USS Barnes (CVE-20)

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USS Barnes transporting P-38s and P-47s, 1943
History
United States
Name	USS Barnes
Namesake	Barnes Sound, Florida
Builder	Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding
Laid down	19 January 1942
Launched	2 May 1942
Commissioned	20 February 1943
Decommissioned	29 August 1946
Identification	CVE-20
Fate	Sold for scrap, 1 March 1959
General characteristics
Class and type	Bogue-class escort carrier
Displacement	7,800 tons
Length	495.66 ft (151.08 m)
Beam	111.5 ft (34.0 m)
Draft	26 ft (7.9 m)
Speed	17.6 kn (32.6 km/h; 20.3 mph)
Complement	890
Armament	2 × 4"/50, 5"/38 or 5"/51 guns
Aircraft carried	24

USS Barnes (AVG-20/ACV-20/CVE-20) was a Bogue-class escort carrier in the United States Navy. She was the second ship to carry the name.

Barnes was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract and was transferred to the United States Navy on 1 May 1942. The ship was launched on 22 May 1942 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding, Tacoma, Washington, sponsored by Mrs. G. L. Hutchinson, the widow of Lieutenant Hutchinson. Barnes was commissioned on 20 February 1943 with Captain Cato Douglas Glover in command. Originally classified AVG-20, she was reclassified ACV-20 on 20 August 1942, CVE-20 on 15 July 1943, and CVHE-20 on 12 June 1955.

The major task of Barnes throughout World War II was the transporting of aircraft and personnel from the United States to the forward areas of the Pacific. In addition she served as a combat, training and pilot qualifying carrier.

While performing these duties she launched her planes on several raids against Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands operation from 20 November–5 December 1943, and provided invaluable aircraft replenishment to the various task groups of the 3rd Fleet during the western Caroline Islands operation from 6 September–14 October 1944, and the Luzon attacks on 19 October 1944.

After Japan's surrender, Barnes remained in the Far East on occupation duty until 3 November 1945. Returning to the United States in March 1946, Barnes remained on the West Coast for a period of time and then steamed to Boston, Massachusetts, where she was placed out of commission in reserve on 29 August 1946. Redesignated as a helicopter escort carrier (CVHE-20) on 12 June 1955, she was stricken for disposal on 1 March 1959.

Barnes was awarded three battle stars for her service during World War II.

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.