Saratoga, one of the first fast carriers in the United States Navy, was laid down on September 25, 1920, by the New York Shipbuilding Co., and commissioned on 16 November 1927. When the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Saratoga was just entering San Diego after an interim dry docking at Bremerton. She hurriedly got underway the following day as the nucleus of a third carrier force. On January 11, 1942, she was hit by a deep-running torpedo fired by the Japanese submarine. As flagship of Real Admiral F. J. Fletcher, Saratoga opened the Guadalcanal assault early on 7 August 1942 when she turned into the wind to launch aircraft. She provided air cover for the landings for the next two days, and take part in all the operations in the Guadalcanal. Saratoga was surplus to postwar requirements, and she was assigned to Operation “Crossroads” at Bikini Atoll to test the effect of the atomic bomb on naval vessels. She was struck from the Navy list on August 15, 1946. Saratoga received seven battle stars for her WWII service.
- 375 Parts
- Optional full or waterline hull, display stand, 'water' texture vacuform base, detailed flight deck and superstructure representing ship in pre-WWII configuration
- Includes 9 each F3F, BFC and SBU and 6 each TG-2 clear plastic biplane aircraft
- Includes decals for ship and aircraft.