Steamer Bay
| Country | United States |
| Ship Class | Casablanca-class Escort Carrier |
| Hull Number | CVE-87 |
| Builder | Kaiser Vancouver Shipyard |
| Laid Down | 4 Dec 1943 |
| Launched | 26 Feb 1944 |
| Commissioned | 4 Apr 1944 |
| Decommissioned | 1 Jul 1946 |
| Displacement | 7,800 tons standard; 10,400 tons full |
| Length | 512 feet |
| Beam | 65 feet |
| Draft | 22 feet |
| Machinery | Four boilers with two screws |
| Speed | 19 knots |
| Crew | 860 |
| Armament | 1x5-in Anti-aircraft, 8x40mm, 12x20mm |
| Catapults | 1 |
| Aircraft | 28 |
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
ww2dbaseSteamer Bay, CVE-87, was launched in Feb 1944 and had her trials in Puget Sound. Her first two missions involve ferrying men and aircraft of the United States Marine Corps to New Hebrides and Marshall Islands. Starting from her third mission she directly supported combat crafts, carrying replacement aircraft for Task Force 38, which busied itself with the landings at Palau and the Philippines. After repairs and training at Pearl Harbor from 15 Nov to 5 Dec 1944, she was assigned to Task Group 77.4, which supported the landings at Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines, and was directly involved in combat. She was the target of Japanese air attacks, seeing many of her fellow CVEs damaged, but she sustained little or no damage herself. On 31 Jan 1945, she steamed for Ulithi, preparing for the assault on Iwo Jima.
ww2dbaseSteamer Bay arrived near Iwo Jima on 16 Feb 1945, and with three other escort carriers launched air missions against the Japanese ground defenses. When the landings started, her aircraft provided air cover for the marines. On 1 Apr 1945, she provided similar support for the landing at Okinawa as well. She remained in Okinawa until 26 May.
ww2dbaseOn 10 Jun 1945, after spending some time at Guam for repairs, Steamer Bay joined the Third Fleet and bombarded Sakishima Gunto islands between Okinawa and Taiwan between 14 and 22 Jun.
ww2dbaseOn 10 Aug, Steamer Bay returned to San Diego, where she remained until the end of the war. After the war, she was assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet, then she was placed out of commission in Jan 1947. She was sold for scrap on 29 Aug 1959.
ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.
Last Major Revision: Jan 2006
Escort Carrier Steamer Bay (CVE-87) Interactive Map
Photographs
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Steamer Bay Operational Timeline
| 4 Dec 1943 | Casablanca-class escort carrier Steamer Bay was laid down at Kaiser Vancouver Shipyard, Vancouver, Washington, United States. |
| 26 Feb 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier Steamer Bay was launched at Kaiser Vancouver Shipyard, Vancouver, Washington, United States with Mrs. Evelyn Kendall as sponsor, wife of Rear Admiral Henry S. Kendall. |
| 4 Apr 1944 | USS Steamer Bay was commissioned at Astoria, Oregon with Captain Steadman Teller in command. |
| 2 May 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Seattle, Washington bound for San Diego, California. |
| 6 May 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived at San Diego, California. |
| 14 May 1944 | After loading 47 F4U Corsair fighters and personnel from two Marine Corps Fighting Squadrons, carrier USS Steamer Bat departed San Diego, California bound for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. |
| 30 May 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. |
| 2 Jun 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides bound for Pago Pago, American Samoa. |
| 5 Jun 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived at Pago Pago, American Samoa. |
| 6 Jun 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Pago Pago, American Samoa bound for San Diego, California. |
| 19 Jun 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived at San Diego, California. |
| 21 Jun 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay shifted from San Diego, California to the US Naval Drydocks at Terminal Island, San Pedro, California. |
| 19 Jul 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed from Los Angeles, California bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. |
| 25 Jul 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. |
| 26 Jul 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii bound for Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands |
| 1 Aug 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived at Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands. |
| 3 Aug 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. |
| 8 Aug 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. |
| 21 Aug 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii bound for Manus in the Admiralty Islands. |
| 1 Sep 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived at Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands. |
| 6 Sep 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Seeadler Harbor in the Admiralty Islands to join the fleet in the campaign against the Palau Islands. |
| 15 Sep 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay returned to Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands. |
| 18 Sep 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Seeadler Harbor in the Admiralty Islands to rejoin the fleet in the campaign against the Palau Islands. |
| 30 Sep 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay returned to Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands. |
| 4 Oct 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Seeadler Harbor in the Admiralty Islands to rejoin the fleet in the campaign against the Philippine and Mariana Islands. |
| 20 Oct 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay returned to Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands. |
| 25 Oct 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Seeadler Harbor bound for Ulithi, Caroline Islands. |
| 28 Oct 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived at Ulithi, Caroline Islands. |
| 5 Nov 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Ulithi, Caroline Islands bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. |
| 15 Nov 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. |
| 21 Nov 1944 | At Pearl Harbor, Composite Squadron VC-90 reported aboard escort carrier USS Steamer Bay for duty with aircraft and personnel. |
| 5 Dec 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii bound for Manus in the Admiralty Islands. |
| 7 Dec 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay launched 4 SBD Dauntless bombers for delivery to Palmyra Island. Steamer Bay then continued for Manus. |
| 11 Dec 1944 | Torpedo wakes passed close aboard carrier USS Steamer Bay. No submarine was seen or detected. |
| 17 Dec 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived at Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands. |
| 24 Dec 1944 | At Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Captain Joe Paschal came aboard escort carrier USS Steamer Bay as relief of Captain Teller as commanding officer. The actual exchange of command would occur two weeks later. |
| 27 Dec 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Seeadler Harbor as part of a task unit of 17 escort carriers bound for Kossol Passage in the Palau Islands. |
