View source for USS Hollandia

{{short description|Casablanca-class escort carrier of the US Navy}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = USS Hollandia (CVE-97) underway, circa 1944 (NNAM.1996.488.034.005).jpg
| Ship caption = USS ''Hollandia'' (CVE-97), underway, {{circa}} 1944
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = United States
| Ship flag = {{USN flag|1944}}
| Ship name = *''Astrolabe Bay'' (1944)
*''Hollandia'' (1944–1960)
| Ship namesake = *Astrolabe Bay, [[Glacier Bay Basin]], Alaska
*[[Battle of Hollandia]]
| Ship ordered = as a [[Casablanca-class escort carrier|Type S4-S2-BB3]] hull, [[Maritime Commission|MCE]] hull 1134{{sfn|Kaiser Vancouver|2010}}
| Ship awarded = 18 June 1942
| Ship builder = [[Kaiser Shipyards]]
| Ship original cost = 
| Ship yard number = 
| Ship way number = 
| Ship laid down = 12 February 1944
| Ship launched = 28 April 1944
| Ship sponsor = 
| Ship christened = 
| Ship completed = 
| Ship acquired = 
| Ship commissioned = 1 June 1944
| Ship recommissioned = 
| Ship decommissioned = 17 January 1947
| Ship in service = 
| Ship out of service = 
| Ship renamed = 
| Ship reclassified = 
| Ship refit = 
| Ship struck = 1 April 1960
| Ship reinstated = 
| Ship homeport = 
| Ship identification = [[Hull classification symbol#Aircraft carrier type|Hull symbol]]: CVE-97
| Ship motto = 
| Ship nickname = 
| Ship honors = 2 [[Battle star]]s
| Ship captured = 
| Ship fate = Sold for scrap, July 1960
| Ship notes = 
| Ship badge = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = {{sfn|Chesneau|Gardiner|1980|p=109}}
| Ship class = {{sclass|Casablanca|escort carrier}}
| Ship type = 
| Ship displacement = {{Casablanca class displacement}}
| Ship length = {{Casablanca class length}}
| Ship beam = {{Casablanca class beam}}
| Ship height = 
| Ship draft = {{Casablanca class draft}}
| Ship depth = 
| Ship decks = 
| Ship power = {{Casablanca class power}}
| Ship propulsion = {{Casablanca class propulsion}}
| Ship speed = {{Casablanca class speed}}
| Ship range = {{cvt|10240|nmi}} at {{cvt|15|kn}}
| Ship boats = 
| Ship complement = *Total: 910 – 916 officers and men
**Embarked Squadron: 50 – 56
**Ship's Crew: 860
| Ship sensors = 
| Ship EW = 
| Ship armament = {{Casablanca class armament}}
| Ship armor = 
| Ship aircraft = 27
| Ship aircraft facilities = *1 × [[aircraft catapult|catapult]]
*2 × [[Elevator#Aircraft elevators|elevators]]
| Ship notes = 
}}
{{Infobox service record
|is_ship=yes
|label=
|partof=
*[[United States Pacific Fleet]] (1944-1946)
*[[Pacific Reserve Fleet]] (1946-1960)
|codes=
|commanders=
|operations=
*[[Battle of Okinawa]]
*[[Operation Magic Carpet (World War II)|Operation Magic Carpet]]
|victories=
|awards=
}}
|}
'''USS ''Hollandia'' (CVE-97)''' was a {{sclass|Casablanca|escort carrier}} of the [[United States Navy]]. She was named after the [[Battle of Hollandia]], a successful amphibious operation during the [[New Guinea campaign]]. Launched in April 1944, and commissioned in June, she served in support of the [[Battle of Okinawa]]. Postwar, she participated in [[Operation Magic Carpet]]. She was decommissioned in January 1947, when she was [[Reserve fleet|mothballed]] in the [[Pacific Reserve Fleet]]. Ultimately, she was sold for scrap in December 1960.

