USSCoral Sea(CV-43)

For other ships with the same name, seeUSS Coral Sea.

USSCoral Seaunderway on 1 March 1989
History
United States
Name	Coral Sea
Namesake	Battle of the Coral Sea
Ordered	14 June 1943
Builder	Newport News Shipbuilding
Laid down	10 July 1944
Launched	2 April 1946
Commissioned	1 October 1947
Decommissioned	26 April 1990
Stricken	28 April 1990
Motto	Older and Bolder
Nickname(s)	Ageless Warrior The Natural San Francisco's own Best in the west Coral Maru The Big Sea or The Big 'C The Operational Queen of the Seventh Fleet Mustang (Call sign on Yankee Station)
Fate	Scrapped,8 September 2000
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Midway-classaircraft carrier
Displacement	45,000long tons(45,722t) (standard) 60,000 long tons (60,963 t) (full load)
Length	899 ft 9 in (274.24 m)wl 967 ft 8 in (294.94 m)oa
Beam	113 ft (34 m) waterline, 136 feet (41 m) flight deck
Draft	35 ft (11 m)
Installed power	12 Babcock and Wilcoxboilers 212,000shp(158,000kW)
Propulsion	4 Westinghouse Gearedsteam turbinesets 4 shafts
Speed	33knots(61 km/h; 38 mph)
Range	15,000nmi(28,000 km; 17,000 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement	4,104 officers and men
Sensors and processing systems	As Built: 1 × SC-2 Surveillance Radar 2 × SG Surface Search Radars (On top Mark-37 GFCS) 1 × SK-2 Air Search Radars 2 × Mk-37 GFCS
Electronic warfare & decoys	As Built: 1 × TDY-2 ECM (Anti-Radar)
Armament	As Built:(1949) 14 ×5 "/54 caliber Mark 16 guns,(14 × 1)* 40 ×3 "/50 caliber guns(20 × 2)* 28 ×Oerlikon 20 mm cannons(14 × 2)*After SCB-110A Overhaul::(1960's)* 6 ×5 "/54 caliber Mark 16 guns,(6 × 1) or (3 × 1) After SCB-101.66 modernization:(1980's)* 3 ×Phalanx CIWS(1 × 3)
Armor	As Built:(1949) Portside Belt: 7.6 inch Starboard Belt: 7 inch Lower Edge and Upper Belt: 1.96 inch Flight Deck: 3.5 inch Hangar Deck: 2 inch Main Deck: 2 inch Steering Gear Compartment: 2.48-7.6 inches Main Longitudinal Bulkhead: 1.25 inch Transverse Bulkhead: 6.29 inch Steering Gear Compartment Bulkhead: 6.29 inch Galley Deck: 76' Forecastle Deck: 67'9 2nd deck: 49'3 3rd deck: 41'0 4th deck: 31'6
Aircraft carried	Up to 130 (World War II) 65-70 (1980s)
Aviation facilities	As Built:(1949) 2 × Centreline Elevators 1 × Deck edge Elevator 2 × H-41 hydraulic catapults 3 × Arresting Wires 6 × Barricades As Retired: At least 4 or more Bomb elevators 2 Hangar Bays 3 Deck Edges elevators (2 Starboard and 1 Portside)

USSCoral Sea(CV/CVB/CVA-43),aMidway-classaircraft carrier,was the third ship of theUnited States Navyto be named for theBattle of the Coral Sea.She earned the affectionate nickname "Ageless Warrior"through her long career. Initially classified as anaircraft carrierwithhull classification symbolCV-43,the contract to build the ship was awarded toNewport News ShipbuildingofNewport News, Virginia,on 14 June 1943. She was reclassified as a "Large Aircraft Carrier" with hull classification symbolCVB-43on 15 July 1943. Her keel was laid down on 10 July 1944 in Shipway 10. She waslaunchedon 2 April 1946 sponsored by Mrs.Thomas C. Kinkaidandcommissionedon 1 October 1947 with Captain A.P. Storrs III in command.

