SCB-27
SCB-27 (also known as "Two Seven-Alpha" or "Two Seven-Charlie") was the United States Navy designation for a series of upgrades to the Essex-class aircraft carriers (both the short-hull and long-hull Ticonderoga versions), conducted between 1947 and 1955. These upgrades were intended to allow the World War II-era carriers to operate jet aircraft.
USS Oriskany, laid up incomplete at the conclusion of World War II, served as the prototype and was re-ordered to the SCB-27 standard. All but one of the SCB-27 modernized Essex carriers, the USS Lake Champlain, were further modified under the SCB-125 modernization program.[citation needed]
Modifications
Officially,
The island was completely redesigned, made taller, but shorter in overall length with the removal of its gun mounts. In addition, the boiler uptakes were rebuilt and angled aft to accommodate a single
Modification sub-types
The two sub-types of SCB-27 modifications were primarily a result of changes in catapult technology in the early-1950s. SCB-27A vessels used a pair of H 8 slotted-tube
The greater capacity of steam catapults meant that the 27C ships were able to serve as attack carriers through the Vietnam era while their hydraulic-equipped 27A sisters were relegated to antisubmarine duties.
Program history[2]
Ship | Program | Shipyard | Work Began | Recommissioned | Decommissioned |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
USS Oriskany (CV-34) | SCB-27 | New York |
Aug 1947 | Sep 1950 | September 1976 |
USS Essex (CV-9) | SCB-27A | Puget Sound | Feb 1949 | Jan 1951 | June 1969 |
USS Wasp (CV-18) | SCB-27A | New York |
May 1949 | Sep 1951 | July 1972 |
USS Kearsarge (CV-33) | SCB-27A | Puget Sound | Feb 1950 | Feb 1952 | February 1970 |
USS Lake Champlain (CV-39) | SCB-27A | Newport News | Aug 1950 | Sep 1952 | May 1966 |
USS Bennington (CV-20) | SCB-27A | New York |
Dec 1950 | Nov 1952 | January 1970 |
USS Yorktown (CV-10) | SCB-27A | Puget Sound | Mar 1951 | Feb 1953 | June 1970 |
USS Randolph (CV-15) | SCB-27A | Newport News | June 1951 | Jul 1953 | February 1969 |
USS Hornet (CV-12) | SCB-27A | New York |
July 1951 | Sep 1953 | June 1970 |
USS Hancock (CV-19) | SCB-27C | Puget Sound | Dec 1951 | Feb 1954 | January 1976 |
USS Intrepid (CV-11) | SCB-27C | Newport News | Apr 1952 | Jun 1954 | Mar 1974 |
USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) | SCB-27C | New York |
Apr 1952 | Sep 1954 | September 1973 |
USS Shangri-La (CV-38) | SCB-27C/125 | Puget Sound | Oct 1952 | Jan 1955 | July 1971 |
USS Lexington (CV-16) | SCB-27C/125 | Puget Sound | Sep 1953 | Aug 1955 | November 1991 |
USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) | SCB-27C/125 | Hunters Point |
May 1953 | Sep 1955 | 2 July 1971 |
References
- ^ ISBN 0-87021-739-9.
- ^ "U.S. Navy Ship Types – SCB-27 modernization of Essex/Ticonderoga class aircraft carriers". U.S. Navy Historical Center. 8 October 2001. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2006.
Portions of this entry were drawn from the Naval Historical Center SCB-27 information and photos Archived 20 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine