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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Related resource: Attack carriers (CV, CVA, CVB, CVL, CVAN, CVN)

Carrier Designations and Names

Escort Carriers (AVG, ACV and CVE)


The original escort carrier designation AVG (Aircraft Escort Vessel) was first assigned on 31 March 1941. The classification was changed to ACV (Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier) on 20 August 1942 and to CVE (Escort Carrier) on 15 July 1943.

The CVE designation went out of use when the remaining escort carriers were reclassified AKV (Aircraft Ferry) on 7 May 1959.

Classes:

Long Island      1 ship, hull number 1 
Charger          1 ship, hull number 30 
                 (originally built for Royal Navy) 
Bogue            11 ships, hull numbers 9, 11-13, 16, 
                 18, 20, 21, 23, 25 and 31 
Sangamon         4 ships, hull numbers 26-29 
Casablanca       50 ships, hull numbers 55-104 
Commencement Bay 19 ships, hull numbers 105-123

Hull numbers not listed below are accounted for as follows:

2-5 not assigned;
6, 7, 8, 10, 14, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 32-54 transferred to the Royal Navy;
124-139 cancelled.

Carrier Listing for CVE Designations


Hull No. and Name: 1 Long Island
Date of Commission: 2 Jun 1941; Decommission or Loss***: 20 Mar 1946
Designations:
Comments: Stricken 12 Apr 1946

Hull No. and Name: 9 Bogue
Date of Commission: 26 Sep 1942; Decommission or Loss***: 30 Nov 1946
Designations: CVHE 9 (12 Jun 1955)
Comments: Stricken 1 Mar 1959

Hull No. and Name: 11 Card
Date of Commission: 8 Nov 1942; Decommission or Loss***: 13 May 1946
Designations: CVHE 11 (12 Jun 1955); CVU 11 (1 Jun 1959); AKV 40 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 15 Sep 1970

Hull No. and Name: 12 Copahee
Date of Commission: 15 Jun 1942; Decommission or Loss***: 5 Jul 1946
Designations: CVHE 12 (12 Jun 1955)
Comments: Stricken 1 Mar 1959

Hull No. and Name: 13 Core
Date of Commission: 10 Dec 1942; Decommission or Loss***: 4 Oct 1946
Designations: CVHE 13 (12 Jun 1955); CVU 13 (1 Jul 1958); AKV 41 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 15 Sep 1970

Hull No. and Name: 16 Nassau
Date of Commission: 20 Aug 1942; Decommission or Loss***: 28 Oct 1946
Designations: CVHE 16 (12 Jun 1955)
Comments: Stricken 1 Mar 1959

Hull No. and Name: 18 Altamaha
Date of Commission: 15 Sep 1942; Decommission or Loss***: 27 Sep 1946
Designations: CVHE 18 (12 Jun 1955)
Comments: Stricken 1 Mar 1959

Hull No. and Name: 20 Barnes
Date of Commission: 20 Feb 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 29 Aug 1946
Designations: CVHE 20 (12 Jun 1955)
Comments: Stricken 1 Mar 1959

Hull No. and Name: 21 Block Island
Date of Commission: 8 Mar 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 29 May 1944
Designations:
Comments: Lost to enemy action

Hull No. and Name: 23 Breton
Date of Commission: 12 Apr 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 30 Aug 1946
Designations: CVHE 23 (12 Jun 1955); CVU 23 (1 Jul 1958); AKV 42 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 6 Aug 1971

Hull No. and Name: 25 Croatan
Date of Commission: 28 Apr 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 20 May 1946
Designations: CVHE 25 (12 Jun 1955); CVU 25 (1 Jul 1958); AKV 43 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 15 Sep 1970

Hull No. and Name: 26 Sangamon
Date of Commission: 25 Aug 1942; Decommission or Loss***: 24 Oct 1945
Designations: AO 28 23 Oct 1940 AVG 26 14 Feb 1942
Comments: Stricken 1 Nov 1945. Sangamon was a fleet oiler (AO 28) before being converted to an escort carrier.