Before 8 May 1945, the aircraft carrierCVB-42had been known as USSCoral Sea;after that date, CVB-42 was renamed in honor ofFranklin D. Roosevelt,the late President, and CVB-43 was named theCoral Sea.

Coral Seawas one of the last U.S Navy carriers to be completed with a straight flight deck, with anangled flight deckadded on during later modernizations. All subsequent newly built U.S Navy carriers have had the angled deck included as part of the ship's construction.

Early milestones

The ship promptly began a series of career milestones when, on 27 April 1948, twoP2V-2 Neptunes,piloted by Commander Thomas D. Davies and Lieutenant Commander John P. Wheatley, madejet assisted takeoffs(JATO) from the carrier as she steamed offNorfolk, Virginia.This was the first carrier launchings of planes of this size and weight. TheCoral Seasailed from Norfolk, Virginia, on 7 June 1948 for a midshipmen cruise to the Mediterranean and Caribbean, and returned to Norfolk, Virginia 11 August.

After an overhaul period,Coral Seawas again operating off theVirginia Capes.On 7 March 1949, a P2V-3C Neptune, piloted by CaptainJohn T. HaywardofVC-5,was launched from the carrier with a 10,000-lb load of dummy bombs. The aircraft flew across the continent, dropped its load on the West Coast, and returned nonstop to land at theNaval Air Station Patuxent River,Maryland.The mission proved the concept of carrier-based atomic bomb attacks.Following training in the Caribbean,Coral Seasailed 3 May 1949 for her first tour of duty in the Mediterranean with theSixth Fleet,returning 28 September.

Operations in the 1950s

Coral Seaduring her 1955 Mediterranean cruise

On 21 April 1950, the first carrier takeoff of anAJ-1 Savageheavy attack bomber was made fromCoral Seaby CaptainJohn T. Haywardof VC-5. The remainder of the pilots of the squadron completed carrier qualifications on boardCoral Seain this aircraft on 31 August, marking the introduction of this long-range atomic-attack bomber to carrier operations.At this time, she returned to the Mediterranean for duty with theSixth Fleetfrom 9 September 1950 to 1 February 1951.

An F7U-3 Cutlass was launched fromCoral Seain 1952

An overhaul and local operations upon her return, as well as training with Air Group 17, prepared her for a return to the Mediterranean once more on 20 March 1951. As flagship for Commander, Carrier Division 6, she took part in aNATOExercise, Beehive I. She returned toNorfolk, Virginia6 October for local and Caribbean operations, next sailing for the Mediterranean on 19 April 1952. While on service with the Sixth Fleet, she visitedYugoslaviain September and carried MarshalJosip Broz Titoon a one-day cruise to observe carrier operations.The ship was reclassified as an "Attack Aircraft Carrier" withhull classification symbolCVA-43on 1 October 1952 while still at sea and returned to Norfolk, Virginia, for overhaul 12 October.

Coral Seatrained pilots in carrier operations off of theVirginia CapesandNaval Station Mayport,and in April 1953 the ship embarked the Judiciary Committee of theUnited States House of Representativesfor a three-day cruise. On 26 April, she sailed for a tour of duty in the Mediterranean. This cruise was highlighted by a visit to Spain, and participation in NATO Exercise Black Wave with Deputy Secretary of DefenseR. M. Kyeson board as an observer. Returning to Norfolk, Virginia, on 21 October, she carried out tests for the Bureau of Aeronautics and trained members of the Naval Reserve at Mayport, andGuantánamo Bay.

Coral Seareturned to the Mediterranean from 7 July to 20 December 1954, and during this tour was visited bySpanishGeneralissimoFrancisco Francoas she lay off ofValencia.On her next tour of duty in the Mediterranean from 23 March to 29 September 1955, she called atIstanbuland participated inNATOexercises.

