USS Breton (CVE-23)
Encyclopedia
USS Breton (CVE-23) (previously AVG-23 then ACV-23) was a Bogue class escort carrier
of the United States Navy
. Breton was in service as an escort carrier from 1943 to 1946 and as an aircraft transport from 1958 to 1970.
Breton launched on 27 June 1942 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding of Tacoma, Washington
under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. A. H. Rooks, widow of Captain
Rooks
; and commissioned on 12 April 1943, Captain E. C. Ewen in command.
service, Breton operated with the Carrier Transport Squadron, Pacific Fleet
. Her sailings carried her throughout the Pacific supplying men, materiel, and aircraft to units of the fleet engaged in making strikes on the enemy. While engaged in these duties, Breton took part in the capture and occupation of Saipan
(11 June–10 August 1944); the Battle of the Philippine Sea
(19–20 June); the 2nd Bonins raid (24 June); and the assault and occupation of Okinawa (6–7 April 1945).
Upon her return to the west coast
in January 1946 after serving as a unit of the Far Eastern occupation forces, Breton prepared for inactivation at Tacoma, and went out of commission in reserve there on 30 August 1946. She was reclassified CVHE-23 on 12 June 1955. On 1 July 1958, she was redesignated as a utility carrier, CVU-23, and then again on 7 May 1959 as an aviation transport, T-AKV-42. Breton was put out of service in 1971 and stricken for disposal on 6 August 1972, where she was subsequently sold for scrap.
Bogue class escort carrier
The Bogue-class were a group of escort carriers built in the United States for service with the U.S. Navy and the Royal Navy during World War II....
of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. Breton was in service as an escort carrier from 1943 to 1946 and as an aircraft transport from 1958 to 1970.
Breton launched on 27 June 1942 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding of Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. A. H. Rooks, widow of Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
Rooks
Albert H. Rooks
Albert Harold Rooks was a Captain in the United States Navy who posthumously received the Medal of Honor during World War II.-Biography:Albert Harold Rooks was born in Colton, Washington, on December 29, 1891...
; and commissioned on 12 April 1943, Captain E. C. Ewen in command.
Service history
Throughout her World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
service, Breton operated with the Carrier Transport Squadron, Pacific Fleet
United States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
. Her sailings carried her throughout the Pacific supplying men, materiel, and aircraft to units of the fleet engaged in making strikes on the enemy. While engaged in these duties, Breton took part in the capture and occupation of Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
(11 June–10 August 1944); the Battle of the Philippine Sea
Battle of the Philippine Sea
The Battle of the Philippine Sea was a decisive naval battle of World War II which effectively eliminated the Imperial Japanese Navy's ability to conduct large-scale carrier actions. It took place during the United States' amphibious invasion of the Mariana Islands during the Pacific War...
(19–20 June); the 2nd Bonins raid (24 June); and the assault and occupation of Okinawa (6–7 April 1945).
Upon her return to the west coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
in January 1946 after serving as a unit of the Far Eastern occupation forces, Breton prepared for inactivation at Tacoma, and went out of commission in reserve there on 30 August 1946. She was reclassified CVHE-23 on 12 June 1955. On 1 July 1958, she was redesignated as a utility carrier, CVU-23, and then again on 7 May 1959 as an aviation transport, T-AKV-42. Breton was put out of service in 1971 and stricken for disposal on 6 August 1972, where she was subsequently sold for scrap.