USS Saipan (CVL-48)

The first USS Saipan (CVL-48/AVT-6/CC-3/AGMR-2) was a light aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. She was the lead ship of her class. She was later selected for conversion into a command ship in 1963–1964, but instead was converted to the Major Communications Relay Ship Arlington (AGMR-2) in 1965.

Construction

With a hull design based on that of Baltimore-class heavy cruisers, Saipan was laid down on 10 July 1944, by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey, launched on 8 July 1945, sponsored by Mrs. John W. McCormack, and commissioned on 14 July 1946, with Captain John G. Crommelin in command.

Service history

Commissioned

Commissioned 11 months after the close of World War II, Saipan trained student pilots out of Pensacola, Florida, from September 1946 to April 1947, when, reassigned to Norfolk, Virginia, as homeport, she departed the Gulf of Mexico; participated in exercises in the Caribbean; then proceeded to the Philadelphia, for overhaul. In November, she returned to Pensacola; but, in late December, after training midshipmen, steamed back to the east coast to serve with the Operational Development Force (OPTEVFOR).

In February 1948, her work in jet operational techniques, carrier support tactics, and electronic instrument evaluation was interrupted briefly. From 7 to 24 February, she was engaged in transporting the United States delegation to the Venezuelan Presidential inauguration and back. On her return, she conducted local operations off the Virginia Capes, and in April, after a visit to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, she resumed work for the Operational Development Force.