USS Sicily: Difference between revisions
| Line 82: | Line 82: | ||
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. ''Sicily'' operated as part of the [[U.S. Atlantic Fleet|Atlantic Fleet]] for the next three years, based in Norfolk.{{sfn|DANFS}} |
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. ''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 part 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.{{sfn|DANFS}} |
|||
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. |
|||
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. |
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. |
||
Revision as of 14:25, 4 May 2024
_underway_in_April_1954_(NH_97317).jpg) 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 | |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) |
| Complement | 1,066 |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 33 |
| Aviation facilities | 2 × aircraft catapults |
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]
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.[2]
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).[2]
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.[2]
Service history
_launches_OY-2_Sentinel_off_Korea_on_22_September_1950_(80-G-420239).jpg)
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, 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.[3]
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 part 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.[3]
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.
Upon her return to the United States West Coast, Sicily was placed in reserve, 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
- VS-931, antisubmarine squadron
Notes
References
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
- 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.
- "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.