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USS Sicily CVE-118

The USS Sicily, not surprisingly, was named after the Italian island of Sicily, in all likelihood due to the fact that it was the site of a major invasion during World War II around the time the Sicily was under construction. She was launched the following year under the name of Sandy Bay, renamed a few months later, and finally commissioned in 1946. Sicily was 557 feet long and could obtain 19 knots per hour. Her complement was 1176 officers and enlisted men and her armament was comprised of (2) 5 inch guns, (36) 40 mm guns, and (18) 20 mm guns. Sicily's service in Korea earned her a total of five battle stars for service.

A Slow Start

Sicily's shakedown training took place in San Diego, California; after only a month, she was called upon to sail via the Norfolk Naval Base-through the Panama Canal-to the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York. She waited there for a couple of months, until given orders to sail to Newfoundland for the purpose of cold weather training. That accomplished, USS Sicily spent the rest of the year and the first three months of 1950 making Norfolk her home base and conducting maneuvers as part of the Atlantic Fleet. Again, Sicily was moved; she reported to duty once more in San Diego and was reassigned to operations with the Pacific Fleet.

The plan was for the USS Sicily to spend her summer conducting exercises in antisubmarine warfare with other vessels of the fleet, but the North Korean invasion of South Korea pre-empted this schedule. Dispatched immediately, she set sail to Korea as the designated flagship of Carrier Division 15.

Seeing Action

In her first deployment, Sicily's participation including the air strike launching of VMF-214 aircraft and providing anti-submarine air coverage. She was also responsible for maintaining the ground operations at Pohang and at the Inchon landing by embarking Marine Corps aircraft to support combat forces. In addition, Sicily's planes were paramount in the defense of the Pusan Perimeter. The USS Sicily proved a formidable presence in the advance to Seoul, as well as in the mission to withdraw US Marines from the Chosin Reservoir. Her mission was altered to that of anti-submarine operations for a few weeks, but she was returned to operating Marine planes in response to the Chinese offensive. Those tasks completed, she traveled back to San Diego in 1951.

Again joining forces with the rest of the 7th Fleet later that same year, Sicily incessantly traversed Korea's east and west coasts. She supported all Allied military forces in whatever was required. Her final trip to Korea was for 9 months of the following year, when her tour of duty was based on serving the United Nations Escort and Blockading Force. That particular deployment found the USS Sicily trialing Marine helicopters, with sea-based vertical envelopment techniques.

After that project, USS Sicily was sent back to the Far East for another year, after which she was placed in reserve with the Pacific Reserve Fleet, and then reclassified as an aircraft transport. After being decommissioned in 1960, she was sold to Nicolai Joffe Corporation for scrap.

Although smaller than many of the day's battleships and with less armament and fewer sailors aboard, the USS Sicily proved that she was top-notch. She handled every task with equally good proficiency, and her crew was obviously well trained and reliable. Sicily was not one of the big ships that received a lot of publicity, but she still received recognition where it mattered the most, and that was by her country in a job well done. Even though there is little information regarding details of the USS Sicily's onboard incidents, it does not appear that any significant accidents or fatalities were occurred as a result of mishaps or fires. This, in itself is noteworthy, since almost all vessels of her caliber were host to at least a few such accidents during their 20-40 year careers. Actual fires were feared almost as much as enemy fire, since the risk of a fire spreading throughout the close quarters, with limited resources and lack of escape routes, could mean a death sentence for all aboard. Plus, there was constant fire and heat generation throughout any warship, since it needed high-temperature propulsion, continuous internal electrical systems and the maintenance of living quarters for over a thousand individuals. This meant a constant threat of ignition, combustion and fire spreading-not to mention the deck where aircraft could be responsible for spilled fuel. To respond to the need for the best insulation and retardant materials, shipbuilders of the twentieth century often added asbestos in the construction process. It was widely accepted for its protection against fire, heat and flame, and its ability to be shaped and molded into tiny and awkward spaces was ideal for ships. However, if any asbestos fibers (too small to be visible to the naked eye) escaped from their sealants due to wearing or damage, they would have entered the general air circulation. Sailors who may have inhaled the fibers would only now be experiencing physical symptoms that may mean disease. Therefore, anyone who served aboard the USS Sicily should see a doctor immediately if they begin experiencing unusual physical symptoms, and contact us for information regarding asbestos exposure.

If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on the USS Sicily, or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, Asbestos.com offers a free packet with more information. Enter your contact information in the form in the right column and we'll send a copy immediately.

Aircraft Carriers Index

USS America USS Antietam CV 36 K USS Antietam CV 36 USS Badoeng Strait CVE 116 USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Belleau wood CVL 24 USS Bennington CV 20 USS Bon Homme Richard CVa USS Boxer CV USS Bunker CV USS Cabot CVL 28 USS Constellation CV USS Coral Sea CV USS Corregidor CVE 58 USS Sable ix USS San jacinto CVL USS Saratoga CV USS Saratoga CV3 USS Shangri La

USS Cowpens CVL 25 USS Enterprise CV 6 USS Enterprise CVN USS Essex CV 9 USS Forrestal CV USS Franklin CV 13 USS Hancock CV 19 USS Hornet CV 12 USS Hornet CV 8 USS Independence C1 USS Independence CVL 22 USS Intrepid CV 11 USS Kearsage CV 33 USS Kearsage CV USS Kitty Hawk USS Sicily CVe USS Sitkoh bay USS Tarawa CV USS Ticonderoga CV USS Valley forge CV

USS Lake Champlain CV 39 USS Langley CV 1 USS Langley CVL 27 USS Lexington CV 16 USS Lexington CV 2 USS Leyte CV 32 USS Midway CV USS Oriskany CV USS Phillipine Sea CV USS Point cruz CVE USS Princeton CV USS Princeton CVL USS Randolph CV USS Ranger CV USS Rendova USS Wasp CV 18 USS Wasp CV 7 USS Wolverine IX 64 USS Yorktown CV 10 USS Yorktown CV 5

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