NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Kula Gulf 1950

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
CVE105, 6.1955- CVHE105, 5.1959- AKV37	Commencement Bay (ex-St. Joseph Bay)	55	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	23.9.1943	9.5.1944	27.11.1944	helicopter escort carrier 6.1955, aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 4.1971
CVE106, 12.1957- LPH1, 2.1959- CVE106, 5.1959- AKV38	Block Island (ex-Sunset Bay)	56	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	25.10.1943	10.6.1944	30.12.1944	assault helicopter carrier 12.1957 (conversion cancelled 6.1958), escort carrier 2.1959, aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 7.1959
CVE107, 5.1959- AKV39, 6.1963- AGMR1	Gilbert Islands (ex-St. Andrews Bay), 6.1963- Annapolis	57	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	29.11.1943	20.7.1944	5.2.1945	aviation transport 5.1959, communications relay ship 3.1964, stricken 10.1976
CVE108, 5.1959- AKV8, 6.1965- T-AKV8	Kula Gulf (ex-Vermillion Bay)	58	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	16.12.1943	15.8.1944	12.5.1945	aviation transport 5.1959, aircraft transport 6.1965, stricken 9.1970
CVE109, 6.1955 - CVHE109, 5.1959- AKV9	Cape Gloucester (ex-Willapa Bay)	59	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	10.1.1944	12.9.1944	5.3.1945	helicopter escort carrier 6.1955, aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 4.1971
CVE110, 5.1959- AKV10	Salerno Bay (ex-Winjah Bay)	60	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	7.2.1944	26.9.1944	19.5.1945	aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 6.1961
CVE111, 6.1955 - CVHE111, 5.1959- AKV11	Vella Gulf (ex-Totem Bay)	61	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	7.3.1944	19.10.1944	9.4.1945	helicopter escort carrier 6.1955, aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 12.1970
CVE112, 5.1959- AKV12	Siboney (ex-Frosty Bay)	62	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	1.4.1944	9.11.1944	14.5.1945	aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 6.1970
CVE113, 6.1955 - CVHE113, 5.1959- AKV13	Puget Sound (ex-Hobart Bay)	63	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	12.5.1944	30.11.1944	18.6.1945	helicopter escort carrier 6.1955, aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 6.1960
CVE114, 5.1959- AKV14	Rendova (ex-Mosser Bay)	64	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	15.6.1944	28.12.1944	22.10.1945	aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 4.1971
CVE115, 5.1959- AKV15	Bairoko (ex-Portage Bay)	65	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	25.7.1944	25.1.1945	16.7.1945	aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 4.1960
CVE116, 5.1959- AKV16	Badoeng Strait (ex-San Alberto Bay)	66	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	18.8.1944	15.2.1945	14.11.1945	aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 12.1970
CVE117, 6.1955 - CVHE117, 5.1959- AKV17	Saidor (ex-Saltery Bay)	67	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	29.9.1944	17.3.1945	4.9.1945	helicopter escort carrier 6.1955, aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 12.1970
CVE118, 5.1959- AKV18	Sicily (ex-Sandy Bay)	68	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	23.10.1944	14.4.1945	27.2.1946	aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 7.1960
CVE119, 5.1959- AKV19, 8.1965- T-AKV19	Point Cruz (ex-Trocadero Bay)	69	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	4.12.1944	18.5.1945	16.10.1945	aviation transport 5.1959, aircraft transport 8.1965, stricken 9.1970
CVE120, 5.1959- AKV20	Mindoro	76	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	2.1.1945	27.6.1945	4.12.1945	aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 12.1959
CVE121, 6.1955 - CVHE121, 5.1959- AKV21	Rabaul	77	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	29.1.1945	14.7.1945	30.8.1946	helicopter escort carrier 6.1955, aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 9.1971
CVE122, 5.1959- AKV22	Palau	78	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	19.2.1945	6.8.1945	15.1.1946	aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 4.1960
CVE123, 6.1955 - CVHE123, 5.1959- AKV23	Tinian	79	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	20.3.1945	5.9.1945	30.7.1946	helicopter escort carrier 6.1955, aviation transport 5.1959, stricken 6.1970
CVE124	Bastogne	80	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	2.4.1945	---	---	cancelled 11.8.1945
CVE125	Eniwetok	81	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	20.4.1945	---	---	cancelled 11.8.1945
CVE126	Lingayen	82	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	1.5.1945	---	---	cancelled 11.8.1945
CVE127	Okinawa	83	Todd-Pacific, Tacoma	22.5.1945	---	---	cancelled 11.8.1945