Sailing from Norfolk, Virginia 23 July 1956 for Mayport, Florida, to embark Carrier Air Group 10,Coral Seacontinued on to the Mediterranean on her next tour. She participated in NATO exercises and receivedKing Paul of Greece,and his consort, Friederike Luise Thyra of Hanover on board as visitors in October. During theSuez Crisis,Coral Seaevacuated American citizens from the troubled area and stood by off ofEgyptuntil November.

Coral Seareturned to Norfolk, Virginia 11 February 1957. She cleared that port on 26 February and visitedSantos,Brazil;Valparaíso,Chile; andBalboa, Canal Zone,before arriving atBremerton, Washington,on 15 April.

Coral Seain 1960 following her major reconstruction

Coral Seawas decommissioned at thePuget Sound Naval Shipyardon 24 May 1957 to receive a major conversion (SCB 110A), which included a longerangled deckcanted 3 degrees more than the previous overhauls of her sister ships. As the centerline elevators were relocated to the starboard deck edge forward and aft of the island,Coral Seabecame the first carrier to mount an elevator on the port quarter resembling the more efficient deck layout of theKitty Hawk-class then under construction. Other improvements included new steam catapults, an enclosedhurricane bow,hull blisters, and removal of the armor belt and several anti-aircraft guns.Upon completion, she was recommissioned on 25 January 1960 and rejoined the fleet. During September 1960, she conducted training with her new air group along the West Coast, then sailed in September for a tour of duty with theSeventh Fleetin the Far East on her first WestPac (Western Pacific cruise). She recorded her 100,000th arrested landing in October 1961.

Vietnam and operations in the 1960s to early 1970s

Installation of thePilot Landing Aid Television(PLAT) system was completed onCoral Seaon 14 December 1961. She was the first carrier to have this system installed for operations use. Designed to provide a videotape of every landing, the system proved useful for instructional purposes and in the analysis of landing accidents, thereby making it an invaluable tool in the promotion of safety.By 1963, all attack carriers had been equipped with PLAT and plans were underway for installation in the CVSs and at shore stations.

Following theGulf of Tonkin incidentin August,Coral Seadeparted on 7 December 1964 for duty with theSeventh Fleet.On 7 February 1965, her aircraft, along with those fromRangerandHancock,conductedOperation Flaming Dartagainst the military barracks and staging areas nearĐồng Hớiin the southern sector ofNorth Vietnam.The raids were in retaliation for a damagingViet Congattack on installations aroundPleikuinSouth Vietnam.On 26 March, the Seventh Fleet units began their participation inOperation Rolling Thunder,a systematic bombing of military targets throughout North Vietnam. Pilots fromCoral Seastruck island and coastal radar stations in the vicinity ofVinh.On 3 AprilVietnam People's Air ForceMiG-17sattacked aircraft fromCoral SeaandHancockin the first United States aerial combat of the Vietnam conflict. ACoral SeaRF-8took the first photographs of a North Vietnamesesurface-to-air missile siteon 5 April.Coral Searemained on deployment until returning home on 1 November 1965.

Coral Seamade another Westpac/Vietnam deployment from 29 July 1966 to 23 February 1967.

In the summer of 1967, the city of San Francisco adopted the ship as "San Francisco's Own,"and the city and ship enjoyed a formal, official relationship. However, there were probably many times the crew did not enjoy the attitudes of Bay Area residents at all. The feeling was mutual.In July 1968, prior to a deployment to Vietnam,Coral Seaparticipated in the carrier trials of the US Navy's proposed new interceptor, theGeneral Dynamics–Grumman F-111B.

