The aircraft carrier that pioneered jet takeoffs and atomic strikes

Technology · Published 20 October 2026 · Updated 22 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before modern carriers were sleek machines of angled decks, the USS Coral Sea was a laboratory for high-stakes evolution. It served as the primary testing ground for revolutionary technologies—from heavy bombers to nuclear strike concepts—shaping how naval power would be projected across the globe.

Commissioned in 1947, the USS Coral Sea (CV-43) was a Midway-class carrier that bridged two eras of naval warfare. Initially built with a straight flight deck, it became a critical platform for technological firsts. In April 1948, it hosted the first jet-assisted takeoffs (JATO) of P2V-2 Neptunes, proving that aircraft of significant weight and size could be launched from a moving ship.

The vessel also served as a proof-of-concept for nuclear warfare. In March 1949, a Neptune launched from the Coral Sea dropped a 10,000-lb load of dummy bombs across the continent to test carrier-based atomic bomb attacks. The AJ-1 Savage heavy attack bomber achieved its initial carrier launch by April 1950, providing naval forces with new long-range atomic-strike potential.

The ship underwent a massive conversion in 1960 (SCB 110A), becoming one of the last to receive an angled deck as a retrofit. This modernization included new steam catapults and the first port-quarter elevator resembling the Kitty Hawk class. It also became the first carrier to use the Pilot Landing-Aid Television (PLAT) system in 1961, which recorded landings to improve safety analysis.

During its long career, spanning from the Mediterranean to the Vietnam War, the Coral Sea was a workhorse of innovation. It participated in Operation Rolling Thunder and Freedom Porch, while also being recognized for humanitarian efforts when its crew donated $7,500 to Hungarian refugees in 1956.

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