Hull No. and Name: 27 Suwannee
Date of Commission: 24 Sep 1942; Decommission or Loss***: 8 Jan 1947
Designations: AO 33 (16 Jul 1941); AVG 27 (14 Feb 1942); CVHE 27 (12 Jun 1955)
Comments: Stricken 1 Mar 1959. Suwannee was a fleet oiler (AO 33) before being converted to an escort carrier.

Hull No. and Name: 28 Chenango
Date of Commission: 19 Sep 1942; Decommission or Loss***: 14 Aug 1946
Designations: AO 31 (20 Jun 1941); ACV 28 (19 Sep 1942); CVHE 28 (12 Jun 1955)
Comments: Stricken 1 Mar 1959. Chenango was a fleet oiler (AO 31) before being converted to an escort carrier

Hull No. and Name: 29 Santee
Date of Commission: 24 Aug 1942; Decommission or Loss***: 21 Oct 1946
Designations: AO 29 (30 Oct 1940); ACV 29 (24 Aug 1942); CVHE 29 (12 Jun 1955)
Comments: Stricken 1 Mar 1959. Santee was a fleet oiler (AO 29) before being converted to an escort carrier

Hull No. and Name: 30 Charger
Date of Commission: 3 Mar 1942; Decommission or Loss***: 15 Mar 1946
Designations:
Comments: Stricken 29 Mar 1946

Hull No. and Name: 31 Prince William
Date of Commission: 9 Apr 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 29 Aug 1946
Designations: CVHE 31 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 1 Mar 1959

Hull No. and Name: 55 Casablanca
Date of Commission: 8 Jul 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 10 Jun 1946
Designations:
Comments: Sold 23 Apr 1947

Hull No. and Name: 56 Liscome Bay
Date of Commission: 7 Aug 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 24 Nov 1943
Designations:
Comments: Lost to enemy action

Hull No. and Name: 57 Anzio (ex-Coral Sea)
Date of Commission: 27 Aug 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 5 Aug 1946
Designations: CVHE 57 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 1 Mar 1959

Hull No. and Name: 58 Corregidor
Date of Commission: 31 Aug 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 4 Sep 1958
Designations: CVU 58 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 1 Oct 1958

Hull No. and Name: 59 Mission Bay
Date of Commission: 13 Sep 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 21 Feb 1947
Designations: CVU 59 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 1 Sep 1958

Hull No. and Name: 60 Guadalcanal
Date of Commission: 25 Sep 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 15 Jul 1946
Designations: CVU 60 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 27 May 1958

Hull No. and Name: 61 Manila Bay
Date of Commission: 5 Oct 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 31 Jul 1946
Designations: CVU 61 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 27 May 1958

Hull No. and Name: 62 Natoma Bay
Date of Commission: 14 Oct 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 20 May 1946
Designations: CVU 62 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 27 May 1958

Hull No. and Name: 63 St. Lo (ex-Midway)
Date of Commission: 23 Oct 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 25 Oct 1944
Designations:
Comments: Lost to enemy action. Commissioned on 23 Oct 1943 as 25 Oct 1944 USS Midway (CVE 63) and renamed St. Lo (CVE 63) on 10 Oct 1944

Hull No. and Name: 64 Tripoli
Date of Commission: 31 Oct 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 25 Nov 1958
Designations: CVU 64 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 1 Feb 1959

Hull No. and Name: 65 Wake Island
Date of Commission: 7 Nov 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 5 Apr 1946
Designations:
Comments: Stricken 17 Apr 1946

Hull No. and Name: 66 White Plains
Date of Commission: 15 Nov 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 10 Jul 1946
Designations: CVU 66 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 1 Jul 1958

