&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:USS_Vella_Gulf_CVE-111.jpg) USS Vella Gulf on 25 August 1945
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USS Vella Gulf |
| Namesake | Battle of Vella Gulf |
| Builder | Todd Pacific Shipyards |
| Laid down | 7 March 1944 |
| Launched | 19 October 1944 |
| Commissioned | 9 April 1945 |
| Decommissioned | 9 August 1946 |
| Reclassified | Helicopter carrier, CVHE-111, 12 June 1955; Cargo ship and aircraft ferry, T-AKV-111 |
| Stricken | 1 June 1960 |
| Recommissioned | 1 November 1960 |
| Stricken | 1 December 1970 |
| Fate | Sold for scrap 22 October 1971 |
| 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 |
|
| 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 Vella Gulf was a Commencement Bay-class escort carrier of the United States Navy, originally named Totem Bay. 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.