USS KEARSARGE CVS33

• Namesake: USS Kearsarge (CV-33, later CVS-33) was named after the famous Civil War sloop-of-war USS Kearsarge, which sank the CSS Alabama off the coast of France in 1864. • Essex-Class Carrier: Kearsarge was an Essex-class aircraft carrier, a class that formed the backbone of the US Navy's carrier fleet during World War II and beyond. • World War II Service: Commissioned on 2 March 1946, Kearsarge missed active combat in World War II but played a vital role in the postwar era. • Korean War Operations: Recommissioned in 1952 after modernization, Kearsarge served with distinction during the Korean War, launching air strikes and providing air support for ground forces. • SCB-27A Modernization: The ship underwent extensive modernization (SCB-27A and later SCB-125), receiving an angled flight deck, hurricane bow, and other upgrades to operate newer, heavier jet aircraft. • Space Capsule Recovery: Kearsarge recovered two NASA Mercury capsules and astronauts: Sigma 7 (Walter Schirra, 1962) and Faith 7 (Gordon Cooper, 1963), making her famous in the early days of space exploration. • Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW): In 1959, the ship was reclassified as an anti-submarine warfare carrier (CVS-33), focusing on hunting submarines during the Cold War. • Vietnam War Service: Kearsarge deployed several times to the Vietnam War, conducting anti-submarine patrols and supporting US and allied operations in the region. • Onboard Innovations: Kearsarge was among the first carriers to receive a steam catapult, enabling the launch of heavier jet aircraft from her deck. • Decommissioning and Legacy: After nearly 25 years of service, Kearsarge was decommissioned in 1970 and sold for scrap in 1974, but her history lives on through her contributions to naval aviation and space exploration.