USS Tinian
_underway_on_21_February_1946_(NH_82150).jpg) USS Tinian steaming to join the reserve fleet on 21 February 1946
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USS Tinian |
| Namesake | Battle of Tinian |
| Builder | Todd Pacific Shipyards |
| Laid down | 20 March 1945 |
| Launched | 5 September 1945 |
| Sponsored by | Miss Grace L Woods. |
| Acquired | 30 July 1946 |
| Reclassified |
|
| Stricken | 1 June 1970 |
| Homeport | Tacoma, Washington and San Diego, California |
| Fate | Sold for scrapping 15 December 1971 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Commencement Bay-class escort carrier |
| Displacement | 11,400 long tons (11,600 t) |
| Length | 557 ft (170 m) |
| Beam | 75 ft (23 m) |
| Draft | 32 ft (9.8 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 19 knots (22 mph; 35 km/h) |
| Complement | 1,066 |
| Armament |
|
| Service record | |
| Part of: | Pacific Reserve Fleet (1946-1970) |
USS Tinian (CVE-123) was a Commencement Bay-class escort carrier of the United States Navy. Ordered and constructed during World War II, Tinian never entered active service and was assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Tacoma after being completed. In June 1955, the ship was reclassified a helicopter carrier and in May 1959, a cargo ship and aircraft ferry. The ship remained in reserve for her entire career and was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 June 1970 and sold for scrap.
Design[edit]
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]
Tinian 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[edit]
The escort carrier was laid down on 20 March 1945 at Tacoma, Washington, by Todd-Pacific Shipyards, Inc. Tinian was launched on 5 September 1945; sponsored by Miss Grace L Woods; and accepted by the US Navy on 30 July 1946. Never commissioned, the escort carrier was assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet, 19th Fleet, at Tacoma, Washington. On 12 June 1955, the ship was reclassified as an escort helicopter aircraft carrier and re-designated CVHE-123. In early June 1958 Tinian was taken in tow at Tacoma, Washington, by the US Navy MSTS tugboat USNS Yuma, destined for San Diego, California. While very near the Swiftsure Bank lightship, Neah Bay, Washington; at the entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Yuma developed engine troubles. Yuma's distress call brought USCGC Fir to her rescue. The crew of the Swiftsure lightship went to general quarters, ready to assist. Fir then escorted Yuma and Tinian to safety. On 9 June 1958, Tinian arrived at San Diego, under tow by Yuma, and was berthed at South Tee Pier. In May 1959, she was again reclassified, this time as a cargo ship and aircraft ferry, AKV-23. Tinian remained with the San Diego Group of the Reserve Fleet until 1 June 1970 when she was struck from the list. Her hulk was sold to Levin Metals Company, San Jose California, on 15 December 1971 for scrap.
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
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.
- "Tinian (CVE-123)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
