Laid down on 12 December 1942 as HMS Warrior, a Colossus-class light-aircraft carrier for the Royal Navy, the ship was loaned to the Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS Warrior. Commissioned on 24 January 1946, she lacked heating for some of the onboard equipment, as the Royal Navy had intended her to be used in the tropics where heating was unnecessary. Unfortunately, the Royal Canadian Navy operated in a much colder climate, which made her unsuitable for service in the north. Combined with defense cuts, it was decided to only operate one aircraft carrier (the other being HMCS Magnificent which would shortly be available) and Warrior was returned to the Royal Navy on 23 March 1948.
While operated by the RCN, Warrior embarked 803 (Supermarine Seafires and 825 Squadrons (Fairey Fireflies). In August 1947, the squadrons were re-equipped with Firefly Mark IV and Hawker Sea Fury aircraft.
After a period of service with the Royal Navy, she was sold to Argentina as ARA Independencia.
HMCS Warrior going under the Lions Gate Bridge 10 February 1947HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31) after the aircraft carrier ran aground, 14:30 hours, 23 August 1946HMCS Warrior (R31) with HMS Savage G20 in the backgroundHMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31) run aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway due to a steering gear problem in 1947HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31) Sunday divisions 1947HMCS Warrior (R31) fueling HMCS Nootka R96 during deployment to the Pacific Ocean in 1947HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31) in dry dockHMCS Warrior (R31) in dry dock
Aircraft Operations
Fairey Firefly
Fairey Firefly on HMCS WarriorFairey Firefly with folded wings on HMCS WarriorFairey Firefly with wings folded on HMCS WarriorFairey Firefly on HMCS WarriorFairey Firefly aircraft on HMCS WarriorFairey Firefly aircraft on HMCS WarriorSupermarine Seafire and Fairey Firefly aircraft on HMCS WarriorFairey Firefly aircraft on HMCS WarriorFairey Firefly landing on HMCS WarriorFairey Firefly landing on HMCS WarriorCrashed Fairey Firefly on HMCS WarriorCrashed Fairey Firefly on HMCS WarriorCrashed Fairey Firefly on HMCS WarriorCrashed Fairey Firefly on HMCS WarriorCrashed Fairey Firefly on HMCS Warrior
Supermarine Seafire Mk XV
Supermarine Seafire on HMCS WarriorSupermarine Seafire and Fairey Firefly aircraft on HMCS WarriorSupermarine Seafire taking off from HMCS Warrior
The Republic XF-12 Rainbow was a four-engined reconnaissance aircraft designed for the USAAF. Designed during the Second World War, the first of two prototypes had its first flight on the 4th of February 1946.
On the 10th of July 1947, the first prototype had its right main gear severed at the engine nacelle while landing during maximum load tests. The aircraft bounced and the pilot took the aircraft up to a safe altitude. During the resulting crash landing, the right wing spar was cracked and the two starboard engines needed replacing. Republic repaired the XF-12 and it was returned to service.
The second prototype crashed on the 7th of November 1948 when the port inner engine exploded, causing violent buffeting. Five of the seven crew escaped safely while two crew members were killed.
With the end of the Second World War and the introduction of jet aircraft, the USAAF lost interest in the project. When no orders were received, flight testing of the remaining XF-11 was wound down and ceased in 1952.
Republic proposed an airliner version of the XF-12, called the RC-2. Although tentative interest was shown by several airlines, the projected operating costs were higher than competing aircraft and no RC-2s were built.
