Ships of the United States Navy
Ships in current service
Ships grouped alphabetically
Ships grouped by type
USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60)

The United States Navy had a sizable fleet of escort aircraft carriers during World War II and the early Cold War era that followed.

Historical overview

Prior to the creation of the escort carrier hull classification symbol (CVE) on 15 July 1943, these ships were designated as Auxiliary aircraft escort vessels (AVG) until 20 August 1942 and then Auxiliary aircraft carriers (ACV).

These ships were both quicker and cheaper to build than larger fleet carriers and were built in great numbers to serve as a stop-gap measure when fleet carriers were too few. However, they were usually too slow to keep up with naval task forces and would typically be assigned to amphibious operations, often seen in the Pacific War's island hopping campaign, or to convoy protection in the war in the Atlantic.

To that end, many of these ships were transferred to the Royal Navy as part of the US-UK lend-lease program. Note that many of the lower-numbered carriers were transferred to the Royal Navy, where they received new names but retained their original BAVG hull symbols. The new names are mentioned in each article individually. While some of these ships were kept for a time in reserve after the war, none survive today, as they have all since been sunk or retired and scrapped. The following are the classes and stand-alone ships of the US Navy's escort carriers:

Name Hull number Class Laid Down Launched Commissioned Notes
Long Island CVE-1 Long Island 7 July 1939 11 January 1940 2 June 1941 Built as Mormacmail (I)
Unnamed BAVG-1 Avenger 7 June 1939 14 December 1939 17 November 1941 Built as Mormacland

Became HMS Archer (D78)

BAVG-2 28 November 1939 27 November 1940 2 March 1942 Built as Rio Hudson

Became HMS Avenger (D14) Sunk by U-155, 15 November 1942

BAVG-3 28 December 1939 18 December 1940 6 May 1942 Built as Rio Parana

Became HMS Biter (D97)

BAVG-4 Charger 19 January 1940 1 March 1941 2 October 1941 Built as Rio de la Plata

Became HMS Charger (D27) Returned to USN, 4 October 1941
Redesignated USS Charger (CVE-30), 20 August 1942

BAVG-5 Avenger 14 March 1940 12 April 1941 2 July 1942 Built as Rio de Janeiro

Became HMS Dasher (D37)
Sunk by aviation fuel explosion, 27 March 1943

BAVG-6 Attacker 3 November 1941 7 March 1942 31 January 1943 Built as Mormacmail (II)

Became HMS Tracker (D24)

Altamaha CVE-6 15 April 1941 4 April 1942 31 October 1942 Built as Mormacmail (III)

Became HMS Battler (D18)

Barnes CVE-7 17 April 1941 27 September 1941 30 September 1942 Built as Steel Artisan

Became HMS Attacker (D02)

Block Island CVE-8 15 May 1941 22 May 1942 9 January 1943 Built as Mormacpenn

Became HMS Hunter (D80)

Bogue CVE-9 Bogue 1 October 1941 15 January 1942 26 September 1942 Built as Steel Advocate
Breton CVE-10 Attacker 28 June 1941 15 February 1943 9 April 1943 Built as Mormacgulf

Became HMS Chaser (D32)

Card CVE-11 Bogue 27 October 1941 27 February 1942 8 November 1942
Copahee CVE-12 18 June 1941 21 October 1941 15 June 1942
Core CVE-13 2 January 1942 15 May 1942 10 December 1942
Croatan CVE-14 Attacker 5 September 1941 4 April 1942 20 February 1943 Became HMS Fencer (D64)
Hamlin CVE-15 6 October 1941 5 March 1942 21 December 1942 Became HMS Stalker (D91)
Nassau CVE-16 Bogue 27 November 1941 4 April 1942 20 August 1942
St. George CVE-17 Attacker 31 July 1941 18 July 1942 14 June 1943 Became HMS Pursuer (D73)
Altamaha CVE-18 Bogue 19 December 1941 22 May 1942 15 September 1942
Prince William CVE-19 Attacker 15 December 1941 7 May 1942 28 April 1943 Became HMS Striker (D12)
Barnes CVE-20 Bogue 19 January 1942 2 May 1942 20 February 1943
Block Island CVE-21 19 January 1942 1 May 1942 8 March 1943
Unnamed CVE-22 Attacker 20 February 1942 20 June 1942 7 April 1943 Became HMS Searcher (D40)
Breton CVE-23 Bogue 25 February 1942 27 June 1942 12 April 1943
Unnamed CVE-24 Attacker 11 April 1942 16 July 1942 25 April 1943 Became HMS Ravager (D70)
Croatan CVE-25 Bogue 15 April 1942 1 August 1942 28 April 1943
Sangamon CVE-26 Sangamon 13 March 1939 4 November 1939 25 August 1942 Lead ship of her class (converted from Cimarron-class oiler)
Suwannee CVE-27 3 June 1938 4 March 1939 24 September 1942
Chenango CVE-28 10 July 1938 1 April 1939 19 September 1942
Santee CVE-29 31 May 1938 4 March 1939 24 August 1942
Charger CVE-30 Charger 19 January 1940 1 March 1941 3 March 1942 Same ship as "BAVG-4" and HMS Charger (D27)
Prince William CVE-31 Bogue 18 May 1942 23 August 1942 9 April 1943 Last ship, first group of Bogue-class, sometimes referred to as Prince William-class
Chatham CVE-32 Ruler 25 May 1942 19 September 1942 11 August 1943 Became HMS Slinger (D26)

