Independence Class

Independence Class Independence Class

Ships

Independence (CVL-22)

Princeton (CVL-23)

Belleau Wood (CVL-24)

The Independence class was the first of two American light aircraft carrier (CVL) classes built during World War II. All were built on the unfinished hulls of Cleveland class light cruisers. Despite their small size, they were very useful in the Pacific war with only one, the Princeton being lost. All were decommissioned by the 1960's, and several were sold to foreign navies, while the remainder were scrapped. Of the ones sold, the Cabot (CVL-28) was returned to the US to be used as a museum. The museum effort failed, however, and the Cabot was scrapped in 2000.

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