Full-scale mock-up of the XF-12Republic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 Rainbow under constructionRepublic XF-12 Rainbow under constructionRepublic XF-12 Rainbow Nose Secion MockupRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 Rainbow taking offRepublic XF-12 Rainbow 44-91002Republic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 Rainbow Nacelle Republic XF-12 Rainbow NacelleRepublic XF-12 Rainbow NacelleRepublic XF-12 Rainbow first prototype accident 10 July 1947The first Republic XF-12 Rainbow prototype after crash-landing with two out of three gear down. It was later repaired and put back into the airRepublic XF-12 Rainbow first prototype accident 10 July 1947Republic XF-12 Rainbow, RC-3 Seabee and P-47 ThunderboltRepublic XF-12 Rainbow, RC-3 Seabee and P-47 ThunderboltRepublic XF-12 Rainbow camera installationRepublic XF-12 Rainbow undercarriageRepublic RC-2 Rainbow advertRepublic RC2 Rainbow cutaway diagramRepublic RC-2 Rainbow cockpit mockup
Laid down on 7 December 1942 and launched on 14 October 1943, USS Franklin CV-13 was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the US Navy. Commissioned into the navy on 31 January 1944 she then undertook a work-up phase before moving to the Pacific.
From the end of June 1944, Franklin took part in the Mariana and Palau Islands campaigns which lasted until early August. She then supported the Leyte Landings, where on the 15th of September, she was hit by a bomb on the after outboard corner of the deck edge elevator, killing three men and wounding 22.
On the morning of 24 October, in the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, her planes formed part of the waves that attacked the Japanese First Raiding Force (under Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita), helping to sink Musashi south of Luzon, damage Fusō and Yamashiro, and sink Wakaba. Franklin’s strike groups combined with those from the other carriers on 25 October in the Battle off Cape Engaño to damage Chiyoda (she would be sunk by American cruiser gunfire subsequently) and sink Zuihō.
On 30 October 1944, Franklin was struck by a Japanese kamikaze attack that hit the flight deck and crashed through to the gallery deck, killing 56 men and wounding 60. A second attacker missed Franklin with two bombs before flying into the stern of Belleau Wood. Repairs took until 2 February 1945.
While undertaking strikes against the Japanese mainland on 19 March 1945, Franklin was hit by two semi-armour piercing bombs dropped by a Yokosuka D4Y “Judy” dive bomber. One bomb struck the flight deck centerline, penetrating to the hangar deck, causing destruction and igniting fires through the second and third decks, and knocking out the combat information center and air plot. The second hit aft, tearing through two decks.
At the time, Franklin was preparing a raid an consequently numerous plane were fueled and armed on deck and in the hanger. This added significantly to the damage caused and the intensity of the fires. Casualty figures vary from 724 killed and 265 wounded to 807 killed and at least 487 wounded. This appears to be caused by the inclusion or not of passengers, civilians on board, air group casualties and marines.
USS Franklin was repaired in New York and returned to active duty after the war finished. She was placed in reserve on 17 February 1947. Due to the significant wartime damage, she was never reactivated or upgraded. While in reserve she was redesignated as an attack aircraft carrier CVA-13 on 1 October 1952, an antisubmarine warfare support carrier CVS-13 on 8 August 1953 and, ultimately, as an aircraft transport AVT-8 on 15 May 1959.
USS Franklin (CV-13) under constructionUSS Franklin (CV-13) under constructionUSS Franklin (CV-13) under construction May 1943USS Franklin (CV-13) under construction May 1943USS Franklin (CV-13) under construction May 1943USS Franklin (CV-13) under construction May 1943USS Franklin (CV-13) was christened at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Virginia, on Thursday, 14 October 1943USS Franklin (CV-13) is floated out of her building dock immediately after christening
USS Franklin CV-13 in Service
