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U.S.S. CORAL SEA
(CV-43)THE AGELESS WARRIOR
Click to view crew list
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
NOV | 1942 | - | Shellback Initiation - 17 NOV 1942 - Pacific Ocean | ||
JUL | 1944 | - | Keel Date: 10 JUL 1944 at Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. Newport News VA | ||
APR | 1946 | - | Launch Date: 2 APR 1946 | ||
OCT | 1947 | - | Commissioned: 1 OCT 1947 | ||
JUN | 1948 | - | AUG | 1948 | Mediterranean |
JUN | 1948 | - | Shellback Initiation - 1 JUN 1948 - Indian Ocean | ||
MAY | 1949 | - | SEP | 1949 | Mediterranean |
MAY | 1950 | - | SEP | 1950 | Mediterranean |
JUL | 1950 | - | NOV | 1950 | Mediterranean |
MAY | 1951 | - | SEP | 1951 | CVB-43 USS CORAL SEA deployed Mediterranean Sea summer 1951 |
APR | 1952 | - | OCT | 1952 | Mediterranean |
JUL | 1954 | - | DEC | 1954 | Mediterranean |
DEC | 1954 | - | Shellback Initiation - 13 DEC 1954 - Atlantic Ocean | ||
MAR | 1955 | - | SEP | 1955 | Mediterranean |
JUN | 1955 | - | Shellback Initiation - 1 JUN 1955 - Indian Ocean | ||
AUG | 1956 | - | FEB | 1957 | Mediterranean |
OCT | 1956 | - | FEB | 1957 | Mediterranean |
OCT | 1956 | - | OCT | 1956 | SUEZ CANAL CRISIS |
MAR | 1957 | - | Shellback Initiation - 5 MAR 1957 - Pacific Ocean | ||
JAN | 1960 | - | AUG | 1961 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
NOV | 1960 | - | AUG | 1961 | West Pac |
DEC | 1960 | - | JUN | 1961 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
MAY | 1961 | - | MAY | 1965 | West Pac |
MAY | 1961 | - | MAY | 1965 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
DEC | 1961 | - | JUL | 1962 | West Pac |
FEB | 1963 | - | DEC | 1963 | West Pac-Indian Ocean |
APR | 1963 | - | Shellback Initiation - 22 APR 1963 - Pacific Ocean | ||
NOV | 1964 | - | FEB | 1965 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
DEC | 1964 | - | NOV | 1965 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
MAR | 1965 | - | OCT | 1967 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
JAN | 1966 | - | JAN | 1967 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
MAR | 1966 | - | JAN | 1969 | West Pac |
JUL | 1966 | - | FEB | 1967 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
JAN | 1967 | - | DEC | 1967 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
JAN | 1967 | - | DEC | 1967 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
JUL | 1967 | - | APR | 1968 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
JAN | 1968 | - | JAN | 1969 | West Pac |
SEP | 1968 | - | APR | 1969 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
SEP | 1968 | - | APR | 1969 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
JAN | 1969 | - | JAN | 1971 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
SEP | 1969 | - | JUL | 1970 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
NOV | 1969 | - | MAY | 1970 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
JUN | 1970 | - | Shellback Initiation - 8 JUN 1970 - Indian Ocean | ||
JUN | 1970 | - | Shellback Initiation - 8 JUN 1970 - Indian Ocean | ||
JUN | 1970 | - | Shellback Initiation - 1 JUN 1970 - Pacific Ocean | ||
JUN | 1970 | - | Shellback Initiation - 20 JUN 1970 - Pacific Ocean | ||
JUN | 1970 | - | Shellback Initiation - 8 JUN 1970 - Pacific Ocean | ||
JUN | 1970 | - | Shellback Initiation - 8 JUN 1970 - Pacific Ocean | ||
NOV | 1971 | - | JUL | 1972 | West Pac |
NOV | 1971 | - | JUL | 1972 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
MAR | 1972 | - | NOV | 1973 | Mediterranean-Indian Ocean |
JUL | 1972 | - | NOV | 1973 | Mediterranean-Indian Ocean |
FEB | 1973 | - | NOV | 1973 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
MAR | 1973 | - | OCT | 1973 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
MAR | 1973 | - | NOV | 1973 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
APR | 1973 | - | NOV | 1973 | West Pac |
JAN | 1974 | - | JUL | 1975 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
MAY | 1974 | - | Shellback Initiation - 1 MAY 1974 - Pacific Ocean | ||
SEP | 1974 | - | JUL | 1975 | West Pac |
APR | 1975 | - | MAY | 1975 | evacuation of vietnam(operation eagle pull)(operation baby lift) |
MAY | 1975 | - | MAY | 1975 | rescue of SS MAYAGUEZ/BATTLE AT KOH TANG ISLAND |
MAY | 1975 | - | Shellback Initiation - 10 MAY 1975 - Pacific Ocean | ||
MAY | 1975 | - | Shellback Initiation - 12 MAY 1975 - Pacific Ocean | ||
MAY | 1975 | - | Shellback Initiation - 10 MAY 1975 - Pacific Ocean | ||
MAY | 1975 | - | Shellback Initiation - 10 MAY 1975 - Pacific Ocean | ||
FEB | 1977 | - | SEP | 1977 | West Pac |
NOV | 1979 | - | JUN | 1980 | West Pac-Indian Ocean |
NOV | 1979 | - | JUN | 1980 | West Pac-Indian Ocean-Persian Gulf |
JAN | 1980 | - | Shellback Initiation - 30 JAN 1980 - Pacific Ocean | ||
JAN | 1980 | - | Shellback Initiation - 18 JAN 1980 - Indian Ocean | ||
JAN | 1980 | - | Shellback Initiation - 18 JAN 1980 - Indian Ocean | ||
JAN | 1980 | - | Shellback Initiation - 18 JAN 1980 - Indian Ocean | ||
FEB | 1980 | - | JUN | 1980 | West Pac-Indian Ocean |
APR | 1980 | - | Shellback Initiation - 18 APR 1980 - Pacific Ocean | ||
MAR | 1981 | - | APR | 1981 | Pineapple Cruise |
AUG | 1981 | - | MAR | 1982 | West Pac-Indian Ocean |
AUG | 1981 | - | MAR | 1982 | West Pac-Indian Ocean |
AUG | 1981 | - | MAR | 1982 | West Pac-Indian Ocean |
AUG | 1981 | - | MAR | 1982 | West Pac-Indian Ocean |
DEC | 1981 | - | Shellback Initiation - 16 DEC 1981 - Indian Ocean | ||
DEC | 1981 | - | Shellback Initiation - 16 DEC 1981 - Indian Ocean | ||
JAN | 1983 | - | JAN | 1983 | World Cruise |
JAN | 1983 | - | Shellback Initiation - 1 JAN 1983 - Indian Ocean | ||
MAY | 1983 | - | Shellback Initiation - 24 MAY 1983 - Indian Ocean | ||
AUG | 1983 | - | OCT | 1983 | grenada |
SEP | 1985 | - | Shellback Initiation - 30 SEP 1985 - Atlantic Ocean | ||
OCT | 1985 | - | APR | 1986 | Mediterranean |
JUN | 1987 | - | FEB | 1988 | Mediterranean |
AUG | 1988 | - | SEP | 1988 | Sea Trials |
APR | 1989 | - | APR | 1989 | Dependents Cruise |
MAY | 1989 | - | SEP | 1989 | Mediterranean |
APR | 1990 | - | 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]