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Uss Bismarck Sea (Cve-95) | colspan="2"| | | tyle="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy no-repeat scroll top left;"|Career | style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy no-repeat scroll top left;"|USN Jack | | rdered: | | | aid down: | | | aunched: | | | ommissioned: | | | ecommissioned: | | | ate: | | | truck: | | | olspan="2" align="center" style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy no-repeat scroll top left;"|General Characteristics | | isplacement: | | | ength: | | | eam: | | | raught: | | | ropulsion: | | | peed: | | | ange: | | | omplement: | | | rmament: | | | ircraft: | | | otto: | USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95) was launched 17 April 1944 by Kaiser Co., Inc., Vancouver, Wash., under a Maritime Commission contract as Alikula Bay; sponsored by Mrs. M. C. Wallgren, wife of Senator Wallgren; renamed Bismarck Sea 16 May 1944; transferred to the Navy 20 May 1944; and commissioned the same day, Captain J. L. Pratt in command. During July and August 1944 Bismarck Sea escorted convoys between San Diego, Calif., and the Marshall Islands. After repairs and additional training at San Diego, she steamed to Ulithi, Caroline Islands, to join the 7th Fleet. During 14-23 November 1944 she operated off Leyte in support of the operations and later took part in the Lingayen Gulf landings (9-18 January 1945). On 16 February she arrived off Iwo Jima to support the invasion. On 21 February 1945 despite damaging gunfire two Japanese suicide planes hit and started uncontrollable fires and set off ammunition. She sank with the loss of 318 men. According to the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, the destroyer escort USS Edmonds (DE-406) directed the rescue operations of the remaining hands, saving 378 of the carrier's crew including the commanding officer, in spite of darkness, heavy seas and continuing air attacks. Thirty of Edmond's own crew went over the side to bring the wounded and exhausted carrier men to safety. Bismarck Sea received three battle stars for her World War II operations. See also, List of U.S. Navy ships losses in World War II Bismarck Sea
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