She was laid down as CL-77 Huntington light cruiser, but finished as aircraft carrier USS Cowpens. In May 1943 she was commissioned. In August 1943 she sailed to Pacific. In October 1943 she strikes Wake. In November-December 1943 she strikes Mille, Makin, Kwajalein and Wotje. In January-February 1944 she took part in the invasion to the Marshalls. In March-April 1944 she operated in Carolines. In April 1944 operating off New Guinea during the invasion of Hollandia and took part in the strikes on Truk, Satawan and Ponape. In June-July 1944 she took part in the Marianas operation. On 19-20 June 1944 she took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Her aircraft shot down many enemies. In August 1944 she strikes Palau. In September-October 1944 she covered landing on Morotai, and sent air strikes to neutralize Japanese bases on Okinawa and Formosa. In the end of October 1944 she took part in the Battle for Leyte Gulf and supported the Philippines advance. In December 1944 - January 1945 she supported Lingayen Gulf landings. Her planes struck targets on Formosa, Luzon, the Indochinese coast and the Hong Kong-Canton area and Okinawa. In February-March 1945 she strikes Iwo Jima, Tokyo, Okinawa. In Spring 1945 she overhauled in USA. In July-August 1945 she attacked Japanese Home islands. In August-September 1945 she supported occupation of Japan. In November 1945 - January 1946 she took part in the operation Magic Carpet - repatriation of American military personnel from Pacific. In December 1946 she was decommissioned in reserve. In May 1959 she was reclassified as an aircraft transport AVT-1. In the end of 1959 she was sold for scrap.
Took part in wars:
Battle of Pacific Ocean (1941-1945)
Battle of Marshall Islands (1944)
Battle of the Philippine Sea (1944)
New Guinea Campaign (1942-1945)
Liberation of Philippines (1944-1945)
Allied Navy Aviation air raids on Japan (1944-1945)
Aircraft:
 USA
Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger [ 3 ];
Grumman F6F Hellcat [ 7 8 ].
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Type: Light aircraft ñarriers