Ordered 1 November 1930, laid down at the Newport News Shipbuilding Drydock Company at Newport News, Virginia as the first designed aircraft carrier for the United States Navy 26 September 1931, launched 25 February 1933 (sponsored by Lou Henry Hoover, spouse of the President of the USA), commissioned 4 June 1934, decommissioned 18 October 1946 and stricken 29 October of that same year and finally sold to the Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company at Chester, Pennsylvania 31 January 1947 to be broken up. Displacement of 14.576 long tons (=14.810 tons) standard and 17,577 long tons (=17.859 tons) full load and with the dimensions 730’(waterline)-769’(over all) x 80 (waterline)-109’5” (over all) x 22’4.875”. The 2 steam turbines combined with 6 boilers delivered 53.500 ship allowing a speed of 29,3 knots and by a sped of 15 knots her range was 10.000 nautical sea miles. She was armoured with a 2” belt, 2” bulkheads and a 1” deck to protect the steering gear. Armed with 8-5” anti aircraft guns and 40-0.50” machine guns. Transported 76 (normal)-86 (maximum) aircraft for which were 3 elevators and 3 catapults available. Her crew numbered 2.245 men included the air group personnel but was in 1941 reduced to 2.148 men.
