USS Cowpens (CVL-25)

USS "Cowpens" (CV-25), nicknamed "The Mighty Moo", was an 11,000-ton sclass|Independence|aircraft carrier that served the United States Navy from 1943–1947.

Description

"Cowpens" (named for the Battle of Cowpens of the Revolutionary War, like her contemporaries USS|Saratoga|CV-3|2, USS|Lexington|CV-16|2, and USS|Yorktown|CV-10|2) was launched 17 January 1943 at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, in Camden, New Jersey, sponsored by Mrs. M. H. Spruance (daughter of Vice Admiral William F. Halsey) and commissioned 28 May 1943 by Captain R. P. McConnell. She was reclassified CVL 25 on 15 July 1943.

World War II service

1943

Departing Philadelphia, on 29 August 1943, "Cowpens" arrived at Pearl Harbor on 19 September to begin the active and distinguished war career which was to earn her a Navy Unit Commendation. She sailed with Task Force 14 for the strike on Wake Island on 5 October and 6 October, then returned to Pearl Harbor to prepare for strikes on the Marshall Islands preliminary to invasion. She sortied from Pearl Harbor 10 November to launch air strikes on Mille and Makin atolls between 19 November and 24 November, and Kwajalein and Wotje on 4 December, returning to her base on 9 December.

1944

Joining Task Force 58, "Cowpens" sailed from Pearl Harbor on 16 January 1944 for the invasion of the Marshalls. Her planes pounded Kwajalein and Eniwetok the last 3 days of the month to prepare for the assault landing on the 31 January. Using Majuro as a base, the force struck at Truk on 16 February and 17 February and the Marianas on 21 February and 22 February before putting in to Pearl Harbor 4 March. Returning to Majuro, Task Force 58 based here for attacks on the western Carolines; "Cowpens" supplied air and antisubmarine patrols during the raids on Palau, Yap, Ulithi, and Woleai from 30 March to 1 April. After operating off New Guinea during the invasion of Hollandia (currently known as Jayapura) from 21 April to 28 April, "Cowpens" took part in the strikes on Truk, Satawan and Ponape between 29 April and 1 May, returning to Majuro on 14 May for training.

From 6 June to 10 July 1944, "Cowpens" operated in the Marianas operation. Her planes struck the island of Saipan to aid the assault troops, and made supporting raids on Iwo Jima, Pagan, Rota, and Guam. They also took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea on 19 June and 20 June, accounting for a number of the huge tally of enemy planes downed. After a brief overhaul at Pearl Harbor, "Cowpens" rejoined the fast carrier task force at Eniwetok on 17 August. Then, on 29 August, she sailed for the pre-invasion strikes on the Palaus, whose assault was an essential preliminary for the return to the Philippines. From 13 September to 17 September, she was detached from the force to cover the landings on Morotai, then rejoined it for sweep, patrol, and attack missions against Luzon from 21 September to 24 September. "Cowpens", with her task group, sent air strikes to neutralize Japanese bases on Okinawa and Formosa from 10 October to 14 October, and when USS|Canberra|CA-70|6 and USS|Houston|CL-81|2 were hit by torpedoes, "Cowpens" provided air cover for their safe withdrawal, rejoining her task group 20 October. En route to Ulithi, she was recalled when the Japanese Fleet threatened the Leyte invasion, and during the Battle of Surigao Strait phase of the decisive Battle for Leyte Gulf on 25 October and 26 October, provided combat air patrol for the ships pursuing the fleeing remnant of the Japanese fleet. Continuing her support of the Philippines advance, "Cowpens"' planes struck Luzon repeatedly during December. During the disastrous Typhoon Cobra on 18 December "Cowpens" lost a man: ship's air officer LCDR Robert Price, several planes, and some equipment, but skillful work by her crew prevented major damage, and she reached Ulithi safely on 21 December to repair her storm damage.

1945

Between 30 December 1944 and 26 January 1945, "Cowpens" was at sea for the Lingayen Gulf landings. Her planes struck targets on Formosa, Luzon, the Indochinese coast and the Hong Kong-Canton area and Okinawa during January. On 10 February, "Cowpens" sortied from Ulithi for the Iwo Jima operation, striking the Tokyo area, supporting the initial landings from 19 February to 22 February, and hitting Okinawa on 1 March.

On 13 June, following an overhaul at San Francisco and training at Pearl Harbor, "Cowpens" sailed on for San Pedro Bay, Leyte. Along the way she struck Wake Island on 20 June. Rejoining Task Force 58, "Cowpens" sailed from San Pedro Bay on 1 July to join in the final raids on the Japanese mainland. Her planes pounded Tokyo, Kure, and other cities of Hokkaidō and Honshū until 15 August. "Cowpens" was the first American carrier to enter Tokyo Harbor. Remaining off Tokyo Bay until the occupation landings began 30 August, "Cowpens" launched photographic reconnaissance missions to patrol airfields and shipping movements, and to locate and supply prisoner-of-war camps. Men from "Cowpens" were the first Americans to set foot on the Japanese mainland, and were largely responsible for the emergency activation of Yokosuka airfield for Allied use and the liberation of a POW camp near Niigata. Between 8 November 1945 and 28 January 1946 "Cowpens" made two voyages to Pearl Harbor, Guam, and Okinawa to return veterans on "Magic Carpet" runs.

Post-War history

On 3 December 1946 she was placed in commission reserve at Mare Island. On 15 May 1959 she was reclassified as an aircraft transport, with a new hull number, AVT 1. Then, just six months later, on 1 November she was stricken from the Navy List and sold for scrap.

In addition to her Navy Unit Commendation, "Cowpens" received 12 battle stars for World War II service.

Commemoration

Each year, the town of Cowpens, SC holds a 4-day festival honoring veterans of USS "Cowpens". "The Mighty Moo Festival" was first held in 1977, with one crewmember of CVL 25 attending. Since then, as many as 115 CVL 25 veterans have attended the festival at once. Also, since the launch and commissioning of USS "Cowpens" (CG 63), the festival has included actively-serving crewmen or women of CG 63 sent by the ship's commanding officer, as well as previously-serving veterans of CG 63. The festival is held from Wednesday through Saturday preceding Father's Day each June. During the 1980s, the town of Cowpens, SC actively petitioned Congress to name another ship "Cowpens", which may have played a direct role in choosing this name for CG 63.

Gallery

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c15/cowpens.htm

External links

* [http://www.ninesisters.com/cowpens.htm USS "Cowpens"] at Nine Sisters Light Carrier Historical Documentary Project
* [http://www.cowpensvets.org/ USS "Cowpens" Veterans] Veterans web site for CVL 25 and CG 63
* [http://www.cowpensmightymoo.com/ The Mighty Moo Festival] Official web site of The Mighty Moo Festival