SCB-125

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USS Lexington (CVA-16) displaying the hurricane bow and angled deck of the SCB-125 conversion.

SCB-125 was the United States Navy designation for a series of upgrades to the Essex class of aircraft carriers (both short-hull and long-hull (Ticonderoga-sub-class)), conducted between 1954 and 1959. These upgrades included the addition of an angled flight deck and other enhancements aimed at improving flight operations and seakeeping.

[edit] Program history

The SCB-125 upgrade program was first applied to the final three Essex-class carriers to undergo the SCB-27C modernization while they were still in the midst of their original refit.

Despite the drastic reconstruction of the carriers, the original SCB-27A vessels, which were fitted with a pair of H 8 hydraulic catapults, were not upgraded with the C 11 steam catapults fitted to their SCB-27C sister ships due to machinery space limitations.

USS Oriskany (CV-34) showing her SCB-125A configuration.

The USS Oriskany (CV-34), the original prototype for the SCB-27 conversion, was the final Essex carrier to undergo the SCB-125 conversion and as such, received further enhancements. As a result of the addition of Mk 7 arresting gear and more-powerful C 11-1 steam catapults to the standard SCB-125 modifications, the Oriskany alone was referred to as a SCB-125A vessel.^[1] These changes also made Oriskany the sole SCB-27A vessel to receive steam catapults.

[edit] Modified vessels

Source:www.history.navy.mil ^[2]

[edit] References

• Naval Historical Center page on SCB-125 program

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