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USS Commencement Bay | |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Builders | Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding, WA |
Operators | United States Navy |
Preceded by | Casablanca-class escort carrier |
Succeeded by | None |
Built | 1943–1945 |
In service | 1944–1957 |
Planned | 35 |
Completed | 19 |
Cancelled | 16 |
Scrapped | 19 |
Preserved | 0 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Escort carrier |
Displacement |
|
Length | |
Beam |
|
Draft | 30 ft 8 in (9.35 m) |
Installed power | 16,000 shp (11,931 kW) |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 19 knots (22 mph; 35 km/h) |
Complement | 1,066 officers and men |
Armament |
|
Aircraft carried | 34 |
The Commencement Bay-class escort aircraft carriers were the last class of escort carriers built for the US Navy in World War II.
The ships were based on the hull of the Maritime Commission type T3 tanker, which gave them a displacement of approximately 23,000 tons and a length of 557 feet (170 m). Unlike most earlier escort carrier classes, which were laid down as something else and converted to aircraft carriers mid-construction, the Commencement Bays were built as carriers from the keel up. Their general layout was similar to the Sangamon-class escort carriers, but some of the Sangamon's engineering shortcomings were addressed.
They entered service late in World War II – USS Commencement Bay launched on 9 May 1944 – so most of them saw little or no operational service. Thirty-five of them were ordered but many were cancelled prior to completion. Nineteen saw commissioned service in the US Navy, four were broken up on the ways at the end of the war, two were accepted from the builders but never commissioned, and the remainder were cancelled before being laid down.
After the war they were seen as potential helicopter, anti-submarine, or auxiliary (transport) carriers, and a number of ships served in these roles during the Korean War. The oncoming Jet Age ended their careers, as the ships were no longer large enough to safely carry the much larger jet aircraft of the late 1950s, and all units were out of service or reclassified by 1960.
All of the Commencement Bay-class escort carriers that were laid down were built by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation (a.k.a. Todd Pacific Shipyards) in the Commencement Bay, Tacoma, Washington yard, in addition to the planned (but unnamed) ships CVE-128 through CVE-131. Planned (but unnamed) ships CVE-132 through CVE-139 were to be built by Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, in Vancouver, Washington, but were never laid down.
Ship name | Hull no. | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Commencement Bay (ex-St. Joseph Bay) | CVE-105 | 23 September 1943 | 9 May 1944 | 27 November 1944 | 30 November 1946 | Struck 1 April 1971; Sold for scrap 25 August 1972 |
Block Island (ex-Sunset Bay) | CVE-106 | 25 October 1943 | 10 June 1944 | 30 December 1944 | 27 August 1954 | Struck 1 July 1959; Sold for scrap 23 February 1960 |
Gilbert Islands (ex-St. Andrews Bay) | CVE-107 | 29 November 1943 | 20 July 1944 | 5 February 1945 | 21 May 1946 | Struck 15 October 1976; Sold for scrap 1 November 1979 |
5 February 1951 | 15 January 1955 | |||||
Kula Gulf (ex-Vermillion Bay) | CVE-108 | 16 December 1943 | 15 August 1944 | 12 May 1945 | 3 July 1946 | Struck 15 September 1970; Sold for scrap 1971 |
15 February 1951 | 15 December 1955 | |||||
Cape Gloucester (ex-Willapa Bay) | CVE-109 | 10 January 1944 | 12 September 1944 | 5 March 1945 | 5 November 1946 | Struck 1 April 1971; Sold for scrap |
Salerno Bay (ex-Winjah Bay) | CVE-110 | 7 February 1944 | 19 October 1944 | 19 May 1945 | 4 October 1947 | Struck 1 June 1960; Sold for scrap 30 October 1961 |
20 June 1951 | 16 February 1954 | |||||
Vella Gulf (ex-Totem Bay) | CVE-111 | 7 March 1944 | 19 October 1944 | 9 April 1945 | 9 August 1946 | Struck 1 December 1970; Sold for scrap 22 October 1971 |
Siboney (ex-Frosty Bay) | CVE-112 | 1 April 1944 | 9 November 1944 | 14 May 1945 | 6 December 1949 | Struck 1 June 1970; Scrapped 1971 |
22 November 1950 | 31 July 1956 | |||||
Puget Sound (ex-Hobart Bay) | CVE-113 | 12 May 1944 | 20 September 1944 | 18 June 1945 | 18 October 1946 | Struck 1 June 1960; Sold for scrap 10 January 1962 |
Rendova (ex-Mosser Bay) | CVE-114 | 15 June 1944 | 29 December 1944 | 22 October 1945 | 27 January 1950 | Struck 1 April 1971; Sold for scrap 1971 |
3 January 1951 | 30 June 1955 | |||||
Bairoko (ex-Portage Bay) | CVE-115 | 25 July 1944 | 25 January 1945 | 16 July 1945 | 14 April 1950 | Struck 1 April 1960; Sold for scrap January 1961 |
12 September 1950 | 18 February 1955 | |||||
Badoeng Strait (ex-San Alberto Bay) | CVE-116 | 18 August 1944 | 15 February 1945 | 14 November 1945 | 20 April 1946 | Struck 1 December 1970; Sold for scrap 8 May 1972 |
6 January 1947 | 17 May 1957 | |||||
