USS Sicily: Difference between revisions

	USS Sicily in April of 1954
History
United States
Name	USS Sicily
Builder	Todd Pacific Shipyards
Laid down	23 October 1944
Launched	14 April 1945
Commissioned	27 February 1946
Decommissioned	4 Oct 1954
Stricken	1 July 1960
Fate	Sold for scrap, 31 October 1960
General characteristics
Class and type	Commencement Bay-class escort carrier
Displacement	21,397 long tons (21,740 t)
Length	557 ft 1 in (169.80 m) loa
Beam	75 ft (23 m)
Draft	32 ft (9.8 m)
Installed power	16,000 shp (12,000 kW); 4 × boilers;
Propulsion	2 × Steam turbines ; 2 × screw propellers;
Speed	19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Complement	1,066
Armament	2 × 5 in (127 mm) dual-purpose guns; 36 × 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors AA guns; 20 × 20 mm (0.8 in) Oerlikon AA guns;
Aircraft carried	33
Aviation facilities	2 × aircraft catapults

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Revision as of 10:43, 11 May 2024

USS Sicily (CVE-118) was a Commencement Bay-class escort carrier in the United States Navy. She was named in honor of the island of Sicily, which was the site of a major invasion during World War II. Sicily was laid down on 23 October 1944 by Todd-Pacific Shipyards, Tacoma, 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

In 1941, as United States participation in World War II became increasingly likely, the US Navy embarked on a construction program for escort carriers, which were converted from transport ships of various types. Many of the escort carrier types were converted from C3-type transports, but the Sangamon-class escort carriers were instead rebuilt oil tankers. These proved to be very successful ships, and the Commencement Bay class, 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 compartmentation.^[1] 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.^[2]

Sicily was 557 ft 1 in (169.80 m) long overall, with a beam of 75 ft (23 m) at the waterline, which extended to 105 ft 2 in (32.05 m) at maximum. She displaced 21,397 long tons (21,740 t) at full load, of which 12,876 long tons (13,083 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 of 27 ft 11 in (8.51 m). The ship's superstructure consisted of a small island. She had a complement of 1,066 officers and enlisted men.^[3]

The ship was powered by two Allis-Chalmers geared steam turbines, 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 16,000 shp (12,000 kW) for a top speed of 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph). Given the very large storage capacity for oil, the ships of the Commencement Bay class could steam for some 23,900 nautical miles (44,300 km; 27,500 mi) at a speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).^[3]

Her defensive anti-aircraft armament consisted of two 5 in (127 mm) dual-purpose guns in single mounts, thirty-six 40 mm (2 in) Bofors guns, and twenty 20 mm (1 in) Oerlikon light AA cannons. 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 catapults. Two elevators transferred aircraft from the hangar to the flight deck.^[3]

Service history

The first fifteen ships of the Commencement Bay class were ordered on 23 January 1943, allocated to Fiscal Year 1944.^[2] The ship was laid down at the Todd-Pacific Shipyards in Tacoma, Washington, on 23 October 1944. She was launched on 14 April, originally named Sandy Bay,^[4] but on 5 June was renamed Sicily for the Battle of Sicily, fought in July and August 1943. After completing fitting-out work, she was commissioned into active service on 27 February 1946, by which time World War II had ended. She moved to Portland, Oregon, for final fitting out, before continuing on to Seattle, Washington, for supplies, and then sailing on to 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, she arrived in New York on 6 June and entered the Brooklyn Navy Yard. On 30 September, she departed for Argentia, Newfoundland, to participate in cold weather training. Sicily operated as part of the Atlantic Fleet for the next three years, based in Norfolk.^[5]

On 3 April 1950, Sicily was transferred to the Pacific Fleet, based in 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 Asian waters on 2 July. The ship got underway on 4 July to begin operations off Korea as the flagship of Carrier Division 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.^[5]

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 stars 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.^[5] By this time, the Navy had begun replacing the Commencement Bay-class ships with much larger Essex-class aircraft carriers, since the former were too small to operate newer and more effective anti-submarine patrol planes. Proposals to radically rebuild the Commencement Bays either with an angled flight deck and various structural improvements or lengthen their hulls by 30 ft (9.1 m) and replace their propulsion machinery to increase speed came to nothing, as they were deemed to be too expensive.^[6] 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 broken up.^[5]

Notes

^ Friedman 1986, pp. 107–111.
^ ^a ^b Friedman 1983, p. 199.
^ ^a ^b ^c Friedman 1986, p. 111.
^ Silverstone, p. 27.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d DANFS.
^ Friedman 1983, pp. 339–342.

