Intrepid
| Country | United States |
| Ship Class | Essex-class Aircraft Carrier |
| Builder | Newport News Shipbuilding |
| Laid Down | 1 Dec 1941 |
| Launched | 26 Apr 1943 |
| Commissioned | 16 Aug 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 1 Mar 1947 |
| Displacement | 27,100 tons standard |
| Length | 872 feet |
| Beam | 93 feet |
| Draft | 28 feet |
| Machinery | Westinghouse geared turbines with four screws |
| Bunkerage | 6,330t fuel oil; 240,000gal aviation fuel |
| Power Output | 150,000 shaft horsepower |
| Speed | 33 knots |
| Crew | 3,448 |
| Armament | 12x5 |
| Armor | 4" belt, 2.5" hangar deck, 1.5" deck, 1.5" conning tower |
| Aircraft | 82 |
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
ww2dbaseAfter arriving in the Pacific after her commissioning in 1943, her first mission was to support the landings at Kwajalein invasion in early 1944. On 17 Feb 1944 she was damaged by an aerial torpedo and returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs and remained there until September 1944. After returning to action, she launched planes to strike the Palau Islands, Okinawa, Taiwan, and the Philippine Islands. On 25 Nov 1944, during the Leyte Campaign, she was struck by a kamikaze and lost 69 officers and men in the most tragic chapter of her history. She went under repairs again and returned to action to launch attacks on the Japanese home islands in preparation for the land invasion that never took place. She also assisted in the Okinawa landing. When Japan surrendered, she was stateside for repairs the third time during the war (again from kamikaze). She was deactivated in Mar 1947.
ww2dbaseIntrepid became part of the active fleet again in 1954 after a two-year modernization, and served in the US Navy until 1974. Today, she is a museum ship in New York City, United States.
ww2dbaseSource: Naval Historical Center.
Last Major Revision: Sep 2005
Aircraft Carrier Intrepid Interactive Map
Photographs
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Maps
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Intrepid Operational Timeline
| 16 Aug 1943 | Intrepid was commissioned into service. |
| 17 Feb 1944 | G4M aircraft of Japanese Navy Air Group 744 damaged USS Intrepid with a torpedo hit. |
| 12 Oct 1944 | VT-18 squadron aircraft from USS Intrepid attacked Shinchiku Airfield in Shinchiku (now Hsinchu) in northern Taiwan. |
| 12 Oct 1944 | VT-18 squadron aircraft from USS Intrepid attacked the Rising Sun Petroleum Company facilities in Tamsui and the military seaplane base immediately next to Rising Sun facilities in northern Taiwan. |
| 14 Oct 1944 | Carrier aircraft from USS Intrepid attacked Shinchiku (now Hsinchu), Taiwan. At Shinchiku Airfield, one Ki-44 aircraft on the ground, five twin-engine aircraft on the ground, and 1 hangar building were destroyed. At the natural gas experimentation station about four miles east of the airfield, three hits were scored, with one hitting the lab building, another destroying the warehouse, and the last damaging the methane plant; 34 workers were killed at the station. |
| 14 Mar 1945 | USS Yorktown (Essex-class), USS Enterprise, USS Intrepid, USS Langley (Independence-class), USS Flint, USS San Diego, and USS St. Louis departed Ulithi, Caroline Islands to resume raids on Japan in support of the Okinawa operations. |
| 18 Mar 1945 | USS Yorktown (Essex-class), USS Enterprise, USS Intrepid, USS Langley (Independence-class), USS Flint, USS San Diego, and USS St. Louis arrived in the operating area off Japan and began launching strikes on airfields on Kyushu, Honshu, and Shikoku. The task group came under air attack almost as soon as operations began. Yorktown and Enterprise were struck by single bombs that resulted in minimal casualties and minimal damage. |
| 19 Mar 1945 | USS Yorktown (Essex-class), USS Enterprise, USS Intrepid, USS Langley (Independence-class), USS Flint, USS San Diego, and USS St. Louis continued air operations against the three southernmost islands of Japan. |
| 1 Mar 1947 | Intrepid was decommissioned from service. |
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Visitor Submitted Comments
2. Anonymous says:
17 Feb 2015 07:04:07 PM
My Grandad was a crew member on the USS Intrepid during WW2, He passed away several years ago but i just recently found a box of stuff with some Navy paraphernalia and such, Most of the items are personal interest only but i did find a very large bullet, its probably 5 1/2" long and 1" diameter at widest. Its obviously very old and i can see where someone hastily scratched some words and numbers. Some of them are as follow:
USS Intrepid
00:15 17-2-44
Torpedo
Truk
Does it mean anything?
17 Feb 2015 07:04:07 PM
My Grandad was a crew member on the USS Intrepid during WW2, He passed away several years ago but i just recently found a box of stuff with some Navy paraphernalia and such, Most of the items are personal interest only but i did find a very large bullet, its probably 5 1/2" long and 1" diameter at widest. Its obviously very old and i can see where someone hastily scratched some words and numbers. Some of them are as follow:
USS Intrepid
00:15 17-2-44
Torpedo
Truk
Does it mean anything?
