[BLUEHAWK]

"I have two books listing the same picture as USS Yorktown CV-10 on her shakedown (workup) cruise. Radar suite is correct for her at that time. Before she sailed for the Pacific (July 1, 1943) she did the carrier qualification tests for the "new" SB2C Helldivers and acquired her shakedown overhaul refits. (added two starboard quarter aft 40MM mounts and moved SG radar from mainmast to pole mount near the portside 36 searchlight platform). Although many Essex class ships carried arresting gear setups both for stern landing and bow landing as well as a hanger deck catapult, they were not used and were removed on these ships at their next overhauls. Yorktown was one of the most photographs ships of WWII so I would say that it is 99% sure that the photo posted is of Yorktown on her shakedown late April through June 1943."