USS Natoma Bay

USS Natoma Bay in April, 1944
History
United States
Name	USS Natoma Bay
Namesake	Natoma Bay in Alaska
Builder	Kaiser Shipyards
Laid down	17 January 1943
Launched	20 July 1943
Commissioned	14 October 1943
Decommissioned	20 May 1946
Stricken	1 September 1958
Fate	Sold for scrap, 30 July 1959
General characteristics
Class and type	Casablanca-class escort carrier
Displacement	7,800 tons
Length	512 ft (156 m) overall
Beam	65 ft (20 m)
Draft	22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
Propulsion	2 × 5-cylinder reciprocating Skinner Unaflow engines 4 × 285 psi boilers 2 shafts, 9,000 shp
Speed	19 knots (35 km/h)
Range	10,240 nmi (18,960 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement	860 officers and men Embarked Squadron: 50 to 56 officers and men Total: 910 to 916 officers and men.
Armament	1 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 cal DP gun 16 × 40 mm AA cannon in 8 twin mounts 20 × 20 mm guns AA machine guns in single mounts
Aircraft carried	27
Service record
Part of:	United States Pacific Fleet, Task Unit 77.4.2 (Taffy II) Atlantic Reserve Fleet (1946-1958)
Commanders:	Rear Admiral Felix Stump
Operations:	Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign Western New Guinea campaign Battle of Leyte Gulf Battle of Mindoro Invasion of Iwo Jima Operation Magic Carpet
Awards:	7 Battle stars

USS Natoma Bay (CVE–62) was a Casablanca-class escort carrier of the United States Navy that served in the Pacific War during World War II. The carrier entered service in 1943 and participated in a series of operations in the South Pacific including the Philippines campaign, the Battle off Samar and the Battle of Okinawa. During the Okinawa battle, Natoma Bay was struck by a Japanese aircraft and heavily damaged, ending the ship's participation in the war. Once repaired, Natoma Bay was assigned to Operation Magic Carpet, the return of American soldiers from the Pacific theatre. Following the completion of the operation the escort carrier was decommissioned in 1946 and placed in reserve. In 1959, Natoma Bay was sold for scrap.