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La Fayette (R96)
Encyclopedia
The La Fayette (R96) was an 11,000-ton that served French Navy
as the from 1951 to 1963. She was the first French vessel named after the 18th century general Marquis de Lafayette. She was the USS Langley (CVL-27)
, serving the United States Navy
from 1943 to 1947.
, the 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 2. 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 F6F Hellcat
s and SB2C Helldiver
s. 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 F4U Corsair
s and TBF Avenger
s. She was involved in the Suez Crisis
air and landing operations along with Arromanches (R95) 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.
In French service, La Fayette sailed nearly 350,000 nautical miles, its planes having carried out 19,805 landings. The 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 (F710)
.
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
as the from 1951 to 1963. She was the first French vessel named after the 18th century general Marquis de Lafayette. She was the USS Langley (CVL-27)
USS Langley (CVL-27)
USS Langley was an 11,000-ton that served the United States Navy from 1943 to 1947, and French Navy as the La Fayette from 1951 to 1963. Named for Samuel Pierpont Langley, American scientist and aviation pioneer, Langley received nine battle stars for World War II service...
, serving the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
from 1943 to 1947.
History
Built at Camden, New JerseyCamden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, the Langley was originally ordered as the light cruiser USS Fargo (CL-85), but by the time her keel
Keel
In boats and ships, keel can refer to either of two parts: a structural element, or a hydrodynamic element. These parts overlap. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in construction of a ship, in British and American shipbuilding traditions the construction is dated from this event...
was laid in April 1942, she had been redesigned as an aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
, using the original cruiser hull and machinery. Commissioned in August 1943, Langley served in the Pacific theatre during World War 2. The carrier was decommissioned at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
in February 1947.
Langley was taken out of "mothballs" early in 1951, refurbished and transferred to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program. Based in Toulon
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
, La Fayette carried out many missions in the Far East until June 1953. During this action, her airgroup included F6F Hellcat
F6F Hellcat
The Grumman F6F Hellcat was a carrier-based fighter aircraft developed to replace the earlier F4F Wildcat in United States Navy service. Although the F6F resembled the Wildcat, it was a completely new design powered by a 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800. Some tagged it as the "Wildcat's big...
s and SB2C Helldiver
SB2C Helldiver
The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was a carrier-based dive bomber aircraft produced for the United States Navy during World War II. It replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless in US Navy service. Despite its size, the SB2C was much faster than the SBD it replaced...
s. 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 F4U Corsair
F4U Corsair
The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Demand for the aircraft soon overwhelmed Vought's manufacturing capability, resulting in production by Goodyear and Brewster: Goodyear-built Corsairs were designated FG and...
s and TBF Avenger
TBF Avenger
The Grumman TBF Avenger was a torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air or naval arms around the world....
s. She was involved in the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
air and landing operations along with Arromanches (R95) and British carriers beginning in October 1956. In March 1960, La Fayette participated in the rescue operations in the Moroccan city of Agadir
Agadir
Agadir is a major city in southwest Morocco, capital of the Agadir province and the Sous-Massa-Draa economic region .-Etymology:...
, damaged by an earthquake
1960 Agadir earthquake
The 1960 Agadir earthquake took place on Monday, February 29, 1960, at 23:47 local time. It was the most destructive and deadliest earthquake in Moroccan history with a magnitude of 5.7 Mw, killing around 15,000 people and injuring another 12,000. At least 35,000 people were left homeless...
. It then took part in the repatriation of the first refugees from Algeria. After more than a decade of French Navy
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
service, she was returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in March 1963 and was sold for scrap a year later.
In French service, La Fayette sailed nearly 350,000 nautical miles, its planes having carried out 19,805 landings. The La Fayette was awarded the Military Cross
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
for its first missions in Indo-China. The name of La Fayette is now carried by the frigate La Fayette (F710)
La Fayette (F710)
The La Fayette is a second-line multi-mission stealth frigate of the French Marine Nationale. She is the second French vessel named after the 18th century general Marquis de Lafayette. She is the lead ship of the class. The same class is also used by the Royal Saudi Navy.The ship has appeared in...
.
External links
PA. La Fayette R96 (USS Langley in the French Navy)- navsource.org: USS Langley
- hazegray.org: USS Langley
- Angel on the Yardarm: The Beginnings of Fleet Radar Defense and the Kamikaze Threat - Review of book by John Monsarrat, who served aboard Langley during major battles of the Pacific War from January 1944 to May 1945.
- USS Langley at Nine Sisters Light Carrier Historical Documentary Project