USS Makin Island (CVE-93)

USS Makin Island underway near Leyte, November 1944
History
Name:	USS Makin Island
Builder:	Kaiser Shipyards
Laid down:	12 January 1944
Launched:	5 April 1944
Commissioned:	9 May 1944
Decommissioned:	19 April 1946
Struck:	11 July 1946
Fate:	Sold for scrapping 1 January 1947
General characteristics
Class and type:	Casablanca-class escort carrier
Displacement:	7,800 tons (light) 10,400 tons (full load)
Length:	512 ft 3 in (156.13 m) overall
Beam:	65 ft 2 in (19.86 m) 108 ft 1 in (32.94 m) maximum width
Draft:	22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
Propulsion:	2 × 5-cylinder reciprocating Skinner Unaflow engines 4 × 285 psi boilers 2 shafts, 9,000 shp
Speed:	20 knots (37 km/h)
Range:	10,240 nmi (18,960 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement:	860 officers and men Embarked Squadron: 50 to 56 officers and men Total: 910 to 916 officers and men.
Armament:	1 × 5-inch/38 cal DP gun 16 × 40 mm AA cannon in 8 twin mounts 20 × 20 mm AA machine guns in single mounts
Aircraft carried:	28
Service record
Part of:	United States Pacific Fleet (1944-1946)
Operations:	Philippines campaign Invasion of Iwo Jima Battle of Okinawa Operation Magic Carpet
Awards:	5 Battle stars

USS Makin Island (CVE-93) was an Casablanca class escort carrier of the United States Navy. Named for the 1942 Makin raid, she was laid down on 12 January 1944 by Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, Vancouver, Washington; launched 5 April 1944; sponsored by Mrs. B. B. Nichol; and commissioned at Astoria, Oregon, 9 May 1944, Commander W. B. Whaley in command.

Following a brief west coast shakedown cruise, on the eighth of June, Makin Island left for San Diego, California, stopping at Alameda, California, to load bombs and aviation gasoline. Makin Island departed San Diego on 19 June 1944, to ferry aircraft and men to Pearl Harbor, Majuro, and Kwajalein, returning to San Diego 24 July. The escort carrier then trained out of San Diego, preparing for combat until 16 October, when she sailed for Ulithi via Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok, arriving 5 November.

On 10 November, the ship got underway for Leyte, protecting convoys in transit to the invasion beachhead. Extensive air operations were conducted, but no enemy resistance was encountered. On 22 November, she sailed to Manus for the forthcoming invasion of Luzon.

Flying the pennant of Rear Admiral C. T. Durgin, Commander TG 77.4, Makin Island left Manus 27 December to rendezvous with the invasion force in Surigao Strait, Leyte. Sailing for Lingayen Gulf, 3 January 1945, the carrier was subjected to fierce, almost continuous enemy air attack during the passage to the assault beaches. Though sister carrier Ommaney Bay was sunk and a number of other ships damaged, Makin Island arrived unscathed 6 January. For the next 11 days, she remained off the beachhead flying air support for the amphibious operation, then sailed for Ulithi.