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The USS Bataan (CVL-29) was an Independence-class light aircraft carrier. The duties of a ship of this kind were similar to those required of an escort carrier. They screened the course for other vessels, the difference being that a light aircraft carrier would perform at a higher speed.
The USS Bataan mostly operated during World War II and the Korean War, having received a total of 17 battle stars for its participation in both.
Technical Features of the USS Bataan (CVL-29)
Class and type: Independence-class aircraft carrier
Ordered: 16 December 1940
Builder: New York Shipbuilding Corporation
Laid down: 31 August 1942
Launched: 1 March 1943
Commissioned: 17 November 1943
Decommissioned: 11 February 1947
Recommissioned: 13 May 1950
Decommissioned: 9 April 1954
Fate: sold for scrapping in May 1961
Displacement: 11,120 long tons (11,300 t) light, 16,260 long tons (16,520 t) full load
Length:?(overall): 622,5 feet (189,7 m), waterline: 600 feet (180 m)
Beam: extreme: 109 feet 2 in (33,27 m), waterline: 71 feet (22 m)
Draft: 26 feet (7.9 m)
Speed: 32 kn (37 mph; 59 km/h)
Complement: 1,372 men and 156 people
Armament: 26 x Bosfors 40 mm guns (2x4, 9x2) / 18 x Oerlikon 20 mm cannons
Awards: 6 battle stars for World War II and another 7 battle stars for the Korean War
History of the USS Bataan (CVL-29)
The USS Bataan was originally named USS Buffalo, had the main hull number CL-99, and was built to be used as a cruiser. The events that took place after the attack on Pearl Harbor changed its purpose due to the increased need for aircraft carriers. Thus, the cruiser was reclassified as CVL-29 and named Bataan.
Its first loss took place in 1944, when a Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter destroyed her number 2 stack, starting a fire that took the life of 3 men. After finishing its missions in Pearl Harbor, the aircraft carrier moved to the Mariana Islands, where it participated in the striking of Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima. Following these events, the USS Bataan (CVL-29) participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, which had the main purpose of eliminating the Japanese Navy's actions against the US Navy. Another important battle was the Battle of Okinawa which took place from April to June 1945 and resulted in the occupation of Okinawa by the United States until 1972.
After the war, the ship started to prepare for Operation Magic Carpet to bring the soldiers back home from overseas. However, the beginning of the Korean War determined the USS Bataan (CVL-29) to be recommissioned and even had three deployments.
Asbestos Risk on the USS Batan (CVL-29)
The US Navy used significant quantities of asbestos during the past century. This toxic mineral has been deployed for its impressive insulation capacity. Asbestos-containing products were present everywhere on Navy ships, in pipes, valves, boilers, and turbines, just to name a few examples.
During the period ranging from the 30s up until the 70s, thousands of American marines were exposed to asbestos aboard Navy ships and in land bases. The riskiest occupations were those that implied direct contact with the asbestos-containing materials that occurred during the ship's construction or maintenance operations. Mechanics, welders, or workers who handled the insulation were the most exposed categories. However, given that asbestos was present everywhere on the ship, anyone who was aboard had the chance of developing a correlated disease. The works carried on aboard the Navy vessels were dangerous because handling or displacing used objects that contained asbestos released this mineral's toxic fibers. The particles were inhaled involuntarily, and their effect on human health was irreversible. Asbestos can cause several severe conditions like mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and different types of cancer. Moreover, the victims were not aware of how dangerous this substance was because it was only in the 70s when this mineral's effects were exposed to the public.
Fortunately, there are different benefits available for Marines who have developed malignant asbestos-related diseases due to their years of service in the Navy. If you worked aboard the USS Bataan and you have been diagnosed with a cancerous asbestos disease, you can file a claim and receive compensation for your injuries.
Have you been exposed to asbestos on the USS Bataan (CVL-29)?
If you think you suffered from asbestos exposure during your service in the US Navy, you should get informed. We can help you find out more about the exposure circumstances and put you in contact with other victims. Should you have developed asbestos-related cancer, we can assist your legal steps by putting you in touch with legal experts.