.gif)
USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83)
Encyclopedia
Escort carrier USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83), originally classified AVG-83, was reclassified ACV-83 on 20 August 1942, allocated to the United Kingdom
under Lend Lease on 11 November, reallocated to the United States
on 21 June 1943, reclassified CVE-83 on 15 July. laid down on 8 November 1943 by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company of Vancouver, Washington
under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1120), launched on 31 January 1944 sponsored by Mrs. Edith W. DeBaun, and commissioned on 9 March 1944, Captain
William Theodore Rassieur in command.
on 17 August. The following day, she sailed for Eniwetok and Manus Island
, and on 6 November, departed the latter for the first of four tours of duty with underway replenishment groups off the Philippines. While the carrier's aircraft patrolled overhead, the other units of the replenishment groups provided fuel and replacement aircraft to the fast carriers, enabling them to remain at sea for extended periods. Later based at Ulithi
, Sargent Bay remained on this duty until 27 January 1945, with individual tours at sea lasting from two to four weeks.
In February 1945, Sargent Bay undertook a new assignment and arrived off Iwo Jima
on the 16th to provide air support for the landings there. Her aircraft flew artillery spotting and ground support missions, and anti-aircraft and anti-submarine patrols until the ship departed Iwo Jima on 11 March. On 16 March, Captain Rassieur was relieved by Captain Richard Maxey Oliver. She provided similar support during the Okinawa campaign from 25 March - 20 June, with time out only for a period in support of the Logistics Support Group from 7–18 April and for repairs at Guam
from 15 May -2 June. The ship arrived off Leyte on 23 June for a month of upkeep, and then sailed for overhaul in the United States, arriving at San Pedro, California, on 9 August.
On completion of repairs, Sargent Bay was assigned to "Magic Carpet" duty. She made two trips bringing troops from Hawaii
in October, and two more in November and December from Eniwetok and Okinawa. She arrived at Boston
, Mass., for inactivation on 23 March 1946. On 28 March, Captain Oliver was relieved by Commander
Milton S. Worley, and Sargent Bay was decommissioned and placed in reserve there on 23 July.
Sargent Bay was reclassified CVU-83 on 12 June 1955. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register
on 27 June 1958, sold on 30 July 1959 to the J. C. Berkwitt Co. and scrapped at Antwerp, Belgium
, in September 1959.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
under Lend Lease on 11 November, reallocated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on 21 June 1943, reclassified CVE-83 on 15 July. laid down on 8 November 1943 by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company of Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1120), launched on 31 January 1944 sponsored by Mrs. Edith W. DeBaun, and commissioned on 9 March 1944, 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....
William Theodore Rassieur in command.
Service history
Following shakedown, Sargent Bay completed a ferry trip to the central Pacific with replacement aircraft before reporting to the 3rd Fleet at Pearl HarborPearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
on 17 August. The following day, she sailed for Eniwetok and Manus Island
Manus Island
Manus Island is part of Manus Province in northern Papua New Guinea and is the largest island of the Admiralty Islands. It is the fifth largest island in Papua New Guinea with an area of 2,100 km², measuring around 100 km × 30 km. According to the 2000 census, Manus Island had a...
, and on 6 November, departed the latter for the first of four tours of duty with underway replenishment groups off the Philippines. While the carrier's aircraft patrolled overhead, the other units of the replenishment groups provided fuel and replacement aircraft to the fast carriers, enabling them to remain at sea for extended periods. Later based at Ulithi
Ulithi
Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest in the world. It is administered by the state of Yap in the Federated States of...
, Sargent Bay remained on this duty until 27 January 1945, with individual tours at sea lasting from two to four weeks.
In February 1945, Sargent Bay undertook a new assignment and arrived off Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
on the 16th to provide air support for the landings there. Her aircraft flew artillery spotting and ground support missions, and anti-aircraft and anti-submarine patrols until the ship departed Iwo Jima on 11 March. On 16 March, Captain Rassieur was relieved by Captain Richard Maxey Oliver. She provided similar support during the Okinawa campaign from 25 March - 20 June, with time out only for a period in support of the Logistics Support Group from 7–18 April and for repairs at Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
from 15 May -2 June. The ship arrived off Leyte on 23 June for a month of upkeep, and then sailed for overhaul in the United States, arriving at San Pedro, California, on 9 August.
On completion of repairs, Sargent Bay was assigned to "Magic Carpet" duty. She made two trips bringing troops from Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
in October, and two more in November and December from Eniwetok and Okinawa. She arrived at Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Mass., for inactivation on 23 March 1946. On 28 March, Captain Oliver was relieved by Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
Milton S. Worley, and Sargent Bay was decommissioned and placed in reserve there on 23 July.
Sargent Bay was reclassified CVU-83 on 12 June 1955. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
on 27 June 1958, sold on 30 July 1959 to the J. C. Berkwitt Co. and scrapped at Antwerp, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, in September 1959.