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Photo # NH 94899:  )2U-2 aircraft fly past USS Saratoga while preparing to land on board, circa 1930

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Saratoga (CV-3, Originally CC-3), 1927-1946

USS Saratoga, a 33,000-ton aircraft carrier, was converted from the battle cruiser Saratoga (CC-3) while under construction at Camden, New Jersey. Commissioned in November 1927, as the second of the Navy's initial pair of fully capable aircraft carriers, Saratoga spent the years before World War II taking part in exercises, training aviators and generally contributing to the development of carrier techniques and doctrine. She was in the Pacific when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and took part in the abortive Wake Island relief expedition later in that month. While operating in the Hawaiian area on 11 January 1942, she was struck by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine, necessitating several months of repairs, during which her eight-inch guns were replaced by the more useful 5"/38 dual purpose type.

Saratoga returned to action in June 1942, in time for reinforcement operations immediately following the Battle of Midway. She was next engaged in supporting the Guadalcanal Operation in August 1942, including participation in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. Another enemy submarine torpedo hit on 31 August put her in the repair yard for two months.

The carrier was back in the South Pacific war zone in December 1942, spending the next year in that area. In November 1943, her planes made devastating raids on the Japanese base at Rabaul and supported the Gilberts operation later in the month. In January and February 1944 Saratoga took part in the invasion of the Marshall Islands. She then was sent to join the British Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean and participated in raids on Japanese positions in the East Indies during April and May 1944. An overhaul from June to September prepared her for employment training aviators for night operations. In February 1945, she carried night fighters during the Iwo Jima invasion and raids on the Japanese home islands. Several Kamikaze suicide plane hits on 21 February caused serious damage and casualties, sending her back to the U.S. for another session in the shipyard.

Saratoga returned to service in May, again taking on a training role that lasted until Japan's surrender. Beginning in September 1945, she transported servicemen from the Pacific back to the United States as part of Operation "Magic Carpet". Too old for retention in the post-war fleet, Saratoga was then assigned to target duty for the atomic bomb tests at Bikini, in the Marshall Islands. She survived the first blast, on 1 July 1946, but sank after the 25 July underwater test. USS Saratoga still lies beneath the waters of Bikini atoll, where she is occasionally visited by divers.

This page features selected views concerning USS Saratoga (CV-3).

For views of the battle cruiser Saratoga under construction, before she was converted to an aircraft carrier, see: Saratoga (CC-3).
For views related to the battle cruiser design from which Saratoga was converted, see: Lexington Class Battle Cruisers.


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 42486-KN (Color)

USS Saratoga (CV-3)

Painting by Walter L. Greene, 1927, depicting the ship launching aircraft.

Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, DC.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 99KB; 485 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-1007395

USS Saratoga (CV-3)


Dressed with flags on Navy Day, 27 October 1932.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 98KB; 740 x 595 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-651292

USS Saratoga (CV-3)


Landing planes on 6 June 1935.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 149KB; 740 x 565 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-459 (Color)

USS Saratoga (CV-3)

Underway at sea, circa 1942.
Planes on deck include five Grumman F4F fighters, six Douglas SBD scout bombers and one Grumman TBF torpedo plane.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 565 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 19-N-72626

USS Saratoga (CV-3)


In Puget Sound, Washington, following overhaul, 7 September 1944.
Note her camouflage scheme.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 19-N-84312

USS Saratoga (CV-3)


Running full power trials in Puget Sound, Washington, following battle damage repairs, 15 May 1945.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 625 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 75874

USS Saratoga (CV-3)


Aircraft on the flight deck, preparing for launching, circa 1929-30.
Planes in the foreground are Boeing F3B-1 fighters. In the background are fifteen Martin T4M-1 torpedo planes, of Torpedo Squadron Two (VT-2B).

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. Collection of Admiral William V. Pratt.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 142KB; 545 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 94899

Vought O2U-2 "Corsair" aircraft
,
of Marine Corps Scouting Squadron 14 (VS-14M)

Fly past USS Saratoga (CV-3) while preparing to land on board, circa 1930.
Note Marine Corps insignia painted under the after cockpit of the closest aircraft.

Courtesy of PHC John L. Highfill, USN (Retired).

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 490 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 95723

Captain Albert C. Read, USN
,
Commanding Officer, USS Saratoga (CV-3)

Inspects the ship's Marines, probably during change of command ceremonies at the end of his tour as her Commanding Officer, circa 15 March 1940.

Collection of Vice Admiral Dixwell Ketcham, USN.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-15300 (Color)

USS Saratoga (CV-3)

Grumman F6F-3 "Hellcat" fighters on the flight deck, as a TBM torpedo plane approaches to land, circa 1943-44.
Photographed by Commander Edward Steichen, USNR.
Note open elevator well in the foreground and flight deck crewmen chocking wheels of the F6Fs.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 510 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: SC 259372

Bikini Atomic Bomb Tests, 1946


USS Saratoga (CV-3) sinking in Bikini Lagoon after she was fatally damaged by the "Baker Day" underwater atomic bomb test, 25 July 1946.
Note her hull number ("3") still visible at the front of her flight deck, air escaping from her submerged hull and oil streaming away to starboard.

Photograph from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 182KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 


For views of the battle cruiser Saratoga under construction, before she was converted to an aircraft carrier, see: Saratoga (CC-3).
For views related to the battle cruiser design from which Saratoga was converted, see: Lexington Class Battle Cruisers.


NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 29 February 2000
    Coding updated 5 May 2009