U.S.S. Prince William
CVE-31
1943
(Neptun 1322)
- Class: Prince William - 1 escort carrier of 1943
- Displacement: 9,800 tons
- Dimensions: 465(wl) 495.75(oa) x 69.5 (111.5 max) x 23.25 ft.
- Machinery: 1-shaft geared turbines, S.H.P. 8,500 = 18 knots
- Armament: 2-5in/38 (2x1), 20-40mm (10x2) A.A. guns
- Aircraft: 21
- Complement: 890
- Builder: Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding, Tacoma WA
- Keel Laid: 18 May 1942
- Launched: 23 Aug 1942
- Commissioned: 9 Apr 1943
- Decommissioned: 29 Aug 1946
- Action: One of two dozen escort carriers, the other 23 all going to Great Britain as the Ameer class. Very similar to the Bogue class, however they were laid down as escort carriers rather than being converted from existing hulls. Prince William was the only one retained by the US Navy. Operated as a transport in the Pacific until mid-1944, whence she took up training and transport duties in the Atlantic. Returned to the Pacific in Jun 1945. Placed in reserve postwar, she was redesignated CVHE-31 in 1955, but never reactivated. Stricken in 1959 and broken up in 1961.
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