The USS Saratoga (CV-3), commissioned in 1927, was an Lexington-class American Aircraft carrier measuring 268 meters (880 ft.) in length and weighting 39,000 tons. Originally she was designed as a battlecruiser, but was later converted into one of the Navy’s first aircraft carriers during construction to comply with the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922.
During her World War II service she was involved in numerous battles including responding to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal Campaign, the Battle of Iwo Jima and countless assaults along the Japanese coast. Surviving various heavy attacks which included being torpedoed, a bombed out flight deck, hanger deck fires, and 2 starboard side bomb detonations.
For her service she was rewarded with 7 Battle Stars for her service before de-commissioning in 1945 at the end of the World War 2. Mid-1946, the ship was used as a target for nuclear weapon tests (“Operation Crossroads”). She survived the first test with little damage, but was sunk by the second test.
The wreck of the USS Saratoga (“Sara”) rests in Bikini Atoll at a depth of 52 meters (190 ft.). Her bridge is easily accessible at 18 meters (40 ft.), her deck at 28 meters (90 ft.).
USS Saratoga (CV-3) Shipwreck
Deck guns. (Credits: Jan Kocian)
Deck. (Credits: Jan Kocian)
Bridge of USS Saratoga Shipwreck in Bikini Atoll (Credits: Jan Kocian)
Deck guns of the Saratoga (Credits: Jan Kocian)
USS Saratoga (Credits: Jan Kocian)
USS Saratoga (Credits: Jan Kocian)
Forklift on the USS Saratoga. (Credits: Jan Kocian)
Another view of the forklift. (Credits: Jan Kocian)
Twin guns (Credits: Jan Kocian)
Bombs are still to be found on the USS Saratoga. (Credits: Jan Kocian)
