The USS Intrepid (CV/CVA/CVS-11) was one of 24 Essex-class carriers designed and built by the United States in the 1940's. These ships formed the back bone of the United States Navy's Fast Carrier Task Forces that carried the war across the Pacific Ocean and to the shores of the Japanese homeland during World War II.
Intrepid was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, in Newport News, Virginia. Her keel was laid just prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Launched in April 1943; she was commissioned in August 1943. After a shakedown cruise in the Caribbean during the fall of 1943, she headed west, arriving at Pearl Harbor on January 10, 1944. She almost immediately went into action, participating on raids of the Marshall Islands that began on January 29th. With the Marshall Island neutralized and US Marine landings in progress, Intrepid shifted her attention to the Japanese stronghold of Truk in mid-February. On the night of February 17, 1944, she was stuck with an aerial torpedo, which partially disabled her rudder. She was able to return to Pearl Harbor for temporary repairs by steering with her engines and erecting a jury-rigged sail that helped keep her on course.
An injection molded, modernized angle-deck Essex Class carrier has been a 'holy grail' item for many ship modelers for a long time. It's well molded with crisp details.
Features
- Full-hull design with separate SQS-23 dome on bow (hinting at other versions coming in the future)
- Very straightforward construction
- Awesome photo-etched details under the elevators
- Positionable forward flight deck elevator
- Positionable port side elevator
- Positionable aft-starboard elevator
- Positionable crane
- Photo-etched radar dishes
Includes
- 4 x A-4B/C Skyhawk
- 2 x E-1B Tracer
- 4 x A-1H/J Skyraider (identified in instructions as EA-1F)
- 4 x F-8C Crusader
- 4 x UH-2B Seasprite