First ship, second group of Bogue-class

Glacier CVE-33 9 June 1942 7 September 1942 28 October 1943 Became HMS Atheling (D51)
Pybus CVE-34 23 June 1942 7 October 1942 6 August 1943 Became HMS Emperor (D98)
Baffins CVE-35 18 July 1942 18 October 1942 20 July 1943 Became HMS Ameer (D01)
Bolinas CVE-36 3 August 1942 11 November 1942 2 August 1943 Became HMS Begum (D38)
Bastian CVE-37 25 August 1942 15 December 1942 4 August 1943 Became HMS Trumpeter (D09)
Carnegie CVE-38 9 September 1942 30 December 1942 12 August 1943 Became HMS Empress (D42)
Cordova CVE-39 22 September 1942 30 January 1943 25 August 1943 Became HMS Khedive (D62)
Delgada CVE-40 9 October 1942 20 February 1943 20 November 1943 Became HMS Speaker (D90)
Edisto CVE-41 20 October 1942 22 March 1943 7 September 1943 Became HMS Nabob (D77)
Estero CVE-42 31 October 1942 22 March 1943 3 November 1943 Became HMS Premier (D23)
Jamaica CVE-43 13 November 1942 21 April 1943 27 September 1943 Became HMS Shah (D21)
Keweenaw CVE-44 27 November 1942 6 May 1943 25 October 1943 Became HMS Patroller (D07)
Prince CVE-45 17 December 1942 18 May 1943 17 January 1944 Became HMS Rajah (D10)
Niantic CVE-46 5 January 1943 2 June 1943 8 November 1943 Became HMS Ranee (D03)
Perdido CVE-47 1 February 1943 16 June 1943 31 January 1944 Became HMS Trouncer (D85)
Sunset CVE-48 23 February 1943 15 July 1943 19 November 1943 Became HMS Thane (D48)
St. Andrews CVE-49 12 March 1943 2 August 1943 7 December 1943 Became HMS Queen (D19)
St. Joseph CVE-50 25 March 1943 21 August 1943 22 December 1943 Became HMS Ruler (D72)
St. Simon CVE-51 26 April 1943 9 September 1943 31 December 1943 Became HMS Arbiter (D31)
Vermillion CVE-52 10 May 1943 27 September 1943 20 January 1944 Became HMS Smiter (D55)
Willapa CVE-53 21 May 1943 8 November 1943 5 February 1944 Became HMS Puncher (D79)
Winjah CVE-54 5 June 1943 22 November 1943 18 February 1944 Became HMS Reaper (D82), last ship of Bogue-class
Casablanca CVE-55 Casablanca 3 November 1942 5 April 1943 8 July 1943 Lead ship of her class
Liscome Bay CVE-56 9 December 1942 19 April 1943 7 August 1943
Anzio CVE-57 1 May 1943 27 August 1943 5 August 1946 Originally named Alikula Bay, commissioned as Coral Sea (1943-1944), renamed Anzio (1944-1959)
Corregidor CVE-58 17 December 1942 12 May 1943 31 August 1943
Mission Bay CVE-59 28 December 1942 26 May 1943 13 September 1943
Guadalcanal CVE-60 5 January 1943 5 June 1943 25 September 1943
Manila Bay CVE-61 15 January 1943 10 July 1943 5 October 1943
Natoma Bay CVE-62 17 January 1943 20 July 1943 14 October 1943
Midway CVE-63 23 January 1943 17 August 1943 23 October 1943 Originally named Chapin Bay, commissioned as Midway (1943-1944), renamed St. Lo (1944)
Tripoli CVE-64 1 February 1943 13 July 1943 31 October 1943
Wake Island CVE-65 6 February 1943 15 September 1943 7 November 1943
White Plains CVE-66 11 February 1943 27 September 1943 15 November 1943
Solomons CVE-67 19 March 1943 6 October 1943 21 November 1943
Kalinin Bay CVE-68 26 April 1943 15 October 1943 27 November 1943
Kasaan Bay CVE-69 May 1943 24 October 1943 4 December 1943 Laid down as Type S4-S2-BB3 oiler, completed as CVE-69
Fanshaw Bay CVE-70 18 May 1943 1 November 1943 9 December 1943
Kitkun Bay CVE-71 3 May 1943 8 November 1943 15 December 1943
Tulagi CVE-72 7 June 1943 15 November 1943 21 December 1943
Gambier Bay CVE-73 10 July 1943 22 November 1943 28 December 1943 Only American aircraft carrier sunk by enemy surface gunfire during World War II at the Battle off Samar.
Nehenta Bay CVE-74 20 July 1943 28 November 1943 3 January 1944
Hoggatt Bay CVE-75 17 August 1943 4 December 1943 11 January 1944
