SCB-125

SCB-125 was the United States Navy designation for a series of upgrades to the "Essex" class of aircraft carriers (both short-hull and long-hull ("Ticonderoga"-sub-class)), conducted between 1954 and 1959. These upgrades included the addition of an angled flight deck and other enhancements aimed at improving flight operations and seakeeping.

Program history

The SCB-125 upgrade program was first applied to the final three "Essex"-class carriers to undergo the SCB-27C modernization while they were still in the midst of their original refit.

Despite the drastic reconstruction of the carriers, the original SCB-27A vessels, which were fitted with a pair of H 8 hydraulic catapults, were not upgraded with the C 11 steam catapults fitted to their SCB-27C sister ships due to machinery space limitations.

The USS "Oriskany" (CV-34), the original prototype for the SCB-27 conversion, was the final "Essex" carrier to undergo the SCB-125 conversion and as such, received further enhancements. As a result of the addition of Mk 7 arresting gear and more-powerful C 11-1 steam catapults to the standard SCB-125 modifications, the "Oriskany" alone was referred to as a SCB-125A vessel.cite book | last = Friedman | first = Norman | title = U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History | year = 1983 | publisher = Naval Institute | location = Annapolis | language = English | isbn = 0-87021-739-9 ] These changes also made "Oriskany" the sole SCB-27A vessel to receive steam catapults.

Modified vessels

"Source:www.history.navy.mil" [cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/usnshtp/cv/scb125cl.htm|title=U.S. Navy Ship Types - SCB-125 modernization of "Essex"/"Ticonderoga" class aircraft carriers|publisher=U.S. Navy Historical Center|date=2001-10-09|accessdate=2006-12-05]

References

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/usnshtp/cv/scb125cl.htm Naval Historical Center page on SCB-125 program]