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	18908
Displacement full, t	21397
Length, m	160.0 wl 169.9 oa
Breadth, m	22.9 wl 32.1 a
Draught, m	8.50 full load
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 sets Allison-Chalmers geared steam turbines, 4 Combustion Engineering boilers
Power, h. p.	16000
Max speed, kts	19
Fuel, t	oil 1789
Endurance, nm(kts)	10000 (15)
Armament	CVE105 - 107: 2 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 3 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 12 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 20 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, 33 aircraft (F4F Wildcat,  F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat fighters, SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, TBM-S Avenger ASW planes, TBM-W Avenger EW planes, SOC Seagull, F4F-P Wildcat, F4U-P Corsair, F6F-P Hellcat reconnaissance planes) CVE108, 110, 112 - 117: 2 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 3 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 12 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 20 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, 33 aircraft (F4F Wildcat, F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat, FR Fireball, F8F Bearcat fighters, SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, TBM-S Avenger ASW planes, TBM-W Avenger EW planes, SOC Seagull, F4F-P Wildcat, F4U-P Corsair, F6F-P Hellcat, F8F-P Bearcat reconnaissance planes) CVE109, 111: 2 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 3 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 12 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 20 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, 33 aircraft (F4F Wildcat,  F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat, FR Fireball fighters, SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, TBM-S Avenger ASW planes, TBM-W Avenger EW planes, SOC Seagull, F4F-P Wildcat, F4U-P Corsair, F6F-P Hellcat reconnaissance planes) CVE118: 2 x 1 - 127/38 Mk Mk 30, 3 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 2, 12 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1, 20 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 33 aircraft (F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat, FR Fireball, F8F Bearcat fighters, SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, TBM-S Avenger ASW planes, TBM-W Avenger EW planes, SOC Seagull, F4U-P Corsair, F6F-P Hellcat, F8F-P Bearcat reconnaissance planes) CVE119: 2 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 3 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 12 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 20 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, 33 aircraft (F4F Wildcat,  F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat, FR Fireball, F8F Bearcat fighters, SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, TBM-S Avenger ASW planes, TBM-W Avenger EW planes, SOC Seagull, F4F-P Wildcat, F4U-P Corsair, F6F-P Hellcat, F8F-P Bearcat reconnaissance planes) CVE120: 2 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 3 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 12 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 20 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, 33 aircraft (F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat, FR Fireball, F8F Bearcat fighters, SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, TBM-S Avenger ASW planes, TBM-W Avenger EW planes, SOC Seagull, F4U-P Corsair, F6F-P Hellcat, F8F-P Bearcat reconnaissance planes) CVE120 - 123: 2 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 30, 3 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 12 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 20 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 33 aircraft (F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat, FR Fireball, F8F Bearcat fighters, SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, TBM-S Avenger ASW planes, TBM-W Avenger EW planes, SOC Seagull, F4U-P Corsair, F6F-P Hellcat, F8F-P Bearcat reconnaissance planes)
Electronic equipment	SG, SK-2, SP radars
Complement	1066

Air group

Year	Fighters	torpedo bombers	ASW planes and helicopters
6.1945 Block Island	20 F4U-1D and F6F-5N	9 TBM-3	---
9.1950 Sicily	15 F4U-4B	---	10 TBM-3E/S, 2 HO3S-1
9.1952 Badoeng Strait	---	---	10 - 15 AF-2S/W, 2 HO3S-1

Standard scale images

Graphics

Aircraft facilities

(fd - 3,726 m², ha - 1,382 m² / 7,365 m³): Flight deck: 152.7 x 24.4 m. Hangar: 65.8 x 21.0 x 5.33 m. There were 2 elevators in the center line (7.7 t, 13.4 x 12.8 m). There was 1 H 2 and 1 H 4C catapults. Aircraft fuel stowage: 700 000 l.   

Project history

Largest and most successful US-built escort aircraft carriers. The project represented improved Sangamon. Hull repeated the hull of T-3 tanker, but was thoroughly improved and re-arranged; the number of watertight bulkheads has increased. Stern-arranged engine and boiler rooms were stored, but machinery became arranged on en echelon, its power was increased also. The area of a flight deck in comparison with Sangamon was a little moderated, but the hangar became larger.

Modernizations

1.1946, all completed: 2 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 30, 3 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 12 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 20 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 2 catapults, 33 aircraft, SG, SK-2, SP radars

1950s, almost all survived: + SLR-2 ECM suite

1960s, almost all survived: - SLR-2 ECM suite; + WLR-1, ULQ-6 ECM suites

(8/1962 - 3.1964, New York N Yd, Brooklyn) Gilbert Islands: was converted to communications relay ship AGMR1 Annapolis: displacement was 11473 / 22500 t, complement was 710 men, armament consisted of 4 x 2 - 76/50 Mk 33 mountings.

Naval service

: No significant events.