It is uncertain what, or who, CV-13 was named for. DANFS (Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, a publication of the Naval Historical Center) clearly states that four previous ships had borne the name and that they honored Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) — but that the aircraft carrier, the fifth USS Franklin, was not named after the statesman, but to perpetuate the name of the previous ships.

However, a builder-installed plaque aboard the ship stated that she had been named for the Civil War Battle of Franklin, Tennessee (November 30, 1864.)

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) was born in Boston but moved at an early age to Philadelphia where his countless talents and unlimited energies found expression in successful contributions as a statesman, diplomat, scientist, editor-author, and philosopher. During the Revolution he was appointed American Minister Plenipotentiary to the French Court enabling him to function also as the Navy's representative in Europe. He promoted the plan to bring the war to British shores, supporting Lambert Wickes' spectacular raids and enabling John Paul Jones to perform his daring feats by providing funds, attending to purchases and repairs, and determining questions of authority and discipline. His astute and visionary policies merit for him deserved recognition in the annals of the United States.

The third Franklin, a ship-of-the-line, built in 1815 under the supervision of Samuel Humphreys, was the first vessel to be laid down at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

Franklin sailed on her first cruise on 14 October 1817, when under the command of Master Commandant H. E. Ballard she proceeded from Philadelphia to the Mediterranean. She carried the Hon. Richard Rush, U.S. Minister to England, to his post. Subsequently she was designated flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron, cruising on that station until March 1820. She returned to New York on 24 April 1820.

From 11 October 1821 until 29 August 1824 she served as flagship on the Pacific Station. Franklin was laid up in ordinary until the summer of 1843 when she was ordered to Boston as a receiving ship. She continued in this capacity until 1852 at which time she was taken to Portsmouth, N.H., and broken up.

The Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, on November 30, 1864, was part of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign of the American Civil War, and one of the worst disasters for the Confederate States Army. Although the Union Army of the Ohio, commanded by Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield, left the field after the battle, the Confederate Army suffered devastating losses (including six generals killed or mortally wounded) in its unsuccessful frontal assaults against the Union defenders, sometimes called the "Pickett's Charge of the West." (Text courtesy of Wikipedia.)

Battle of Franklin, by Kurz and Allison, 1891.

The ship is floated out of her building dock immediately after christening, at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company shipyard, Newport News, Virginia, on 14 October 1943. Note WAVES officers in the foreground. The WAVES' Director, Lieutenant Commander Mildred H. McAfee, USNR, was Franklin's sponsor.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-14015).

In the Elizabeth River, off Norfolk, Virginia, 21 February 1944.

She has the "early" island structure, with two quad 40-mm/56-cal gun mounts forward (see NS021319 for a later view). There is a single flight deck catapult (stbd) and a hangar deck catapult, with its port outrigger stowed. The ship has four deck-edge radio masts and is fitted with arresting gear forward, adjacent to the twin 5"/38 gun mounts. (Thanks to Robert Hurst, who provided additional info).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-224596).

In the Elizabeth River, off Norfolk, Virginia, 21 February 1944. She is accompanied by three local harbor tugs. Franklin is painted in camouflage Measure 32, Design 6a. This paint scheme was changed a few months later, on the port side only, to Measure 32, Design 3a. The ship's starboard side retained the Design 6a pattern.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-224597).

USS Franklin (CV-13), Norfolk Navy Yard, Photo Serial 7580(44), May 4, 1944.

USS Franklin (CV-13) operating near the Marianas, 1 August 1944. Photographed from USS Hornet (CV-12). Franklin is painted in camouflage Measure 32, Design 6a. At this time, Design 6a was applied only to her starboard side. She wore Design 3a on the port side.

Compared to NS021301, the island structure has been modified by removing the forward quad 40/56 mount and extending the flag bridge. (Thanks to Robert Hurst, who provided additional info).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-367248).

Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944 — Pilots of Torpedo Squadron 13 (VT-13) in their ready room aboard USS Franklin (CV-13), 24 October 1944, just before the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea. They are watching as the position of the Japanese fleet is posted. VT-13's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Larry French, is second from the left, with a navigation board beside his chair. Note life vests, with die marker pouches, worn by several of these men. Other life vests, and .38 caliber revolvers, are hanging on the bulkhead.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-290733).

[USS Franklin] was underway about 1,000 miles off Samar on 30 October [1944] when enemy bombers appeared, bent on a suicide mission. Three doggedly pursued Franklin, the first plummeting off her starboard side; the second hitting the flight deck and crashing through to the gallery deck, showering destruction, killing 56 and wounding 60; the third discharging another near miss at Franklin before diving into the flight deck of the small carrier Belleau Wood. Both carriers retired to Ulithi for temporary repairs and Franklin proceeded to Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, arriving 28 November 1944 for repairs to her battle damage.

She departed Bremerton on 2 February 1945 and after training exercises and pilot qualification joined TG 58.2 for strikes on the Japanese homeland in support of the Okinawa landings.

(From DANFS, "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships," Naval Historical Center website.)

Read a narrative and reports on this attack, at the Researcher @ Large website.

A Japanese kamikaze hits the flight deck of USS Franklin (CV-13), October 30, 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

A Japanese dive bomber (encircled) plunges downward USS Franklin (CV-13). As Big Ben had already been hit this is, perhaps, the kamikaze that hit USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) moments later.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

USS Franklin (CV-13), at right, and USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) afire after being hit by Japanese kamikaze suicide planes, while operating off the Philippines on 30 October 1944. Photographed from USS Brush (DD-745). Note "flak" bursts over the ships.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-326798).

USS Franklin (CV-13) afire after kamikaze hit, 30 October 1944.

Damage in action of 30 October 1944. View showing work progress on 3 November 1944 at 1230 – flight deck at Fr. 125. (Ship's Photo No. 1003, taken 3 November 1944.) Puget Sound Navy Yard photo # 3984-44.

USS Franklin (CV-13) in January 1945, after repairs. Note she had been repainted in Ms. 21 camouflage; two lattice radio masts abaft the island had been removed; three quad 40's had been added starboard amidships, just under the island. US Navy photo.

Bayonne, N.J., August 1960; with Wisconsin (BB-64).

Bayonne, N.J., August 1961. Note the missing portion of her flight deck which was used in 1959 to fix that of Valley Forge (CVS-45).

Ex-USS Franklin being scrapped.