_underway_in_April_1954_(NH_97317).jpg) USS Sicily in April of 1954
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| 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 |
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| Speed | 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) |
| Complement | 1,066 |
| Armament |
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| Aircraft carried | 33 |
| Aviation facilities | 2 × aircraft catapults |
USS Sicily was a Commencement Bay-class escort carrier in the United States Navy. The Commencement Bay class were built during World War II, and were an improvement over the earlier Sangamon class, which were converted from oil tankers. They were capable of carrying an air group of 33 planes and were armed with an anti-aircraft battery of 5 in (127 mm), 40 mm (1.6 in), and 20 mm (0.8 in) guns. The ships were capable of a top speed of 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph), and due to their origin as tankers, had extensive fuel storage.
She was named in honor of the successful Allied invasion of Sicily 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.