page_title: Independence-class aircraft carrier
section_title: Ships in class
hierarchical_section_title: Independence-class aircraft carrier / Ships in class
caption_attribution_description: The U.S. Navy light aircraft carrier USS Cowpens (CVL-25) at sea, 31 August 1944. She wears Camouflage Measure 33, Design 7A. USS Independence (CVL-22) is visible in the distance, wearing Measure 32, Design 8A.
context_page_description: The Independence-class aircraft carriers were a class of light carriers built for the United States Navy that served during World War II.
context_section_description: The nine ships of the Independence class were all converted from Cleveland-class light cruisers building at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Camden, New Jersey. Initially classified as "aircraft carriers" (CV), all were re-designated "small aircraft carriers" (CVL) on 15 July 1943 while four ships were still under construction.
  Independence (CV/CVL-22) – Postwar, she was surplus to the Navy's requirements and expended in the nuclear test Operation Crossroads in July 1946. The ship survived both tests with little damage. She was used as a radiation research hulk for several years afterward and expended as a target in January 1951.
  Princeton (CV/CVL-23) – Destroyed as a result of Japanese air attack 24 October 1944 during Battle of Leyte Gulf.
  Belleau Wood (CV/CVL-24) –  Decommissioned to reserve in January, 1947. Transferred to French Navy as Bois Belleau in June 1951.  Returned to the US Navy for scrapping September 1960.
  Cowpens (CV/CVL-25) – Decommissioned to reserve in January, 1947.  Stricken and scrapped starting November 1959.
  Monterey (CV/CVL-26) – Decommissioned to reserve February 1947.  Recommissioned as training carrier September 1950, decommissioned to reserve again January 1956.  Re-designated aircraft transport AVT-2 May 1959. Stricken June 1970.
  Langley CVL-27 – Decommissioned to reserve February 1947.  Transferred to France as La Fayette on 2 June 1951.  Returned to USN and stricken March 1963, scrapped at Baltimore in 1964.
  Cabot CVL-28 – Decommissioned to reserve February 1947, recommissioned and modernised as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) carrier October 1948.  Decommissioned to reserve January 1955, modernised 1965–1967 and transferred to Spain as Dédalo on 30 August 1967.  Stricken from Naval Vessel Register and sold to Spain August 1972.  Decommissioned for preservation at New Orleans August 1989, preservation efforts failed. Scrapped at Brownsville, Texas starting October 2000.
  Bataan CVL-29 – Decommissioned to reserve February 1947, recommissioned and modernised as ASW carrier May 1950.  Decommissioned to reserve April 1954.  Stricken for scrapping September 1959.
  San Jacinto CVL-30 – Decommissioned to reserve March 1947.  Stricken June 1970.
caption: USS Cowpens
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