USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24)

USS Belleau Wood was a Independence-class aircraft carrier, operated by the United States Navy. She carried the pennant number CVL-24. She was named for Battle of Belleau Wood. Her keel was laid at New York Shipbuilding Corporation on 11 August 1941. Launched on 6 December 1942, she entered service on 31 March 1943.

20 ships of the class were built. The Saipan-class aircraft carrier followed.

Displacement was 14,751 long tons. She measured 189.6 m (622 ft) long with a beam of 21.6 m (71 ft). Her designed speed was 31.6 knots, and she carried a complement of 1,569. Her main battery was of 40 mm (1.6 in) calibre.

She carried twelve aircraft. Her machinery developed 100,000 shp.

She served with the United States Navy as Belleau Wood until 13 January 1947. She then passed to the Marine Nationale, serving as Bois Belleau from 23 December 1953. She was in commission for 889 days of the Second World War. She was decommissioned on 13 January 1947. She was struck from the register on 1 October 1960.

She was transferred in September 1960.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.