The ship continued to make WestPac/Vietnam deployments until 1975: 26 July 1967 to 6 April 1968; 7 September 1968 to 15 April 1969; 23 September 1969 to 1 July 1970; 12 November 1971 to 17 July 1972; 9 March 1973 to 8 November; and from 5 December 1974 to 2 July 1975. Operations by theUnited States Navyand theUnited States Marine Corpsaircraft in Vietnam expanded significantly throughout April 1972 with a total of 4,833 Navy sorties in the south and 1,250 in the north.Coral Sea,along withHancock,was onYankee Stationwhen the North VietnameseEaster Offensivebegan. They were joined in early April byKitty HawkandConstellation.On 16 April 1972, their aircraft flew 57 sorties in theHaiphongarea in support of U.S. Air ForceB-52 Stratofortressstrikes on theHaiphongpetroleum products storage area in an operation known as Freedom Porch.

After refitting, from 1970 through to 1971, and during refresher training (REFTRA) down to San Diego,Coral Seaon her return trip to Alameda caught fire in the communications department. The fire spread so fast that Captain William H. Harris commanded that the carrier be placed just offshore between San Mateo and Santa Barbara in order to abandon ship if the fire could not be put under control. Several communications personnel were trapped, and RM-2 Robert Bilbo and RM-3 Billy Larremore pulled many shipmates out of the burning and smoke-filled compartments. They received the Navy & Marine Corp Medal. L/Cpl Thomas P Howard Jr. of ships Mar/Det received a "Meritorious Mast" from Captain Harris as a result of his location and rescue of shipmates overcome by toxic smoke in security weapon space. AnOBAwas L/Cpl Howard's only breathing protection at the time.

Operation Pocket Money,the mining campaign against principal North Vietnamese ports, was launched 9 May 1972. Early that morning, anEC-121aircraft took off fromDa Nang Air Baseto provide support for the mining operation. A short time later,Kitty Hawklaunched 17 ordnance-delivering sorties against theNam Địnhrailroad siding as a diversionary air tactic. Poor weather, however, forced the planes to divert to secondary targets atThanhandPhu Qui.Coral Sealaunched threeA-6A Intrudersand sixA-7E Corsair IIaircraft loaded withnaval minesand oneEKA-3B Skywarriorin support of the mining operation directed against the outer approaches to Haiphong Harbor. The mining aircraft departed the vicinity ofCoral Seatimed to execute the mining at precisely 09:00 local time to coincide with PresidentRichard M. Nixon's public announcement in Washington thatnaval mineshad been seeded. The Intruder flight led by the CAG, Commander Roger E. Sheets, was composed of Marine Corps aircraft fromVMA-224and headed for the inner channel. The Corsairs, led by Commander Leonard E. Giuliani and made up of aircraft from VA-94 andVA-22,were designated to mine the outer segment of the channel. Each aircraft carried fourMK52-2mines. Captain William R. Carr, USMC, the bombardier/navigator in the lead plane, established the critical attack azimuth and timed thenaval minereleases. The first mine was dropped at 08:59 and the last of the field of 36 mines at 09:01. Twelve mines were placed in the inner harbor and the remaining 24 in the outer. All mines were set with 72-hour arming delays, thus permitting merchant ships time for departure or a change in destination consistent with the President's public warning. It was the beginning of a mining campaign that planted over 11,000MK36type destructor and 108 special Mk 52-2 mines over the next eight months. It is considered to have played a significant role in bringing about an eventual peace arrangement, particularly since it so hampered the enemy's ability to continue receiving war supplies.

1971: Crewmen petition against the Vietnam War

In 1971, widespread dissatisfaction with the Vietnam War led to an unusual action by at least 1000 crew members who formed the on-ship organization namedStop Our Ship (SOS)and signed a petition against the war.The petition stated that the signers "do not believe in the Vietnam War" and thatCoral Sea"should not go to Vietnam".

On 6 November 1971, over 300 men fromCoral Seamarched in an anti-war demonstration in San Franciscoand on 12 November 1971 around 600-1200 protestors demonstrated outside ofNaval Air Station Alamedato encourage sailors to not sail with the ship.Thirty-five men missed her departure after the Berkeley City Council and 10 churches offered sanctuary.While this number is not unusual for a ship this size, at least one military service member sought sanctuary.

