The USS Langley (CV-1/AV-3) was the United States Navy's pioneering aircraft carrier, originally constructed as the collier USS Jupiter (Navy Fleet Collier No. 3). Laid down on October 18, 1911, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, she was launched on August 24, 1912, and commissioned on April 7, 1913. Notably, she was the Navy’s first turbo-electric-powered ship, featuring a propulsion system designed by William Le Roy Emmet and built by General Electric. This system included two electric motors directly connected to the propellers, powered by a single Curtis turbine and alternator set, providing a speed of approximately 14 knots. Initially serving as a collier to support naval operations, Jupiter was the first US vessel to transit the Panama Canal and participated in early naval activities along the Pacific coast and in European waters during World War I. She transported a pioneering US aviation detachment to Europe and supported coaling operations in European waters post-war. Her conversion into an aircraft carrier was authorized in July 1919, and she was renamed Langley in 1920, in honor of aviation pioneer Samuel Langley. She was the first American aircraft carrier, designed to carry up to 34 aircraft, including single-seaters, two-seaters, and torpedo bombers. Langley's historic achievement includes launching the first aircraft from a U.S. carrier deck on October 17, 1922, and the first successful landing on October 26, 1922. She also had a unique feature: a pigeon house on her stern, reflecting early message-carrying experiments with carrier pigeons. Throughout the 1920s and early 1930s, she served as a platform for developing naval aviation tactics and conducting flight operations across the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Pacific. Reclassified as a seaplane tender (AV-3) in 1937, Langley operated out of Seattle, Alaska, and the Philippines, supporting fleet training and experimentation. During World War II, she was stationed off the Philippines and later in Australia. Her service ended tragically on February 27, 1942, when she was attacked by Japanese bombers while ferrying aircraft to Java. Severely damaged and on fire, she was abandoned and subsequently scuttled by her escorts, USS Whipple and USS Edsall. Her loss resulted in over 300 crew members and pilots killed, earning her two battle stars for her wartime service. The USS Langley holds a significant place in maritime history as the first U.S. aircraft carrier and a pioneer of naval aviation development.

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