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NavSource Online: Escort Carrier Photo Archive

USS CHENANGO (ACV-28)

**(formerly AO-31 and AVG-28; later CVE-28 and CVHE-28)**

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Whiskey - Sierra - Delta

Unit Awards, Campaign and Service Medals and Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Navy Unit Commendation / American Defense Service Medal ("Fleet" clasp) [AO] / American Campaign Medal
2nd Row: European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (1 star) / Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (10 stars) / World War II Victory Medal
3rd Row: Navy Occupation Service Medal ("Asia" clasp) / Philippine Presidential Unit Citation / Philippine Liberation Medal

Ordered	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Stricken
*Sangamon Class Escort Carrier*
3 Jan 1938	10 Jul 1938	1 Apr 1939	20 Jun 1941 19 Sep 1942	16 Mar 1942 14 Aug 1946	1 Mar 1959
Builder: Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Chester, Pa.

Named for a river, county, and town in New York State. One US warship had previously borne the name.
Built under a Maritime Commission contract (hull number ?) as the civilian tanker Esso New Orleans.
Acquired by the Navy on 31 May 1941; classified as a "Fleet Oiler", designated AO-31 and renamed Chenango.
Designated for conversion to an "Aircraft Escort Vessel", was reclassified AVG-28 on 16 March 1942.
Converted to an aircraft carrier by Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Staten Island, New York.
Reclassified as an "Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier" and redesignated ACV-28, 20 August 1942.
Reclassified as an "Escort Carrier" and redesignated CVE-28, 15 July 1943.
Reclassified as an "Escort Helicopter Aircraft Carrier" and redesignated CVHE-28, 12 June 1955, while in reserve.
Fate: Sold; scrapped in Spain in 1962.

Specifications
(1942, as Converted)
Displacement (design): 11,400 tons standard; 24,275 tons full load
Dimensions (wl): 525' x 75' x 30' 7.5" (full load) / 160 x 22.9 x 9.3 meters
Dimensions (max.): 553' x 114' 3" / 168.6 x 34.8 meters
Armor: None
Power plant: 4 boilers (450 psi); 2 steam turbines; 2 shafts; 13,500 shp (design)
Speed: 18+ knots
Endurance: 23,920 nm @ 15 knots (with 4,780 tons of oil fuel)
Armament: 2 single 5"/51 gun mounts; 4 twin 40-mm/56-cal gun mounts; 12 single 20-mm/70-cal gun mounts
Aircraft: 25
Aviation facilities: 2 elevators; 1 hydraulic catapult
Crew: 830 (ship's company + air wing)

Click on Thumbnail for Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
SS Esso New Orleans
NS0302803	51k	SS *Esso New Orleans*.	Haze Gray & Underway
*USS Chenango* — World War II**
NS0302810	47k	USS *Chenango* (ACV-28) at anchor in early 1943, shortly after being deployed to the Pacific for the invasion of the Gilbert Islands. Note the pair of twin 40-mm tub-mounted guns right at the stern and, further forward and below the overhanging flight deck, one of the two 5"/51s (USN photo.)	Robert Hurst
NS0302805	468k	Aft plan view of USS *Chenango* (CVE-28) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 22 Sep 1943. US Navy photo # 6654-43.	Darryl Baker
NS0302806	468k	Forward plan view of USS *Chenango* (CVE-28) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 22 Sep 1943. US Navy photo # 6658-43.	Darryl Baker
NS0302807	579k	Stern view of USS *Chenango* (CVE-28) off Mare Island Navy Yard on 22 Sep 1943. US Navy photo # 6704-43.	Darryl Baker
NS0302808	609k	Broadside view of USS *Chenango* (CVE-28) off Mare Island Navy Yard on 22 Sep 1943. She was in overhaul at the yard from 21 Aug until 25 Sep 1943. US Navy photo # 6706-43.	Darryl Baker
NS0302809	520k	Bow on view of USS *Chenango* (CVE-28) off Mare Island Navy Yard on 22 Sep 1943. US Navy photo # 6708-43.	Darryl Baker
NS0302804	35k	USS *Chenango* (CVE-28) after a September 1943 Mare Island refit.	Haze Gray & Underway
Ex-USS Chenango
NS0302801	41k	In reserve, "Mothballs" at South Boston Naval Annex, 1959.	© Richard Leonhardt
NS0302802	91k	Todd Shipyard, New Jersey, September 1961. Just prior to being scrapped.	© Richard Leonhardt

View the USS Chenango (ACV-28 / CVE-28 / CVHE-28)
DANFS History entry located on the Hazegray & Underway Web Site.

Crew Contact and Reunion Information Web Sites

U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Crew Contact

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Related Links

Hazegray & Underway World Aircraft Carrier Pages By Andrew Toppan.
Official U.S. Navy Carrier Website
Escort Carrier Sailors & Airmen Association

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Last update: 1 April 2007