What is known about this ship
USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) is one of the 9 completed ships documented in the completed Independence class roster.
Service history
adds this source-bounded hull to close the high-priority legacy class roster. Detailed builder, date, refit, transfer, combat, and disposition enrichment is intentionally deferred unless already present elsewhere in the archive.
Class context: Independence class
The Independence class consisted of nine light aircraft carriers converted from Cleveland-class light cruiser hulls during World War II. The conversions traded the capacity and seakeeping of full-size fleet carriers for speed of construction and the ability to operate with the fast carrier force.
Class relationship
This ship is recorded as a member of Independence class. Shared design history belongs on the class page; this page concentrates on the individual hull where evidence is available.
Sources and further reading
- Independence IV (CV-22) ↗Naval History and Heritage Command · accessed 2026-09-18
- The Little Carriers That Could ↗Naval History and Heritage Command · accessed 2026-09-18
- USS Independence (CV-22/CVL-22) ↗Naval History and Heritage Command · accessed 2026-09-18
- United States Naval Aviation 1910–1995 — Appendix 3: Aviation Ships ↗Naval History and Heritage Command · accessed 2026-09-21