The petition and demonstrations by the sailors ofCoral Seawere part of a larger movement of anti-war protests by military service members. Earlier in 1971, about 400 servicemen in Saigon signed a petition against the war, and nine sailors in Hawaii took sanctuary in a church and missed the sailing of theConstellation.(In contrast, theCoral Seacrewmen did not want their protest "to be a thing like theConstellation"and therefore likely were not looking for sanctuary.) "These 'flattop revolts' expanded the next year, as sailors signed petitions or disrupted operations onKitty Hawk,Oriskany,Ticonderoga,America,andEnterprise.Sabotage onRangerandForrestalprevented their scheduled port departures while aviators became increasingly concerned about their role in the bombing campaign and questioned the war openly. "

Paris Peace Accords, Fall of Saigon, Mayaguez incident

See also:Paris Peace Accords,Fall of Saigon,andMayaguez incident

TheParis Peace Accords,ending hostilities in Vietnam, were signed on 23 January 1973, ending four years of talks. North Vietnam released nearly 600 American prisoners by 1 April 1973, and the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam on 27 January 1973. However, the war was not over for the Vietnamese. By spring 1975, the North was advancing on the South.Coral Sea,Midway,Hancock,Enterprise,andOkinawaresponded on 19 April 1975 to the waters off South Vietnam when North Vietnam overran two-thirds of South Vietnam. On 29–30 April 1975,Operation Frequent Windwas carried out bySeventh Fleetforces. Hundreds of U.S. personnel and Vietnamese were evacuated from Saigon to the ships of the Seventh Fleet lying offVũng Tàu.South Vietnam surrendered to the North on 30 April 1975.

On 12 to 14 May 1975,Coral Seaparticipated with other Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps forces in theMayaguez incident,the recovery of the U.S. merchant ship SSMayaguezand her 39 crew, illegally seized on 12 May in international waters byKhmer Rougegunboats. Protective air strikes flown from the carrier against the Cambodian mainland naval and air installations as Air Force helicopters with 288 Marines from Battalion Landing Teams 2 and 9 were launched fromU Tapao,Thailand,and landed atKoh Tang Islandto rescue theMayaguez'screw and secure the ship.Eighteen Marines, Airmen, and Navy corpsmen were lost in the action. For her action,Coral Seawas presented theMeritorious Unit Commendationon 6 July 1976. Meanwhile, she had been reclassified as a "Multi-Purpose Aircraft Carrier", returning tohull classification symbolCV-43,on 30 June 1975.

Iran hostage crisis, final Western Pacific cruise

See also:Iran hostage crisis

On 4 November 1979, militant followers of theAyatollah Khomeini(who had come to power following the overthrow of theShah of Iran) seized the US Embassy inTehranand held 63 Americans hostage. Thus began theIran hostage crisis.

Coral SearelievedMidwayin the northern part of theArabian Sea,off the coast of Iran, on 5 February 1980. This operating area was nicknamedGonzo Stationby the men on the ships operating there, apparently because of its vicinity to Iran and the assumption that war with Iran was likely.

Later, along withNimitzand other ships in company,Coral Seaparticipated inOperation Evening Light,the unsuccessful and aborted rescue attempt of 24 April 1980. (Their aircraft played a supporting role.) The crew ofCoral Seaand other ships in the company received theNavy Expeditionary Medalfor their efforts. By the time the ship pulled intoSubic Bay,thePhilippinesfor a port call on 9 May 1980 the crew had spent 102 consecutive days at sea – mostly off the coast of Iran.(The Iran hostage crisis ended on 20 January 1981 whenRonald ReagansucceededJimmy Carteras President of the United States andIranreleased the Americans.)

At this time (1979–1981) the ship was commanded byCaptain(laterAdmiral)Richard Dunleavy,who was to play a role in theTailhook scandal,which forced him into retirement. However, while commandingCoral Seahe was considered an excellentcommanding officerby his crew, who respected him greatly, even though they worked long, difficult hours under him and he could be a strict disciplinarian.