3. 
David Stubblebine says:
17 Feb 2015 08:28:06 PM
To Comment #2:
I am going to hazard a guess and assume that when you say “bullet” you mean “cartridge” which is the bullet plus the casing plus the powder charge (maybe minus the powder charge – in your case, HOPEFULLY minus the powder charge). As such, it could be a .50 caliber cartridge which measure roughly 5 7/16-inches in overall length and 13/16ths of an inch largest diameter at the base (and, by definition, a half-inch bullet diameter). The writing is clearly meant to commemorate the Intrepid’s torpedo attack of Feb 17, 1944 (“17-2-1944”) as the only significant casualty of the fleet’s raid on the Japanese base at Truk. Intepid’s War Diary lists the torpedo impact at 0011 hours so your “00:15” is a pretty close estimate. I cannot say why a .50 caliber cartridge was chosen as the keepsake or why the date was written in the non-US format, but this is my best guess as to its meaning. Display it proudly.
David Stubblebine says:17 Feb 2015 08:28:06 PM
To Comment #2:
I am going to hazard a guess and assume that when you say “bullet” you mean “cartridge” which is the bullet plus the casing plus the powder charge (maybe minus the powder charge – in your case, HOPEFULLY minus the powder charge). As such, it could be a .50 caliber cartridge which measure roughly 5 7/16-inches in overall length and 13/16ths of an inch largest diameter at the base (and, by definition, a half-inch bullet diameter). The writing is clearly meant to commemorate the Intrepid’s torpedo attack of Feb 17, 1944 (“17-2-1944”) as the only significant casualty of the fleet’s raid on the Japanese base at Truk. Intepid’s War Diary lists the torpedo impact at 0011 hours so your “00:15” is a pretty close estimate. I cannot say why a .50 caliber cartridge was chosen as the keepsake or why the date was written in the non-US format, but this is my best guess as to its meaning. Display it proudly.
4. Alan Chanter says:
13 May 2015 01:37:58 AM
According to the book 'Aircraft Carriers' by Antony Preston (Bison Books Inc, 1982. pp.45) the USS Intrepid was torpedoed on the night of 17 February by six B5N 'Kates' (not G4Ms), one of which broke through the screen and put a torpedo into the stern of the Intrepid. The carrier, despite having her rudder jammed, was able to return to Majuro Lagoon at 20 knots. This is clearly a different account to that given above in the Operational timeline.
Alan Chanter says:13 May 2015 01:37:58 AM
According to the book 'Aircraft Carriers' by Antony Preston (Bison Books Inc, 1982. pp.45) the USS Intrepid was torpedoed on the night of 17 February by six B5N 'Kates' (not G4Ms), one of which broke through the screen and put a torpedo into the stern of the Intrepid. The carrier, despite having her rudder jammed, was able to return to Majuro Lagoon at 20 knots. This is clearly a different account to that given above in the Operational timeline.
5. Anonymous says:
17 Sep 2015 01:34:24 PM
yes it say that it was badly dameged and made back to peral
17 Sep 2015 01:34:24 PM
yes it say that it was badly dameged and made back to peral
6. Meloney Steger Sullivan says:
28 Apr 2016 12:34:29 PM
My dad served on the USS Intrepid. He enlisted in May 15, 1943
and discharged on Feb 24, 1946, his name was John E. Steger.
He passed away recently and I am trying to find anyone who might have known him or can let me know if they knew him. I have no information about his service, please help.
28 Apr 2016 12:34:29 PM
My dad served on the USS Intrepid. He enlisted in May 15, 1943
and discharged on Feb 24, 1946, his name was John E. Steger.
He passed away recently and I am trying to find anyone who might have known him or can let me know if they knew him. I have no information about his service, please help.
7. Mary Lee Rice says:
13 Jul 2016 03:03:50 PM
My uncle served on the Intrepid from 1943-1945. I am trying to find out where he got his naval training. Were most of the crew trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center?
13 Jul 2016 03:03:50 PM
My uncle served on the Intrepid from 1943-1945. I am trying to find out where he got his naval training. Were most of the crew trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center?
8. Richard Skar says:
19 Jul 2017 07:15:43 AM
I recently visited the USS Intrepid and it reignited my interest. My dad, Harry E.Skar, served on the Intrepid. From May1, 1944 to Nov. 5, 1945. He passed away some time ago and never said much about his service time. Now I have questions and no one to ask. Does any remember my dad from WW II service days?
19 Jul 2017 07:15:43 AM
I recently visited the USS Intrepid and it reignited my interest. My dad, Harry E.Skar, served on the Intrepid. From May1, 1944 to Nov. 5, 1945. He passed away some time ago and never said much about his service time. Now I have questions and no one to ask. Does any remember my dad from WW II service days?
9. Charles W Phillips says:
1 Oct 2017 04:48:09 PM
My dad, D.C. Phillips served on the USS Intrepid. Have tried looking for his name on the crew member listings with no success.
1 Oct 2017 04:48:09 PM
My dad, D.C. Phillips served on the USS Intrepid. Have tried looking for his name on the crew member listings with no success.
