USS Nehenta Bay (CVE-74) was a Casablanca-class escort carrier of the United States Navy. She was named after Nehenta Bay, located within Gravina Island. Built for service during World War II, the ship was launched in November 1943, and commissioned in January 1944, and served in support of the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign and the Battle of Okinawa. Postwar, she participated in Operation Magic Carpet. She was decommissioned in May 1946, when she was mothballed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. Ultimately, she was sold for scrapping in June 1960.
USS Nehenta Bay underway, circa 1944
Nehenta Bay underway at sea, transporting aircraft, circa 1945.
Nehenta Bay underway at sea in 1945. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 33, Design 10A.
A radar image of Typhoon Cobra, 18 December 1944.
Casablanca-class escort carrier
The Casablanca-class escort carrier was a series of escort carriers constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. They are the most numerous class of aircraft carriers ever built. Fifty were laid down, launched and commissioned within the space of less than two years – 3 November 1942 through to 8 July 1944. Despite their numbers, and the preservation of more famous and larger carriers as museums, none of these modest ships survive today. Five were lost to enemy action during World War II and the remainder were scrapped.
USS Guadalcanal, 1944
Casablanca-class escort carriers fitting out, circa April 1944.
USS Lunga Point
USS Gambier Bay under fire at Samar, 1944