Hull No. and Name: 67 Solomons
Date of Commission: 21 Nov 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 15 May 1946
Designations:
Comments: Stricken 5 Jun 1946. Launched as USS Nassuk Bay (CVE 67) on 6 Oct 1943 and renamed Solomons (CVE 67) in Nov 1943

Hull No. and Name: 68 Kalinin Bay
Date of Commission: 27 Nov 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 15 May 1946
Designations:
Comments: Stricken 5 Jun 1946

Hull No. and Name: 69 Kasaan Bay
Date of Commission: 4 Dec 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 6 Jul 1946
Designations: CVHE 69 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 1 Mar 1959

Hull No. and Name: 70 Fanshaw Bay
Date of Commission: 9 Dec 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 14 Aug 1946
Designations: CVHE 70 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 1 Mar 1959

Hull No. and Name: 71 Kitkun Bay
Date of Commission: 15 Dec 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 19 Apr 1946
Designations:
Comments: Sold 18 Nov 1946

Hull No. and Name: 72 Tulagi
Date of Commission: 21 Dec 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 30 Apr 1946
Designations:
Comments: Stricken 8 May 1946

Hull No. and Name: 73 Gambier Bay
Date of Commission: 28 Dec 1943; Decommission or Loss***: 25 Oct 1944
Designations:
Comments: Lost to enemy action

Hull No. and Name: 74 Nehenta Bay
Date of Commission: 3 Jan 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 15 May 1946
Designations: CVU 74 (12 Jun 1955); AKV 24 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Aug 1959

Hull No. and Name: 75 Hoggatt Bay
Date of Commission: 11 Jan 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 20 Jul 1946
Designations: CVHE 75 (12 Jun 1955); AKV 25 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Aug 1959

Hull No. and Name: 76 Kadashan Bay
Date of Commission: 18 Jan 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 14 Jun 1946
Designations: CVU 76 (12 Jun 1955); AKV 26 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Aug 1959

Hull No. and Name: 77 Marcus Island
Date of Commission: 26 Jan 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 12 Dec 1946
Designations: CVHE 77 (12 Jun 1955); AKV 27 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Aug 1959

Hull No. and Name: 78 Savo Island
Date of Commission: 3 Feb 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 12 Dec 1946
Designations: CHVE 78 (12 Jun 1955); AKV 28 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Sep 1959

Hull No. and Name: 79 Ommaney Bay
Date of Commission: 11 Feb 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 4 Jan 1945
Designations:
Comments: Lost to enemy action

Hull No. and Name: 80 Petrof Bay
Date of Commission: 18 Feb 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 30 Jul 1946
Designations: CVU 80 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 27 Jun 1958

Hull No. and Name: 81 Rudyerd Bay
Date of Commission: 25 Feb 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 11 Jun 1946
Designations: CVU 81 (12 Jun 1955); AKV 29 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Aug 1959

Hull No. and Name: 82 Saginaw Bay
Date of Commission: 2 Mar 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 19 Jun 1946
Designations: CVHE 82 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 1 Mar 1959

Hull No. and Name: 83 Sargent Bay
Date of Commission: 9 Mar 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 23 Jul 1946
Designations: CVU 83 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 27 Jun 1958

Hull No. and Name: 84 Shamrock Bay
Date of Commission: 15 Mar 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 6 Jul 1946
Designations: CVU 84 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 27 Jun 1958

Hull No. and Name: 85 Shipley Bay
Date of Commission: 21 Mar 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 28 Jun 1946
Designations: CVHE 85 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 1 Mar 1959

Hull No. and Name: 86 Sitkoh Bay
Date of Commission: 28 Mar 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 27 Jul 1954
Designations: CVU 86 (12 Jun 1955); AKV 30 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Apr 1960

Hull No. and Name:87 Steamer Bay
Date of Commission: 4 Apr 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 8 Aug 1946
Designations: CVHE 87 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 1 Mar 1959