Saidor (ex-Saltery Bay) | CVE-117 | 29 September 1944 | 17 March 1945 | 4 September 1945 | 12 September 1947 | Struck 1 December 1970; Sold for scrap 22 October 1971 |
Sicily (ex-Sandy Bay) | CVE-118 | 23 October 1944 | 14 April 1945 | 27 February 1946 | 4 October 1954 | Struck 1 July 1960; Sold for scrap 31 October 1960 |
Point Cruz (ex-Trocadero Bay) | CVE-119 | 4 December 1944 | 18 May 1945 | 16 October 1945 | 30 June 1947 | Struck 15 September 1970; Sold for scrap 1971 |
26 July 1951 | 31 August 1956 | |||||
Mindoro | CVE-120 | 2 January 1945 | 27 June 1945 | 4 December 1945 | 4 August 1955 | Struck 1 December 1959; Sold for scrap June 1960 |
Rabaul | CVE-121 | 29 January 1945 | 14 July 1945 | Never commissioned, straight to Reserve Fleet | — | Struck 1 September 1971; Sold for scrap 25 August 1972 |
Palau | CVE-122 | 19 February 1945 | 6 August 1945 | 15 January 1946 | 15 June 1954 | Struck 1 April 1960; Sold for scrap 13 July 1960 |
Tinian | CVE-123 | 20 March 1945 | 5 September 1945 | Never commissioned, straight to Reserve Fleet | — | Struck 1 June 1970; Sold for scrap 15 December 1971 |
Bastogne | CVE-124 | 2 April 1945 | — | — | — | Cancelled before launching, 12 August 1945 |
Eniwetok | CVE-125 | 20 April 1945 | ||||
Lingayen | CVE-126 | 1 May 1945 | ||||
Okinawa | CVE-127 | 22 May 1945 | ||||
Unnamed | CVE-128 – CVE-139 | — | Cancelled before being laid down, 12 August 1945 [1] |
The escort carrier or escort aircraft carrier, also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the United States Navy (USN) or "Woolworth Carrier" by the Royal Navy, was a small and slow type of aircraft carrier used by the Royal Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy, the United States Navy, the Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II. They were typically half the length and a third the displacement of larger fleet carriers, slower, more-lightly armed and armored, and carried fewer planes. Escort carriers were most often built upon a commercial ship hull, so they were cheaper and could be built quickly. This was their principal advantage as they could be completed in greater numbers as a stop-gap when fleet carriers were scarce. However, the lack of protection made escort carriers particularly vulnerable, and several were sunk with great loss of life. The light carrier was a similar concept to the escort carrier in most respects, but was fast enough to operate alongside fleet carriers.
USS Takanis Bay (CVE-89) was a Casablanca-class escort carrier of the United States Navy, which served during World War II. She was named after Takanis Bay on the west side of Yakobi Island in Alaska. Launched in March 1944 and commissioned in April, she served as a carrier training vessel, operating off of San Diego. Following the end of hostilities, she repatriated troops from the Pacific theater as part of Operation Magic Carpet.
The Casablanca-class escort carrier was a series of escort carriers constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. They are the most numerous class of aircraft carriers ever built. Fifty were laid down, launched and commissioned within the space of less than two years – 3 November 1942 through to 8 July 1944. These were nearly one third of the 143 aircraft carriers built in the United States during the war. Despite their numbers, and the preservation of more famous and larger carriers as museums, none of these modest ships survive today. Five were lost to enemy action during World War II and the remainder were scrapped.
USS Casablanca (AVG/ACV/CVE-55) was the first of fifty Casablanca-class escort carriers built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was named after the Naval Battle of Casablanca, conducted as a part of the wider Operation Torch, which pitted the United States Navy against the remnants of the French Navy controlled by Vichy France. The American victory cleared the way for the seizure of the port of Casablanca as well as the Allied occupation of French Morocco. The ship was launched in April 1943, commissioned in July, and served as a training and transport carrier throughout the war. Postwar, she participated in Operation Magic Carpet, repatriating U.S. servicemen from throughout the Pacific. She was decommissioned in June 1946, when she was mothballed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She was sold for scrap in April 1947.
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HMS Patroller was an escort carrier in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Laid down in 1942 at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding company, she was originally named USS Keweenaw (CVE-44). USS Keweenaw was an escort carrier laid down under Maritime Commission contract by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding of Tacoma, Washington, 27 November 1942; launched 6 May 1943; sponsored by Mrs. R. G. Risley; assigned to the United Kingdom 10 June 1943; reclassified CVE-44 on 15 July 1943; and transferred to the United Kingdom under lend-lease 22 October 1943.
