USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56)

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USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56)

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Career

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Laid down:9 December 1942

Related Topics:
9 December - 1942

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Launched:19 April 1943

Related Topics:
19 April - 1943

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Commissioned:7 August 1943

Related Topics:
7 August - 1943

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Fate:sunk by a Japanese submarine

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Stricken:24 November 1943

Related Topics:
24 November - 1943

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General Characteristics

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Displacement:7800 tons

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Length:512 feet 3 inches

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Beam:65 feet

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Extreme Width:108.1 inches

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Draft:22 feet 6 inches

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Speed:19 knots

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Complement:860 officers and men

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Armament:one five-inch gun; 16 40mm cannon

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Aircraft:28

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USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56), a Casablanca-class escort aircraft carrier was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Liscome Bay in Alaska's coast. Her keel was laid down 9 December 1942 by Kaiser Shipbuilding Company of Vancouver, Washington, under a Maritime Commission contract. She was launched on 19 April 1943 sponsored by Mrs. Ben Moreell. She was named Liscome Bay on 28 June 1943 and assigned hull classification symbol CVE-56 on 15 July 1943. She was acquired by the Navy and commissioned on 7 August 1943 with Captain I.D. Wiltsie in command.

Related Topics:
''Casablanca''-class - Escort aircraft carrier - United States Navy - Liscome Bay - Alaska - 9 December - 1942 - Kaiser Shipbuilding Company - Vancouver, Washington - Launched - 19 April - 1943 - 28 June - Hull classification symbol - 15 July - Commissioned - 7 August

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After training operations along the West Coast, Liscome Bay departed San Diego, California, on 21 October 1943 and arrived Pearl Harbor one week later. Having completed additional drills and operational exercises, the escort carrier set forth upon what was to be her first and last battle mission. As a unit of CarDiv 24, she departed Pearl Harbor on 10 November attached to TF 52, Northern Attack Force, under Rear Admiral Richard K. Turner, bound for the invasion of the Gilbert Islands.

Related Topics:
San Diego, California - 21 October - 1943 - Pearl Harbor - 10 November - Gilbert Islands

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The invasion bombardment announcing the United States's first major thrust into the central Pacific began 20 November at 0500, and 76 hours later, Tarawa and Makin Islands were captured. Liscome Bay's aircraft played their part in the 2278 action sorties provided by carrier-based planes which neutralized enemy airbases, supported landings and ground operations in bombing-strafing missions, and intercepted enemy raids. With the islands secured, the U.S. forces began a retirement.

Related Topics:
United States - 20 November - Tarawa - Makin

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On 23 November, the Japanese submarine I-175 arrived off Makin. The temporary task group built around Rear Admiral H.M. Mullinnix's three escorts, Liscome Bay, Coral Sea (CVE-57) and Corregidor (CVE-58) commanded by Rear Admiral Robert M. Griffin in New Mexico (BB-40) was steaming 20 miles southwest of Butaritari Island at 15 knots. At 0430, 24 November, reveille was made in Liscome Bay. The ship went to routine general quarters at 0505 as flight crews prepared their planes for dawn launchings. There was no warning of a submarine in the area until about 0510 when a lookout shouted: "Here comes a torpedo!" The torpedo struck abaft the after engineroom an instant later with a shattering roar. A second major detonation closely followed the first, the entire interior burst into flames. At 0533, Liscome Bay listed to starboard and sank, carrying Admiral Mullinix, Captain Wiltsie, 53 other officers, and 591 enlisted men

Related Topics:
23 November - Japanese submarine I-175 - Makin - ''Coral Sea'' (CVE-57) - ''Corregidor'' (CVE-58) - ''New Mexico'' (BB-40) - Butaritari Island - 24 November - Submarine

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