Hull No. and Name: 88 Cape Esperance
Date of Commission: 9 Apr 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 15 Jan 1959
Designations: CVU 88 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 1 Mar 1959

Hull No. and Name: 89 Takanis Bay
Date of Commission: 15 Apr 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 1 May 1946
Designations: CVU 89 (12 Jun 1955); AKV 31 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Aug 1959

Hull No. and Name: 90 Thetis Bay
Date of Commission: 21 Apr 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 1 Mar 1964
Designations: CVHA 1 (1 Jul 1955); LPH 6 (28 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Mar 1964

Hull No. and Name: 91 Makassar Strait
Date of Commission: 27 Apr 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 9 Aug 1946
Designations: CVU 91 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 1 Sep 1958

Hull No. and Name: 92 Windham Bay
Date of Commission: 3 May 1944; Decommission or Loss***: Jan 1959
Designations: CVU 92 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 1 Feb 1959

Hull No. and Name: 93 Makin Island
Date of Commission: 9 May 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 19 Apr 1946
Designations:
Comments: Stricken 5 Jun 1946

Hull No. and Name: 94 Lunga Point
Date of Commission: 14 May 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 24 Oct 1946
Designations: CVU 94 (12 Jun 1955); AKV 32 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Apr 1960

Hull No. and Name: 95 Bismarck Sea
Date of Commission: 20 May 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 21 Feb 1945
Designations:
Comments: Lost to enemy action

Hull No. and Name: 96 Salamaua
Date of Commission: 26 May 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 9 May 1946
Designations:
Comments: Stricken 21 May 1946

Hull No. and Name: 97 Hollandia
Date of Commission: 1 Jun 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 17 Jan 1947
Designations: CVU 97 (12 Jun 1955); AKV 33 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Apr 1960

Hull No. and Name: 98 Kwajalein
Date of Commission: 7 Jun 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 16 Aug 1946
Designations: CVU 98 (12 Jun 1955); AKV 34 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Apr 1960

Hull No. and Name: 99 Admiralty Islands
Date of Commission: 13 Jun 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 24 Apr 1946
Designations:
Comments: Stricken 8 May 1946

Hull No. and Name: 100 Bougainville
Date of Commission: 18 Jun 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 3 Nov 1946
Designations: CVU 100 (12 Jun 1955); AKV 35 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Apr 1960

Hull No. and Name: 101 Matanikau
Date of Commission: 24 Jun 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 11 Oct 1946
Designations: CVU 101 (12 Jun 1955); AKV 36 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Apr 1960

Hull No. and Name: 102 Attu
Date of Commission: 30 Jun 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 8 Jun 1946
Designations:
Comments: Stricken 3 Jul 1946

Hull No. and Name: 103 Roi
Date of Commission: 6 Jul 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 9 May 1946
Designations:
Comments: Stricken 21 May 1946

Hull No. and Name: 104 Munda
Date of Commission: 8 Jul 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 13 Sep 1946
Designations: CVU 104 12 Jun 1955
Comments: Stricken 1 Sep 1958

Hull No. and Name: 105 Commencement Bay
Date of Commission: 27 Nov 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 30 Nov 1946
Designations: CVHE 105 (12 Jun 1955); AKV 37 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Apr 1971

Hull No. and Name: 106 Block Island
Date of Commission: 30 Dec 1944; Decommission or Loss***: 27 Aug 1954
Designations: LPH 1 (22 Dec 1957); CVE 106 (17 Feb 1959); AKV 38 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Jul 1959

Hull No. and Name: 107 Gilbert Islands
Date of Commission: 5 Feb 1945; Decommission or Loss***: 15 Jan 1955
Designations: AKV 39 7 May 1959
Comments: Stricken 1 Jun 1961

Hull No. and Name: 108 Kula Gulf
Date of Commission: 12 May 1945; Decommission or Loss***: 15 Dec 1955
Designations: AKV 8 7 May 1959
Comments: Stricken 15 Sep 1970

