Tarawa (CVA 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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,........... dugg, N....-- - .. 't if . tm JA.. ,Q ,-,,..a..,,C,,,,.,,1...1.4n..a,.....,,,.J.L1.mLa.......,s . ..K f - -,,s....-s-f....- ,--.f,..,....,,. .-..-...-, .... ... -ex ,...-..,- .N A Short History of The USS. Tarawa The Tarawa, as in the case of most aircraft carriers, was named by the United States Congress to commemorate a great and decisive battle. This battle, that of The Tarawa Atoll, was fought in November, T943 by forces of The United States Marines, Navy, and Naval Airforces, and represented thefirst large scale amphibious assault against an intensively fortified Japanese outpost. This'victory came at a time when the Rising Sun was at her zenith, and it gave to The United States a staging area from which she could launch attacks to whittle down the Japanese Island Empire. ln the short but fierce seventy-six hours of battle, 33Ol American Marines, were strewn over the one square mile of Betio lsland, having attained a victorybwhich the Japanese boasted could be accomplished only by amillion men fightingisix months. Truly, as in the words of Major General -Julien C. Smith, leader ofthe invading Second Marine Division- They demonstrated magnificient courage at Tarawa. A A ship to bear the name Tarawa was authorized along with several other im-f proved Essex class carriers in August, l942.g She began to take form nineteen months later with the laying of her keel at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. At an astonishing pace, the lower platforms and decks grew up the frames inclosing the eight Babcock and Wi..lcox boilers and other vitals. By May -of l945, the shell plating of the hull wasdin place, and with the flight deck and lower levels of the island structure erected,Tthe Tarawa was ready for, launching. Once in the water, the yard workman doubled their efforts putting the finishing touches on the laminated flight deck, and giving her the capability' of' defense by the installation of the main 5'i'f'38 battery.. The 'work'o'n ther superstructure was' completed with the bolting of Combat's 'eyes to the topmast.. Shortly afterl-thewhite forty was painted oniheir stack, the Tarawa was commissionled '1-' in December of l945. Too late to serve in the war which had ended with the capitulation of Japan in the late summer, she was decom- missioned. upon return from a world cruise and added tothe Reserve -fleet. The threat of Soviet aggression in Korea and elsewhere led to the recommissioning of the Tarawa in February, l95l. 'J I So it is that the unparalleled .valour of those who fought the epic jbattle of the Tarawa Atoll is enshrined by this ship. We feel that in these times ofquasi-peace the Tarawa continues to live 'up to the honour of those courageous men. T ,f ,

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