Essex (CVA 9) - Naval Cruise Book

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-I-n r rs rlnofxof 'L INTHIJIIUIITIUN The U.S.S. ESSEX was the first of a new and powerful class of aircraft carriers to join the U. S. Fleet. Many of the same class have since followed her down the ways: among them the YORK- TGWN, INTREPID, I-IORNET, FRANK- LIN, TICONDEROGA, LEXINGTON, BUNKER HILL, WASP, HANCOCK, BEN- NINGTON, and SHANGRI-LA. The period from the launching of the first ESSEX on September 30, 1799 to the launching of the present ESSEX on July 31, 1942 covers a span of 133 years of American Naval History. The first ESSEX, named for Essex County, Mas- sachusetts, was a ship of 850 tons, 141 feet in length, and 37 feet in width, built at a cost of S139,362.00. The present ESSEX, fourth ship to bear the name, displaces approximately 30,000 tons, carries a flight deck 870 feet in length and 109 in width, and was built at a cost of many millions of dollars. ii-1- The present ESSEX was authorized by an Act of Cong ress dated June 14, 1940. She was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Va., and her keel was laid April 28, 1941. Her sponsor at the launching 14 months later, fjuly 31, 19421, was Mrs. Artemus L. Gates, the wife of the Assistant Secre- tary of the Navy for Air. The ESSEX was rushed to completion to bolster Navy striking power in the Pacific. Captain D. B. Duncan was given command of the ship at commissioning ceremonies on December 31, 1942, at the Norfolk Navy Yard. A man of few words, the Captain's address to the crew on this occasion was typical. This is the complete text: The only reason for the existence of the ESSEX, now and in the future, is to destroy the Germans, Italians, and 'Japanese wherever and whenever we can 'seek them out. This will require many weeks and months of unremitting toil and vigilance. Sub