Kadashan Bay CVE-76 2 September 1943 11 December 1943 18 January 1944
Marcus Island CVE-77 15 September 1943 16 December 1943 26 January 1944
Savo Island CVE-78 27 September 1943 22 December 1943 3 February 1944
Ommaney Bay CVE-79 6 October 1943 29 December 1943 11 February 1944
Petrof Bay CVE-80 15 October 1943 5 January 1944 18 February 1944
Rudyerd Bay CVE-81 24 October 1943 12 January 1944 25 February 1944
Saginaw Bay CVE-82 1 November 1943 19 January 1944 2 March 1944
Sargent Bay CVE-83 8 November 1943 31 January 1944 9 March 1944
Shamrock Bay CVE-84 15 March 1943 4 February 1944 15 March 1944
Shipley Bay CVE-85 22 November 1943 12 February 1944 21 March 1944
Sitkoh Bay CVE-86 23 November 1943 19 February 1944 28 March 1944
Steamer Bay CVE-87 4 December 1943 26 February 1944 4 April 1944
Cape Esperance CVE-88 11 December 1943 3 March 1944 9 April 1944 Name changed from Tananek Bay 6 November 1943
Takanis Bay CVE-89 16 December 1943 10 March 1944 15 April 1944
Thetis Bay CVE-90 22 December 1943 16 March 1944 12 April 1944
Makassar Strait CVE-91 29 December 1943 22 March 1944 27 April 1944
Windham Bay CVE-92 5 January 1944 29 March 1944 3 May 1944
Makin Island CVE-93 12 January 1944 5 April 1944 9 May 1944
Lunga Point CVE-94 19 January 1944 11 April 1944 14 May 1944
Bismarck Sea CVE-95 31 January 1944 17 April 1944 20 May 1944
Salamaua CVE-96 4 February 1944 22 April 1944 26 May 1944 Originally named Anguilla Bay
Hollandia CVE-97 12 February 1944 28 April 1944 1 June 1944
Kwajalein CVE-98 19 February 1944 4 May 1944 7 June 1944
Admiralty Islands CVE-99 26 February 1944 10 May 1944 13 June 1944
Bougainville CVE-100 3 March 1944 16 May 1944 18 June 1944
Matanikau CVE-101 10 March 1944 22 May 1944 24 June 1944
Attu CVE-102 16 March 1944 27 May 1944 30 June 1944
Roi CVE-103 22 March 1944 2 June 1944 6 July 1944
Munda CVE-104 29 March 1944 27 May 1944 8 July 1944 Last ship of Casablanca-class
Commencement Bay CVE-105 Commencement Bay 23 September 1943 9 May 1944 27 November 1944 Lead ship of her class
Block Island CVE-106 25 October 1943 10 June 1944 30 December 1944
Gilbert Islands CVE-107 29 November 1943 20 July 1944 5 February 1945
Kula Gulf CVE-108 16 December 1943 15 August 1944 12 May 1945
Cape Gloucester CVE-109 10 January 1944 12 September 1944 5 March 1945
Salerno Bay CVE-110 7 February 1944 26 September 1944 19 May 1945
Vella Gulf CVE-111 7 March 1944 19 October 1944 9 April 1945
Siboney CVE-112 1 April 1944 9 November 1944 14 May 1945 Laid down as Frosty Bay, renamed Siboney 26 April 1944
Puget Sound CVE-113 12 May 1944 20 September 1944 18 June 1945
Rendova CVE-114 15 June 1944 29 December 1944 22 October 1945
Bairoko CVE-115 25 July 1944 25 January 1945 16 July 1945
Badoeng Strait CVE-116 18 August 1944 15 February 1945 14 November 1945
Saidor CVE-117 29 September 1944 17 March 1945 4 September 1945
Sicily CVE-118 23 October 1944 14 April 1945 27 February 1946
Point Cruz CVE-119 4 December 1944 18 May 1945 16 October 1945
Mindoro CVE-120 2 January 1945 27 June 1945 4 December 1945
Rabaul CVE-121 29 January 1945 14 June 1945 Acquired by the Navy 30 August 1946, never commissioned.
Palau CVE-122 19 February 1945 6 August 1945 15 January 1946
Tinian CVE-123 20 March 1945 5 September 1945 Acquired by the Navy 30 July 1946, never commissioned.
Bastogne CVE-124 2 April 1945 Laid down, cancelled before launch
Eniwetok CVE-125 20 April 1945
Lingayen CVE-126 1 May 1945
Okinawa CVE-127 22 May 1945
Unnamed CVE-128 Cancelled
CVE-129
CVE-130
CVE-131
CVE-132
CVE-133
CVE-134
CVE-135
CVE-136
CVE-137
CVE-138
CVE-139 Cancelled / Last ship of Commencement Bay-class

See also

Notes and references

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