Figure 1: USS Cowpens (CV-25) photographed by the Naval Aircraft Factory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 25 June 1943. Official US Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Click on photograph for larger image.
Figure 2: USS Cowpens (now CVL-25) underway at sea on 17 July 1943. Official US Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Click on photograph for larger image.
Figure 3: USS Cowpens (CVL-25) underway at sea on 17 July 1943. Official US Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Click on photograph for larger image.
Figure 4: USS
Cowpens (CVL-25) en route to take part in the Palaus
operation, 31 August 1944. She is wearing camouflage Measure 33, Design 7a. Carrier
in the distance (in camouflage Measure 32, Design 8a) is USS Independence
(CVL-22). Official US Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval
Historical Center. Click on photograph for larger image.
Figure 5: USS Cowpens
(CVL-25) off the Mare Island
Navy Yard, California, 12 May 1945, following overhaul. Photograph from the
Bureau of Ships Collection in the US National Archives. Click on photograph for larger image.
Figure 6:
Grumman F6F "Hellcat"
fighters warming up on the flight deck of USS Cowpens (CVL-25)
while the carrier was operating with Task Group 58.3 during raids on the
Marshall Islands, circa January 1944. Official US Navy Photograph, now in
the collections of the National Archives. Click on photograph for larger image.
Figure 7: A TBM
"Avenger" torpedo plane lands on board USS Cowpens (CVL-25), at the time of the Marshall-Gilbert
Islands raids, November-December 1943. Note flight deck barrier rigged in the
foreground. Official US Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the
National Archives. Click on photograph for larger image.
Figure 8:
Pilot evacuates his
burning F6F-3 fighter on board USS Cowpens
(CVL-25) after landing unaware that it was on fire during the Gilberts
Operation, 24 November 1943. Firefighters are rushing to the plane and put out
the flames in a minute and a half, with no casualties. The fire started as the
"Hellcat" approached Cowpens for an emergency landing. The
pilot was Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Alfred W. Magee, Jr., USNR. Official US Navy
Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Click on
photograph for larger image.
Figure 9: Crewmen
on the flight deck of USS Cowpens
(CVL-25) looking aft toward the carrier's island during raids on the
Marshall Islands, November-December 1943. Note the crane and other features on
and around the island. Radar antennas atop the foremast include "SC"
(larger antenna, in front); "SG" (small antenna, in middle). A
"YE" homing beacon antenna is mounted on the topmast. Large radar
antenna behind the island is an "SK." Official US Navy Photograph,
now in the collections of the National Archives. Click on photograph for larger
image.
Figure 10: Ship's Marines line up on the flight deck of USS Cowpens (CVL-25) for physical
drill, circa mid-1943. Planes on the flight deck include F6F, SBD, and TBM
types. Note "SK" radar antenna mounted on the stub mast between the
stacks and inflatable life belts worn by many of the men on deck. Official
US Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Click on
photograph for larger image.
Named after a battle fought during the American
Revolutionary War, the 11,000-ton USS Cowpens
(CVL-25) was an Independence Class
small aircraft carrier that was built by the New York Shipbuilding Company at
Camden, New Jersey, and was commissioned on 28 May 1943. The ship was
approximately 622 feet long and 71 feet wide, had a top speed of 32 knots, and
had a crew of 1,560 officers and men. Cowpens
was armed with 26 40-mm guns and 16 20-mm guns, and could carry roughly 30
aircraft (depending on their size).
After being commissioned with the hull number CV-25, Cowpens was re-designated CVL-25 (for
light aircraft carrier) on 15 July 1943. After her shakedown cruise, Cowpens was transferred to the US
Pacific Fleet in September and her aircraft launched their first attack on 5
October against Japanese-held Wake Island. Cowpens
then participated in the American invasion of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands
from November 1943 to February 1944. The ship’s planes were assigned primarily
to combat air patrols and anti-submarine operations, but her aircraft did
attack enemy targets on land as well.
From February to May 1944, Cowpens was attached to the US Fifth Fleet, which attacked Japanese
targets in the central Pacific and New Guinea. In June 1944, Cowpens took part in the Marianas
campaign, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea and continued supporting
amphibious operations in that area until July. After a brief overhaul at Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii, Cowpens rejoined the
fast carrier task forces on 17 August. On 29 August, Cowpens participated in the pre-invasion air strikes on the Palau
Islands, which was the last stop before the invasion of the Philippines.
From 13 to 17 September 1944, Cowpens supported the amphibious assault on Morotai, one of Java’s
(now Indonesia’s) northernmost islands. On 21 September, the carrier began
offensive air operations against Luzon in the Philippines. From 10 to 14
October, Cowpens and her task force attacked
Japanese bases on Okinawa and Formosa (present-day Taiwan). Towards the end of
October, Cowpens’ aircraft also
provided vital air cover for American warships during the pivotal Battle of
Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. The carrier’s combat activities continued into
January and February 1945, with raids on targets in the South China Sea and the
Philippines. Cowpens also provided
air support for the amphibious assaults on Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
