The USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) was an American aircraft carrier, the keel of which was laid in February 1943, launched in February 1944, and commissioned with the US Navy in May 1944. The length of the ship - at the time of launching - was 271 m, breadth at the waterline 28 m, and full displacement - 41,700 tons. The maximum speed of the USS Ticonderoga aircraft carrier was up to 33 knots, and its main armament comprised from 90 to 100 on-board planes.
USS Ticonderoga was the twelfth aircraft carrier of the Essex class and the first of the Ticonderoga sub-type. Ships of this type were the main American aircraft carriers during the Pacific War of 1943-1945. The Ticonderoga sub-type differed from the other Essex-class ships mainly in terms of an elongated hull and even stronger anti-aircraft armament. The genus Essex and the subtype Ticonderoga included as many as 24 aircraft carriers that entered the line until the Japanese capitulation in September 1945! Their construction was based on the experience gained from the operation of Lexington and Yorktown units, as well as not having to comply with any tonnage restrictions. The emphasis was primarily on the number of planes taken and the maximum speed at the expense of the armor of the landing deck. Interestingly, the Essex-class aircraft carriers were built in such a way that the hangar was not an integral part of the fuselage, but a structure suspended under the flight deck. Such a solution made the ships of this type relatively easy to damage, but much more difficult to sink as a result of an air attack. The USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) aircraft carrier during World War II took part in the operations in the Philippines, and mainly supported land operations in November-December 1944. In January 1945, the carrier operated in the South China Sea region, operating primarily against Japanese shipping and aviation in the Taiwan region. Later, his planes participated in air raids of on-board aviation against the Japanese fleet stationed in their native waters. On February 21, 1945, it was severely damaged by a kamikaze attack. After repairs, the ship returned to active service at the turn of April and May 1945, continuing air raids against Japanese ships stationed in ports in Japan. She was one of the ships participating in the signing ceremony of Japan's unconditional surrender on September 2, 1945 in the waters of Tokyo Bay. After the end of World War II, the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) was placed in reserve, but returned to active service in 1952 due to the outbreak of the Korean War (1950-1953). He took a limited part in the fights on the Korean. The ship was also modernized and adapted to operate on-board jet airplanes. USS Ticonderoga took a very active part in the Vietnam War (1964 / 1965-1975). The unit was withdrawn from the line in 1973 and finally sold for scrap in 1974.