The USS Philippine Sea (CV-47), an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, was the last of 24 such ships built during World War II. Ordered in June 1943 alongside Valley Forge and Iwo Jima, she was a "long-hull" variant featuring an extended bow with increased rake and flare, providing additional deck space and improved fire arcs. Her overall length was 888 feet (271 meters), with a beam of 93 feet (28 meters) and a draft of 39 feet (12 meters). Displacing approximately 27,100 tons, she was powered by eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers and Westinghouse geared steam turbines generating 150,000 shaft horsepower, enabling her to reach speeds of up to 33 knots (61 km/h). Her armament included twelve 5-inch dual-purpose guns, along with 44 Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft guns, substituting Oerlikon cannons for additional Bofors during her service. Launched on 5 September 1945, shortly after V-J Day, and commissioned on 11 May 1946, Philippine Sea initially served in the Atlantic and underwent various trials and deployments. Notably, she participated in Operation Highjump, supporting Antarctic exploration with aircraft launched from her flight deck. Her early service also included Mediterranean deployments and tests of new carrier tactics and aircraft. During the Korean War, Philippine Sea proved a vital asset, arriving in Korea in August 1950 as flagship of Task Force 77. She launched extensive air strikes against North Korean and Chinese targets, supporting UN ground operations during pivotal battles such as Pusan, Inchon, and the Chosin Reservoir. Her aircraft flew over 82,000 sorties, including close air support and interdiction missions, earning her nine battle stars. The carrier also played a key role in the attack on the Sui-ho Dam and the evacuation of UN troops from Hungnam. Throughout her service, Philippine Sea was redesignated multiple times, including CVA (attack aircraft carrier) and CVS (anti-submarine warfare carrier), reflecting evolving naval tactics. She operated mainly out of San Diego and San Francisco, with several Far East deployments. Decommissioned on 28 December 1958, she was later struck from the Naval Vessel Registry in 1969 and sold for scrap in 1971. Her distinguished career and the nine battle stars she earned underscore her significance in mid-20th-century naval history.

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