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Steamer Bay
A bay off Alaska.
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
(CVE-87: dp. 9,570; l. 512'3"; b. 65'2"; ew. 108'1"; dr. 20'; s. 19.3 k.; cpl. 860; a. 1
5", 16 40mm.; cl. Casablanca)
Steamer Bay (CVE-87), ex-MC hull 1124, was laid down on 4 December 1943 at
Vancouver, Wash., by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 26 February 1944;
sponsored by Mrs. Henry S. Kendall; and commissioned on 4 April 1944, Capt. Steadman
Teller in command.
Steamer Bay held sea trials in Puget Sound and sailed for San Diego on 2 May. On
the 14th, she headed for the New Hebrides, carrying the men and aircraft of Marine
Air Group (MAG) 61. She arrived at Espiritu Santo on the 30th, unloaded, and
began her return voyage to San Diego on 2 June. The carrier was on the west coast
from 20 June to 19 July when she again steamed west, with 298 marines and 72
aircraft, bound for the Marshall Islands.
Steamer Bay arrived at Majuro on 1 August to discharge her cargo and passengers. She
was routed back to Pearl Harbor and attached to the 3d Fleet as a carrier of replacement
aircraft. Seventy-two planes were loaded on board; and the ship steamed for Seeadler
Harbor, Manus Island, on 21 August. During the next two and one-half months, the
carrier supplied replacement aircraft and pilots to Task Force (TF) 38 which was
supporting the operations in the Palau and Philippine Islands. She spent the period from
15 November to 5 December at Pearl Harbor undergoing repairs and training. The
ship returned to Seeadler Harbor on 17 December 1944 and was assigned to Task
Group (TG) 77.4, the San Fabian Carrier Group, which sor-tied on 1 January 1945.
The group (Taffey 2), consisting of six escort carriers under the command of Rear
Admiral F. B. Stump, supported the Lingayen landings. While steaming through the
Sulu and South China seas toward the Lingayen beaches, during the first week of
January 1945, the group was the target of numerous enemy air attacks. Of the six
carriers, Ommaney Bay (CVE-79) was sunk on 4 January by a kamikaze plane; and

Manila Bay (CVE-6) and Saw Island (CVE-78) were damaged the next day.
During the landings, the CVE's launched over 1,400 aircraft sorties in support of
ground forces. Steamer Bay remained in the Philippine Islands with the 7th Fleet until
she got underway on 31 January for Ulithi.
Steamer Bay anchored there from 5 to 10 February when she departed with units of the
5th Fleet for the invasion of Iwo Jima. She was with four other escort carriers which
arrived at their assigned area of operations, 50 miles west of Iwo Jima, on 16
February. Their mission was to neutralize Japanese bases in the Nanpo Shoto until 19
February (D-Day) and then provide air cover and direct support for the marines
during the landings and the struggle for the strategic island.
Steamer Bay was relieved on 7 March and arrived at San Pedro Bay, Leyte, on the
12th. She sailed for the Eyukyus on 27 March and arrived in the operating area south of
Okinawa on the morning of 1 April. She remained off Okinawa until 26 May when she
sailed to Apra Harbor, Guam, for repairs. On 10 June, the carrier was ordered to join
the 3d Fleet east of Miyako Jima and assist in neutralizing Japanese airfields in
Sakishima Gunto. She conducted air strikes against the fields from 14 to 22 June
when she sailed for Ulithi.
Steamer Bay stood out of Ulithi, on 3 July, with the Logistics Support Group
resupplying the fast carrier forces during operations against the Japanese mainland. On
the 20th, she was detached and sailed, via Guam and Pearl Harbor, for the west
coast, arriving at San Diego on 10 August.
Steamer Bay was in drydock when hostilities with Japan ended, and she was given
additional bunks to accommodate veterans returning from overseas. She sailed for Pearl
Harbor, on 28 September, on her first “Magic Carpet” assignment.
Steamer Bay was assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet on 4 February 1946 and
berthed at Tacoma, Wash. In January 1947, she was placed in reserve, out of
commission. Her designation was changed from CVE-87 to CVHE-87 on 12 June
1955. The carrier was struck from the Navy list on 1 March 1959 and sold to Hyman-
Michaels Co., Chicago, Ill., on 29 August 1959 for scrap.
Steamer Bay received six battle stars for World War II service.