The USS Liscome Bay (ACV/CVE-56) was a Casablanca-class escort carrier constructed during World War II, notable for being the most numerous type of aircraft carrier ever built. Laid down on December 12, 1942, by Kaiser Shipbuilding in Vancouver, Washington, she was launched on April 19, 1943, and commissioned on August 7, 1943. The ship measured approximately 512 feet 3 inches (156.13 meters) in length overall, with a beam of 65 feet 2 inches (19.86 meters) and a draft of 20 feet 9 inches (6.32 meters). Displacing 8,188 long tons (8,319 metric tons) standard and up to 10,902 long tons (11,077 metric tons) fully loaded, she was powered by two Uniflow reciprocating steam engines generating 9,000 horsepower, enabling a top speed of 19 knots. Her range was an impressive 10,240 nautical miles at 15 knots. Her design was optimized for mass production, utilizing prefabricated sections, with a 257-foot hangar deck and a 477-foot flight deck. She was equipped with a single 5-inch/38 caliber dual-purpose gun at the stern, along with anti-aircraft defenses comprising eight Bofors 40mm guns and 12 Oerlikon 20mm cannons, arranged around her perimeter. Although designed to carry 27 aircraft, her hangar deck could accommodate more; during her combat deployment, she carried 28 aircraft, including FM-1 and F4F-4 fighters, as well as TBM-1 torpedo bombers. USS Liscome Bay served as the flagship of Carrier Division 24 and participated in Operation Kourbash supporting the invasion of Makin in the Gilbert Islands in November 1943. Her aircraft provided crucial close air support, bombing Japanese positions and supporting ground operations. Tragically, on November 24, 1943, she was struck by a torpedo fired by Japanese submarine I-175 while maneuvering in formation. The explosion caused a catastrophic detonation of her munitions, shearing off the stern and engulfing the ship in flames. She sank within 23 minutes, resulting in the loss of 702 officers and sailors, including Doris Miller, the first black recipient of the Navy Cross. Her sinking remains the deadliest carrier loss in U.S. Navy history. The ship's sacrifice marked a significant, albeit tragic, chapter in naval warfare during World War II.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.