CV-1 USS Langley

"The Covered Wagon"

Originally AC-3 USS Jupiter, later AV-3 USS Langley

Experimental/Prototype Fleet Carrier

The first of an enduring breed

Awkward. Ugly. Slow. Primitive.

All of these words could be applied to the United States Navy's first aircraft carrier, and all of them would be correct. But despite her deficiencies, USS Langley proved to be the progenitor of her race.

Converted from a surplus collier, Langley would provide a place to test new aircraft, new battle strategies. She would train the men who would pioneer the procedures, tactics and technology that would lead directly to the world's premier warships.

Langley was born in controversy, and died in controversy.

In the early 1900s, the Navy was controlled by the so-called "battleship admirals"; officers who had come up from the decks of the big-gun warships - the cruisers and the battleships. These officers resisted anything which threatened the supremacy of the surface combatant. But there was a small and growing faction who believed in a new concept, something called naval aviation.

Eventually, Congress authorised funds for the conversion of a surplus collier into an experimental aircraft carrier. The collier AC-3 USS Jupiter was taken out of service and sent to the Norfolk Navy Yard to be reborn as CV-1 USS Langley.

Langley served for only 14 years as a carrier, but in that time she and her crew pioneered the tactics and techniques that are still used today, albeit with modifications for new technology.

In 1936, Langley was considered too small, too limited to continue as an aircraft carrier. She was sent to the Mare Island Navy Yard and reconverted to a seaplane tender.

Just after the outbreak of WWII, Langley was loaded with aircraft and personnel and dispatched to reinforce the defenders of Java, just north of Australia. For reasons that are still unclear, she was dispatched unescorted from a multi-national convoy for the final run into Tjilatjap. She was spotted by the Japanese and subjected to bomb and torpedo attacks. Crippled and listing, her radio calls for help brought the destroyers USS Whipple and USS Edsall to her aid, but it was too late. Her crew was evacuated and the destroyers scuttled her with torpedoes and gunfire. Her bones lie on the ocean floor 75 miles south of what was to have been her last port.

Construction Data

Highlights of Ship's Service History

As AC-3 USS Jupiter

Keel laid at Mare Island Navy Yard

Launched; sponsored by Mrs. Thomas F. Ruhm

Commissioned; Commander Joseph M. Reeves commanding

Joined Pacific Fleet at Mazatlan, Mexico, during the Vera Cruz crisis.
First ship to traverse the Panama Canal west to east.

Sailed for Brest, France to serve as collier for ships returning U. S. soldiers from the World War I battlefront.
Congress authorises the conversion of AC-3 USS Jupiter to "a vessel capable of carrying, launching and recovering aircraft at sea." Jupiter was chosen for several reasons:

transferred to west coast.

Decommissioned
Converted to carrier at Norfolk Navy Yard. During conversion Langley is designated AV-1.
Conversion involves:
Renamed USS Langley in honor of aviation pioneer Samuel Langley. She is the first U. S. Navy ship to bear the name.

As CV-1 USS Langley

Commissioned; Norfolk, Virginia, Executive Officer Commander Kenneth Whiting commanding. At this time, Langley is redesignated CV-1.
First carrier takeoff by Lt. V. C. Griffin in a Vought VE-7SF, York River, Virginia.
First underway carrier landing by Lieutenant Commander Godfrey deC. Chevalier in an Aeromarine, off Cape Henry, Virginia.
First carrier catapult launch by Commander Kenneth Whiting in a PT seaplane, at anchor in York River, Virginia

Begin flight tests and operations in Carribean
Operations demonstrations in Washington, D.C., area
Operations and training in Atlantic, based out of Norfolk, Va.

Repairs and alterations at Norfolk. This is likely when the second hinged funnel was added.
Arrived San Diego and joined Pacific Fleet.

Removed from service for conversion to seaplane tender at Mare Island Navy Yard. There is no indication that Langley was formally decommissioned.

As AV-3 USS Langley

Converted to seaplane tender at Mare Island Navy Yard:


Reclassified AV-3.
Joined Aircraft Scouting Force in Pacific.

Temporarily assigned to Atlantic Fleet.
Rejoined Pacific Fleet at Manilla, Philippines.

At anchor off Cavite, Philippines.

Assisted Royal Australian Air Force on anti-submarine patrols out of Darwin, Australia.
Departed Freemantle, Australia, as part of an American-British-Dutch-Australian convoy. Langley carried 32 P-40 fighters for delivery to Tjilatjap, Java.
Heavily damaged by Japanese air and torpedo attack, about 75 miles south of Tjilatjap, during the reinforcement and evacuation of Java. Hit five times by Japanese bombs and scuttled by two torpedoes and nine 4" shells from escorting destroyers DD-217 USS Whipple and DD-219 USS Edsall. 16 crew lost.

Notes

AC-3 USS Jupiter was the first turbo-electric powered Navy vessel.
During her career, Langley was used to test night landings, blind landings and cold-weather operations.
Name continued by DE-131 USS Langley (renamed USS Hammann prior to launching) and the Independence-class light carrier CVL-27 USS Langley

Sources
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships - U. S. Naval Historical Center Wikipedia Online Library of Selected Images - U. S. Naval Historical Center AC-3 USS Jupiter CV-1 USS Langley NavSource: Photographic History of the U.S. Navy AC-3 USS Jupiter CV-1 USS Langley Haze Gray & Underway	Pawns of War by Dwight R. Messimer

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