USS Wilmington (CL-79)

USS Wilmington (CL-79) was laid down as a Cleveland class light cruiser, but was completed as an Independence class light carrier. She was laid down on 16 March 1942, but soon after this the decision was made to complete several of the Cleveland class cruisers as light carriers to fill a gap before the first of the Essex class carriers were expected to be ready. The Wilmington became the USS Cabot (CVL-28), and was launched as a carrier on 4 April 1943. The name Wilmington was reused on the later Cleveland class cruiser CL-111 but although this ship was laid down in 1941 it was never launched and was cancelled on 12 August 1945.  

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 [read full review]
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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (5 November 2013), USS Wilmington (CL-79), http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_USS_Wilmington_CL79.html

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