[SkyDancer]

I read about the sea battle where the Franklin was hit over and over again with those Kamakasi planes. Although I’m a bit clueless over naming one carrier the Wasp (it was sunk). What was that all about?

[DesertRhino]

Wasp was taken from a USN ship dating back to around 1800. Not sure of the exact story without a trip to wikipedia.

[tanknetter]

I read about the sea battle where the Franklin was hit over and over again with those Kamakasi planes. Although I’m a bit clueless over naming one carrier the Wasp (it was sunk). What was that all about?

Franklin was the most damaged carrier to ever survive and be restored to service-worthy condition. However she never reentered full-service. The war ended and she was extraneous. Like her similarly damaged sister Bunker Hill she was retained post-war for possible conversion into what was called the "Ultimate Essex" configuration (which would have been similar to the SCB mods many of her other sisters got - but apparently with a flush-deck configuration) and as a spare parts source (part of her forward flightdeck was removed and grafted onto the USS Valley Forge after the Valley Forge's flightdeck was damaged in a storm).

Another factor was probably the USN's somewhat superstitious reticence to put a ship that much death back into service.

As to the USS Wasp: the "Wasp" name is an honored one in USN service dating back to the Revolutionary war. Along the same lines as "Hornet". The first carrier Wasp (CV-7) was sunk by a submarine during the Guadalcanal campaign. Her name was bestowed upon the Essex-class CV-18. More recently the name adorns the leader of the LHD-1 class of amphibious assault ships - which has been the class where many of the more traditional USN names have been placed (along with some of the Aegis cruisers) while CVN's have been named after leaders and politicians.

[Parley Baer]

“Although I’m a bit clueless over naming one carrier the Wasp (it was sunk). What was that all about?”

The Wasp was sunk in the latter parts of 1942 buy a Japanese submarine. Another carrier was commissioned as the Wasp maybe in early 1944. Not sure about the dates.

I will say I am proud to have served on the Enterprise as part of the air wing detachment with VF-96. The years were 1967 and 1968. I just missed the big fire in early January of 1969 as I was left behind because I was getting discharged from the Navy.

[Hot Tabasco]

Although I’m a bit clueless over naming one carrier the Wasp (it was sunk).

I think it was manned entirely by white, anglo-saxon protestant sailors....

[cva66snipe]

Six United States Navy Ships were named WASP and five were before WASP CV-6 commissioned in 1940 & sank in 1942. The previous WASP to CV-6 was a Sloop built in 1812. So the name WASP is an old one in the USN.

IOW there would have been four USS WASP commissioned between 1776-1812 & taken out of service. Those could have been merchant ships put into USN service. Obviously it is still a popular name as there is a current LDH-1.

But this should clear it up LOL. HISTORY OF USS WASP