Construction process of midway aircraft carrier

Midway Island started construction at newport news Shipyard on1October 27th, 1943, with the ship number CVB-4 1. On March 20th 1945, midway was launched, and it was put into use on September 20th 10. At that time, the Second World War had ended for nearly a month. 1from October 7th 165438+ 1946, 65438+1October 2nd, midway conducted sea trials in the Caribbean and trained its pilots. Due to the heavy load of Midway Island, the bow often collides with big waves, which makes the flight deck and the front hangar deck often overflow, thus reducing the stability of the hull. This problem has not been properly solved.

1 946 March1day, Midway Island left its home port Norfolk Naval Base and went to the North Atlantic to participate in Operation Frostbite to test the efficiency of the aircraft carrier in severe cold weather. On the 6th, Midway Island began exercises in Labrador Sea and davis strait. Due to frequent sea waves, the hangar door on 13, which is connected to the ship-side lifting platform, is damaged; Snow often appears on the flight deck; The plane needs more time to warm up the engine before it can take off. During the exercise, midway lost three planes and one pilot. Return to Norfolk on the 28th.

Midway entered the shipyard for maintenance after returning to China, and then stayed at sea for training. 1On September 26th, 947, the German V-2 rocket captured on board was test-fired. 10 year1October 29th, Midway left Norfolk and began its first Mediterranean voyage. 11July 65438+1October 17 crossed the strait of Gibraltar, then visited Bonnie, Malta, Genoa, Naples, Augusta, taranto and Geyer, and returned to Novo on March 1948+0. Before returning to Norfolk, Midway sent several modified P-2 Neptune patrol aircraft to simulate carrying nuclear bombs, flew to Panama Canal and Eucharist City in turn, and finally landed in San Diego to show the outside world that the navy has the ability to throw nuclear weapons.

1949 65438+1From October 4th to March 5th, we briefly cruised to the Mediterranean Sea, and then stopped for training near the coast. In 65438+February, Midway Island went to the North Atlantic again to test its duty efficiency in cold weather. 1950 65438+1October 26th, visited the Mediterranean again, visited Istanbul, Cyprus, Malta, Cannes, Oran and Lisbon successively, and returned to Norfolk on May 23rd. On June 25th, the Korean War broke out. Due to the serious shortage of aircraft carriers in the western Pacific, the navy temporarily transferred Wright of the Atlantic fleet to the western Pacific for duty; On the other hand, midway cruised the Mediterranean again from July 10 to June 1 10 to fill the vacancy of the Wright.

After returning home, Midway Island entered Norfolk Shipyard to rebuild and strengthen the flight deck, so as to take off and land RJ- 1 attack aircraft and other new jets capable of carrying nuclear bombs. At the same time, the navy also dismantled some 5-inch /54 guns on board and replaced the 40-mm anti-aircraft guns on board with new 3-inch /50 guns. After the reconstruction was completed in April, 195 1 stayed in the coastal area for training and went to the Caribbean for sea trials.

1952 65438+1October 9th, left Norfolk midway and went to the Mediterranean for another cruise. From February 25th to March16th, Midway and Tarawa joined forces with the Royal British Navy, French Navy and Italian Army to participate in the NATO Grand Slam, simulating the attack and defense of allied escort ships in the Mediterranean. During the cruise, I visited Gibraltar, Golfe-Juan, Barcelona, Algiers, Augusta, taranto, Naples, Genoa, Raspe, Siha, Rhode Island, Thessaloniki, Palma and Oran, and finally arrived in Norfolk on May 5.

After returning to China, he stayed on duty on the shore, temporarily redrawn the axis of the flight deck, and simulated the flight operation of installing the inclined flight deck. On August 26th, Midway went to the North Atlantic to participate in a large-scale NATO exercise codenamed "Operation Mainbrace". In addition to midway, the US military also sent Vespa, Roosevelt, Wright, Mindoro, Salerno Bay and Wisconsin, while Britain sent Eagle, Glory, theseus and Avant-garde. France, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, the Netherlands and Belgium also sent troops to participate. The exercise started on September 14 and ended on the 25th. 1 01October1,Midway Island was reorganized as an attack carrier, and the ship number was changed to CVA-4 1. On the 8 th, I returned to Norfolk to rest.

On February+65438 1 day, Midway left Norfolk again and went to the Mediterranean to participate in the rendezvous exercise organized by six NATO member countries. It visited Gibraltar, Juan, Marseille, taranto, Naples, Genoa, Raspe, Siha, Algiers, Oran, Augusta, Rhode Island and Thessaloniki successively.

1954 65438+1On October 8th, midway cruised the Mediterranean again and visited several ports in the Mediterranean. On the eve of entering Athens, the Midway collided with the supply ship and its hull was slightly damaged. Due to the accidental explosion of Bennington's catapult in May, which caused serious casualties, it was impossible to travel to the Mediterranean in time. Midway Island extended its cruise time and did not return to Norfolk until August 4th.