miss on April 16 that resulted in three crewmen's deaths. During July operations she struck Hokkaido where her Helldivers succeeded in destroying rail yards. Japanese surrender announcements filled the air for Independence pilots while they were aboard the ship on August 15. September operations involved her support of occupation landings at Tokyo Bay with her air group patrolling Honshu. The Independence's adaptability in night operations and anti-aircraft defense demonstrated its ability to tackle all Pacific mission requirements while her compact build masked her significant role in Japan's ultimate defeat.

What Made Independence Special

The distinct qualities of Independence were her adapted structure design along with her night operation innovations and her continuous combat success record. The Independence-class cruiser completed its hull in just 18 months which allowed quick operational readiness contrasting with the three-year build time of Essex-class ships and bridged a crucial deployment void after Pearl Harbor. The Independence's 33-plane air group, smaller than Hornet’s, executed precision strikes resulting in the sinking of Musashi and Zuikaku. Through radar-assisted night operations at Leyte Gulf, her Avengers became the first to conduct 24-hour missions which provided the United States with a strategic advantage over Japan’s daylight-dependent carriers. Her crew of 1,569 skilled personnel achieved maximum operational efficiency by executing 7,000 sorties and losing only 20 planes during enemy engagements. The task force received protection from her radar and 40 mm guns which shot down over 50 hostile aircraft. Independence's agility at 31.6 knots combined with her compact profile enabled her to act as a nimble partner in combat operations while her 10 battle stars matched the record of Essex. The ship demonstrated U.S. adaptive military strategy as a light carrier that played an extraordinary part in hastening Japan’s defeat.

Legacy of the Trailblazer

After being decommissioned in 1946 Independence served as a target for atomic bomb testing at Bikini Atoll where she endured two explosions until she was deliberately sunk in 1951. The carrier earned 10 battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation while destroying 2,500 enemy planes fleet-wide which established her as a crucial support point in the Pacific during WWII. When compared to Japan’s Zuihō which sank in 1944 her durability remained superior and her night raids unmatched. She stands as an iconic naval legend because her converted cruiser achieved carrier status while her small hull overshadowed the Pacific War’s victory.

FInal Thoughts: Independence’s Soaring Legacy

Though USS Independence was not the largest carrier in service she achieved monumental impact. She demonstrated exceptional air power capabilities through agile operations from Tarawa’s beaches until Tokyo’s surrender. Her exceptional achievements came from night strikes and a resilient design that enabled relentless service, establishing her as a light carrier whose legacy illuminated the U.S. Navy’s path to success in the Pacific War.