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(This was keeping me awake last night - so had to write it down)

In early 1936 President Roosevelt concerned with the disparity emerging between Japanese Aviation and that of the US Navy sought to improve the situation and along with naval planners this resulted in the USS Wasp a warship that used up the remaining 15,000 tons available to the USN from its 135,000 'aircraft carrier allowance' from the LNT.

However the President who kept a keen interest in the Navy sought to eliminate any advantage that the Japanese navy might posses over the USN.

Before selecting the somewhat compromised Wasp design one idea had been explored was to convert the ordered Saint Louis Light Cruiser Hulls into fast light fleet carriers - although some doubt had been expressed with regards to their ability to operate in heavier weather and the relative small size of their air groups.

This idea had obviously resonated with the POTUS for when word reached the President regarding the laying down of the 2 Japanese Shōkaku-class Fast Fleet carriers - he knew that Congress, with the attitudes of the day would not allow him to order 2 more Yorktown's to match them.

However the conversion of 2 already laid down hulls to light carriers might very well be accepted as this required little additional funding to that already released for the 2 Cruisers.

The construction of both the USS Saint Louis and USS Helena was halted in mid 1937 while the proposal was debated.

Surprisingly the Navy was the main opponent of the conversions and 'factions' within the navy who saw the 2 Saint Louis class Light Crusiers as a necessary class (and indeed far below what was required) to oppose the newer Japanese Cruiser classes, and these 'gun' Admirals sought allies within Congress to try and stop the conversions.

Ultimately President Roosevelt won the argument with the promise of additional Hulls for the next Light Cruiser (ultimately USS Saint Louis and USS Helena would be laid down as Cleveland class Crusiers in 1940 - however the Irony was that they along with 11 of their sisters were also converted in the slips to Independence class Light Carriers again at the then behest of President Roosevelt and renamed accordingly).

The 1935/36 light carrier conversion designs were rapidly 'dusted off' and brought up to date and by the last quarter of 1937 construction had resumed on both hulls now renamed USS Tyler (named after a Union gun boat at the battle of Helena during the American Civil War) and USS San Carlos (Named after a battle at Saint Louis during the Anglo-Spanish War in 1780).

USS San Carlos (Ex-USS Helena) was launched in April 1939 and commissioned in December of the same year.

USS Tyler (Ex-USS Saint Louis) was launched in May 1939 and commissioned in February 1940 (a dock fire in 1938 delayed her completion).

Despite initial misgivings that the vessels would be to small they were both proven to be suitable for carrier operations

Both vessels initially served in the Atlantic theater but San Carlos Joined the Pacific fleet in mid 1941 and was badly damaged at Pearl Harbour during the Japanese Surprise attack on November 30th 1941 although was back in service in late 42.

Tyler went to the Pacific and spent some time as a fleet carrier and served as a 'floating reserve' during the 2 day battle of Midway - standing off another 150 miles to the East and many of her Aircraft replaced losses on Yorktown and Enterprise on the 2nd day - pretty much allowing them to maintain more or less a full CAG after the losses of the first day and inflict further damage on the Japanese.

San Carlos following her repair served in the Mediterranean theatre through most of 1943 and operated some of the first Supermarine Seafires along with HMS Unicorn during operation Avalanche - before returning to the Pacific in early 1944 after a refit on the East Coast.

Both vessels were present during a series of battles including the Philippine Sea where they along with 11 of the Independence class light carriers provided over 50% of the fighters and 45% of the bombers during that action.

USS San Carlos luck finally run out when she was badly damaged by a Kamikaze attack off Iwo Jima - having recovered 9 Aircraft from the Casablanca Escort class Carrier USS Bismarck Sea who had earlier been lightly damaged by a Kamikaze attack on the 22nd January 1945 and had been obliged to cease air ops.

Crowded with extra Aircraft a later Japanese Aircraft managed to plunge through her forward elevator and caused significant damage to the hanger and forward engineering spaces.

More seriously the Kamikaze attack caused a serious fire in the Hanger.

Critically it is believed that damage to her fire fighting salt water distribution system seriously compromising the crews ability to fight the inferno that now took hold in her hanger space.

Eventually with assistance from the Destroyer USS Edmunds who courageously came alongside and took control of firefighting efforts despite the threat of exploding ordinance the fire was eventually controlled.

However the damage was so extensive with several serious leaks in her hull and her machinary knocked out that there was serious doubt that the ship could be recovered and so in the early hours of the 23rd the order was given to abandon ship.

After she stayed afloat for another 6 hours permission was sought from her Captain to reboard her with volunteers and bring her remaining machinary online - but before this could be done it was suddenly noticed that she had taken on an increasing list and within hours had capsized sinking before sunset on the 23rd.

USS San Carlos was the last US Aircraft Carrier to be lost to enemy action in WW2 and she sank with the loss of 129 of her crew.

USS Tyler Survived the war and was eventually sold to the Brazilian Navy in 1951 as the Tamandare where she served until 1962 when she was declared a total loss following a collision with a Freighter and was scrapped in 1966.
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