Text Box: U.S.S. Tarawa (CV-40) An Essex-Class Aircraft Carrier Keel Laid Down 1 March 1944 33,000 Ton Full Load Displacement Launched 12 May 1945 887 Feet Long Commissioned 8 December 1945 129 Feet Wide Decommissioned 30 June 1949 Height Above Waterline: 163 Feet Recommissioned 3 February 1951 Top To Keel: 192 Feet Decommissioned 13 May 1960 Eight Boilers Generate 150,000 hp Stricken From List of Naval Vessels 1 June 1967 Sold For Scrap 3 October 1968 Complement: 240 Officers and 2,500 Enlisted Men Armament:101 Aircraft – Twelve 5/38 Caliber Guns – Forty-Four 40mm Guns Thirty-Six 20mm Guns Conversions: CVA (Attack) 1 Oct. 1952 – CVS (Anti-Sub) 10 Jan. 1955 Small Boats Four 50-foot Motor Launches - One 36-foot Motor Launch Two 50-foot Motor Boats - Three 40-foot Motor Boats One 40-foot Barge - Two 26-foot Motor Whaleboats