USS Kalinin Bay
USS Kalinin Bay was an escort carrier commissioned in 1943 in Astoria, Oregon. In January 1944 she sailed for the Gilbert Islands on her first mission, carrying troops and planes to re-supply the forces there. While in the area she provided support for the battle of the Marshalls.
Her next mission was to sail to Saipan. While on the way she evaded an enemy torpedo that passed within close range of her bow. After arriving at her destination, she supported the invasion of Saipan with air operations, and then sailed to Guam for similar duties. She continued to provide air support for the landing operations on several Pacific Islands including the Battle of the Philippines. During one two-week stretch her planes flew almost 400 sorties and succeeded in destroying many enemy installations. Her pilots sank or destroyed three cargo ships and six landing barges.
The Kalinin Bay then joined Admiral Sprague’s “Taffy 3” force, which was made up of six escort carriers with three destroyers and four destroyer escorts. Taffy 3 struck and destroyed enemy positions on many islands in the area. On October 25, Admiral Sprague received a report that a large Japanese fleet was approaching. The enemy force of 24 ships advanced steadily and opened fire at 0658 on Taffy 3. This became known as the Battle off Samar. Even though the US vessels were heavily outnumbered and not as swift, they met the Japanese challenge. Kalinin Bay was able to launch her planes despite enemy fire and ordered the pilots to attack the Japanese force, then fly to nearby Leyte to acquire more fuel and arms. The planes were able to inflict serious damage on the approaching ships.
Because she was the trailing ship in the convoy, the Kalinin Bay took heavy fire from the enemy. During the battle she took 15 direct hits. She was only armed with one five-inch gun, which she used bravely. While taking hits of her own, she scored two hits on an enemy cruiser and forced it to withdraw. One shell destroyed all her communications and radar equipment when it passed through the flight deck. Later that day the Taffy 3 force endured the first Kamikaze attack of the war and all but one of the escort carriers were damaged. After an intense daylong battle the Japanese ships were finally turned away and the beachhead established by General MacArthur in the Philippines was preserved.
Kalinin Bay was given the Presidential Unit Citation for heroic conduct as part of the Taffy 3 force. She was also awarded five battle stars. For the remainder of the war, she served as replenishment ship throughout the Pacific until being decommissioned in 1946 and sold for scrap.
The Kalinin Bay performed gallantly in the Pacific campaigns, as did her crewmen. Sadly, the sailors faced a danger they were unaware of at the time. Their ship had been constructed with asbestos used as an insulator around many of its pipes and installations. We now know that workers exposed to asbestos are at risk for the development of lung and breathing problems including a type of cancer called mesothelioma. Sailors who have reason to believe they may have come in contact with asbestos while aboard the Kalinin or other vessel are urged to see a specialist to be evaluated.
