| The third Kearsarge (CV-33) 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 21 April 1946,
and for the next year engaged in training operations along the East Coast
and Caribbean. She cleared Norfolk 7 Jane 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 Arab-Israeli
area. 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 engage in combat mission 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, San Diego 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 interfering with 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 water 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 in Alameda, California, 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 waiters as the Communists intensified their effort to overthrow
the government in Laos. The power and determination of the 7th Fleet was
observed by the enemy and the crisis eased. Peace prevailed. 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 Mercury orbital space flight of astronaut Walter
Schirra. On October after a flawless flight, the carrier played her role
in the "Space Age" by retrieving Schirra and his 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 in-eluded 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
23d. 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. |
Kearsarge received two battle stars for Korean War
service. |
Displacement, 30,800; Length, 888'; Beam, 93'; Extreme
width of flight deck, 136'; Draft, 30'8"; Speed, 33 knots; Complement,
2,100; Armament, twelve 5", two 3-pdrs., forty-four 40mm.,
thirty-six 20mm. |
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