USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83)

The escort aircraft 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, 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, Capt. William Theodore Rassieur in command.

Following shakedown, "Sargent Bay" completed a ferry trip to the central Pacific with replacement aircraft before reporting to the 3rd Fleet at Pearl Harbor on 17 August. The following day, she sailed for Eniwetok and Manus; 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 planes 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 air craft flew artillery spotting and ground support missions, and antiaircraft and antisubmarine 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 to 20 June 1945, with time out only for a period in support of the Logistics Support Group between 7 April and 18 April and for repairs at Guam from 15 May to 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 was decommissioned and placed in reserve there on 23 July 1946.

"Sargent Bay" was reclassified CVU-83 on 12 June 1955. She was struck from the Navy list on 27 June 1958, sold on 30 July 1959 to the J. C. Berkwitt Co., New York, and scrapped at Antwerp, Belgium, in September 1959.

"Sargent Bay" received 6 battle stars for her World War II service.

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/03/083.htm Photographs at NavSource.org]

References

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