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The ''Independence''-class aircraft carriers were a class of light carriers built for the United States Navy that served during World War II. Adapted from the design for ''Cleveland''-class light cruisers, this class of ship resulted from the interest of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in naval air power. With war looming, the former Secretary of the Navy noted no new fleet aircraft carriers were expected to be completed before 1944.〔Friedman, Norman ''U.S. Aircraft Carriers'' United States Naval Institute (1983) ISBN 0-87021-739-9 pp.412&413〕 He proposed to convert some of the many cruisers then under construction to carriers. Studies of cruiser-size aircraft carriers had shown the type had serious limitations, and on 13 October 1941, the General Board of the United States Navy replied that such a conversion showed too many compromises to be effective. Undeterred, President Roosevelt ordered another study. On 25 October 1941, BuShips reported that the cruiser conversion aircraft carrier would result in a vessel of lesser capability, but they would be available much sooner.〔Friedman, p.182〕 Following the December 1941 Pearl Harbor attack the need for more carriers became urgent. In January 1942, the Navy responded by greatly accelerating construction of the 34,000 ton Essex class aircraft carriers, and ordering the conversion of a ''Cleveland''-class light cruiser then under construction to completion as a light aircraft carrier, becoming the USS ''Belleau Wood'' (CVL-24). ==Development== Plans developed for this conversion showed much more promise than expected. The escort carrier design drew on the Sangamon class of conversions, in that instance from oiler hulls.〔Friedman, p.182〕 Two more light cruisers were reordered as carriers in February, three in March and a final three in June 1942. The ''Independence'' class design featured a relatively short and narrow flight deck and hangar, with a small island. The hangar, flight deck and island represented a significant increase in the ship's topside weight. To compensate for this blisters were added to the original cruiser hull, which increased the original beam by five feet. The vessel carried a small air group of about 30 aircraft, originally intended to include nine each of fighters, scout-bombers and torpedo planes, but later reoriented to number about two dozen fighters and nine torpedo bombers. These were limited-capability ships, whose principal virtue was near-term availability. Their limited size made for seakeeping difficulties in the many typhoons of the Pacific, and their small flight decks led to a relatively high aircraft accident rate. However, being based on a light cruiser, they were fast ships, much faster than the Casablanca class escort carriers. The cruiser hull and engineering allowed them the speed necessary to operate with the main fleet carrier task groups. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Independence-class aircraft carrier」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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