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NavSource Online: Escort Carrier Photo Archive

USS BLOCK ISLAND   (CVE-106)
(later LPH-1, CVE-106 and AKV-38)

CLASS - COMMENCEMENT BAY
Displacement 11,3730 Tons, Dimensions, 557' 7" (oa) x 75' x 30' 8" (Max)
Armament 2 x 5"/38AA 36 x 40mm, 20 x 20mm, 33 Aircraft.
Machinery, 16,000 SHP; Allis-Chambers, Geared Turbines, 2 screw
Speed, 19 Knots, Crew 1066.
Operational and Building Data

Built by Todd Pacific, Tacoma, Wash. Initially named Sunset Bay. Keel laid 25 Oct 1943, launched 10 Jun 1944; commissioned 30 Dec 1944. Placed in service, in reserve, 28 May 1946.

Recommissioned as an ASW carrier, 28 Apr 1951. Decommissioned 27 Aug 1954. Reclassified as an "Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter)" and redesignated LPH-1, 22 Dec 1957, but conversion cancelled in Jun 1958. Reverted to original CVE designation, 17 Feb 1959. Reclassified as a "Cargo Ship and Aircraft Ferry" (AKV-38), 7 May 1959. Stricken from the Navy list 1 Jul 1959 and scrapped.

Click On Image
For Full Size Image		 Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
CVE-106 Block Island
NS0310606		 41k

USS Block Island (CVE-106), location and date unknown (appears to be early in her career). Camouflaged in Measure 33, Design 18A.

 Hazegray & Underway, via Gerd Matthes
CVE-106 Block Island
NS0310604		 133k

BuAer photo of USS Block Island (CVE-106), taken on 13 January 1945 off the north end of Vashon Island, Washington. Taken at an altitude of 500 feet. Speed of CVE-106 was listed as 8 knots. Photo #Stl 1728-1-45.

 David Buell
CVE-106 Block Island
NS0406234		 545k

USS Birmingham (CL-62), maneuvering alongside USS Block Island (CVE-106), 30 January 1945. Taken by LT(JG) Hoffman from an airship of ZP-31. USN photo.

 David Buell
CVE-106 Block Island
NS0310602		 35k Date and place unknown. Tom Sparkman
CVE-106 Block Island
NS0310603		 126k USS Block Island (CVE-106), April 30, 1945, somewhere in the Pacific. Official US Navy photograph. Robert M. Cieri
CVE-106 Block Island
NS0310605		 195k

Recovery of Ensign E.H. Barry, pilot of a Grumman AF-2 Guardian from anti-submarine squadron VS-22, by a Piasecki HUP-1 Retriever helicopter after the plane was forced to ditch immediately after launching on 12 August 1953. The parent escort carrier USS Block Island (CVE-106) is standing by in the background.

NS0310605: Photo USN. Source U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation, photo No. 1996.488.035.009.

NS0310605a: Photo USN. Source Naval Aviation News, October 1953 issue.

 Pieter Bakels
Mike Green
Robert Hurst
CVE-106 Block Island
NS0310605a		 128k Robert Hurst
Gerd Matthes, Germany
CVE-106 Block Island
NS0310601		 53k Block Island was the first ship designated as a helicopter-assault ship, or LPH. Conversion work began in January 1958, but was cancelled six months later. USN
USS BLOCK ISLAND CVE-106 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The Hazegray & Underway Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)
Crew Contact and Reunion Information
Date:  
Place:  
Contact: Bill MacInnes
Address: 6650 Richard St.,
San Diego, CA 92115
Phone: 619- 460- 3568
E-mail: wmacinnes@aol.com
Web site:  
Remarks:  
Additional Resources
 Hazegray & Underway World Aircraft Carrier Pages By Andrew Toppan.
USS Block Island Association
Official U.S. Navy Carrier Website
Escort Carrier Sailors & Airmen Association
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This page was created by Paul Yarnall and is maintained by Fabio Peña
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Last update: 17 April 2013