View source for USS Sicily

{{short description|Commencement Bay-class escort carrier of the US Navy}}
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{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= [[Image:USS Sicily (CVE-118) underway in April 1954 (NH 97317).jpg|300px|USS Sicily off Korea in April 1954]]
|Ship caption=USS ''Sicily'' in April of 1954
}}
{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship country=United States      
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1966}}
|Ship name=USS ''Sicily''
|Ship operator=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation|Todd Pacific Shipyards]]
|Ship laid down= 23 October 1944
|Ship launched= 14 April 1945 
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|Ship completed= 
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=  27 February 1946 
|Ship recommissioned=
|Ship decommissioned= 4 Oct 1954
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|Ship struck=1 July 1960
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|Ship fate= Sold for scrap, 31 October 1960
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class={{sclass|Commencement Bay|escort carrier}}
|Ship displacement={{convert|21397|LT|t|lk=on}}
|Ship length={{cvt|557|ft|1|in|m}} [[length overall|loa]]
|Ship beam={{cvt|75|ft|m}}
|Ship draft={{cvt|32|ft|m}}
|Ship power=
*{{cvt|16000|shp|kW|lk=on}}
*4 × [[boiler]]s
|Ship propulsion=
*2 × [[Steam turbines]] 
*2 × [[screw propeller]]s
|Ship speed={{convert|19|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range=
|Ship endurance=
|Ship complement=1,066
|Ship sensors=
|Ship armament=
*2 × [[5"/38 caliber gun|{{cvt|5|in|mm|0}}]] [[dual-purpose gun]]s
*36 × [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|{{cvt|40|mm|1}} Bofors]] [[Anti-aircraft warfare|AA gun]]s
*20 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{cvt|20|mm|1}} Oerlikon]] AA guns
|Ship aircraft=33
|Ship aircraft facilities=2 × [[aircraft catapult]]s
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''USS ''Sicily''''' was a {{sclass|Commencement Bay|escort carrier}} in the [[United States Navy]]. The ''Commencement Bay'' class were built during [[World War II]], and were an improvement over the earlier {{sclass|Sangamon|escort carrier|4}}, which were converted from [[oil tanker]]s. They were capable of carrying an air group of 33&nbsp;planes and were armed with an anti-aircraft battery of  [[5"/38 caliber gun|{{convert|5|in|abbr=on|0}}]], [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|{{cvt|40|mm|1}}]], and [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{cvt|20|mm|1}}]] guns. The ships were capable of a top speed of {{convert|19|kn|lk=in}}, and due to their origin as tankers, had extensive fuel storage.

She was named in honor of the successful [[Allied invasion of Sicily]] during [[World War II]]. ''Sicily'' was laid down on 23 October 1944 by [[Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation|Todd-Pacific Shipyards]], [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], as ''Sandy Bay''; launched on 14 April 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Julius Vanderwiele; renamed ''Sicily'' on 5 June 1945; and commissioned on 27 February 1946, Capt. B. W. Wright in command.

==Design==
{{main|Commencement Bay-class escort carrier}}

In 1941, as United States participation in [[World War II]] became increasingly likely, the [[US Navy]] embarked on a construction program for [[escort carrier]]s, which were converted from [[transport ship]]s of various types. Many of the escort carrier types were converted from [[Type C3-class ship|C3-type transports]], but the {{sclass|Sangamon|escort carrier|1}}s were instead rebuilt [[oil tanker]]s. These proved to be very successful ships, and the {{sclass|Commencement Bay|escort carrier|4}}, authorized for Fiscal Year 1944, were an improved version of the ''Sangamon'' design. The new ships were faster, had improved aviation facilities, and had better internal [[Compartment (ship)|compartmentation]].{{sfn|Friedman 1986|pp=107–111}} They proved to be the most successful of the escort carriers, and the only class to be retained in active service after the war, since they were large enough to operate newer aircraft.{{sfn|Friedman 1983|p=199}}{{sfn|Stille|p=47}}

