BIKINI ATOLL: Wrecks

Wreck Name: USS SARATOGA

Builder: New York Shipbuilding Corporation
Launched: 7 April 1925
Class and type: Lexington-class aircraft carrier
Displacement: 54,000 ton
Length: 268 m
Beam: 32.14m
Draft: 7.39m
Propulsion:
Design:
16 x boilers at 300 psi (2.1 MPa)
Geared turbines and electric drive
4 x shafts 213,000 shp (159 MW)
Speed: 33.25 knots
Range: 10,000 nautical miles
Complement: 2,122 officers and men
Armament: As built:
4 x twin 8-inch (200 mm) 55 caliber guns
12 x single 5-inch (130 mm) guns
Armor:
Belt: 5 to 7 inches (130 to 180mm)
2 inches (51 mm) protective 3rd deck
3 inches (76 mm) flat to 4.5 inches (110 mm) over steering gear
Aircraft carried: As built:
91 aircraft
2 x elevators
1 x flywheel catapult

History

Saratoga was the first fast carrier in the US Navy, sailing from Philadelphia on 6 January 1928, Saratoga did tours in the Pacific via the Panama Canal, carrying Marines to Corinto, Nicaragua, and finally joined the Battle Fleet at San Pedro, California in February. During the remaining decade before World War II, Saratoga exercised in the San Diego – San Pedro area.

In January 1941, she entered the Bremerton Navy Yard for a long deferred modernization. When the Japanese struck at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, Saratoga was just entering San Diego after the upgrade. She hurriedly got underway, carrying Marine aircraft intended to reinforce the vulnerable garrison on Wake Island. Reaching Pearl Harbor on 15 December, rendezvousing with Tangier, which had relief troops and supplies on board, However, Saratoga force was delayed by the low speed of its oilers. After receiving reports of Japanese carrier aircraft over the island and Japanese landings on it, the relief force was recalled on 22 December. Wake fell the next day.

Saratoga continued operations in the Hawaiian Island region, but on 11 January 1942, 800 km south-west of Oahu, she was hit without warning by a deep-running torpedo fired by I-6. Although six men were killed and three firerooms were flooded, the carrier reached Oahu under her own power.

Saratoga returned to action in June 1942, in time for reinforcement operations immediately following the Battle of Midway. She was next engaged in supporting the Battle of Guadalcanal in August 1942, including participation in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. Another enemy submarine torpedo hit on 31 August put her in the repair yard for two months.

The carrier was back in the South Pacific war zone in December 1942, spending the next year in that area. In November 1943, her planes made devastating raids on the Japanese base at Rabaul and supported the Gilberts operation later in the month. In January and February 1944 Saratoga took part in the invasion of the Marshall Islands. She then was sent to join the British Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean and participated in raids on Japanese positions in the East Indies during April and May 1944. An overhaul from June to September prepared her for employment training aviators for night operations. In February 1945, she carried night fighters during the Iwo Jima invasion and raids on the Japanese home islands. Several Kamikaze suicide plane hits on 21 February caused serious damage and casualties, sending her back to the U.S. for another session in the shipyard.

Saratoga returned to service in May, again taking on a training role that lasted until Japan’s surrender. Beginning in September 1945, she transported servicemen from the Pacific back to the United States as part of Operation “Magic Carpet”. Too old for retention in the post-war fleet, Saratoga was then assigned to target duty for the atomic bomb tests at Bikini, in the Marshall Islands. She survived the first blast, on 1 July 1946, but sank after the 25 July underwater test.

Diving

USS Saratoga CV-3, rests in 52 meters. Her bridge is easily accessible at 18 meters, her deck at 28 meters, and the hanger for the Helldivers at 32 meters. These Helldivers and bombs are still on display complete with all dials and controls. There are two helldivers 50m off the starboard side off the bow section lying on the sand. There is another plane completely upright in the stern section about 40m off the port section off the stern. Just follow the chain and you will get to the Plane!! Engine has fallen off onto the sand.

The Saratoga is worth 100 dives! You can easily spend 5-10 dives just diving the outside easily! So just take your time and get to know the wreck a little