10. Courtney Ann Bliss says:
23 Dec 2017 12:29:48 AM
My grandfather George Hudson Bliss was on this ship and I have a handwritten letter from him to my grandmother. In his letter, he states that a man "stole" his bunk the night of the missile attack. He says in his letter that he always slept in the same bunk, but that he had to work late. When he returned to his bunk, someone was in it and basically told him to bug off. He complained that he had to find a bed on the opposite end of the ship. That night, the ship was attacked. According to his letter, that man died that night. I would love to know the name of the man that stole his bunk that night.
23 Dec 2017 12:29:48 AM
My grandfather George Hudson Bliss was on this ship and I have a handwritten letter from him to my grandmother. In his letter, he states that a man "stole" his bunk the night of the missile attack. He says in his letter that he always slept in the same bunk, but that he had to work late. When he returned to his bunk, someone was in it and basically told him to bug off. He complained that he had to find a bed on the opposite end of the ship. That night, the ship was attacked. According to his letter, that man died that night. I would love to know the name of the man that stole his bunk that night.
11. Suellen Eyre says:
24 May 2020 12:21:10 PM
Looking for a crew list with my uncle's name--JINX PETERSON--
served on the INTREPID. Believe he was on the ship in Feb. 1944 during the offensive against the Japanese base at Truk Island, when it was hit by a torpedo. Thank you.
24 May 2020 12:21:10 PM
Looking for a crew list with my uncle's name--JINX PETERSON--
served on the INTREPID. Believe he was on the ship in Feb. 1944 during the offensive against the Japanese base at Truk Island, when it was hit by a torpedo. Thank you.
12. Peter Casanave says:
4 Oct 2020 12:26:35 PM
The relative is "adopted."
I have a connection with the Intrepid because I was born in Los Banos Internment (Concentration) Camp Philippines.
The "relative" is Henry Kusmercyk, C company, 511th Paratroop Infatantry Regiment, my rescuer at Los Banos. At this late date, I have contacted him; we spoke. He was one of the first occupying army on Japan. He returned to the US on the Intrepid's Dec 2, 1945 from Yokosuka to Dec 15 arrival San Pedro, CA.
He asked me to find "anything with my name on it" so I thought there would be a passenger manifest or some such documentation. This is my shot at helping the man who saved me and my family 75 years ago.
Yours,
Peter Albert Casanave
Brooklyn New York
4 Oct 2020 12:26:35 PM
The relative is "adopted."
I have a connection with the Intrepid because I was born in Los Banos Internment (Concentration) Camp Philippines.
The "relative" is Henry Kusmercyk, C company, 511th Paratroop Infatantry Regiment, my rescuer at Los Banos. At this late date, I have contacted him; we spoke. He was one of the first occupying army on Japan. He returned to the US on the Intrepid's Dec 2, 1945 from Yokosuka to Dec 15 arrival San Pedro, CA.
He asked me to find "anything with my name on it" so I thought there would be a passenger manifest or some such documentation. This is my shot at helping the man who saved me and my family 75 years ago.
Yours,
Peter Albert Casanave
Brooklyn New York
13. Linda Scott Barrett says:
11 Feb 2021 05:40:19 AM
I was born the day the USS Intrepid was launched, April 26, 1943. My father. Sam V Scott served as Chief Machinist Mateuntil he was discharged in 1945. I visited the museum and was thrilled to walk the deck and learn about the engine room.
11 Feb 2021 05:40:19 AM
I was born the day the USS Intrepid was launched, April 26, 1943. My father. Sam V Scott served as Chief Machinist Mateuntil he was discharged in 1945. I visited the museum and was thrilled to walk the deck and learn about the engine room.
14. Anthony Sudweeks says:
10 Feb 2023 10:45:37 AM
My great-grandmother's big brother died on November 25th 1944 on the Intrepid. His name was Cecil Peterson. If anyone has any photos or information, I'd love to see it!
10 Feb 2023 10:45:37 AM
My great-grandmother's big brother died on November 25th 1944 on the Intrepid. His name was Cecil Peterson. If anyone has any photos or information, I'd love to see it!
15. David Fisher says:
9 May 2023 11:40:05 AM
For a book I'm working on about the Intrepid during WWII I would love to speak with relatives of crew members who may have heard some stories or can offer some assistance. I can be reached at DavidFisher@Optonline.net. I am working in association with the museum.
9 May 2023 11:40:05 AM
For a book I'm working on about the Intrepid during WWII I would love to speak with relatives of crew members who may have heard some stories or can offer some assistance. I can be reached at DavidFisher@Optonline.net. I am working in association with the museum.
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Event(s) Participated:» Marshall Islands Campaign
» Attack on Truk
» Philippines Campaign, Phase 1, the Leyte Campaign
» Okinawa Campaign
» Preparations for Invasion of Japan
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» US Aircraft Carrier Operational Status By Month
» US Carrier Time Operational
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22 Feb 2010 10:44:51 AM
I work at the Chagramas military history an airspace museum in trinidad i would like to get some more pictures on the uss interpid in the present i am vary much looking forward to it thankyou