Built at Camden, New Jersey, Langley was originally ordered as the light cruiser USS Fargo (CL-85), but by the time her keel was laid in April 1942, she had been redesigned as an aircraft carrier, using the original cruiser hull and machinery. Commissioned in August 1943, Langley served in the Pacific theatre during World War II. The carrier was decommissioned at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in February 1947.
Langley was taken out of "mothballs" early in 1951, refurbished and transferred to France under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program. Based in Toulon, La Fayette carried out many missions in the Far East until June 1953. During this action, her airgroup included Grumman F6F Hellcats and Curtiss SB2C Helldivers. Modernized in 1953–1954, she served in the Mediterranean and on the African coasts. In early 1956 she returned to Indo-China (which had been partitioned after the cease fire) equipped with Vought F4U Corsairs and Grumman TBF Avengers. She was involved in the Suez Crisis air and landing operations along with Arromanches and British carriers beginning in October 1956. In March 1960, La Fayette participated in the rescue operations in the Moroccan city of Agadir, damaged by an earthquake. It then took part in the repatriation of the first refugees from Algeria. After more than a decade of French Navy service, she was returned to the United States in March 1963 and was sold for scrap a year later.[1]
In French service, La Fayette sailed nearly 350,000 nautical miles (650,000 km), her planes having carried out 19,805 landings. La Fayette was awarded the Military Cross for its first missions in Indo-China. The name of La Fayette is now carried by the frigateLa Fayette.
References
^"Porte-avions La Fayette". netmarine.net. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
The original version of this article based on US Navy public domain text. 2008-04-11 at the Wayback Machine
Moulin, Jean (2020). Tous les porte-aéronefs en France: de 1912 à nos jours [All the Aircraft Carriers of France: From 1912 to Today]. Collection Navires et Histoire des Marines du Mond; 35 (in French). Le Vigen, France: Lela Presse. ISBN978-2-37468-035-4.</ref>
External links
(in French) PA. La Fayette R96 (USS Langley in the French Navy)
navsource.org: USS Langley
hazegray.org: USS Langley
at Nine Sisters Light Carrier Historical Documentary Project
January 06, 2023
french, aircraft, carrier, fayette, fayette, independence, class, aircraft, carrier, that, served, french, navy, from, 1951, 1963, first, french, vessel, named, after, 18th, century, general, marquis, lafayette, initially, langley, serving, united, states, nav. La Fayette was an 11 000 ton Independence class aircraft carrier that served the French Navy from 1951 to 1963 She was the first French vessel named after the 18th century general Marquis de Lafayette She was initially USS Langley CVL 27 serving the United States Navy from 1943 to 1947 before transferring to the French Navy La Fayette La Fayette in 1951HistoryFranceNameLa FayetteLaid down11 April 1942Launched22 May 1943IdentificationR96FateSold for scrappingGeneral characteristicsClass and typeIndependence class aircraft carrierDisplacement11 000Length622 5 ft 189 7 m Beam71 5 ft 21 8 m waterline 109 ft 2 in 33 27 m overall Draft26 ft 7 9 m Speed31 knots 57 km h Complement1 569 officers and menArmament26 40 mm gunsAircraft carried45 aircraft Contents 1 History 2 References 3 Further reading 4 External linksHistory EditBuilt at Camden New Jersey Langley was originally ordered as the light cruiser USS Fargo CL 85 but by the time her keel was laid in April 1942 she had been redesigned as an aircraft carrier using the original cruiser hull and machinery Commissioned in August 1943 Langley served in the Pacific theatre during World War II The carrier was decommissioned at Philadelphia Pennsylvania in February 1947 Langley was taken out of mothballs early in 1951 refurbished and transferred to France under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program Based in Toulon La Fayette carried out many missions in the Far East until June 1953 During this action her airgroup included Grumman F6F Hellcats and Curtiss SB2C Helldivers Modernized in 1953 1954 she served in the Mediterranean and on the African coasts In early 1956 she returned to Indo China which had been partitioned after the cease fire equipped with Vought F4U Corsairs and Grumman TBF Avengers She was involved in the Suez Crisis air and landing operations along with Arromanches and British carriers beginning in October 1956 In March 1960 La Fayette participated in the rescue operations in the Moroccan city of Agadir damaged by an earthquake It then took part in the repatriation of the first refugees from Algeria After more than a decade of French Navy service she was returned to the United States in March 1963 and was sold for scrap a year later 1 In French service La Fayette sailed nearly 350 000 nautical miles 650 000 km her planes having carried out 19 805 landings La Fayette was awarded the Military Cross for its first missions in Indo China The name of La Fayette is now carried by the frigate La Fayette References Edit Porte avions La Fayette netmarine net Retrieved 21 June 2015 The original version of this article based on US Navy public domain text Archived 2008 04 11 at the Wayback Machine This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here Further reading EditMoulin Jean 2020 Tous les porte aeronefs en France de 1912 a nos jours All the Aircraft Carriers of France From 1912 to Today Collection Navires et Histoire des Marines du Mond 35 in French Le Vigen France Lela Presse ISBN 978 2 37468 035 4 lt ref gt External links Edit in French PA La Fayette R96 USS Langley in the French Navy navsource org USS Langley hazegray org USS Langley USS Langley at Nine Sisters Light Carrier Historical Documentary Project Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title French aircraft carrier La Fayette amp oldid 1124802427, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
