Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 97612:  USS Saipan with FH-1 jet fighters on board

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

USS Saipan (CVL-48, later AVT-6 and CC-3), 1946-1976.
Later USS Arlington (AGMR-2)

USS Saipan, lead ship of a pair of 14,500-ton small aircraft carriers built at Camden, New Jersey, was commissioned in July 1946. From then until 1953, she mainly operated in the western Atlantic and the Caribbean on training service, routine operations and operational development duties, including conducting carrier qualifications for VF-17A, the Navy's first jet fighter squadron, in May 1948. During this period, Saipan also made a diplomatic cruise to Venezuela in February 1948, a rescue mission to Greenland late in that year and a Mediterranean tour in March-May 1951.

In October 1953, Saipan transited the Panama Canal and soon crossed the Pacific to begin a 7th Fleet deployment that included a mission delivering aircraft to French forces in Indo-China in April 1954. The carrier completed her Far Eastern cruise in late May and returned to the east coast via the Suez Canal, thus steaming around the World. For nearly three more years, Saipan served as training carrier out of Pensacola, Florida. In October 1954 and again a year later, she assisted hurricane relief activities in Haiti and Mexico.

Decommissioned at Bayonne, New Jersey, in October 1957, Saipan was redesignated as an aircraft transport in May 1959, with the new hull number AVT-6. She remained in "mothballs", however, until March 1963, when she began conversion to a command ship. Saipan was redesignated CC-3 in January 1964, but was again reclassified in September of that year, becoming a major communications relay ship with hull number AGMR-2. In April 1965, while still in the shipyard, she was renamed Arlington, a name retained until she was sold for scrapping in June 1976.

This page features all of our views of USS Saipan (CVL-48), and provides a link to views of her after she became USS Arlington (AGMR-2).

For images of this ship after she was converted to a major communications relay ship and renamed, see:

  • USS Arlington (AGMR-2).

    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 97612

    USS Saipan (CVL-48)


    Underway at sea, with eight FH-1 "Phantom" jet fighters on her flight deck.
    The original print is dated June 1953, but the presence of FH-1s and the general rig of the ship indicate that the photograph was actually taken during the late 1940s.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 152KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97613

    USS Saipan (CVL-48)


    Underway circa the mid-1950s, with eleven AD-1 "Skyraider" attack planes parked on her flight deck, aft.
    Note submarine approaching, in the right distance.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 67747

    USS Saipan (CVL-48)


    With HRS and HUP helicopters on her flight deck, circa the mid-1950s.

    Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 485 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 84043

    USS Saipan (CVL-48)


    Off Tourane (Danang), Indo-China, on 18 April 1954, just prior to launching twenty-five AU-1 "Corsair" aircraft, which were flown ashore for delivery to the French.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 57KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97614

    USS Saipan (CVL-48)


    Crewmen wash snow and ice from the flight deck and superstructure, during Operation "Icecap". Ice is visible on the island and mast.
    Date may be circa late December 1948, when Saipan was sent to Greenland waters on a rescue mission.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 84042

    Lieutenant Colonel Julius W. Ireland, USMC
    ,
    Commanding Officer of Marine Attack Squadron 324 (VMA-324)

    Is greeted by a French Navy officer, after his squadron delivered AU-1 "Corsair" aircraft to the French at Tourane (Danang) airfield, Indo-China, on 18 April 1954.
    One of the AU-1s is behind them. The planes were transported to the area by USS Saipan (CVL-48).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 84051

    French Naval Aviator C.A. Libiot
    (left center) greets
    Second Lieutenant John F. Schrepferman, USMCR, of Marine Attack Squadron 324 (VMA-324)

    As VMA-324 pilots delivered AU-1 "Corsair" aircraft to the French at Tourane (Danang) airfield, Indo-China, on 18 April 1954.
    Libiot and other French aviators had trained at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, with some of VMA-324's pilots.
    Three of the AU-1s are behind them. The planes were transported to the area by USS Saipan (CVL-48).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 116KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 70134-KN (Color)

    USS Saipan (CVL-48)

    Artwork reproduction of an insignia received during the 1950s.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 76KB; 515 x 765 pixels

     

    For images of this ship after she was converted to a major communications relay ship and renamed, see:

  • USS Arlington (AGMR-2).


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


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 3 June 2001
    Link added 27 October 2001