>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” (1969) Vol. 2,

p.44. 





CASABLANCA



ACV-55

Displacement:  7,800 t.

Length:  512’3”

Beam:  65’2”

Extreme Width:  108’1”

Draft:  22’6”

Speed:  20 k.

Complement:  860

Armament:  1 5”



	CASABLANCA has borne three names and three type 

designators.  Originally assigned the name AMEER and the 

designator AVG, she became ACV-55 on 20 August 1942, and was 

renamed ALAZON BAY on 23 January 1943.  She became 

CASABLANCA 3 April 1943, and CVE-55 on 15 July 1943.  

CASABLANCA was launched 5 April 1943 by Kaiser Shipbuilding 

Co., Vancouver, Wash., under a Maritime Commission contract; 

sponsored by Mrs. F. D. Roosevelt, acquired by the Navy 8 

July 1943; commissioned the same day, Commander W. W. 

Gallaway in command; and reported to the Pacific Fleet.



	CASABLANCA operated in the Straits of Juan de Fuca as a 

training ship for escort carrier crews from the time of her 

commissioning through August 1944.  On 24 August, she 

cleared San Francisco carrying men, airplanes, and aviation 

gasoline to Manus, great base for western Pacific 

operations.  Returning to Seattle 8 October, she resumed her 

training operations in Puget Sound until 22 January 1945, 

when she began a repair period at San Diego.



	Putting to sea 13 March, CASABLANCA called at Pearl 

Harbor, then delivered passengers and aircraft brought from 

the west coast at Guam.  Acting as transport for passengers, 

aircraft and aviation gasoline, she operated between Samar, 

Manus and Palau until 12 May, when she put back for a west 

coast overhaul.  She returned with passengers to Pearl 

Harbor 24 June, and through the summer transported sailors 

from the west coast to Pearl Harbor and Guam.  After brief 

employment in carrier qualification training off Saipan in 

August, she carried homeward bound servicemen to San 

Francisco, arriving 24 September.  Continuing to aid in the 

redeployment of Pacific forces, CASABLANCA carried 

passengers on a voyage from the west coast to Pearl Harbor 

in September and October, and in November, made a passage to 

Pearl Harbor, Espiritu Santo, and Noumea to embark more 

passengers.  Her last voyage on this duty, from 8 December 

to 16 January 1946, was from San Francisco to Yokohama.  

CASABLANCA cleared San Francisco 23 January for Norfolk, VA 

arriving 10 February.  There she was decommissioned 10 June 

1946, and sold 23 April 1947.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com