==Design and description==
[[File:Inboard and outboard profiles of a Casablanca-class escort carrier, 1946.png|thumb|left|A profile of the design of {{USS|Takanis Bay|CVE-89|2}}, which was shared with all ''Casablanca''-class escort carriers.]]
{{main|Casablanca-class escort carrier}}
''Hollandia'' was a ''Casablanca''-class escort carrier, the most numerous type of [[aircraft carrier]] ever built,{{sfn|Chesneau|Gardiner|1980|p=109}} and designed specifically to be mass-produced using prefabricated sections, in order to replace heavy early war losses. Standardized with her [[sister ship]]s, she was {{convert|512|ft|3|in|abbr=on}} [[length overall|long overall]], had a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|65|ft|2|in|abbr=on}}, and a [[draft (nautical)|draft]] of {{convert|20|ft|9|in|abbr=on}}. She [[Displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{cvt|8188|LT|lk=on}} standard, {{cvt|10902|LT}} with a full load. She had a {{convert|257|ft|abbr=on}} long [[Hangar#Hangars aboard ships|hangar deck]] and a {{convert|477|ft|abbr=on}} long [[flight deck]]. She was powered with two [[Skinner Unaflow]] reciprocating steam engines, which drove two shafts, providing {{convert|9000|shp|lk=in}}, thus enabling her to make {{Casablanca class speed}}. The ship had a cruising range of {{convert|10240|nmi|lk=in}} at a speed of {{convert|15|kn}}. Her compact size necessitated the installment of an [[aircraft catapult]] at her bow, and there were two [[Elevator#Aircraft elevators|aircraft elevators]] to facilitate the movement of aircraft between the flight deck and hangar deck: one each fore and aft.{{sfn|Y'Blood|2014|pp=34–35}}{{sfn|Chesneau|Gardiner|1980|p=109}}{{sfn|Hazegray|1998}}

One [[5"/38 caliber gun|{{convert|5|in|0|adj=on}}/38]] [[Caliber (artillery)|caliber]] [[dual-purpose gun]] was mounted on the stern. Anti-aircraft defense was provided by 8 [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors {{convert|40|mm|in|sp=us|adj=on}} anti-aircraft guns]] in single mounts, as well as 12 [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|Oerlikon {{convert|20|mm|in|sp=us|adj=on}} cannon]]s, which were mounted around the perimeter of the deck.{{sfn|Hazegray|1998}} By the end of the war, ''Casablanca''-class carriers had been modified to carry thirty 20–mm cannons, and the amount of 40–mm guns had been doubled to sixteen, by putting them into twin mounts. These modifications were in response to increasing casualties due to [[kamikaze]] attacks. ''Casablanca''-class escort carriers were designed to carry 27 aircraft, but the hangar deck could accommodate more.{{sfn|Hazegray|1998}}{{sfn|Y'Blood|2014|p=10}}

==Construction==
The escort carrier was [[Keel laying|laid down]] on 12 February 1944, under a [[Maritime Commission]] contract, MC hull 1134, by [[Kaiser Shipyards|Kaiser Shipbuilding Company]], [[Vancouver, Washington]]. She was laid down and launched under the name ''Astrolabe Bay'',{{sfn|Kaiser Vancouver|2010}} as part of a tradition which named escort carriers after bays or sounds in Alaska.{{sfn|Maksel|2012}} She was renamed ''Hollandia'' on 30 May 1944, as part of a new naval policy which named subsequent ''Casablanca''-class carriers after naval or land engagements.{{sfn|Stubblebine|2011}} She was [[ship naming and launching|launched]] on 28 April 1944; [[Ship sponsor|sponsored]] by Mrs. William H. Wheat; transferred to the United States Navy and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 1 June 1944, with [[Captain (United States O-6)|Captain]] Charles Loomis Lee in command.{{sfn|DANFS|2016}}