References

Friedman, Norman (1986). "United States of America". In Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal (eds.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 105–133. ISBN 978-0-85177-245-5.
Friedman, Norman (1983). U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-739-5.
"Sicily (CVE-118)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
Silverstone, Paul H. (2012). The Navy of World War II, 1922–1947. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-86472-9.

[FOOTNOTEFriedman_1986107–111-1] Friedman 1986, pp. 107–111.

[FOOTNOTEFriedman_1983199-2] Friedman 1983, p. 199.

[FOOTNOTEFriedman_1986111-3] Friedman 1986, p. 111.

[FOOTNOTESilverstone27-4] Silverstone, p. 27.

[FOOTNOTEDANFS-5] DANFS.

[FOOTNOTEFriedman_1983339–342-6] Friedman 1983, pp. 339–342.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 {{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|pp=107–111}}
+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}}
-''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|p=111}}
+''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|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|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 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'', 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.{{sfn|DANFS}}
+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}}
-During the remainder of 1946 and until 3 April 1950, ''Sicily'' operated with the [[U.S. Atlantic Fleet]] out of her home port of Norfolk. At that time, she was reassigned to the [[U.S. Pacific Fleet|Pacific Fleet]] with San Diego as her home port, arriving there on 28 April. The carrier was scheduled to conduct [[antisubmarine warfare]] exercises during the summer, but the invasion of [[South Korea]] by the [[North Korea]]ns, on 25 June, caused a radical change in her operating plans. ''Sicily'' was notified on 2 July that she was needed in the Far East; and she sailed, two days later, for the first of three deployments to Korean waters. ''Sicily'' was designated flagship of Carrier Division (CarDiv) 15 and on 3 August launched aircraft of [[VMF-214]] on their first air strike in support of Allied ground forces. During this tour, she supported ground operations at [[Pohang]], the [[Inchon]] landing, the advance to [[Seoul]], and the withdrawal of the marines from the [[Battle of Chosin Reservoir|Chosin Reservoir]] to [[Hungnam]] before returning to San Diego on 5 February 1951. On her second tour with the 7th Fleet, from 13 May to 12 October 1951, ''Sicily'' operated on both the east and west coast of Korea. Her last tour during the [[Korean War]] was from 8 May to 4 December 1952, and she served with the United Nations Escort and Blockading Force. ''Sicily'' was deployed to the Far East again from 14 July 1953 to 25 February 1954.
+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. Proposals to radically rebuild the ''Commencement Bay''s either with an [[angled flight deck]] and various structural improvements or lengthen their [[hull (watercraft)|hulls]] by {{cvt|30|ft}} and replace their propulsion machinery to increase speed came to nothing, as they were deemed to be too expensive.{{sfn|Friedman 1983|pp=339–342}} 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}}
-Upon her return to the [[United States West Coast]], ''Sicily'' was placed in [[Reserve fleet|reserve]], [[Ship decommissioning|out of commission]], with the [[Pacific Reserve Fleet]]. She was struck from the [[Navy List]] on 1 July 1960 and sold to the [[Nicolai Joffe Corporation]] on 31 October 1960 for scrap.
 ==See also==
@@ Line 93: / Line 93: @@
 ==References==
-{{DANFS}}
 * {{cite book
   |last=Friedman
@@ Line 108: / Line 107: @@
   |publisher=Conway Maritime Press
   |isbn=978-0-85177-245-5
-  |ref={{sfnRef|Friedman}}
+  |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
@@ Line 119: / Line 128: @@
   | 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}}
+  }}
 {{Commencement Bay class escort carrier}}

v t e Commencement Bay-class escort carriers
Commencement Bay Block Island Gilbert Islands Kula Gulf Cape Gloucester Salerno Bay Vella Gulf Siboney Puget Sound Rendova Bairoko Badoeng Strait Saidor Sicily Point Cruz Mindoro Rabaul^N Palau Tinian^N Bastogne^X Eniwetok^X Lingayen^X Okinawa^X CVE-128 – CVE-139 (Unnamed)^X
Preceded by: Casablanca class Followed by: None
N Never commissioned X Cancelled
List of escort carriers of the United States Navy