_in_San_Francisco_Bay_1945.jpeg) USSMunda (CVE-104) in San Francisco Bay, 1945 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name |
|
| Namesake |
|
| Ordered | as aType S4-S2-BB3 hull,MCE hull 1141[1] |
| Awarded | 18 June 1942 |
| Builder | Kaiser Shipyards |
| Laid down | 29 March 1944 |
| Launched | 27 May 1944 |
| Commissioned | 8 July 1944 |
| Decommissioned | 24 April 1946 |
| Stricken | 1 September 1958 |
| Identification | Hull symbol: CVE-104 |
| Honors & awards | 1Battle star |
| Fate | Sold for scrap on 17 June 1960 |
| General characteristics[2] | |
| Class & type | Casablanca-classescort carrier |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | |
| Beam |
|
| Draft | 20 ft 9 in (6.32 m) (max) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | |
| Speed | 19knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) |
| Range | 10,240 nmi (18,960 km; 11,780 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 27 (combat functionality) |
| Aviation facilities | |
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Operations: | Operation Magic Carpet |
USSMunda (CVE-104) was the last of fiftyUnited States NavyCasablanca-classescort carrier built for service duringWorld War II. She was named after theBattle of Munda Point, which occurred on the islandNew Georgia, a part of theSolomon Islands in 1943. The ship waslaunched in May 1944, andcommissioned in July, and served as an aircraft transport and as a replenishment escort carrier in thePacific Theatre. Postwar, she participated inOperation Magic Carpet, the repatriation of U.S. forces from bases scattered around the Pacific. She was decommissioned in April 1946, when she wasmothballed in thePacific Reserve Fleet. Ultimately, she was sold forscrapping in June 1960.
Munda was aCasablanca-class escort carrier, the most numerous type ofaircraft carriers ever built,[2] and designed specifically to be mass-produced using prefabricated sections, in order to replace heavy early war losses. Standardized with hersister ships, she was 512 ft 3 in (156.13 m)long overall, with alength 490 ft (150 m) at the waterline, she had abeam of 65 ft 2 in (19.86 m), at her widest point, this was 108 ft (33 m), and adraft of 20 ft 9 in (6.32 m). Shedisplaced 8,188long tons (8,319 t)standard, 10,902 long tons (11,077 t) with afull load. She had a 257 ft (78 m) longhangar deck and a 477 ft (145 m) longflight deck. She was powered with twoUniflow reciprocating steam engines, which drove two shafts, providing 9,000 shp (6,700 kW), thus enabling her to make 19knots (35 km/h; 22 mph). The ship had a cruising range of 10,240 nmi (18,960 km; 11,780 mi) at a speed of 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph). Her compact size necessitated the installation of anaircraft catapult at her bow, and there were twoaircraft elevators to facilitate movement of aircraft between the flight and hangar deck: one each fore and aft.[3][2][4]
One5 in (127 mm)/38caliberdual-purpose gun was mounted on the stern.Anti-aircraft defense was provided by eight40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors anti-aircraft guns in single mounts, as well as twelve20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons, which were mounted around the perimeter of the deck. By the end of the war,Casablanca-class carriers had been modified to carry thirty 20 mm cannons, and the amount of 40 mm guns had been doubled to sixteen, by putting them into twin mounts. These modifications were in response to increasing casualties due tokamikaze attacks.Casablanca-class escort carriers were designed to carry 27 aircraft, but the hangar deck could accommodate more.[4][5]
She waslaid down on 29 March 1944, under aMaritime Commission contract, MC hull 1141, by theKaiser Shipbuilding Company,Vancouver, Washington. The vessel was originally designated ACV-104, but was redesignated CVE-104 on 15 July 1943. She was initially named after Tonowek Bay, located withinPrince of Wales Island, Alaska, 23 September 1943, and renamedMunda on 6 November 1943, in honor of theBattle of Munda Point, in theSolomon Islands, which was fought in July and August of that year.Munda waslaunched on 27 May 1944,sponsored by Mrs. James E. Dyer, to be accepted andcommissioned on 8 July 1944, under the command ofCaptainL. A. Pope.[1][6]
_transporting_aircraft%2c_circa_1945.jpg)
Upon being commissioned,Munda underwent ashakedown cruise down theWest Coast. She was then assigned toCarrier Transport SquadronPacific, which shuttled aircraft and crew to bases in the West Pacific. On 16 August, she departed the West Coast, carrying 71 aircraft and 251 military passengers. She steamed for the island ofEspiritu Santo, in theNew Hebrides, arriving on 1 September. She then stopped atFinschhafen andManus Island, both part of theTerritory of New Guinea, before heading back to the West Coast. She proceeded toAlameda, California, where she made a brief layover. She then made another transport run, arriving back on 5 December, before making a third run on 12 December. She made three more runs until mid-1945, for six transport missions in total. During one of these runs, CaptainWelton Dana Rowley took over command of the vessel on 13 May 1945.[7] On 3 July, she sailed forEniwetok, of theMarshall Islands, where she was assigned to become a replenishment escort carrier, supporting theThird Fleet's frontlineFast Carrier Task Force as part of Task Group 30.8, the Fleet Oiler and Transport Carrier Group.[8] Replenishment escort carriers such asMunda enabled the frontline carriers to replace battle losses, and to stay at sea for longer durations.[6]
Munda met Task Group 30.8 on 20 July, and began to provide aircraft to replace losses sustained in raids against the Japanese home islands. The replenishment escort carrier fleet would meet with the Fast Carrier Task Force on designated rendezvous days, during which supplies, munitions, and aircraft would be transferred. During this time, she was anchored offGuam, where she received aircraft, munitions, and other supplies. She stopped at Guam on 26 July, before rejoining her task group on 3 August. She met with, and resupplied the Third Fleet on 3 August, 7 August, and 11 August. She departed her formation on 13 August, to head back to Guam and was en route, when theJapanese surrender was announced. After rejoining her task group, she supported the landings of Allied forces in theoccupation of Japan, remaining on station through the first week of the occupation. On 10 September, she steamed intoTokyo Bay, shortly after the signing of the official surrender document.[6]
Munda departed Tokyo Bay on 2 October, whereupon she joined theOperation Magic Carpet fleet, which repatriated U.S. servicemen from around the Pacific. She took part in several Magic Carpet runs until 1946, when she was released from the fleet. She proceeded toPort Angeles, Washington, arriving on 18 January 1946. There, inactivation work was conducted, and she was subsequently decommissioned on 13 September, and mothballed as part of thePacific Reserve Fleet. She was redesignated as a utility aircraft carrier,CVU-104, on 12 June 1955. She was transferred toBremerton, Washington on 29 April 1958. There, she was struck from theNavy list on 1 September, and sold forscrapping on 17 June 1960 to General Ore Co., New York. She was ultimately broken up in Japan throughout October 1960. She received onebattle star for her World War II service.[4][6]