==Service history==
[[File:USS Hollandia (CVE-97) docked at San Diego, in July 1944.jpg|thumb|left|''Hollandia'' anchored at San Diego, July 1944. Passengers are waiting to board the ship.]]
[[File:Gunnery practice aboard USS Hollandia (CVE-97), in 1944.jpg|thumb|left|Gunnery practice onboard ''Hollandia'', circa 1944.]]
[[File:F4U Corsairs of VMF-312 aboard USS Hollandia (CVE-97), in April 1945.jpg|thumb|left|F4U Corsairs of [[Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312]] prepare to take off from the flight deck of ''Hollandia'', April 1945.]]
[[File:USS Hollandia (CVE-97) transporting troops, circa in 1945.jpg|thumb|left|The hangar deck of ''Hollandia'' during a Magic Carpet run, circa 1945.]]
Upon being commissioned, ''Hollandia'' underwent a shakedown cruise down the West Coast to [[San Diego, California|San Diego]]. Shakedown continued as she underwent a transport mission, carrying a load of replacement aircraft and military personnel. She departed on 10 July, bound for [[Espiritu Santo]]. On her return trip, she stopped at [[Manus Island|Manus]] and [[Guadalcanal]], before arriving at [[Port Hueneme, California]] on 27 August. For the next few months, ''Hollandia'' continued these transport missions to the West and South Pacific, transporting supplies and passengers.{{sfn|DANFS|2016}}

She continued these duties until 1 April 1945, at which point she was anchored at Ulithi. As U.S. forces began their landings, beginning the [[Battle of Okinawa]], ''Hollandia'' joined the Special Escort Carrier Group as its flagship. She, along with {{USS|White Plains|CVE-66|2}}, {{USS|Sitkoh Bay|CVE-86|2}}, and the
{{sclass|Bogue|escort carrier}} {{USS|Breton|CVE-23|2}}, transported Marine Air Groups 31 and 33 to land bases captured on Okinawa. In total, the air group being transported consisted of 192 [[Vought F4U Corsair]] and 30 [[Grumman F6F Hellcat]] fighters. ''Hollandia'' was delegated to take on the planes of Marine Air Group 33. After departing on 2 April, the destroyers {{USS|Kilty|DD-137|2}}, {{USS|Manley|DD-74|2}}, {{USS|George E. Badger|DD-196|2}}, and {{USS|Greene|DD-266|2}} provided a screen for the carriers.{{sfn|DANFS|2016}}{{sfn|Y'Blood|2014|p=350}}

The escort carriers managed to safely arrive at Okinawa on 6 April, although the destroyers dropped depth charges to deter a suspected submarine en route. There, ''Hollandia'' prepared to begin launching her aircraft, which would be the first land-based aircraft to support the U.S. forces fighting their way down the island. However, she, along with ''White Plains'', were ordered to postpone their launchings for several days, as the transport ships ferrying the equipment of the marines had been attacked and damaged, with much equipment lost. On 9 April, she launched her planes to the hastily expanded [[Kadena Air Base]], where the aircraft began operations. [[VMFA-323|Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323]], transported aboard the escort carriers, would go on to become the highest-scoring air unit participating in the Battle of Okinawa, claiming 124.5 Japanese planes.{{sfn|Y'Blood|2014|p=363}}

Having completed her duties, she returned to San Diego, arriving on 1 May. Whilst at port, Captain John Thompson Brown, Jr. took over command of the vessel.{{sfn|Navsource}} She then conducted a transport run to [[Pearl Harbor]], ferrying cargo and passengers. On 7 June, she departed the West Coast to serve as a replenishment carrier, supporting the [[Fast Carrier Task Force]] in its operations against Japan. Replenishment carriers enabled the frontline carriers to replace battle losses, and to stay at sea for longer durations of time.{{sfn|Y'Blood|2014|p=110}} ''Hollandia'' loaded replacement aircraft at Pearl Harbor, and she sailed on 18 June to join Task Group 30.8, the Fleet Oiler and Transport Carrier Group (also known as the At Sea Logistics Service Group). She provided replacement aircraft up until news of the [[Surrender of Japan|Japanese surrender]] broke.{{sfn|DANFS|2016}}

