The deadliest sinking of a carrier in United States Navy history

Countries & Cities · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1943, a single torpedo strike on the USS Liscome Bay triggered a catastrophe so violent it sent shrapnel flying 5,000 yards. While the ship was a vital cog in the Pacific island-hopping campaign, its sudden destruction remains a haunting study in maritime vulnerability.

The USS Liscome Bay was a Casablanca-class escort carrier, a vessel designed for mass production to support the 'island-hopping' campaigns of World War II. Built using welded prefabricated sections, these ships were produced at unprecedented speeds; the final ship of the class was delivered just 101 days after its keel was laid. Despite their compact size, they were essential for ferrying aircraft and providing close air support. The Liscome Bay specifically served as the flagship for Carrier Division 24 during the invasion of Makin in the Gilbert Islands.

The tragedy occurred on November 24, 1943, off Makin Island. During the task group's circular movement, the Japanese I-175 submarine launched a minimum of three Type 95 torpedoes. Because the ships were not zig-zagging—as collisions were considered a greater risk than submarine attacks—the Liscome Bay was positioned dead center and presented its side to the threat. A torpedo struck behind the aft engine room, detonating the bomb magazine and creating a mushroom cloud that rose thousands of feet into the air.

The carrier's stern was almost completely severed by the massive blast, resulting in the deaths of all personnel located past the aft engine room's front bulkhead. The ship sank in just 23 minutes. Of the 916 crew members on board, 644 went down with the vessel, resulting in 702 total fatalities. Among the lost was Doris Miller, who became the first Black recipient of the Navy Cross. The scale of the loss was so significant that U.S. casualties from the assault on Makin exceeded the strength of the entire Japanese garrison.

The Liscome Bay's role in the operation was significant; its aircraft helped secure the islands, with the carrier task group conducting 2,278 sorties in total. Today, the ship is remembered through memorials, including painted-glass windows at Valley Forge Military College and a plaque on the museum ship Yorktown.

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