USS Wasp (CV-7): The U.S. Navy’s Aircraft Carrier on the Verge of War

The USS Wasp (CV-7) was one of the United States Navy’s early aircraft carriers and played a significant role in the years leading up to World War II. Launched in 1939, the Wasp was the second ship of its class, following the USS Hornet (CV-8), and was considered an important asset in the U.S. Navy’s shift toward aircraft carriers as central elements of naval warfare.

As tensions were rising across the world in the late 1930s, the Wasp was a powerful symbol of American naval readiness and technological progress, positioning the U.S. Navy as a formidable force in the Pacific. In this article, we explore the significance of the USS Wasp during its early years, with a particular focus on the period when it was en route to sea from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, circa 1940—a time when the world was on the brink of war.

The Building of the USS Wasp

The USS Wasp was constructed at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Virginia. The keel was laid down in 1936, and the ship was launched on April 4, 1939, at the height of global political tensions. The ship was named after the previous USS Wasp (CV-1), which had been commissioned in 1928 but was decommissioned by the late 1930s.

Unlike earlier aircraft carriers, which had been built with limited capacity for air operations, the USS Wasp was designed as a full-fledged aircraft carrier, capable of carrying a substantial number of aircraft—up to 90 planes. The ship was equipped with a greatly improved flight deck and the ability to carry a variety of aircraft types, including dive bombers and fighters, giving it the flexibility needed for various combat scenarios.

Entering Service and Training

After its commissioning in April 1940, the USS Wasp underwent a period of sea trials and training. By the time it was stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, it was preparing for active duty in the tense international environment of the pre-World War II era. Guantanamo Bay, located in Cuba, was a key location for U.S. naval operations and served as a vital point for training and logistics in the Caribbean.

In 1940, the U.S. Navy was still preparing for the possibility of war, and aircraft carriers were becoming increasingly vital to naval strategy. At this stage, the Wasp was part of the Navy’s efforts to test and refine carrier operations, train air crews, and develop tactics for air combat and fleet defense. The importance of the Wasp during this time cannot be overstated. She represented both a technological advancement and a demonstration of the U.S. Navy’s growing reliance on carrier-based air power.

As the USS Wasp prepared to sail from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 1940, its training exercises were critical for ensuring that the ship’s crew and air wings were ready to face the challenges that lay ahead. The ship’s readiness in these early stages helped solidify the U.S. Navy’s carrier operations and contributed to the strategic shift toward aircraft carriers as the primary tool of naval power in the Pacific.

The USS Wasp’s Role in the Pre-War Years

In the years leading up to the United States’ entry into World War II, the USS Wasp conducted several training missions and exercises to test its readiness. The U.S. was preparing for a global conflict, and tensions were mounting, particularly in Europe and the Pacific. The ship’s maneuvers and operations off the coast of Cuba in the spring and summer of 1940 were part of the Navy’s broader efforts to refine tactics for carrier-based air operations, which would later prove crucial in the Pacific Theater.

Throughout 1940, the USS Wasp sailed off the coast of Cuba for a variety of naval exercises, designed to simulate real combat conditions. These exercises allowed both the ship’s crew and the air wing to hone their skills in launching and recovering aircraft, providing crucial experience that would be vital once the U.S. was drawn into the conflict.

USS Wasp and the Growing Tensions of World War II

By the fall of 1940, the geopolitical situation was becoming increasingly fraught. In Europe, Nazi Germany was making rapid advances, while in the Pacific, Japan’s imperial ambitions were expanding. The United States, although not yet officially involved in the war, was deeply concerned about the growing military aggression on both fronts. The events surrounding the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 would soon push the U.S. into direct conflict with both Germany and Japan.

Prior to the Pearl Harbor attack, the USS Wasp participated in several missions designed to demonstrate U.S. naval strength and readiness, both in the Caribbean and further abroad. These included exercises in fleet defense, reconnaissance, and simulated airstrikes. Such missions were crucial in preparing the U.S. Navy for the coming war, and the USS Wasp played a key role in these operations.

The ship’s time spent in Cuba and other parts of the Caribbean provided an essential foundation for the Navy’s eventual war efforts, especially in terms of carrier-based operations. As tensions escalated, the USS Wasp and other carriers in the fleet were rapidly shifting from peacetime training to wartime preparedness. The experience and readiness garnered during these early years would ultimately prove invaluable when the U.S. Navy entered the global conflict.

A Critical Asset in the Pacific

After the U.S. entered the war in December 1941, the USS Wasp was immediately put into action. The ship became a critical asset in the Pacific Theater, participating in various battles, including the Battle of Midway (1942), where her air wing played a key role in striking Japanese forces. Despite its importance and early successes, the USS Wasp met a tragic end during the Battle of the Solomon Islands in September 1942, when it was hit by Japanese torpedoes and bombed, ultimately sinking the carrier.

However, in the months leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor, the USS Wasp was instrumental in training U.S. Navy personnel and ensuring that they were prepared for the rigors of war. The carrier’s activities off the coast of Cuba, as well as its operational readiness, would contribute significantly to the Navy’s eventual success in the Pacific.

Conclusion

The USS Wasp (CV-7) was a pivotal vessel in the U.S. Navy’s transition to the era of aircraft carriers as the dominant force in naval warfare. Launched in 1939 and sent on missions from Guantanamo Bay in 1940, the Wasp’s early years were marked by intensive training and preparation for war. The ship’s design and capabilities were representative of the future of naval aviation, which would prove decisive during World War II.

Though the USS Wasp would not survive the war, its contributions to U.S. naval strategy, particularly in the development of carrier-based operations, were lasting. As the world stood on the precipice of war in 1940, the USS Wasp symbolized the growing importance of aircraft carriers in global military power. The ship’s journey, from its early days in Guantanamo Bay to its eventual role in the Pacific, underscores the dramatic shift in naval warfare that would define much of the 20th century.