USS Coral Sea CVB CVA CV-43

Named after the famous World War Il Battle of the Coral Sea fought in May 1942, she was commissioned at Norfolk Naval Base on 1 October 1947. The last of the three Midway class carriers, she would go on to earn numerous awards, accomplish many firsts for US carriers and serve with distinction throughout her career. USS Coral Sea, more than any aircraft carrier was built to steam, to fly airplanes and to do battle. It was the spirit and morale of all her crews, all who manned the ship over her 43-year history that made USS Coral Sea more than just a ship.

• First Long Range Nuclear capability by launching P2V bombers in 1948 • Evacuated Americans from Egypt during Suez Crisis 1956 • Show of force deterrent against Soviet aggression in the 40's & 50's • First carrier to use the Pilot Landing Aid Television PLAT

1961 • Navy Ship of the Year 1965 • Ten combat and contingency deployments to Vietnam from 1960-1975 • More days on the line in Vietnam combat than any other carrier (875) • Evacuation of Saigon in 1975 • SS Mayaguez rescue in 1975 • Iran hostage rescue operation 1980 • First carrier to deploy with Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) 1981 • Air strikes against Libya, marking the first time the F/A-18 Hornet used in combat 1986 • Assist to stricken USS Iowa 1989

Mediterranean Cruises - 11

Western Pacific Cruises - 14

World Cruise - 1

USS Cora Sea CVA-43 History

Contract Awarded   June 14, 1943

Keel Laid - NN&SB Hull #440    July 10, 1944 Designated USS Leyte Gulf

Reassigned name of USS Coral Sea  May 8^th 1945

Launched       April 2, 1946

Commissioned    USS Coral Sea CVB-43       October 1, 1947

Conducted the first landing by an AD-1 Skyraider aboard a carrier/ first plane to land on USS Coral Sea

First long range nuclear capable carrier by launching P2V bomber  1948

Re-designated     CVA-43           October 1, 1952

Evacuated Americans from Egypt during Suez Crisis    November 1956

Departed Norfolk Naval base Feb 26, 1957, circumnavigating South America, arriving Puget Sound Naval Ship yard April 15, 1957

Decommissioned   April 24, 1957  for SCB-110A Modernization –Angle deck conversion - after completing 8 Med Cruises

Recommissioned   January 25, 1960 after 33 month modernization in Puget Sound Naval shipyard

First carrier to use the Pilot Landing Aid Television  “PLAT”  1961

Coral Sea Launches 20 planes, joining aircraft from Ranger and Hancock in the 1^st strike against the Viet Cong in South Viet Nam  7 Feb 1965

 Longest carrier deployment since WWII  - 331 Days -  7 Dec. ’64 to 1 Nov. ‘65

Named “Navy Ship of the Year”  1965

Conduct “Carrier viability tests on the F-111B  July 1968

Ten combat and contingency deployments to Viet Nam 1960 to 1975

Participated in the Evacuation of Saigon April 29 & 30 1975

Launched 63 combat sorties against Thailand during SS Mayaguez Rescue  April 13 1975

Re-designated CV-43     June 30, 1975

Participated in Iranian Hostage Rescue Attempt April 20 1980

Longest sea period of any carrier post WWII before decommissioning  102 days

Around The World Cruise     March 21 - September 12, 1983

Participated in air strikes against Libya    April 14, 1986

Participated in evacuation of American Embassy in  Beirut Lebanon   Sept 6 1989

Last plane launched     A6 – E intruder

 After 40 years of commissioned service in the United States Navy including 11 Mediterranean Cruises, 14 western Pacific cruises, 10 of which were combat cruises and 1 around the world cruise, USS Coral SEA CV-43 was decommissioned April 30, 1990

Nicknamed “ The Natural” as a straight deck ,” The Ageless Warrior”, “Best in the West”, “Older and Bolder” or “Coral Maru” as an angle deck, She was the last of the three Midway class carriers, Coral Sea, more than any aircraft carrier was built to steam, to fly airplanes and to do battle. It was the spirit and morale of all her crews, all who manned the ship over her 43 year history that made USS Coral Sea more than just a ship. She was well built, expensively equipped and the product of an outstanding design. Around the world, when the chips were down Coral Sea ALWAYS met the challenge – head on- and came away a winner. Gone but not forgotten by those who called her home and were proud to have served aboard her.

Most arrested landings by any carrier: 357,028

Angle deck Traps: 272,100

Straight deck Traps: 84,928

Radio call sign “ Mustang”        Ships ID “NIJA”

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Sold For Scrap  May 7, 1993

Scrapping Completed   August 9, 2000