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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

CV / CVA / CVS-37 / LPH-5 Princeton

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon
Second Row - Navy Unit Commendation (CVA-37) - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2) - American Campaign Medal
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal - Korean Service Medal (8)
Fourth Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2-Taiwan Straits, 3-Quemoy-Matsu, 11-Vietnam) - Vietnam Service Medal (5) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Boxer Class Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter):
  • Laid down, 14 September 1943, at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA. as Valley Forge
  • Renamed Princeton, 21 November 1944
  • Launched, 18 July 1945
  • Commissioned USS Princeton (CV-37), 18 November 1945
  • Decommissioned, 21 June 1949
  • Recommissioned, 28 August 1950
  • Redesignated Attack Aircraft Carrier (CVA-37), 1 October 1952
  • Modified and reclassified Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft Carrier (CVS-37), 12 November 1953
  • Reclassified Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter) (LPH-5), 2 March 1959
  • Converted at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Long Beach CA, 19 March through 19 May 1959
  • Decommissioned and Struck from the Naval Register, 30 January 1970
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in September 1973, by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS)
  • Princeton received 8 battle stars for service during the Korean Conflict
    Specifications:
    Displacement 26,556 t.(lt) 36,457 t.(fl)
    Length 888'
    Beam 138'
    Draft 30' (max.)
    Speed 33 kts.
    Complement 1,200
    Troop Capacity 1,450
    Aircraft 30 Helicopters
    Armament
    two dual 5"/38 DP gun mounts
    tjree single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts
    Propulsion eight 600 psi boilers, 4 steam turbines, 4 shafts, 75,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Princeton 91k Princeton (LPH-5) underway, date and place unknown
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Princeton 77k Princeton (LPH-5) underway, date and place unknown
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, July 1960.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Princeton 173k Princeton (LPH-5) underway, date and place unknown
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Princeton 126k Princeton (LPH-5)'s US Marine Corps HUS-1 helicopters are towed to their launching positions on the ship's flight deck, 20 March 1960. Note groups of Marines moving aft to board their helicopters.
    US Navy photo # NH 97315 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Princeton 138k Princeton (LPH-5) after her 1961 "FRAM" modernization, with UH-34 helicopters on her flight deck.
    US Navy photo # NH 73454 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Princeton 34k Princeton (LPH-5) anchored at Subic Bay, P.I., 2 April 1966 © Richard Leonhardt
    Princeton 49k Princeton (LPH-5), and Massey (DD-778) anchored at Subic Bay, P.I., 17 May 1966 © Richard Leonhardt
    Princeton/Chipola 92k Princeton (LPH-5) refueling from Chipola (AO-63) during operations in the Pacific, 25 June 1968. Photographed by PH3 Carty.
    US Navy photo #USN 1142529 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Princeton 56k Princeton (LPH-5) heading for Apollo 10
    US Navy photo.    		 .
    View the Princeton (LPH-5)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Princeton Veterans Inc.
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Aircraft Carriers (CV) Photo Index Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Princeton (CV-37) Photo Index Back To The Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter) (LPH) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 25 February 2005