''Sicily'' was {{cvt|557|ft|1|in|m}} [[long overall]], with a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{cvt|75|ft|m}} at the [[waterline]], which extended to {{cvt|105|ft|2|in}} at maximum. She [[Displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{convert|21397|LT|t}} at [[full load]], of which {{cvt|12876|LT|t}} could be [[fuel oil]] (though some of her storage tanks were converted to permanently store seawater for [[ballast]]), and at full load she had a [[Draft (ship)|draft]] of {{cvt|27|ft|11|in}}. The ship's [[superstructure]] consisted of a small island. She had a complement of 1,066 officers and enlisted men.{{sfn|Friedman 1986|p=111}}

The ship was powered by two [[Allis-Chalmers]] geared [[steam turbine]]s, each driving one [[screw propeller]], using steam provided by four [[Combustion Engineering]]-manufactured [[water-tube boilers]]. The propulsion system was rated to produce a total of {{cvt|16000|shp|lk=in}} for a top speed of {{convert|19|kn|lk=in}}. Given the very large storage capacity for oil, the ships of the ''Commencement Bay'' class could steam for some {{convert|23900|nmi|lk=in}} at a speed of {{convert|15|kn}}.{{sfn|Friedman 1986|p=111}}

Her defensive [[anti-aircraft]] armament consisted of two [[5"/38 caliber gun|{{cvt|5|in|mm|0}}]] [[dual-purpose gun]]s in single mounts, thirty-six [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|{{cvt|40|mm|0}} Bofors guns]], and twenty [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{cvt|20|mm|0}} Oerlikon light AA cannon]]s. The Bofors guns were placed in three quadruple and twelve twin mounts, while the Oerlikon guns were all mounted individually. She carried 33 planes, which could be launched from two [[aircraft catapult]]s. Two elevators transferred aircraft from the [[hangar]] to the [[flight deck]].{{sfn|Friedman 1986|p=111}}

==Service history==
[[File:USS Sicily (CVE-118) launches OY-2 Sentinel off Korea on 22 September 1950 (80-G-420239).jpg|left|thumb|A [[United States Marine Corps]] [[L-5 Sentinel|OY-2]] takes off from ''Sicily'' in 1950.]]

The first fifteen ships of the ''Commencement Bay'' class were ordered on 23 January 1943, allocated to Fiscal Year 1944.{{sfn|Friedman 1983|p=199}} The ship was [[keel laying|laid down]] at the [[Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation|Todd-Pacific Shipyards]] in [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]], Washington, on 23 October 1944. She was launched on 14 April, originally named ''Sandy Bay'',{{sfn|Silverstone|p=27}} but on 5 June was renamed ''Sicily'' for the [[Allied invasion of Sicily|Battle of Sicily]], fought in July and August 1943. After completing [[fitting-out]] work, she was [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] into active service on 27 February 1946, by which time World War II had ended. She moved to [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], Oregon, for final fitting out, before continuing on to [[Seattle]], Washington, for supplies, and then sailing on to [[San Diego, California|San Diego]], California. ''Sicily'' conducted a [[shakedown cruise]] off the coast of California in April and early May. On 15 May, the ship received orders to proceed to New York. After passing through the [[Panama Canal]] and stopping briefly at [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]], Virginia, she arrived in New York on 6 June and entered the [[Brooklyn Navy Yard]]. On 30 September, she departed for [[Naval Station Argentia|Argentia]], Newfoundland, to participate in cold weather training. ''Sicily'' operated as part of the [[U.S. Atlantic Fleet|Atlantic Fleet]] for the next three years, based in Norfolk.{{sfn|DANFS}}

