USS Breton (CVE-23)
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| Career | Missing image USN-Jack.png United States Navy Jack |
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| Laid down: | 25 February 1942 |
| Launched: | 27 June 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 12 April 1943 |
| Decommissioned: | 20 August 1946 |
| Fate: | sold for scrap, 1972 |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 7,800 tons |
| Length: | 495.66 ft |
| Beam: | 111.5 ft |
| Draft: | 26 ft |
| Speed: | 17.6 knots |
| Complement: | 1,205 officers and men |
| Armament: | 2 x 5-inch guns |
| Aircraft: | 24 |
The USS Breton (CVE-23) (previously AVG-23 then ACV-23) was an escort aircraft carrier launched 27 June 1942 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. A. H. Rooks, widow of Captain Rooks; and commissioned 12 April 1943, Captain E. C. Ewen in command.
Throughout her World War II service Breton operated with the Carrier Transport Squadron, Pacific Fleet. Her sailings carried her throughout the Pacific supplying men, materiel, and aircraft to units of the fleet engaged in making strikes on the enemy. While engaged in these duties Breton took part in the capture and occupation of Saipan (11 June-10 August 1944); the Battle of the Philippine Sea (19-20 June); the 2nd Bonins raid (24 June); and the assault and occupation of Okinawa (6-7 April 1945).
Upon her return to the west coast in January 1946 after serving as a unit of the Far Eastern occupation forces, Breton prepared for inactivation at Tacoma, Wash., and went out of commission in reserve there 30 August 1946. She was reclassified CVHE-23 on 12 June 1955. On 1 July 1958, she was redesignated as a utility carrier (CVU-23) and then again on 7 May 1959 as an aviation transport (T-AKV-42). Breton was put out of service in 1971 and stricken for disposal 6 August 1972 and subsequently sold for scrap.
Breton received four battle stars for her World War II service.
| Bogue-class escort carrier |
| Royal Navy |
| Battler | Attacker | Hunter | Chaser | Fencer | Stalker | Pursuer | Striker | Searcher | Ravager | Tracker | Slinger | Atheling | Emperor | Ameer | Begum | Trumpeter | Empress | Khedive | Speaker | Nabob | Premier | Shaha | Patroller | Rajah | Ranee | Trouncer | Thane | Queen | Ruler | Arbiter | Smiter | Puncher | Reaper |
| United States Navy |
| Bogue | Card | Copahee | Core | Nassau | Altamaha | Barnes | Block Island | Breton | Croatan | Prince William |
| List of escort aircraft carriers of the United States Navy |
| List of escort aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy |