Originally built as Cimarron-classfleet oilers, and launched in 1939, for civilian use, the ships were acquired by the US Navy and commissioned in 1940. Due to the shortage of Type C3-class ships for conversion to Bogue-classescort carriers, it was decided in early 1942, to convert four oilers to escort carriers.[1] Following the US Navy practice during WWII, for fleet oilers, these vessels had been renamed after rivers, though this was later changed to "Indian rivers in oil-producing regions". They retained those names following their conversions to carriers.[2] The conversion took around six months.[1]
These ships were the largest escort carrier conversions built for the US Navy. The late-war Commencement Bay-class escort carriers were about as large, but were built as carriers from keel up. Being built as T3 tanker oilers, the machinery space was located aft, resulting in the placing of the smokestacks on both sides aft of the flight deck. They were excellent examples of the type, roomy and tough with a large flight deck and good stability on even high seas. The Sangamons could operate about 30 aircraft, and were the only escort carriers to operate dive bombers.[1]
Service history
From late 1942 until the end of the war the ships saw active duty in the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Pacific Campaigns. Three of the class were damaged by Japanesekamikaze attacks at the Battle of Leyte Gulf, but all survived the war. In the Pacific, the carriers often operated together as Carrier Division 22.[3]
The ships were withdrawn from active service shortly after the end of the war. Some of them were kept in reserve and reclassified as helicopter escort carriers (CVHE). All had been sold or scrapped by the early 1960s.[4]
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United States Navy 
