USS Bougainville (CVE-100)

Career
Ordered:
Laid down:
Launched:	16 May 1944
Commissioned:	18 June 1944
Decommissioned:	3 November 1946
Fate: Sold 29 August 1960
Struck: 1 May 1960
General characteristics
Displacement:	7800 tons
Length:	512' 3"
Beam:	108' 1"
Draught:	22' 4"
Propulsion:
Speed:
Range:
Complement:	860 Officers and Men
Armament:
Aircraft:
Motto:

USS Bougainville (CVE-100) was an Casablanca class escort carrier of the United States Navy, built and used during World War II. She was launched 16 May 1944 by the Kaiser Shipyard in Vancouver, Washington, under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. Sally A. Montfort, wife of Captain Montfort, acquired 18 June 1944; and commissioned the same day, Captain C. A. Bond in command.

World War II Service

On 25 July 1944 Bougainville departed San Diego and steamed to Pearl Harbor where on 1 August she reported to Commander, Carrier Transport Squadron, Pacific Fleet. During the remainder of 1944 she transported aircraft to the Marshall, Admiralty, and Marianas Islands. Returning to San Diego 22 December she underwent a brief period of availability until 7 January 1945. On 8 February 1945 Bougainville reported to Commander, Service Squadron 8, at Eniwetok and for the next six months provided underway replenishment throughout the Western Pacific to the various Task Groups of TF's 58 and 38. She rendezvoused with these groups at sea and delivered planes, replacement pilots and aircraft crews to the large fleet carriers. During February and March 1945 she carried out replenishment operations with TG 60.8 during the Iwo Jima operation. Until June she provided vital logistic support to the units of the 5th and 3rd Fleets engaged in raids in support of the Okinawa operation. In August, after a brief period of availability at San Diego, Bougainville returned to Pearl Harbor. During the remainder of the month she transported aircraft between Pearl Harbor and the Marshall and Marianas Islands. In September she steamed to Okinawa where she remained until getting underway 6 October 1945 to deliver planes and occupation personnel to several Chinese ports. Returning to Okinawa on the 19th, she departed the following day for San Diego. At San Diego she underwent a brief yard period until 28 November and then made her final voyage to Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok. She returned to San Diego 12 January 1946 and reported to the 19th Fleet for inactivation. She sailed from San Diego 19 January en route to Port Angeles Wash., and then to Tacoma. Bougainville was placed out of commission in reserve there 3 November 1946. She was reclassified CVU-100 on 16 June 1955.

Awards

Bougainville received two battle stars for her World War II service.

References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.