USS Dayton (CL-78)
USS Dayton (CL-78) was laid down as a Cleveland class light cruiser, but was completed as an Independence class aircraft carrier. The name was originally assigned on 28 December 1940, almost exactly one year before she was laid down on 29 December 1940 at the New York Shipbuilding Co. After the Japanese entry into the war it was decided to complete a number of the Cleveland class cruisers as Independence class light aircraft carriers. The Dayton was one of the chosen ships and on 31 March 1942 she was renamed as the USS Monterey (CVL-26). She was launched as a carrier on 28 February 1943 and commissioned on 17 June 1943. The name Dayton was reassigned to the Cleveland class cruiser CL-105 which entered service just in time to take part in the final series of raids against the Japanese Home Islands.
US Navy Light Cruisers 1941-45, Mark Stille.
Covers the five classes of US Navy light cruisers that saw service during the Second World War, with sections on their design, weaponry, radar, combat experience. Nicely organised, with the wartime service records separated out from the main text, so that the design history of the light cruisers flows nicely. Interesting to see how new roles had to be found for them, after other technology replaced them as reconnaissance aircraft [
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How to cite this article:
Rickard, J (5 November 2013), USS Dayton (CL-78), http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_USS_Dayton_CL78.html