On 10 June 1980,Coral Seareturned to her homeport of Alameda. Shortly after her return, theSan Francisco Bay Areapress reported the theft of a set of golden bear statues from the ship. These statues had been presented by the city of San Francisco after the city had adopted the ship as "San Francisco's Own". Two sailors fromCoral Seawere caught with the statues after attempting to sell them, and the sailors were subsequently court-martialed and sentenced to prison. All of the statues were recovered in good shape.

The ship embarked on her final Western Pacific deployment on 20 August 1981. After making port calls at Pearl Harbor and Subic Bay, the Philippines, she operated in theSouth China Sea.After a port call atSingapore,Coral Seaheaded to the Indian Ocean where she relievedAmericaat Gonzo Station and operated with Royal Navy units in GonzoEx 2-81 (17–23 November).

TheCoral Seabattle group, under Rear Admiral Tom Brown, was involved in exercises with theRoyal Navyunder Rear AdmiralSandy Woodward– who operated withHMSGlamorganas his flagship. During one exercise, Woodward was able to manoeuverGlamorganinto a position where he could have "sunk"Coral SeawithExocetmissiles.The result of this exercise played a part in the belief of Admiral Woodward that the British should sink theArgentinecruiserGeneral Belgranobecause of the fear of a similar situation arising between that ship and the British aircraft carriersHermesandInvincibleduring theFalklands War.

Later,Coral Seaparticipated inExercise Bright Star82, an exercise involving the defense of Egypt and the Suez Canal (4–9 December).Relieved on 17 December 1981 byConstellation,she departed Gonzo Station and called atPattaya,Thailandafter 98 consecutive days at sea. After departing Pattaya the ship called at Subic Bay and Hong Kong.Coral Seathen operated in the Sea of Japan before making a port call atSasebo,Japan. After departing JapanCoral Seamade another port call at Subic Bay, then again at Pearl Harbor before steaming to California. The ship arrived at her home port of Alameda on 23 March 1982.Coral Seathen began upkeep, training, and operations off of California. In late July 1982, she served as a moviepropin the filming of portions of the motion pictureThe Right Stuff.

World cruise, deployments to the Mediterranean, final years

On 25 March 1983,Coral Sea,having been reassigned to the Atlantic Fleet, leftAlamedafor her new homeport ofNorfolk.The Navy sent the ship on a six-month around-the-world cruise, with ports of call in five countries.Coral Seawas replaced on the west coast byCarl Vinson.

On 1 March 1984,Carrier Air Wing 13was established.The wing would make three deployments aboardCoral Seafrom 1 October 1985 to 30 September 1989.

On 11 April 1985, while on refresher training with her air wing in the Guantánamo Bay area,Coral Seacollided with the Ecuadorian tanker shipNapoand subsequently underwent two months of repairs atNorfolk Naval ShipyardinPortsmouth, Virginia.This resulted in the skipper along with 4 other officers being relieved of duty.

On 13 October 1985,Coral Seareturned to the Mediterranean for her firstSixth Fleetdeployment since 1957. Commanded by Captain Robert H. Ferguson, with CVW-13 embarked, it was also the first deployment of the newF/A-18 Hornetto the Mediterranean. The Hornets were assigned toVFA-131,VFA-132,VMFA-314andVMFA-323onCoral Sea.

On 2 January 1986, EA-6B Prowlers from VAQ-135 reported aboard. The Squadron was called on a "No Notice Deployment" by The Joint Chiefs of Staff to augment CVW-13 with Electronic Countermeasures/Jamming Support.

On 24 March 1986,Libyan Armed Forcesunits fired missiles at Sixth Fleet forces operating in theGulf of Sidraafter declaring international waters as their own. A missile (originating from an SA-5 missile site atSirte) attack on CV-43's aircraft (Prowler/Hornet package) conducting a "Blue Darter" fell short and dropped into the Mediterranean. VFA-131 F/A-18's fromCoral SeaandAmericaflew combat air patrols, protecting the carrier groups from Libyan aircraft. The Hornets were frequently called upon to intercept and challenge numerousMiG-23s,MiG-25s,Su-22s,and Mirages sent out by Libya to harass the fleet.

