USS Sicily (CVE-118)

USS "Sicily" (CVE-118) was a sclass|Commencement Bay|escort carrier in the United States Navy. She was named in honor of the island of Sicily, which was the site of a major invasion 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.

Operational history

, to conduct cold weather training.

During the remainder of 1946 and until 3 April 1950, "Sicily" operated with the U.S. Atlantic Fleet out of her home port of Norfolk. At that time, she was reassigned to the Pacific Fleet with San Diego as her home port, arriving there on 28 April. The carrier was scheduled to conduct antisubmarine warfare exercises during the summer, but the invasion of South Korea by the North Koreans, on 25 June, caused a radical change in her operating plans. "Sicily" was notified on 2 July that she was needed in the Far East; and she sailed, two days later, for the first of three deployments to Korean waters. "Sicily" was designated flagship of Carrier Division (CarDiv) 15 and on 3 August launched aircraft of VMF-214 on their first air strike in support of Allied ground forces. During this tour, she supported ground operations at Pohang, the Inchon landing, the advance to Seoul, and the withdrawal of the marines from the Chosin Reservoir to Hungnam before returning to San Diego on 5 February 1951. On her second tour with the 7th Fleet, from 13 May to 12 October 1951, "Sicily" operated on both the east and west coast of Korea. Her last tour during the Korean conflict was from 8 May to 4 December 1952, and she served with the United Nations Escort and Blockading Force. "Sicily" was deployed to the Far East again from 14 July 1953 to 25 February 1954.

Decommissioning

Upon her return to the west coast, "Sicily" was placed in reserve, out of commission, with the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was struck from the Navy List on 1 July 1960 and sold to Nicolai Joffe Corporation on 31 October for scrap.

"Sicily" received five battle stars for service in Korea.

References