page 8 & 9, December 23, 1943

U.S.S. LISCOME BAY . . . . Killed in Action

STILL shrouded in naval secrecy are details of the last hours of the USS "Liscome Bay." "Killed in action" in the Gilbert Islands invasion on November 24. This much is known. It was in the dark hours before dawn when her planes were warming up to take off on a scouting mission that a Jap torpedo - perhaps several - struck her aft of the machinery space. Then followed other explosions - a terrific blast of the bomb storage quarters which blew an elevator loose and caused a large fire. Other explosions followed as the fire reached ammunition storage. With her hangar decks ablaze, the fantail gone, and a portion of the after starboard side blown away, the once mighty carrier turned in the water and sank by, the stern.

So violent were the blasts that hundreds of the carrier's personnel were trapped below decks and killed as they attempted to escape. In an outstanding act of heroism, Lieut. Commander Bizz Carroll, damage control officer, led at least a dozen men to safety, although he himself was mortally wounded. Among the dead were the carrier's skipper, Capt. Irving D. Wiltsie and Rear Admiral Henry M. Mullinix aboard the ship as a task force commander.

Just over a year ago on December 9, 1943, the keel was laid for this carrier - Vancouver's second. She was launched on April 19 as the HMS "Ameer" and was intended to become a part of the British fleet. Her sponsor was Mrs. Benjamin Morrell, wife of Admiral Morrell, chief of the Bureau of Stocks and Yards. Before delivery, however, the "Ameer" was turned over to the U. S. Navy and her name changed to the USS "Liscome Bay."

Supported by the "Liscome Bay" and other flat tops, marines were able to take Tarawa in the face of overwhelming odds. Here wounded are being moved by rubber rafts to be taken aboard ships and removed to hospitals. Americans lost 1,026 dead, 2,577 wounded in this action.

Said Rear Admiral E. L. Cochran, chief of the Bureau of Ships, in a wire addressed to the men and women of K.C.I. Vancouver, "The recent loss of the Kaiser-built escort carrier, USS 'Liscome Bay,' in the American conquest of the Gilberts emphasizes the important dual role your 'baby flat tops' are called upon to play on combat and convoy operations. As in this action, your carriers are needed

to support our invasion on enemy strongholds. No less vital, they must help safeguard our convoys delivering vast cargoes of men and equipment to the furthermost corners of the earth. The `Liscome Bay' must be speedily replaced. Her sinking is a challenge to every one of you to exert your utmost efforts so that new; Kaiser flat tops may take up the fight; and carry on to victory."

PRODUCTION DRIVE CUTS MAN HOURS

VANCOUVER'S original drive to build "18 or More by '44" has surged past all expectations. A total of 19 ships by the end of the year is now definitely in the bag and ambitious predictions are being made for January.

Greatest net gain of Vancouver's production spurt is the steady decrease in man hour cost per carrier. The direct man hour cost, that is actual time spent in construction, is now less than half what it was on the first carrier. This trend is continuing rapidly downward as the production drive continues.

Much of the responsibility for the steady decline in production time can be attributed to competition between crews and departments. When one way crew announced it had set a forepeak in 25 minutes, another crew promptly set one in 10 minutes. The average tonnage gain in production on the ways is now 150 per cent. The drive has caused a greater interest in "staying on the job." One 13 man welding crew, worked a straight 46 days without a single absentee.

Firmly entrenched on Tarawa, Jap defenders mowed down marines who were attacking. Here a marine (left) is throwing a hand grenade to wipe out one of the numerous Jap pill boxes.

Americans landing at Tarawa Found the Japs heavily fortified. These Vickers 5.5 and 8.8 inch gun were brought to Tarawa from Singapore after the latter fell early in the war.

Sponsor of the SS "Hogatt Bay," Vancouver's 21st carrier, was Mrs. Esther Irene Sundvik, shown here with her husband, a Vancouver shipwright. Maids of honor were Marguerite Cutshall, marine engineering department clerk, and Dolores O'Mara, assistant Maritime Commission clerk.

At the first nighttime launching since November 16, 1942, the USS "Kadashan Bay" was launched shortly after midnight on December 11. Sponsor was Miss Audrey Ackerman, swing shift pickup truck driver in the hull materials department, shown above being congratulated by Edgar F. Kaiser, general manager.