USS Saratoga Aircraft Carrier CV-3 1936, 1:700 Scale Model Kit

• Plastic model kit, assembly & paint required
• Molded in light gray
• 375 Pieces (24 sprues, hulls & decks)
• Approximate Dimensions: 15.3” L x 2.2” W
• Box dimensions: 16.5” L x 7.1” W x 2.0”H
• Recommend for 14 years and above.

USS Saratoga (CV-3) was a Lexington-class aircraft carrier built for the United States Navy during the 1920s. Originally designed as a battlecruiser, she was converted into one of the Navy's first aircraft carriers during construction to comply with the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922. The ship entered service in 1928 and was assigned to the Pacific Fleet for her entire career. Saratoga and her sister ship, Lexington, were used to develop and refine carrier tactics in a series of annual exercises before World War II. On more than one occasion these exercises included successful surprise attacks on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. She was one of three prewar US fleet aircraft carriers, along with Enterprise and Ranger, to serve throughout World War II.

When the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor on 7 December 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 11 January 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 took part in all the operations at 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 15 August 1946. Saratoga received seven battle stars for her WWII service.

This Trumpeter 1/700 Scale model of aircraft carrier USS Saratoga prior to WWII. The model kit comes with 24 sprues plus lower hull, upper hull, decks and waterline plate and display stand. Either waterline version or full hull version can be selected