USS Franklin (CV-13). Stern, looking forward. Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. 6 January 1944.USS Franklin (CV-13) in the Elizabeth River, off Norfolk, Virginia, 21 February 1944USS Franklin (CV-13) in the Elizabeth River, off Norfolk, Virginia, 21 February 1944USS Franklin CV-13 In the Elizabeth River, off Norfolk, Virginia, 21 February 1944USS Franklin CV-13 at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia. May 4, 1944 USS Franklin (CV-13), port quarter, Norfolk Navy Yard, May 4, 1944USS Franklin CV-13 seen off the Mariana Islands. August 1, 1944 August 1, 1944 USS Franklin CV-13 seen off the Mariana Islands.USS Franklin (CV-13) in January 1945, after repairsUSS Franklin (CV-13), Puget Sound Navy Yard, 31 January 1945. Stern view, port sideUSS Franklin (CV-13), Puget Sound Navy Yard, 31 January 1945USS Franklin (CV-13), Puget Sound Navy Yard, 31 January 1945. Broadside view, starboard side
USS Franklin CV-13 Aircraft Operations
Pilots of VT-13 in their ready room aboard USS Franklin (CV-13), 24 October 1944, just before the Battle of the Sibuyan SeaGrumman F6F-3 and-5 Hellcat and Curtiss SB2C-4 Helldiver CVG-13 on deck of USS Franklin (CV-13) in October 1944Vought F4U-1D Corsairs and Curtiss SB2C-4 Helldivers of (CVG-5) spotted on USS Franklin (CV-13)Vought F4U-1D Corsairs of Fighting Squadron (VF) 5 Fighting Hellcats on the flight deck of USS Franklin (CV-13), March 1945
USS Franklin CV-13 at Leyte Gulf
A Japanese dive bomber (encircled) plunges downward USS Franklin (CV-13) the kamikaze that hit USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24)A Japanese kamikaze hits the flight deck of USS Franklin (CV-13), October 30, 1944.USS Franklin (CV-13), at right, and USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) afire after being hit by Japanese kamikaze suicide planes,USS Franklin (CV-13) underway in Task Group (TG) 38.4 after being hit by a Zero kamikazeUSS Franklin (CV-13) underway in Task Group (TG) 38.4 after being hit by a Zero kamikazeUSS Franklin (CV-13) underway in Task Group (TG) 38.4 after being hit by a Zero kamikazeUSS Franklin (CV-13) underway in Task Group (TG) 38.4 after being hit by a Zero kamikazeUSS Franklin (CV-13) afire after kamikaze hit, 30 October 1944.View showing work progress on 3 November 1944
USS Franklin CV-13 Under Attack March 1945
March 19, 1945 USS Franklin CV-13 on fire after being bombed by Japanese aircraft off Honshu, Japan.March 19, 1945 USS Franklin CV-13 after being bombed by Japanese aircraft off HonshuUSS Franklin (CV-13) on fire and listing after a Japanese air attack, off the coast of JapanUSS Santa Fe (CL-60) assisting the bombed aircraft carrier USS Franklin (CV-13) on 19 March 1945March 19, 1945 USS Santa Fe CL-60 assisting the damaged USS Franklin CV-13.Church service on the ruined hangar deck of USS Franklin (CV-13), taken upon her return to the US
USS Franklin CV-13 in New York for Repair
April 1945 USS Franklin CV-13 approaching New York for repairs.USS Franklin (CV-13) arriving at New York City (USA) on 28 April 1945April 1945 USS Franklin CV-13 approaching New York for repairsUSS Franklin (CV-13) in New York for repairs on April 28th, 1945USS Franklin (CV-13) in New York for repairs on April 28th, 1945USS Franklin (CV-13) in New York for repairs on April 28th, 1945USS Franklin (CV-13) in New York for repairs on April 28th, 1945
USS Franklin CV-13 in Reserve
The two large ships at right on the near side of the peninsula are Alaska (CB-1) and Guam (CB-2). The next two ships astern are North Carolina (BB-55) and Washington (BB-56). Further astern are (from outboard to inboard) Fargo (CL-106), Albemarle (AV-5) and Wakefield (AP-21). The carriers Enterprise (CV-6) and Franklin (CV-13) are at the far left.The decommissioned USS Franklin (AVT-8) being moved at Bayonne, New Jersey (USA), in 1964.USS Franklin (AVT-8) at Bayonne, N.J., August 1960USS Franklin (AVT-8) at Bayonne, N.J., August 1960; with Wisconsin (BB-64).Ex-USS Franklin awaiting her fate, April 1967.Ex-USS Franklin at Jacobson Salvage in Chesapeake, VA prior to scrap, August 1967.Ex-USS Franklin being scrappedEx-USS Franklin being scrappedEx-USS Franklin being scrapped
