The USS Boxer (CV-21, later CVA-21 and CVS-21, LPH-4) was a prominent Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, representing one of the 24 long-hull variants of this extensive class. Laid down on September 13, 1943, by Newport News Shipbuilding, she was launched on December 14, 1944, and commissioned on April 16, 1945, under Captain D. F. Smith. With an overall length of 888 feet, a beam of 93 feet, and a draft of 28 feet, Boxer displaced approximately 27,100 long tons and was powered by eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers and Westinghouse turbines, enabling a maximum speed of 33 knots. Her crew complement numbered around 3,448 personnel. Constructed with minor external modifications from her Essex-class predecessors, Boxer retained the classic WWII-era appearance, featuring a flight deck capable of launching and recovering aircraft. Her armament initially included 12 5-inch guns, eight quadruple Bofors 40 mm guns, and 46 Oerlikon 20 mm cannons; however, her anti-aircraft armament was later increased to 72 40 mm guns and 35 20 mm cannons. Although she was launched too late to see combat in WWII, Boxer played a significant role during the Korean War. She supported UN ground operations, including the Inchon landings, and conducted three combat tours, providing close air support and strategic bombing. Notably, she made a record-breaking trans-Pacific crossing early in the war, carrying aircraft and supplies to Korea. During her service, Boxer was also used as a transport for aircraft, personnel, and even spacecraft recovery missions, including involvement in the Apollo program. In her later years, Boxer was converted into an amphibious assault platform and reclassified as LPH-4. She participated in operations such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, Operation Steel Pike, and humanitarian missions following hurricanes in the Caribbean. She was decommissioned on December 1, 1969, after 25 years of service, and sold for scrap in 1971. Her service history highlights her versatility and importance as one of the largest and most active Essex-class carriers, with a significant role spanning WWII's aftermath through the Vietnam era and space program support.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.