Originally rushed to construction as part of the war effort, the USS Oriskany (CV/CVA-34) was designed as an Essex-class aircraft carrier.
The history of Oriskany differs considerably from that of her sister ships completed during WWII. Originally designed as a “long-hulled” Essex-class ship her construction was suspended in 1947. She was eventually commissioned in 1950 after conversion to an updated design, which became the template for modernization of 14 other Essex-class ships.
She operated primarily in the Pacific into the 1970s, earning two battle stars for service in the Korean War, and five for service in the Vietnam War. In 1966 one of the worst shipboard fires since World War II broke out on Oriskany when a magnesium flare was accidentally ignited; forty-four men died in the fire.
- AUTHORIZED: 07 AUG 1942
- LAID DOWN: 01 MAY 1944
- LAUNCHED: 13 OCT 1945
- COMMISSIONED: 25 SEP 1950
- RECLASSIFIED: CV to CVA on 01 OCT 1952
- DISPLACEMENT: Max 47,000 Tons
- LENGTH: 911 feet overall
- BEAM: 157 feet overall
- DRAFT: 30 feet 6 inches maximum
- PROPULSION: 8 boilers, 4 engines
- POWER: 150,000 horsepower
- SPEED: 33 knots Max
- COMPLEMENT: 3,460
- AIRCRAFT: 80-100
- ARMAMENT: 8 five inch guns and 14 three inch guns
- ACTIVE SERVICE: 8,784 days
- DECOMMISSIONED: 30 SEP 1975
- REEFED: 17 MAY 2006
USS Oriskany was sunk in 2006, 22 miles south of Pensacola in more than 200 feet of water. Nicknamed “the Great Carrier Reef,” the site is one of the most popular diving destinations in the United States. With a myriad of pelagic and sedentary marine life, opportunities for underwater video and photography are superb. Water depth to the top of the ship is 80 feet, and the flight deck is at 145 feet. There’s plenty of ship to explore above 100 feet, making this a unique dive for a variety of skill levels.
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