She was commissioned in May 1938. On December 7th, 1941 she was returning to Hawaii during Japanese attack and her aircraft immediately went into action. Next day her airplanes sank the Japanese submarine I-70. In January-March she escorted convoys to Samoa, operated in Marshall Islands, attacked Wake, Markus Island. In April 1942 she escorted USS Hornet during the famous Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. On June 4th, 1942 she took part in the Battle of Midway. She survived undamaged. In August-October 1942 she operated in Solomon Islands area. In the end of October 1942 she took part in the Battle of the Santa Cruz and damaged by several bombs, lost 44 and had 75 wounded. Despite serious damage, she continued in action and took on board a large number of planes from Hornet when that carrier was sunk. After the combat she became the only functioning US Navy carrier in the Pacific In November 1942 she took part in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, had shared in sinking 16 ships and damaging eight more. In January-May 1943 г. she operated in Solomons area. In July-November 1943 she overhauled and modernized in USA. In November 1943 she returned to Pacific to support landing on Makin Atoll, strikes against against Kwajalein. In January-March 1944 she operated in Caroline Islands area, attacked Truk, Palau, etc. In April 1944 she supported landings in the Hollandia and strikes against Truk. In June 1944 she was striking against Saipan, Rota, and Guam. On June 19th, 1944 she took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. June-July 1944 she support the Saipan campaign. In September 1944 she attacked Volcano, Bonin Islands, Yap, Ulithi, and the Palaus. In October 1944 she took part inthe Battle of Leyte Gulf. In November 1944 she attacked targets in the Manila area, and at the island of Yap. In January 1945 she was striking against Formosa, Indo-China. In February 1945 her aircraft d provided day and night combat air patrol over Tokyo. In February-March 1945 she supported the Marines in the Battle of Iwo Jima. In March 1945 she attacked Kyushu, Honshu and shipping in the Inland Sea of Japan. In April-May 1945 she supported the Okinawa operation. On May 1945 she was damaged by kamikadze attack and sailed for repairs to USAwhere she was still moored on V-J Day, 15 August 1945. In the end of 1945 to beginning of 1946 she took part in the Operation Magic Carpet (voyages between US and Europe to soldiers home). In February 1947 she was decommissioned. So, she participated in more major actions of the war against Japan than did any other US ship and got 20 battle stars. In 1946, she had been scheduled to be handed over to the state of New York as a permanent memorial, but this plan was suspended in 1949. She was sold for scrapping in 1958. In 1960 her scrapping was complete.
Took part in wars:
Japanese Pearl Harbor Attack (1941)
Battle of Pacific Ocean (1941-1945)
The Doolittle Tokyo Raid (1942)
Battle of Midway (1942)
Battle of Solomon Islands (Guadalcanal) (1942-1943)
New Guinea Campaign (1942-1945)
Battle of the Philippine Sea (1944)
Liberation of Philippines (1944-1945)
Battle of Okinawa (1945)
Allied Navy Aviation air raids on Japan (1944-1945)
Aircraft:
 USA
Curtiss SBC Helldiver [ 1 2 3 ];
Northrop BT-1 [ 1 ];
Boeing P-12/F4B [ 4 ];
Grumman F2F/F3F/G-22/G-32/UC-103 [ 3 4 ];
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver/A-25 Shrike [ 3 ];
Douglas SBD Dauntless/A-24 Banshee [ 1 2 ];
Douglas TBD Devastator [ 1 3 4 ];
Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger [ 7 ];
Chance Vought F4U Corsair [ 13 ];
Grumman F4F Wildcat [ 1 2 4 ];
Grumman F6F Hellcat [ 10 11 13 ].
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Type: Aircraft carriers