USS Saratoga (CV-3) was the second aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, and the fifth ship to bear her name. She was commissioned one month earlier than her sister and class leader, Lexington, which is the third actually commissioned after Langley and Saratoga. As Saratoga was visually identical to Lexington, her funnel was painted with a large black vertical stripe to assist pilots in recognizing her. This identifying mark earned her the nickname "Stripe-Stacked Sara." Saratoga, Enterprise, and Ranger were the only fleet aircraft carriers of the United States Navy built before the war to survive and serve throughout American involvement in World War II.
The USS Saratoga was lost in 1941 while in action against the Japanese Navy.
Literary Comment[]
Although not stated directly, it is stated that the US Navy has lost five aircraft carriers, but due to one being lost at Hawaii, and four being lost at Wake Island, it is never clarified which ones.
*=denotes a character who was a POV for a single scene
1=denotes a character who was a POV for one volume
2=denotes a character who was a POV for two volumes
3=denotes a character who was a POV for three volumes
4=denotes a character who was a POV for four volumes
5=denotes a character who was a POV for five volumes
6=denotes a character who was a POV for six volumes
† denotes a deceased character.