On 5 April 1986, in response to the US show of force, the La Belle Discothèque in West Berlin, the Federal Republic of Germany wasbombed,resulting in the death of one U.S. serviceman and many injured.

On 15 April 1986, aircraft fromCoral SeaandAmerica,as well as USAFF-111FsfromRAF Lakenheathin the UK, struck targets in Libya as part of "Operation El Dorado Canyon".The Hornets went into action for the first time, flying several ship-to-shore air strikes against Libyan shore installations that were harassing the fleet. During this action, the Hornets fromCoral Seaattacked and destroyed the SA-5 missile site atSirtewhich had been "painting" US aircraft on its radars. This was the combat debut for the Hornet, and incidentally marked the first combat use of theAGM-88 HARManti-radiation missile.The Hornets attacked the SAM sites in bad weather and at wave top heights. All of them returned without mishap.

Coral Seacontinued deployments to the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean area throughout the remainder of the 1980s. In 1987, she developed the "Coral Seaconfiguration "in which two attack squadrons on board used a shared maintenance program, helping to streamline aircraft maintenance. On 19 April 1989, while operating in the Caribbean, the ship responded to a call for assistance from thebattleshipIowa,due toan explosionin her number two gun turret in which 47 crew members were killed. The explosive ordnance disposal team fromCoral Searemoved volatile powder charges from the ship's 16 inch (406 mm) guns.Coral Seaalso dispatched a surgical team and medical supplies. Medevac and logistical support toIowawere provided byCoral Sea's deployed helicopter squadron HS-17 (Neptune's Raiders) flying the Sikorsky SH-3H, along with VC-8 flying the Sikorsky SH-3G aircraft from Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. She returned to Norfolk for the final time on 30 September 1989.

Decommissioning and scrapping

After nearly 43 years of service, theCoral Seawas decommissioned on 26 April 1990. She was stricken from theNaval Vessel Registertwo days later. She left Naval Station Norfolk on 2 November 1990 under tow fromUSNSApache.Coral Seawas moored at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard to await her fate. On 7 May 1993, she was sold for scrap, minus her electronics, weapons, and other usable equipment, by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) to Seawitch Salvage ofBaltimore.Scrapping was delayed by numerous financial, legal, and environmental issues. A series of articles by theBaltimore Sunabout the problems involved with the scrapping of theCoral Seaand other navy vessels earned it the 1998Pulitzer Prizein Investigative Reporting.At nearly 70,000 tons,Coral Seawas the largest vessel ever scrapped up to that date. The company attempted to sell the hull to China for scrapping, but the Navy blocked the sale in court.The scrapping continued off and on for several years until finally completed on 8 September 2000.

One of her anchors is now on display in the Battle of Coral Sea Memorial,Townsville,Australia. It was presented to the memorial on 8 May 1992, by the Commander of the 7th Fleet and former commanding officer ofCoral Sea,Vice Admiral Stanley R. Arthur. The other anchor is at theCitadelin Charleston SC.

Awards and decorations

Navy Unit Commendation with sixstars		Meritorious Unit Commendation with four stars
Navy Expeditionary Medal with two stars	Navy Occupation Service Medal		National Defense Service Medal with one star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with twelve stars	Vietnam Service Medal with ten stars		Humanitarian Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with thirteen stars	Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross)		Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Bibliography

• Doa, Tom (1996). "Question 25/93: USN/USCG Collisions with Merchant Vessels".Warship International.XXXIII(3): 319.ISSN0043-0374.
• This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
• This article includes information collected fromUnited States Naval Aviation, 1910–1995,public domain documents published by the Naval Historical Center and fromhttp:// usscoralsea.net/