
The USS Lunga Point was a United States Navy ship that served during World War II. It was a patrol boat.
The ship was named after Lunga Point, a location on Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands. This is where the ship's namesake is located.
The USS Lunga Point was launched on May 1, 1943, at the Lake Washington Shipyard in Houghton, Washington.
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Design
The USS Lunga Point was a compact ship, measuring 512 ft 3 in long overall. This small size necessitated the installation of an aircraft catapult at her bow end.
She had a beam of 65 ft 2 in and a draft of 20 ft 9 in. This small size also meant that aircraft elevators were crucial for movement of planes between decks.
She displaced 8,188 long tons standard and 10,902 long tons with a full load. This significant weight was balanced by her powerful engines.
The ship was powered by two Uniflow reciprocating steam engines, which provided a force of 9,000 horsepower. This power enabled her to make 19 knots.
She had a cruising range of 10,240 nautical miles, assuming a constant speed of 15 knots. This range was impressive for a ship of her size.
History
The USS Lunga Point was commissioned in May 1944 and spent 16 years in service to the Navy.
She was first placed under the command of Captain G. A. T. Washburn and was constructed in Vancouver, Washington in January 1944.
The USS Lunga Point was a 7,800 ton Casablanca-class escort carrier that provided ferrying and replenishment operations in the Leyte Gulf.
She joined the Carrier Division 29 and provided air support for ground troops in the region.
In December 1944, the USS Lunga Point was providing air coverage to army operations in the Lingayen Gulf.
She survived 14 enemy attacks, including fierce kamikaze attacks, and continued to provide air support to forces in the Lingayen Gulf.
The USS Lunga Point supported the invasion of Iwo Jima in February 1945 and stopped at Ulithi to prepare for the upcoming Okinawa attack.
Although 16 planes attacked her and other escort carriers, the USS Lunga Point only sustained minor damage.
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The USS Bismarck Sea was sunk during this attack, but the USS Lunga Point survived.
She then joined Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague's Task Unit to provide air support for ground troops who successfully took out key enemy strongholds.
The USS Lunga Point played a role in a search for Rear Admiral W. D. Sample that ended unsuccessfully.
In October 1946, the USS Lunga Point was decommissioned and ordered to join the Pacific Reserve Fleet in Tacoma, Washington.
She was struck from the Naval Register in 1960 and sold to a San Diego company for scrapping.
Ship Details
The USS Lunga Point was a 1944 Casablanca-class escort carrier.
The ship was built at the Vancouver shipyard in Vancouver, Washington.
The USS Lunga Point was one of the many ships built in 1944.
Here's a list of some of the notable facts about the USS Lunga Point:
- Category: USS Lunga Point (CVE-94)
- Casablanca class aircraft carriers
- Ships built at Vancouver shipyard, Vancouver, Washington
- Ships with pennant number 94
- Ships built in 1944
- Lunga Point
- Ships scrapped in 1960
- Naval ships of the United States by name
The USS Lunga Point was scrapped in 1960.
Crew List
The USS Lunga Point had a diverse crew of 15 officers and 137 enlisted men.
Commander James T. Jones was the ship's commanding officer.
The crew was divided into various departments, including engineering, navigation, and deck operations.
The USS Lunga Point was a small ship, but its crew was well-trained and efficient.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Lunga_Point
- https://www.navsource.org/archives/03/094.htm
- https://www.hullnumber.com/CVE-94
- https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/USS_Lunga_Point_(CVE-94)
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:USS_Lunga_Point_(CVE-94)
- https://www.navysite.de/crewlist/commandlist.php
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