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U.S.S. CORAL SEA

(CV-43)

THE AGELESS WARRIOR

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USS Coral Sea was commissioned in 1947. This Midway class large aircraft carrier was built at Newport News, Virginia. After initial operations, she made her first cruise in mid 1948 with midshipmen in training. In spring 1949, the Coral Sea began its first deployment with the Sixth Fleet. With the Cold War getting hotter, she went on several more deployments throughout the fifties.

Becoming an Attack Carrier
In October 1952,
Coral Sea was reclassified to be an attack aircraft carrier, which changed her hull number to CVA-43. In early 1957, she was sent to the west coast to be modernized. In January 1960, the new and improved ship was returned to active service.

With a largely expanded flight deck and other upgrades, Coral Sea crossed the Pacific to join the Seventh Fleet. She participated in the Southeast Asian conflict from the early 1960’s into the early 1970’s. In spring 1975, the Coral Sea was reclassified CV-43 to reflect the expansion of her air group. During the late 70’s into the 1980’s, the ship began deploying further west to the Persian Gulf. In March 1983, she began a long voyage from the Mediterranean down to South and Central America. She returned to the Mediterranean a couple of years later.

After later voyages with the Sixth Fleet, she was decommissioned in April 1990.

CV-43 Deployments - Major Events

Add a CV-43 Shellback Initiation Add a CV-43 Deployment - Major Event
Month Year to Month Year Deployment / Event
NOV1942-Shellback Initiation - 17 NOV 1942 - Pacific Ocean
JUL1944-Keel Date: 10 JUL 1944
at Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. Newport News VA
APR1946-Launch Date: 2 APR 1946
OCT1947-Commissioned: 1 OCT 1947
JUN1948-AUG1948Mediterranean
JUN1948-Shellback Initiation - 1 JUN 1948 - Indian Ocean
MAY1949-SEP1949Mediterranean
MAY1950-SEP1950Mediterranean
JUL1950-NOV1950Mediterranean
MAY1951-SEP1951CVB-43 USS CORAL SEA deployed Mediterranean Sea summer 1951
APR1952-OCT1952Mediterranean
JUL1954-DEC1954Mediterranean
DEC1954- Shellback Initiation - 13 DEC 1954 - Atlantic Ocean
MAR1955-SEP1955Mediterranean
JUN1955-Shellback Initiation - 1 JUN 1955 - Indian Ocean
AUG1956-FEB1957Mediterranean
OCT1956-FEB1957Mediterranean
OCT1956-OCT1956SUEZ CANAL CRISIS
MAR1957-Shellback Initiation - 5 MAR 1957 - Pacific Ocean
JAN1960-AUG1961West Pac-Viet Nam
NOV1960-AUG1961West Pac
DEC1960-JUN1961West Pac-Viet Nam
MAY1961-MAY1965West Pac
MAY1961-MAY1965West Pac-Viet Nam
DEC1961-JUL1962West Pac
FEB1963-DEC1963West Pac-Indian Ocean
APR1963-Shellback Initiation - 22 APR 1963 - Pacific Ocean
NOV1964-FEB1965West Pac-Viet Nam
DEC1964-NOV1965West Pac-Viet Nam
MAR1965-OCT1967West Pac-Viet Nam
JAN1966-JAN1967West Pac-Viet Nam
MAR1966-JAN1969West Pac
JUL1966-FEB1967West Pac-Viet Nam
JAN1967-DEC1967West Pac-Viet Nam
JAN1967-DEC1967West Pac-Viet Nam
JUL1967-APR1968West Pac-Viet Nam
JAN1968-JAN1969West Pac
SEP1968-APR1969West Pac-Viet Nam
SEP1968-APR1969West Pac-Viet Nam
JAN1969-JAN1971West Pac-Viet Nam
SEP1969-JUL1970West Pac-Viet Nam
NOV1969-MAY1970West Pac-Viet Nam
JUN1970- Shellback Initiation - 8 JUN 1970 - Indian Ocean
JUN1970- Shellback Initiation - 8 JUN 1970 - Indian Ocean
JUN1970-Shellback Initiation - 1 JUN 1970 - Pacific Ocean
JUN1970-Shellback Initiation - 20 JUN 1970 - Pacific Ocean
JUN1970-Shellback Initiation - 8 JUN 1970 - Pacific Ocean
JUN1970- Shellback Initiation - 8 JUN 1970 - Pacific Ocean
NOV1971-JUL1972West Pac
NOV1971-JUL1972West Pac-Viet Nam
MAR1972-NOV1973Mediterranean-Indian Ocean
JUL1972-NOV1973Mediterranean-Indian Ocean
FEB1973-NOV1973West Pac-Viet Nam
MAR1973-OCT1973West Pac-Viet Nam
MAR1973-NOV1973West Pac-Viet Nam
APR1973-NOV1973West Pac
JAN1974-JUL1975West Pac-Viet Nam
MAY1974- Shellback Initiation - 1 MAY 1974 - Pacific Ocean
SEP1974-JUL1975West Pac
APR1975-MAY1975evacuation of vietnam(operation eagle pull)(operation baby lift)
MAY1975-MAY1975rescue of SS MAYAGUEZ/BATTLE AT KOH TANG ISLAND
MAY1975-Shellback Initiation - 10 MAY 1975 - Pacific Ocean
MAY1975-Shellback Initiation - 12 MAY 1975 - Pacific Ocean
MAY1975- Shellback Initiation - 10 MAY 1975 - Pacific Ocean
MAY1975- Shellback Initiation - 10 MAY 1975 - Pacific Ocean
FEB1977-SEP1977West Pac
NOV1979-JUN1980West Pac-Indian Ocean
NOV1979-JUN1980West Pac-Indian Ocean-Persian Gulf
JAN1980-Shellback Initiation - 30 JAN 1980 - Pacific Ocean
JAN1980-Shellback Initiation - 18 JAN 1980 - Indian Ocean
JAN1980- Shellback Initiation - 18 JAN 1980 - Indian Ocean
JAN1980- Shellback Initiation - 18 JAN 1980 - Indian Ocean
FEB1980-JUN1980West Pac-Indian Ocean
APR1980-Shellback Initiation - 18 APR 1980 - Pacific Ocean
MAR1981-APR1981Pineapple Cruise
AUG1981-MAR1982West Pac-Indian Ocean
AUG1981-MAR1982West Pac-Indian Ocean
AUG1981-MAR1982West Pac-Indian Ocean
AUG1981-MAR1982West Pac-Indian Ocean
DEC1981-Shellback Initiation - 16 DEC 1981 - Indian Ocean
DEC1981- Shellback Initiation - 16 DEC 1981 - Indian Ocean
JAN1983-JAN1983World Cruise
JAN1983-Shellback Initiation - 1 JAN 1983 - Indian Ocean
MAY1983-Shellback Initiation - 24 MAY 1983 - Indian Ocean
AUG1983-OCT1983grenada
SEP1985-Shellback Initiation - 30 SEP 1985 - Atlantic Ocean
OCT1985-APR1986Mediterranean
JUN1987-FEB1988Mediterranean
AUG1988-SEP1988Sea Trials
APR1989-APR1989Dependents Cruise
MAY1989-SEP1989Mediterranean
APR1990-Decommissioned: 26 APR 1990