The USS Perdido (CVE-47) was a Bogue-class escort carrier laid down as ACV-47 under Maritime Commission contract by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding of Tacoma, Washington, 1 February 1943; launched 16 June 1943; sponsored by Mrs. H. M. Bemis, reclassified as CVE-47 on 15 July 1943; and completed at the Commercial Iron Works, Portland, Oregon.
HMS Ruler was the lead ship of her class of escort carrier of the Royal Navy during the Second World War. She was built in the United States as the Bogue-class carrier St. Joseph (AVG/CVE/ACV-50) for Lend-Lease to the United Kingdom.
USS St. Simon (CVE-51), an escort aircraft carrier originally classified as an auxiliary aircraft carrier, was laid down on 26 April 1943 at Tacoma, Washington, by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, under a Maritime Commission contract ; reclassified as an escort aircraft carrier, CVE-51, on 15 July 1943; launched on 9 September 1943; sponsored by Mrs. R. H. Lewis, the wife of Major General R. H. Lewis, Commanding General, Northwestern Sector, Fort Lewis, Washington; assigned to the Commercial Iron Works, Portland, Oregon, for the completion of construction; and delivered to the Royal Navy, under lend-lease, on 31 December 1943.
USS Vermillion (CVE-52) was laid down on 10 May 1943 by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation as a Bogue-class auxiliary aircraft carrier; redesignated an escort aircraft carrier, on 10 June 1943; assigned to the United Kingdom under Lend-Lease on 23 June 1943; launched on 27 September 1943; and accepted by Britain on 20 January 1944.
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USS Roi (CVE-103) was a Casablanca-class escort carrier of the United States Navy. She was named after the Battle of Roi, in which the United States captured the island of Roi-Namur. Built for service during World War II, the ship was launched in June 1944, commissioned in July, and acted as a transport and as a replenishment carrier. During the latter months of the war, she provided aircraft and supplies to the Fast Carrier Task Force, continuing until the end of the war. Postwar, she participated in Operation Magic Carpet. She was decommissioned in May 1946, and she was sold for scrapping in December.
USS Matanikau (CVE-101) was a Casablanca-class escort carrier of the United States Navy. She was named after the Actions along the Matanikau, a series of engagements during the Guadalcanal campaign. Built for service during World War II, the ship was launched in May 1944, and commissioned in June, and served as a training and transport carrier. Notably, some 1,332 aviators earned their qualifications on-board the carrier. Postwar, she participated in Operation Magic Carpet. She was decommissioned in October 1946, when she was mothballed in the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Ultimately, she was sold for scrapping in July 1960.
USS Tinian (CVE-123) was a Commencement Bay-class escort carrier of the United States Navy. Ordered and constructed during World War II, Tinian never entered active service and was assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Tacoma after being completed. In June 1955, the ship was reclassified a helicopter carrier and in May 1959, a cargo ship and aircraft ferry. The ship remained in reserve for her entire career and was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 June 1970 and sold for scrap.
USS Mindoro was a Commencement Bay-class escort carrier of the United States Navy. The ship was a converted oil tanker, and she had a capacity to carry up to thirty-three aircraft. She was built during World War II, but was completed too late to see action during the conflict. She nevertheless saw service with the 8th Fleet in the late 1940s and early 1950s in the Atlantic Ocean. She also made two deployments to the Mediterranean Sea, in 1950 and 1954, before being decommissioned in January 1955 and assigned to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She was retained for just four years before being struck from the naval register in December 1959 and thereafter scrapped.
USS Point Cruz (CVE-119) was a Commencement Bay-class escort carrier of the United States Navy. Originally named Trocadero Bay until 5 June 1944 when it was renamed after the Honiara suburb Point Cruz, which was an important location during the Guadalcanal Campaign. She was laid down on 4 December 1944 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Incorporated, Tacoma, Washington; launched on 18 May 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Earl R. DeLong; and commissioned on 16 October 1945.
USS Kwajalein (CVE-98) was the forty-fourth of fifty Casablanca-class escort carriers built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was named after the Battle of Kwajalein, in which American forces captured Kwajalein Atoll. The ship was launched in May 1944, commissioned in June, and served in support of the Philippines campaign. Later in the war, she served as a replenishment carrier, during which she was damaged by Typhoon Cobra. Postwar, she participated in Operation Magic Carpet, repatriating U.S. servicemen from throughout the Pacific. She was decommissioned in May 1946, when she was mothballed in the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Ultimately, she was sold for scrapping in January 1961.
USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83) was a Casablanca-class escort carrier of the United States Navy. She was named after Sargent Bay, located within Revillagigedo Island, and was built for service during World War II. Launched in January 1944, and commissioned in March 1944, she served in support of the Invasion of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Okinawa. Postwar, she participated in Operation Magic Carpet. She was decommissioned in June 1946, when she was mothballed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. Ultimately, she was sold for scrapping in July 1959.
The Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation was an American corporation which built escort carriers, destroyers, cargo ships and auxiliaries for the United States Navy and merchant marine during World War II in two yards in Puget Sound, Washington. It was the largest producer of destroyers (45) on the West Coast and the largest producer of escort carriers of various classes (56) of any United States yard active during World War II.