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ADDRESS NAVY DEPARTMENT BUREAU OF SHIPS. Refer to File No.   C-CV/S18 (812) CONFIDENTIAL NAVY DEPARTMENT Bureau of Ships Washington, D.C. June 26 1942 From: Chief of the Bureau of Ships To: Commander Carriers, Pacific Fleet Commander Carriers, Atlantic Fleet   SUBJECT: Aircraft Carriers In Service - Gasoline Capacity References:  (a) CO LEXINGTON ltr CV2/S15 (0169) of November 10, 1941.  (b) CO SARATOGA 1st End. to ref.(a). Serial 016 of Feb. 6,1942.  (c) COMAIRBATFOR 2nd End. to ref.(a), Serial 089 of Feb.20, 1942.  (d) BUAER 4th End. to ref.(a) of March 30, 1942     1.    In reference (a), the Commanding Officer, LEXINGTON requested the approval of an alteration to increase the gasoline storage capacity in that ship by conversion of certain water ballast tanks. In forwarding this correspondence, the Commanding Officer, SARATOGA and Commander Aircraft, Battle Force expressed the opinion that the present gasoline stowage is sufficient for war operations and is consonant with the fuel capacity of these two ships.     2.    As was suggested in reference (c), the Bureau has made an evaluation of the gasoline capacity and steaming radius of the several carriers in service. These data are furnished below and are based on information available to the Bureau on fuel oil and gasoline consumption for the second and third quarters of the fiscal year 1942.     3.    The analysis made in determining fuel oil and gasoline endurance is as follows:     (a)   SARATOGA and LEXINGTON-(Data obtained from LEXINGTON Reports)     Total Fuel oil Available2,030,000 gals.     Cruising Radius: - (Fuel Oil) From Average of Quarterly Reports Hourly Comsumption, at 216k 7,332 gals. Endurance, at 21.6k 11.5 days Hourly Consumption, at 16.45k 3,139 gals Endurance, at 16.45 k 27 days From Actual Operations Jan.,Feb.,Mar.,1942 Endurance on Average for 3 Months 25 days Endurance Based on Average Feb. and Mar. 22.5 days

C-CV/S15 (812) CONFIDENTIAL From: BUSHIPS To: COMCARPAC COMCARLANT     Gasoline Gasoline Capacity 139,321 gals. Gasoline Consumption Oct.-Dec.,1941 309,321 gals. Endurance for Above Average 34 days Gasoline Consumption Jan.-Apr.,1942 366,183 gals. Endurance for Above Average 33.5 days     Food Stores, Meats, etc., Endurance   31 days      (b)    RANGER Total Fuel Oil Available 901,304 gals.     Cruising Radiuss - (Fuel Oil) From Average of Quarterly Reports Hourly Consumptions at 21.7k 2,640 gals. Endurance, at 21.7k 14.2 days Hourly Consumption, at 16.5k 1,481 gals. Endurance, at 16.5k 25.3 days  From Actual Operations Jan.,Feb.,Mar.,1942 Endurance Based on Average for 3 months 65.2 days     Gasoline Gasoline Capacity 163,434 gals.   Gasoline Consumption Oct.-Dec.,1941 147,638 gals.   Endurance for Above Average 101 days   Gasoline Consumption Jan.,Feb.,Mar., 1942 43.9 days     (b)    YORKTOWN, ENTERPRISE, and HORNET-(Data based on average for above ships)     Total Fuel Oil Available (+ Diesel)      1,627,000 gals.     Cruising Radius: - (Fuel Oil) * (Diesel) From Average of Quarterly Reports Hourly Consumption, at 21.3k 3,655 gals. Endurance, at 21.3k 18.5 days Hourly Consumption, at 16.5k 2,000 gals. Endurance, at 16.5k 34.0 days From Actual Operations Jan.,Feb.,Mar.,1942 Endurance on Average for 3 Months 38.6 days Endurance Basad on Average Jan. and Feb. 34.5 days - 2 -

C-CV/S15 (812) CONFIDENTIAL From: BUSHIPS To: COMCARPAC COMCARLANT     Gasoline Gasoline Capacity 177,948 gals.   Gasoline Consumption (Oct.-Dec. 1941) 359,070 gals.   Endurance for Above Average 46 days   Gasoline Consumption (Jan.-Mar, 1942) 342,862 gal   Endurance for Above Average 46.8 days     Gas Consumption for ENTERPRISE (Oct.-Dec.,1941)  540,898 gals.   Endurance ENTERPRISE for above period. 30.3 days     (b)    WASP     Total Fuel Oil Available (+ Diesel)      1,022,600 gals.     Cruising Radius: - (Fuel Oil) * (Diesel) From Average of Quarterly Reports Hourly Consumption, at 20.3k 2,161 gals Enduranee, 20.3k 19.7 days Hourly Consumption, at 16.25k 1,312 gals. Endurance, at 16.25k 32.5 days From Actual Operations Jan.,Feb.,Mar.,1942 Endurance Basad on Average for 3 Months 56 days Gasoline Capacity 166,185 gals.   Gasoline Consumption (Oct.-Dec. 1941) 139,431 gals.   Endurance for Above Average 109.5 days   Gasoline Consumption (Jan.-Mar, 1942) 195,980 gals.   Endurance for Above Average 75.6 days     4.   In consultation with the Bureau of Aeronautics, it appears that the new aircraft now in production for use in the fleet are beivig equipped with engines having a far greater power output than the engines now mounted and on which the above gasoline consumption data were obtained. The Bureau of Aeronautics states further that it is expected these consumption rates will be approximately doubled in the next nine to twelve months, which will have the effect of reducing gasoline endurance as computed above by approximately one-half. In view of this fact and an analysis of the above data, it appears to tha Bureau that some increase in gasoline stowage capacity in aircraft carriers in servie will bo necessary in the near future in order to maintain a gasoline endurance cormorant with fuel oil endurance. - 3 -

C-CV/S15 (812) CONFIDENTIAL From: BUSHIPS To: COMCARPAC COMCARLANT     5.  The changes to provide additional gasoline stowage tanks in these ships will be of necessity very extensive in nature, and any increase in gasoline would htve to be compensated for by a reduction in ether consumables on account of existing displacement limitations. For this reason, a thorough investigation of this subject is considered essential before such steps are taken by the bureau. It is requested, therefore, that the type commanders addressed review this situation for the ships under their respective commands and furnish to the Bureau such additional comments as they desire to make. It is further requested that where additional gasoline capacity is considered necessary, recommended locations for additional gasoline tank compartments be furnished for the individual ships involved.   Copy to: BUAER NYPS NYNOR CO, SARATOGA CO, RANGER CO, YORKTOWN CO, ENTERPRISE CO, WASP CO, HORNET COMSERFORPAC H. L. Dodson By Direction

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