USS Tinian steaming to join the reserve fleet on 21 February 1946
History
United States
Name	USS Tinian
Namesake	Battle of Tinian
Builder	Todd Pacific Shipyards
Laid down	20 March 1945
Launched	5 September 1945
Sponsored by	Miss Grace L Woods.
Acquired	30 July 1946
Reclassified	Helicopter carrier, CVHE-123, 12 June 1955 Cargo ship and aircraft ferry, AKV-23, May 1959
Stricken	1 June 1970
Homeport	Tacoma, Washington and San Diego, California
Fate	Sold for scrapping 15 December 1971
General characteristics
Class and type	Commencement Bay-class escort carrier
Displacement	11,400 long tons (11,600 t)
Length	557 ft (170 m)
Beam	75 ft (23 m)
Draft	32 ft (9.8 m)
Propulsion	Steam turbines, 16,000 shp 2 shafts
Speed	19 knots (22 mph; 35 km/h)
Complement	1,066
Armament	2 × 5 in (130 mm) guns (2×1) 36 × 40 mm AA guns
Service record
Part of:	Pacific Reserve Fleet (1946-1970)

USS Tinian (CVE-123) was a Commencement Bay-class escort carrier of the United States Navy. Ordered and constructed during World War II, Tinian never entered active service and was assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Tacoma after being completed. In June 1955, the ship was reclassified a helicopter carrier and in May 1959, a cargo ship and aircraft ferry. The ship remained in reserve for her entire career and was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 June 1970 and sold for scrap.

Service history

The escort carrier was laid down on 20 March 1945 at Tacoma, Washington, by Todd-Pacific Shipyards, Inc. Tinian was launched on 5 September 1945; sponsored by Miss Grace L Woods; and accepted by the US Navy on 30 July 1946. Never commissioned, the escort carrier was assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet, 19th Fleet, at Tacoma, Washington. On 12 June 1955, the ship was reclassified as an escort helicopter aircraft carrier and re-designated CVHE-123. In early June 1958 Tinian was taken in tow at Tacoma, Washington, by the US Navy MSTS tugboat USNS Yuma, destined for San Diego, California. While very near the Swiftsure Bank lightship, Neah Bay, Washington; at the entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Yuma developed engine troubles. Yuma's distress call brought USCGC Fir to her rescue. The crew of the Swiftsure lightship went to general quarters, ready to assist. Fir then escorted Yuma and Tinian to safety. On 9 June 1958, Tinian arrived at San Diego, under tow by Yuma, and was berthed at South Tee Pier. In May 1959, she was again reclassified, this time as a cargo ship and aircraft ferry, AKV-23. Tinian remained with the San Diego Group of the Reserve Fleet until 1 June 1970 when she was struck from the list. Her hulk was sold to Levin Metals Company, San Jose California, on 15 December 1971 for scrap.