Wow...I thought it was the Langley. I guess this was considered a combination Battleship/Cruiser carrier?? Did they even call them aircraft carriers then? Did the aircraft land on the Cruiser Birmingham or just take off? The article wasn’t clear. Although apparently you could take off and land on the Battleship Pennsylvania. Absolutely fascinating and incredibly interesting. Thanks for posting this.
Both the Pennsylvania in question and the Birmingham were cruisers, not battleships. The armored cruiser Pennsylvania was later renamed the Pittsburgh to free up the Pennsylvania name for a later battleship (BB 38). The Birmingham was a light cruiser.
Langley was the first true American aircraft carrier. The temporary decks on Birmingham and Pennsylvania, laid over the turrets on one end of the ship, were really just proof of concept. As soon as the test were done, the decks were removed.
Hreat pics..thanks for posting..what struck me, looking at them, was how NARROW she was..according to the link..length was 423, beam was 47..she must have been fun in heavy seas..was that characteristic of design of that era..
Great pics..thanks for posting..what struck me, looking at them, was how NARROW she was..according to the link..length was 423, beam was 47..she must have been fun in heavy seas..was that characteristic of design of that era..