USS St. Lo (CVE-63)

USS St. Lo (CVE-63)

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struttingly The subject of my second column was a little personal. My wife’s uncle lowered himself into the Philippine Sea hand-over-hand on a line from the bow after “abandon ship” was announced. It was the second time during the war that Petty Officer Ashley Cherry had a ship sunk from under him. The first was at Pearl Harbor’s berth F-12 on 7 December 1941 aboard Raleigh (CL-7).

Mubārakpur This is the link to the column: https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2016/june/historic-ships-very-short-life

The little CVE should be remembered. She was lost at the Battle of Off Samar on 25 October 1944, the first major victim of a Japanese kamikaze plane during the first organized suicide mission. Few know of the destruction of St. Lo because her loss was overshadowed by that of her sister, Gambier Bay (CVE-73). She was lost the same day to Japanese cruisers, becoming the sole U.S. carrier sunk by enemy surface ships.

Within two minutes of being struck by the kamikaze, a major explosion blew St. Lo‘s after elevator skyward and destroyed much of the after section of the ship’s flight deck. (U.S. Naval Institute)

The Action Report of St. Lo‘s loss at the Battle Off Samar.

Profile of sister ship Thetis Bay (CVE-90). [HNSA]
Island of sister ship Thetis Bay (CVE-90). [HNSA]
A detail drawing of a CVE’s island. [ (c) J. M. Caiella ]
Sections of sister ship Thetis Bay (CVE-90). [HNSA]
A detail drawing of a CVE’s funnel. [ (c) J. M. Caiella ]
St. Lo (CVE-63) as she appeared at the time of her sinkiing. Measure 32, Design 15A camouflage. [ [ (c) J. M. Caiella ]
Starboard side drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for aircraft carriers of the CVE-55 Casablanca class. [NHHC 80-G-170033]
Port side drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for aircraft carriers of the CVE-55 Casablanca class. [NHHC 80-G-170034]
The Measure 32 colors were 5-P Pale Gray, 5-L Light Gray, 5-O Ocean Gray, and BK Dull Black. The decks were 20-B Deck Blue. [ (c) J. M. Caiella ]
This is a generic photograph of the stern mounted 5 inch/38-caliber dual-purpose mount common to most CVEs including St. Lo. [U.S. Naval Institute]
Aircraft assigned to the St. Lo. [St. Lo Association]

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