The USS Ommaney Bay (CVE–79) was a Casablanca-class escort carrier of the United States Navy, launched in late 1943 and commissioned in February 1944. Measuring approximately 512 feet in length, with a beam of 65 feet 2 inches and a draft of 20 feet 9 inches, she displaced around 8,188 long tons standard and up to 10,902 long tons at full load. Built by Kaiser Shipbuilding Company in Vancouver, Washington, her design prioritized mass production through prefabricated sections to replace wartime losses efficiently. Her propulsion system consisted of two Uniflow reciprocating steam engines generating 9,000 horsepower, allowing her to reach a top speed of 19 knots and a cruising range of over 10,000 nautical miles. The ship's flight deck was 477 feet long, with a hangar deck 257 feet long, equipped with two aircraft elevators, and a single aircraft catapult at her bow. Her armament included one 5-inch/38-caliber dual-purpose gun at the stern, supplemented by 16 Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft guns in twin mounts and 12 Oerlikon 20mm cannons, later increased to 30 for enhanced defense against kamikaze attacks. She typically carried around 27 aircraft, including FM-2 fighters and TBM torpedo bombers, with variations depending on operational needs. USS Ommaney Bay participated in critical Pacific campaigns, including the Mariana and Palau Islands, Leyte Gulf, and Mindoro, providing air cover and support for amphibious assaults. During the Battle of Leyte Gulf, her aircraft played a significant role in attacking Japanese cruisers, including damaging the Mogami. She was present during the devastating explosion of the ammunition ship Mount Hood at Seeadler Harbor and was actively engaged in defending against kamikaze attacks, notably on December 15, 1944, when she was hit, causing fires and damage that led to her being abandoned. On January 4, 1945, during transit in the Sulu Sea, Ommaney Bay was struck by a kamikaze pilot who successfully penetrated her defenses, crashing into the flight deck. The attack ignited explosions among her aircraft and ammunition, resulting in catastrophic fires. Despite efforts to save her, the ship was scuttled by a torpedo from the destroyer USS Burns, with the loss of 95 crew members. Her wreck was located in 2023 in the Sulu Sea by Australian divers, confirming her final resting place and significance in WWII naval history.

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