Hull No. and Name: 109 Cape Gloucester
Date of Commission: 5 Mar 1945; Decommission or Loss***: 5 Nov 1946
Designations: CVHE 109 (12 Jun 1955 ); AKV 9 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Apr 1971

Hull No. and Name: 110 Salerno Bay
Date of Commission: 19 May 1945; Decommission or Loss***: 16 Feb 1954
Designations: AKV 10 7 May 1959
Comments: Stricken 1 Jun 1960

Hull No. and Name: 111 Vella Gulf
Date of Commission: 9 Apr 1945; Decommission or Loss***: 9 Aug 1946
Designations: CVHE 111 (12 Jun 1955 ); AKV 11 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Jun 1960

Hull No. and Name: 112 Siboney
Date of Commission: 14 May 1945; Decommission or Loss***: 31 Jul 1956
Designations: AKV 12 7 May 1959
Comments: Stricken 1 Jun 1970

Hull No. and Name: 113 Puget Sound
Date of Commission: 18 Jun 1945; Decommission or Loss***: 18 Oct 1946
Designations: CVHE 113 (12 Jun 1955); AKV 13 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Jun 1960

Hull No. and Name: 114 Rendova
Date of Commission: 22 Oct 1945; Decommission or Loss***: 30 Jun 1955
Designations: AKV 14 7 May 1959
Comments: Stricken 1 Apr 1971

Hull No. and Name: 115 Bairoko
Date of Commission: 16 Jul 1945; Decommission or Loss***: 18 Feb 1955
Designations: AKV 15 7 May 1959
Comments: Stricken 1 Apr 1960

Hull No. and Name: 116 Badoeng Strait
Date of Commission: 14 Nov 1945; Decommission or Loss***: 17 May 1957
Designations: AKV 16 7 May 1959
Comments: Stricken 1 Dec 1970

Hull No. and Name: 117 Saidor
Date of Commission: 4 Sep 1945; Decommission or Loss***: 12 Sep 1947
Designations: CVHE 117 (12 Jun 1955); AKV 17 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Dec 1970

Hull No. and Name: 118 Sicily
Date of Commission: 27 Feb 1946; Decommission or Loss***: 4 Oct 1954
Designations: AKV 18 7 May 1959
Comments: Stricken 1 Jul 1960

Hull No. and Name: 119 Point Cruz
Date of Commission: 16 Oct 1945; Decommission or Loss***: 31 Aug 1956
Designations: AKV 19 (7 May 1959 )
Comments: Stricken 15 Sep 1970

Hull No. and Name: 120 Mindoro
Date of Commission: 4 Dec 1945; Decommission or Loss***: 4 Aug 1955
Designations: AKV 20 7 May 1959
Comments: Stricken 1 Dec 1959

Hull No. and Name: 121 Rabaul
Date of Commission:; Decommission or Loss***:
Designations: CVHE 121 (12 Jun 1955); AKV 21 (7 May 1959 )
Comments: Stricken 1 Sep 1971. Inactivated after trials on 30 Aug1946, never commissioned

Hull No. and Name: 122 Palau
Date of Commission: 15 Jan 1946; Decommission or Loss***: 15 Jun 1954
Designations: AKV 22 7 May 1959
Comments: Stricken 1 Apr 1960

Hull No. and Name: 123 Tinian
Date of Commission:; Decommission or Loss***:
Designations: CVHE 123 (12 Jun 1955 ); AKV 23 (7 May 1959)
Comments: Stricken 1 Jun 1970. The ship was accepted by the Navy on 30 Jul 1946 but never commissioned.

* There were a number of carriers that were ; Decommissioned and then recommissioned for further service. Only the final ; Decommissioning date is listed for these carriers. Several carriers were also placed out of commission during major rennovations or yard periods.

In some cases the records regarding decommissioning dates were not complete. Consequently, the ; Decommissioning date was left blank if it was unknown.


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17 August 1996