BACKGROUND HISTORICAL DATA
The first Cabot, a 14-gun brig, was purchased in Philadelphia, Pa.,
during November 1775; outfitted there by Wharton and Humphreys; and placed under the command of Captain J. B. Hopkins
as one of the first ships of the Continental Navy.
"A SYNOPSIS"
CVL28 U.S.S. CABOT
The U.S.S. Cabot was built by the New York Shipbuilding
Corporation, Camden, New Jersey.
The authorizing act was passed by Congress June 28th and July 19th, 1940. Contract was received September 9th,
1940 and the keel was laid April 11th, 1942.
The U.S.S. Cabot was launched as a carrier on May 22, 1943 and had its dock trial and material inspection on July
14, 1943. Delivered and commissioned on July 24, 1943.
The U.S.S. Cabot was named to commemorate John Cabot - professional navigator. A Venetian pilot, the discoverer
of the mainland of North America, John Cabot was hired by Henry VII of England to explore the Atlantic Routes.
With his sons Lewis, Sebastian and Sanetics, they set sail with ships from Bristol in 1497. On route, they discovered
Cape Breton Island and Nova Scotia. The Cabot Strait forms an entrance to the gulf of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland
and Cape Breton Island.
The First Cabot
Sailing with Commodore Esek Hopkins' fleet, Cabot joined in the expedition against the Bahamas in March 1776, taking
part in the amphibious operations against New Providence on 3 March. By this bold stroke, men of the fleet seized
large quantities of desperately needed military supplies which they carried back to the Continental Army. Upon
the return of the fleet north, Cabot was first to fire in the engagement with HMS Glasgow 6 April. The next month,
she made a short cruise off the New England coast , during which she took her first prize. In September and October,
again sailing in New England waters, she seized six more prizes.
Cabot stood out of Boston in March 1777, and later in the month encountered HMS Milford (32). The vastly more powerful
British ship chased Cabot and forced her ashore in Nova Scotia. While Cabot's captain and crew escaped unharmed,
the British were later able to get the brig off, and refitted her for service in the Royal Navy. Cabot was the
first Continental naval ship captured by the British.
The Cabot/Lexington
An Essex-class carrier, Lexington was originally named the USS
CABOT. During 1942, as the final work on the new carrier was being completed at Fore River Shipyard in Massachusetts,
word was received that the original carrier named Lexington (CV-2), had been sunk by the Japanese in the Battle
of the Coral Sea. A campaign was launched to change the name of the new carrier to LEXINGTON.
The USS Cabot
The Cabot (CVL—28) was laid down as Wilmington (CL-79), redesignated
CV-28 on 2 June 1942 renamed Cabot 23 June 1942, converted while building and launched 4 April 1943 by New York
Shipbuilding Co., Camden' N.J.; sponsored by Mrs. A. C. Read; reclassified CVL-28 on 16 July 1943; and commissioned
24 July 1943, Captain M. F. Shoeffel in command.
Cabot sailed from Quonset Point R.I. 8 November 1943 for Pearl Harbor, where she arrived 2 December. Clearing for
Majuro 15 January 1944, she joined TF 58 to begin the consistently high quality of war service which was to win
her a Presidential Unit Citation. From 4 February to 4 March 1944 she launched her planes in strikes on Roi, Namur,
and the island stronghold of Truk, aiding in the neutralization of these Japanese bases as her part in the invasion
of the Marshalls.
Cabot returned to Pearl Harbor for a brief repair period, but was back in action from Majuro for the pounding raids
on the Palaus, Yap, Ulithi, and Woleai at the close of March 1944. She sailed to provide valuable air cover for
the Hollandia operation from 22 to 25 April, and 4 days later began to hurl her air power at Truk, Satawan, and
Ponape. She cleared Majuri again 6 June for the preinvasion air strikes in the Marianas, and on 19 and 20 June
launched sorties in the key Battle of the Philippine Sea, the famous "Marianas Turkey Shoot," which hopelessly
crippled Japanese naval aviation. Cabot's air units pounded Japanese bases on Iwo Jima, Pagian, Rota, Guam, Yap
and Ulithi as the carrier continued her support of the Marianas operation until 9 August.
Preinvasion strikes in the Palaus in September 1944 along with air attacks on Mindanao, the Visayas, and Luzon
paved the way for the long-awaited return to the Philippines. On 6 October Cabot sailed from Ulithi for raids on
Okinawa, and to provide air cover for her task group during the heavy enemy attacks off Formosa on 12 and 13 October.
(Cabot joined the group which screened "Cripple Division 1," the cruisers Canberra (CA-70) and Houston
CL-81) which had been torpedoed off Formosa, to the safety of the Carolines, then rejoined her group for continued
air strikes on the Visayas, and the Battle for Leyte Gulf on 26 and 26 October.
Cabot remained on patrol off Luzon, conducting strikes in support of operations ashore, and repelling desperate
suicide attacks. On 25 November a particularly vicious one occurred. Cabot had fought off several kamikazes when
one, already flaming from hits, crashed the flight deck on the port side, destroying the still-firing 20 mm. gun
platform, disabling the 40 mm. mounts and a gun director. Another of Cabot's victims crashed close aboard and showered
the port side with shrapnel and burning debris Cabot lost 62 men killed and wounded, but careful training had produced
a crew which handled damage control smoothly and coolly. While she continued to maintain her station in formation
and operate effectively, temporary repairs were made. On 28 November she arrived at Ulithi for permanent repairs.
Cabot returned to action 11 December 1944, steaming with the force striking Luzon, Formosa, Indo-China, Hong Kong,
and the Nansei Shoto in support of the Luzon operations From 10 February to 1 March 1945, her planes pounded the
Japanese homeland and the Bonins to suppress opposition to the invasion of Iwo Jima. Continued strikes against
Kyushu and Okinawa in March prepared for the invasion of the latter island. After these prolonged, intensive operations,
Cabot was homeward bound for San Francisco for a much-needed overhaul completed in June.
After refresher training at Pearl Harbor, the carrier launched strikes on Wake Island on 1 August while en route
to Eniwetok. Here she remained on training duty until the end of the war. Sailing 21 August, she joined TG 38.3
to support the landings of occupation troops in the Yellow Sea area in September and October. Embarking homeward-
bound men at Guam, Cabot arrived at San Diego 9 November, then sailed for the east coast. Cabot was placed out
of commission in reserve at Philadelphia 11 February 1947.
Recommissioned 27 October 1948, Cabot was assigned to the Naval Air Reserve training program. She operated out
of Pensacola, then Quonset Point, on cruises to the Caribbean and had one tour of duty in European waters from
9 January to 20 March 1952. Cabot was again placed out of commission in reserve 21 January 1965. She was reclassified
AVT-3 on 15 May 1959.
Sources:
Andrew Toppan & Paul Yarnall, NavSource Naval Pages
Dictionary of American Fighting Ships
USS Lexington Museum
© 2000
USS CABOT MUSEUM / ECOSAT
All Rights Reserved
Web Site By
DEEP DIVERSIONS