Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!veritas!amdcad!amdcad!military From: wbt@cbema.att.com (William B Thacker) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Why the C in CV... Message-ID: <1991Jun1.013114.28591@amd.com> Date: 31 May 91 02:12:35 GMT Sender: military@amd.com Organization: AT&T Network Systems - Columbus, Ohio Lines: 23 Approved: military@amd.com From: wbt@cbema.att.com (William B Thacker) Barbarisi writes: >I am not sure whether or not this has been pointed out, but the >"C" in US aircraft carrier designations (CV, CVA, CVN, etc...) comes >from the fact that early production carriers were converted battlecruisers. Others have already addressed this, and I agree; the designation seems to have come from the fact that the carriers were intended to supplement cruisers (as fleet scouts), hence were "aircraft cruisers." If Marco has any supporting references, though, I'd be interested, because I've not seen the above clearly stated anywhere, though it appears obvious. As further evidence, consider that CV-1, USS Langley, began life as AC-3, the fleet collier Jupiter. During conversion to a carrier in 1920 she was redesignated AV-1 USS Langley, then eventually, CV-1. Clearly, no relation to a battlecruiser can be established here. -- Bill Thacker AT&T Network Systems - Columbus wbt@cbnews.att.com