USS Princeton (CVL-23) - Overview:

• Nation: United States
• Type: Aircraft Carrier
• Shipyard: New York Shipbuilding Corporation
• Laid Down: June 2, 1941
• Launched: October 18, 1942
• Commissioned: February 25, 1943
• Fate: Sunk, October 24, 1944, Battle of Leyte Gulf

USS Princeton (CVL-23) - Specifications

• Displacement: 13,000 tons 
• Length: 622.5 ft.
• Beam: 71.5 ft.
• Draft: 26 ft.
• Propulsion: Four boilers powering 4 General Electric turbines, 4 × shafts

• Speed: 31 knots
• Complement: 1,569 men

USS Princeton (CVL-23) - Armament

• 22 × Bofors 40 mm guns
• 16 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannons

Aircraft

• 30-45 aircraft

USS Princeton (CVL-22) - Design:

With World War II underway in Europe and tensions rising with Japan, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt became increasingly worried that the US Navy did not expect any new aircraft carriers to be completed prior to 1944.  As a result, in 1941 he ordered the General Board to investigate whether any of the cruisers then under construction could be converted to carriers to reinforce the service's Lexington- and Yorktown-class ships.  Answering on October 13, the General Board replied that while such conversions were possible, the amount of compromise required would greatly limit their effectiveness.  As a former Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Roosevelt pressed the issue and directed the Bureau of Ships (BuShips) to conduct a second study.

Reporting back on October 25, BuShips commented that such conversions were possible and, while the ships would have reduced capabilities relative to existing fleet carriers, could be completed much sooner.

 Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7 and US entry into World War II, the US Navy responded by speeding up the construction of the new Essex-class fleet carriers and moving to convert numerous Cleveland-class light cruisers, then under construction, into light carriers.  As conversion plans were finished, they showed more potential than originally hoped.  

Featuring narrow and short flight and hangar decks, the new Independence-class required blisters be added to the cruiser hulls to help offset the increase in weight topside.  Retaining their original cruiser speed of 30+ knots, the type was dramatically faster than other classes of light and escort carriers which allowed them to operate with the US Navy's larger fleet carriers.  Due to their smaller size, the Independence-class ships' air groups normally numbered around 30 aircraft.  While intended to be a balanced mix of fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo bombers, by 1944 air groups were often fighter heavy.

USS Princeton (CVL-23) - Construction:

The second ship of the new class, USS Princeton (CV-23) was laid down as the Cleveland-class light cruiser USS Tallahassee (CL-61) at New York Shipbuilding Corporation (Camden, NJ), on June 2, 1941.  Tapped for conversion to an aircraft carrier and renamed Princeton, it slid into the water on October 18, 1942, with Margaret Dodds, wife of Princeton University President Harold Dodds, serving as sponsor.  Work progressed and it entered commission on February 25, 1943 with Captain George R. Henderson in command.  Conducting shakedown and training operations in the Caribbean, Princeton was re-designated CVL-23 on July 15 to distinguish that it was a light carrier.  Embarking Air Group 23, the carrier soon departed for the Pacific and later arrived at Pearl Harbor on August 9.

USS Princeton (CVL-23) - Early Operations:

Sailing with Task Force 11 later that month, Princeton covered the occupation of Baker Island.  During this operation, the carrier's aircraft scored their first kills downing Japanese Kawanishi H8K "Emily" flying boats.  Princeton then joined with Task Force 15 to conduct raids against Makin and Tarawa before returning to port.  Sailing for the Southwest Pacific, it joined USS Saratoga (CV-3) on October 20 to form Task Force 38.  Together the two carriers struck Buka and Bonis on November 1-2 in support of the Allied landings at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville.  A few days later, they conducted attacks on Japanese warships anchored at the fortress of Rabaul.  Completing attacks on Nauru, Princeton covered convoys bound for Makin and Tarawa before departing for an overhaul at Puget Sound.

USS Princeton (CVL-23) - Fast Carrier Task Force:

Emerging from the yard on January 3, 1944, Princeton joined Task Force 58 and moved to support the invasion of Kwajalein.  Launching strikes against Wotje and Taroa, the carrier then shifted to reconnoiter and attack Eniwetok in early February.  It continued to operate in the area during the Allied landings on that island late in the month.  After replenishing at Espiritu Santo, Princeton sailed for the Caroline Islands in late March and began raids against Palau, Woleai, and Yap.  Ordered south in April, it helped cover the landings at Hollandia, New Guinea before attacking Truk and Ponape.  Returning to Pearl Harbor in early May, Princeton departed on the 29th join TF58 for operations in the Marianas.

Arriving in the islands in early June, Princeton's aircraft began striking targets on Guam, Rota, Tinian, Pagan, and Saipan on June 11.  Aimed at supporting the landings on Saipan, these efforts lasted for a week before the carrier moved west to take part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea.  In the fighting, its air group downed 30 Japanese aircraft while Princeton's gunners destroyed three more.  Largely remaining in the Marianas through July, Princeton provided cover and assistance for the landings on Guam and Tinian.  After repairs and replenishing at Eniwetok in August, the carrier mounted raids on Mindanao and the Visayas in September.  Arriving off Peleliu later in the month, Princeton's aircraft attacked targets on the island and aided troops ashore.

USS Princeton (CVL-23) - Final Actions:

Departing the Palaus, Princeton struck airfields in the Philippines before retiring to Ulithi.  Emerging in early October, the carrier attacked Formosa and Japanese shipping in the Nansei Strait en route to the Philippines.  On October 20, Princeton began operations off Luzon as TF38 covered the Allied landings on Leyte. Four days later, after the beginning of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the carrier was spotted by Japanese planes flying from Luzon.  Around 10:00 AM, Princeton sustained a bomb hit from a Yokosuka D4Y "Judy" dive bomber.  Penetrating the flight deck, the bomb exploded causing minor structural damage but starting a fire.  This quickly spread and caused explosions as fuel ignited and munitions detonated.  

Moving in, USS Birmingham (CL-62) and USS Irwin (DD-794) sought to assist in fighting the fires.  These attempts were hampered by rough seas which caused Princeton to collide with the other ships.  At 3:24 PM, a large explosion tore through Princeton and caused significant damage to Birmingham.  Despite this, both Birmingham and Irwin continued to render aid and took off the majority of Princeton's crew.  By 4:00 PM the fires on the carrier were out of control and the remaining crew evacuated the ship.  An hour later, Irwin commenced firing torpedoes in an attempt to scuttle the stricken carrier.  This failed and USS Reno (CL-96) took over the effort.  At 5:49 PM another explosion tore through Princeton causing it to slip beneath the waves.  Between the bomb hit and resulting fires, 108 of Princeton's crew were killed.  The remaining 1,361 were successfully rescued.

Selected Sources

• DANFS: USS Princeton (CVL-23)
• NavSource: USS Princeton (CVL-23)
• HistoryNet: Death of USS Princeton