Post-war, ''Hollandia'' berthed at Guam, where an overhaul was conducted to transform her into a passenger ship. She then joined the [[Operation Magic Carpet (World War II)|Operation Magic Carpet]] fleet, which repatriated U.S. servicemen from around the Pacific. She conducted four Magic Carpet runs, before heading to [[San Pedro, Los Angeles|San Pedro]], where she was released from the Magic Carpet fleet. She departed Southern California on 4 February 1946, bound for [[Puget Sound]], and upon arriving on 15 February, she underwent inactivation. The ship was decommissioned on 17 January 1947, and mothballed as part of the [[Pacific Reserve Fleet]]. Whilst mothballed, she was redesignated as a utility aircraft carrier, '''CVU-97''', on 12 June 1955. The hull was then once again redesignated, this time as an aircraft transport, '''AKV-33''', on 7 May 1959. Finally, her hull was struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register|Navy list]] on 1 April 1960, and sold sometime in July 1960 to Eisenberg & Co. of [[New York City|New York]] for [[Ship breaking|scrapping]]. Her ultimate fate was to be broken up in Japan during November 1960.{{sfn|Hazegray|1998}}{{sfn|DANFS|2016}}

==References==
{{Reflist|20em}}

==Sources==
===Online sources===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite DANFS | url = https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/hollandia.html| title = Hollandia (CVE-97)| publisher = Naval History and Heritage Command | date = 27 April 2016| access-date = 15 November 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190604224011/https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/hollandia.html|archive-date=2019-06-04| ref = {{sfnRef|DANFS|2016}}}}{{PD-notice}}
* {{cite web| url = http://shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/emergencylarge/kvancouver.htm| title = Kaiser Vancouver, Vancouver WA| publisher =  www.ShipbuildingHistory.com| date = 27 November 2010| access-date = 14 June 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190616103407/http://shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/emergencylarge/kvancouver.htm|archive-date=2019-06-16|ref = {{sfnRef|Kaiser Vancouver|2010}}}}
* {{cite web | url = https://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/us_esc2.htm| title= World Aircraft Carriers List: US Escort Carriers, S4 Hulls| publisher= Hazegray.org | date= 14 December 1998| access-date= 1 July 2019| ref= {{sfnRef|Hazegray|1998}}}}
* {{cite web | last = Maksel| first = Rebecca| url = https://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/how-do-you-name-an-aircraft-carrier-22717003/| title= How Do You Name an Aircraft Carrier?| publisher= [[Air & Space/Smithsonian]] | date= 14 August 2012| access-date= 23 December 2019}}
* {{cite web | last = Stubblebine| first = Daniel| url = https://ww2db.com/ship_spec.php?ship_id=776| title= Escort Carrier Makin Island (CVE-93)| publisher= ww2db.com | date= June 2011| access-date= 23 December 2019}}
* {{cite web | url = https://www.navsource.org/archives/03/097co.htm| title= Commanding Officers of USS Hollandia (CVE-97)| publisher= navsource.org| access-date= 23 December 2019| ref= {{sfnRef|Navsource}}}}
{{refend}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{citation|last= Chesneau|first= Robert|last2= Gardiner|first2 = Robert|title= Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|year= 1980 |publisher= Naval Institute Press |location= [[London]], [[England]]|isbn= 9780870219139}}
* {{citation|last= Y'Blood|first= William|title= The Little Giants: U.S. Escort Carriers Against Japan|year= 2014 |publisher= Naval Institute Press |location= [[Annapolis]], Maryland|type = [[E-book]]|isbn= 9781612512471}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|USS Hollandia (CVE-97)}}
* {{navsource|03/097|USS Hollandia (CVE-97)}}

{{Casablanca class escort carrier}}
{{Kaiser Vancouver Shipyard}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hollandia}}
[[Category:Casablanca-class escort carriers]]
[[Category:World War II escort aircraft carriers of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships built in Vancouver, Washington]]
[[Category:1944 ships]]
[[Category:S4-S2-BB3 ships]]