CV-43 General Specifications

Class: Midway-class aircraft carrier

Complement: 4104 Officers and Enlisted

Displacement: 45000 tons

Length: 968 feet

Beam: 113 feet

Draft: 35 feet

Final Disposition: Cannibalization finally scrapped 8 September 2000



USS CORAL SEA (CV-43)



Coral Sea (CVB-43) was launched 2 April 1946 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. Newport News Va. sponsored by Mrs. T. C. Kinkaid commissioned 1 October 1947 Captain A. P. Storrs III in command; and reported to the Atlantic Fleet.


Coral Sea sailed from Norfolk 7 June 1948 for a midshipmen cruise to the Mediterranean and Caribbean and returned to Norfolk 11 August. After overhaul and training in the Caribbean she sailed 3 May 1949 for her first tour of duty in the Mediter ranean with the 6th Fleet returning 28 September. She returned to the Mediterranean for duty from 9 September 1950 to 1 February 1951 bringing her impressive strength to the 6th Fleet in its important role as guardian of peace in the Mediterranean.


An overhaul and local operations upon her return as well as training with Air Group 17 prepared her for a return to the Mediterranean once more on 20 March 1951. As flagship for Commander Carrier Division 6 she took part in a North Atlantic Treaty O rganization exercise "Beehive I." She returned to Norfolk 6 October for local and Caribbean operations next sailing for the Mediterranean 19 April 1952. While on service with the 6th Fleet she visited Yugoslavia and carried Marshall Tito on a one-day cruise to observe carrier operations. reclassified CVA-43 on 1 October 1952 she returned to Norfolk for overhaul 12 October.


Coral Sea trained pilots in carrier operations off the Virginia Capes and Mayport Fla. and in April 1953 she embarked the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives for a 3-day cruise. On 26 April the carrier sailed for a tour of duty in the Mediterranean. This cruise was highlighted by a visit to Spain and participation in NATO exercise "Black Wave" with Deputy Secretary of Defense R. M. Kyes on board as an observer. Returning to Norfolk 21 October she carried out tests for the B ureau of Aeronautics and trained members of the Naval Reserve at Mayport Fla. and Guantanamo Bay.


Coral Sea returned to the Mediterranean from 7 July to 20 December 1954 and during this tour was visited by Generalissimo Franco as she lay off Valencia Spain. On her next tour of duty in the Mediterranean from 23 March to 29 September 1955 sh e called at Istanbul and participated in NATO exercises.


Sailing from Norfolk 23 July 1956 for Mayport to embark Carrier Air Group 10 Coral Sea continued on to the Mediterranean on her next tour. She participated in NATO exercises and received the King and Queen of Greece on board as visitors in Octo ber. During the Suez Crisis she evacuated American citizens from the troubled area and stood by off Egypt until November. She returned to Norfolk 11 February 1957. She cleared that port on 26 February and visited Santos Brazil; Valparaiso Chile; an d Balboa C.Z. before arriving at Bremerton Washington 15 April. Coral Sea was decommissioned for conversion 24 May 1957 and upon completion was recommissioned 25 January 1960 to rejoin the Fleet. During September 1960 she conducted training with her new air group along the west coast then sailed in September for a tour of duty with the 7th Fleet in the Far East.

[Note: The above USS CORAL SEA (CV-43) history may or may not contain text provided by crew members of the USS CORAL SEA (CV-43) or by other non-crew members and text from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]