| 30 Dec 1944 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived at Kossol Roads in the Palau Islands. |
| 1 Jan 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Kossol Roads in the Palau Islands on her first combat sortie of the war bound for Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines. |
| 3 Jan 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay and her task group transited the Surigao Strait in the Philippines bound for the Lingayen Gulf, Luzon. |
| 4 Jan 1945 | In the Sulu Sea, Philippines, escort carriers USS Steamer Bay and USS Ommaney Bay exchanged positions in the formation and a short time later, Ommaney Bay was struck by a Japanese special attack aircraft. |
| 6 Jan 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay and her task group arrived on station northwest of Luzon and began providing air cover for the Lingayen Gulf landings. |
| 21 Jan 1945 | During a replenishment stop at Mangarin Bay, Mindoro, Philippines, Captain Joe Paschal relieved Captain Teller as commanding officer of escort carrier USS Steamer Bay. |
| 29 Jan 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay and her task group arrived on station west of Manila Bay, Luzon and began providing air cover for landings north of Subic Bay. |
| 31 Jan 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay and her task group departed the Luzon area bound for Ulithi via Leyte. |
| 2 Feb 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay and her task group transited the Surigao Strait in the Philippines bound for Ulithi, Caroline Islands. |
| 5 Feb 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived at Ulithi, Caroline Islands. |
| 10 Feb 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Ulithi bound for Saipan, Mariana Islands. |
| 12 Feb 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived in the waters around Saipan and Tinian, Mariana Islands to begin rehearsal exercises in advance of the Iwo Jima operations. |
| 17 Feb 1945 | Aircraft from escort carrier USS Steamer Bay provided smoke over the beaches of Iwo Jima to conceal Underwater Demolition Teams scouting the beaches. |
| 7 Mar 1945 | After two-and-a-half weeks of support for the Iwo Jima landings, escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed the aera bound for Leyte in the Philippines. |
| 12 Mar 1945 | USS Steamer Bay, USS Anzio, and USS Tabberer arrived at San Pedro Bay, Leyte, Philippines. |
| 18 Mar 1945 | After replenishment and upkeep in San Pedro Bay, Leyte, escort carrier USS Steamer Bay participated in rehearsals for the Okinawa invasion conducted in Leyte Gulf. |
| 27 Mar 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Leyte bound for operations at Okinawa. |
| 1 Apr 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay and her task group arrived in their operating area southeast of Okinawa and began support operations. |
| 26 May 1945 | After eight weeks on station in support of the Okinawa operation, escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed the area bound for Guam. |
| 30 May 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived at Apra Harbor, Guam. Composite Squadron VC-90 aboard Steamer Bay was relieved and Composite Squadron VC-93 came aboard. |
| 3 Jun 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay entered floating drydock USS ABSD-6 in Apra Harbor, Guam. |
| 5 Jun 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay was floated out of floating drydock USS ABSD-6 and moored in Apra Harbor, Guam. |
| 10 Jun 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Apra Harbor, Guam bound for the Okinawa area. |
| 14 Jun 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived on station in the Okinawa area and began several days of air strikes against Miyako Jima. |
| 23 Jun 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed the Okinawa area bound for Ulithi. |
| 25 Jun 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived at Ulithi, Caroline Islands. |
| 3 Jul 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Ulithi, Caroline Islands as part of a replenishment group. |
| 12 Jul 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay and her replenishment group arrived on station 500 miles east of Honshu, Japan. |
| 17 Jul 1945 | During a single afternoon, escorts for carrier USS Steamer Bay's replenishment group exploded four separate Japanese floating mines and six more the next two days 850 miles east of Honshu, Japan. |
| 21 Jul 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay detached from her replenishment group and set a course for Guam. |
| 24 Jul 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay launched all flyable aircraft (30 planes) for transfer to Orote Field, Guam. Steamer Bay arrived at Apra Harbor, Guam later that same day where she unloaded all non-flyable aircraft (3 planes), all aviation fuel, and all aircraft parts and components. |
| 25 Jul 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Apra Harbor, Guam bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. |
| 3 Aug 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. |
| 4 Aug 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii bound for San Diego, California. |
| 10 Aug 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay arrived at San Diego, California. Composite Squadron VC-93 was detached from Steamer Bay. |
| 11 Aug 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay unloaded all ammunition and pyrotechnics at San Diego, California in preparation for overhaul. |
| 13 Aug 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay entered drydock No. 1 at San Diego Naval Repair Base, California. |
| 18 Aug 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay was floated out of drydock No. 1 and shifted to a repair pier at San Diego Naval Repair Base, California. Installation of 920 bunks on Steamer Bay's hangar deck was begun in preparation of Operation Magic Carpet to bring US troops back to the United States. |
| 28 Sep 1945 | Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed San Diego, California bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on the first of her Magic Carpet runs to bring US servicemen back to the United States. |
| 1 Jul 1946 | Steamer Bay was decommissioned and placed in reserves. |
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Event(s) Participated:» Philippines Campaign, Phase 2
» Battle of Iwo Jima
» Okinawa Campaign
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Famous WW2 Quote
"I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God, our forces stand again on Philippine soil."General Douglas MacArthur at Leyte, 17 Oct 1944
28 Nov 2023 05:57:07 AM
My Dad was on the Steamer Bay. I've requested info from the archives. He participated in the Asiatic Pacific campaign. Mom said he was in the Sea of Japan. One destroyer was sunk. Dad said his buddy got his head blown off right next to him. Dad was a signalman. Am looking for additional information. I remember Mom saying he was in the Aleutian Islands, the Philippines, one document says they were sent to the Panama Canal. He came home with jungle rot on his feet, damage to his shoulder and other issues. Very little was spoken about the war. I would like to know myself and to be able to tell my daughter and granddaughter.