On 3 April 1950, ''Sicily'' was transferred to the [[U.S. Pacific Fleet|Pacific Fleet]], based in [[San Diego, California|San Diego]], California, where she arrived on 28 April. The outbreak of the [[Korean War]] on 25 June interrupted plans for anti-submarine warfare training over the summer, leading to ''Sicily''{{'}}s deployment to [[East Asia]]n waters on 2 July. The ship got underway on 4 July to begin operations off Korea as the [[flagship]] of Carrier Division&nbsp;15. She launched air strikes against North Korean positions using the fighters of [[VMF-214]] on 3 August. She supported Allied ground operations at [[Pohang]], the [[Battle of Inchon]], the [[Second Battle of Seoul]], and the marines' withdrawal after the [[Battle of Chosin Reservoir]]. On 5 February 1951, ''Sicily'' returned to San Diego. Her next deployment to Korea began on 13 May, which saw the ship resume combat operations off the eastern and western coasts of Korea until 12 October. Her third and final tour of the war lasted from 8 May 1952 to 4 December; during this period, she served with the [[United Nations]] [[Escort and Blockading Force]].{{sfn|DANFS}}

''Sicily'' made a fourth cruise in East Asian waters beginning on 14 July 1953, shortly before the [[Korean Armistice Agreement]] ended the fighting in Korea. ''Sicily'' received five [[battle star]]s for her operations during the war. Her voyage in the region lasted until 25 February 1954. After arriving back in California, the ship was decommissioned and allocated to the [[Pacific Reserve Fleet]].{{sfn|DANFS}} By this time, the Navy had begun replacing the ''Commencement Bay''-class ships with much larger {{sclass|Essex|aircraft carrier|1}}s, since the former were too small to operate newer and more effective anti-submarine patrol planes.{{sfn|Friedman 1983|p=342}} She remained in the reserve fleet for the next six years. She was struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] on 1 July 1960 before being sold on 31 October to the Nicolai Joffe Corporation, to be [[ship breaking|broken up]].{{sfn|DANFS}}

==See also==
* [[VS-931]], antisubmarine squadron

==Notes==
{{Reflist|20em}}

==References==
* {{cite book
  |last=Friedman
  |first=Norman
  |chapter=United States of America
  |pages=105–133
  |editor1-last=Gardiner
  |editor1-first=Robert
  |editor2-last=Gray
  |editor2-first=Randal
  |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921
  |year=1986
  |location=London
  |publisher=Conway Maritime Press
  |isbn=978-0-85177-245-5
  |ref={{sfnRef|Friedman 1986}}
  | url=https://archive.org/details/allworldsfightin00rgre
  |name-list-style=amp
  }}
* {{cite book
  |last= Friedman
  |first= Norman
  |date= 1983
  |title= U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History
  |location= Annapolis
  |publisher= Naval Institute Press
  |isbn= 978-0-87021-739-5
  |ref={{sfnref|Friedman 1983}}
  }}
* {{cite DANFS
  | title = Sicily (CVE-118)
  | url = https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/sicily.html
  | date = 20 June 2023
  | access-date = 27 April 2024
  | ref = {{sfnRef|DANFS}}
  }}{{PD-notice}}
* {{cite book
  | last = Silverstone
  | first = Paul H.
  | title = The Navy of World War II, 1922–1947
  | publisher = Routledge
  | year = 2012
  | location = New York
  | isbn = 978-1-135-86472-9
  |ref={{sfnref|Silverstone}}
  }}
* {{cite book
  |last=Stille
  |first=Mark
  |title=US Navy Escort Carriers 1942–45
  |year=2017
  |location=London
  |publisher=Osprey
  |isbn=9781472818126
  |ref={{sfnref|Stille}}
  }}

{{Commencement Bay class escort carrier}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sicily (CVE-118)}}
[[Category:Commencement Bay-class escort carriers]]
[[Category:1945 ships]]
[[Category:Cold War aircraft carriers of the United States]]
[[Category:Korean War escort carriers of the United States]]
[[Category:Korean War aircraft carriers of the United States]]