home

fighting ships of the world

UNITED STATES NAVY (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

AIRCRAFT CARRYING SHIPS

CASABLANCA escort aircraft carriers

Nehenta Bay 1944

Aircraft facilities (fd - 3,526 m², ha - 1,334 m² / 7,069 m³): Flight deck: 144.5 x 24.4 m. Hangar: 78.0 x 17.1 x 5.3 m. There were 2 lifts in center line (fore, 6.3 t, 12.6 x 10.1 m and aft, 6.3 t, 12.7 x 11.5 m). There was 1 H-II catapult. Aircraft fuel stowage: 378 500 l.  

Ship project history: In the early summer of 1942 the owner of shipyard in Vancouver (WA) G. Kaiser has suggested the American government to manage at his shipyard mass bulding of escort carriers, commit to build to 100 such ships in a year. To that time Kaiser already developed mass building of merchant vessels, and now technology of continuous assemblage was planed to spread to warships. President Roosevelt has become interested in the project, and Kaiser received an offer on 50 aircraft carriers at once.

Casablanca in many respects reminded Bogue but had smaller displacement, two shafts and was faster. As a project basis the design of fast dry cargo carrier of S4-S2ВВ-3 type was used, but, unlike the predecessors, new carriers were built from zero, instead of altered from already ready hulls. Term of building of the first 10 ships has made 241-287 days, the last: 101-112. Machinery included two original five-cylindersteam engines "Uniflow", quite often called by turbines.

After the war Thetis Bay was converted to assault helicopter carrier and designated CVHA1 (later LPH1). Second conversion (Block Island would been LPH2 under FY57 program) was cancelled. Ship had very insufficient troop spaces with not suitable accommodations and so was not considered true LPH by the Marines.

Modernizations:  To 1945, all survived: + 4 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors, 8 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon

(6/1955 - 7/1956, San Francisco N Yd) Thetis Bay: was converted to assault helicopter carrier CVHA1 (reclassified to LPH6 28/5/1959). Full displacement was 10886 t, armament consisted of 4 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors. Ship can carry up to 20 helicopters and 1004 marines.

Naval service: Liscombe Bay at atoll Makin (02°58'N, 172°26'E) 24/11/1943 was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I175. As a result of explosion of steams of gasoline and amunition she was sunk in 23 minutes after attack. St. Lo 25/10/1944 during battle at Samar has received hit of kamikaze on A6M which a number of internal explosions has followed. Gambier Bay 25/10/1944 during battle at Samar was sunk by gunfire of Japanese cruisers Chikuma, Chokai, Haguro and Tone. Ommaney Bay 4/1/1945 S of Mindoro was badly damaged by hit of kamikaze, abandoned by crew and sunk by destroyer Barnes. Bismarck Sea 21/2/1945 near Iwo Jima was hit by two kamikaze, called many fires and explosions. In 2 hours later she was sunk. Corregidor 20/4/1945 was damaged by a storm and was under repair about two months, she was used for training of naval pilots later. Manila Bay 5/1/1945 was damaged by kamikaze and was under repair till March, 1945. Wake Island 3/4/1945 was damaged by hit of kamikaze and repaired till the end of war. White Plains 25/10/1944 during battle at Samar was damaged by kamikaze blown near the stern and a close underwater explosion of a shell from Japanese battleship, repair lasted till March, 1945. Kalinin Bay 25/10/1944 during battle at Samar has received 15 hits of 203mm shells from Japanese cruisers and two hits of the kamikaze, was badly damaged and never repaired. Fanshaw Bay 25/10/1944 in battle at Samar has received heavy damages from gunfire of Japanese cruisers (6 203mms shells hits), repair lasted till March, 1945. Kitkun Bay 8/1/1945 was damaged by hit of kamikaze and repaired till March, 1945. Hoggatt Bay 15/1/1945 was damaged by internal explosion, repaired till June, 1945. Kadashan Bay 8/1/1945 was damaged by hit of kamikaze, repaired some months and later used as TS. Windham Bay was badly damaged during a storm, repaired till the end of war. Salamaua 13/1/1945 was damaged by kamikaze hit, repair lasted till March, 1945; 5/6/1945 she was badly damaged during a storm and repaired till the end of war. Kwajalein has received damage through weathers 18/12/1944 and repaired some months.

Sargent Bay 1944

Custom Search

© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10