USS Munda (CVE 104)

- formerly TONOWEK BAY -
- later CVU 104 -
- decommissioned -

USS MUNDA was the last ship in the CASABLANCA - class of Escort Carriers.

General Characteristics:	Awarded: 1942
	Keel laid: March 29, 1944
	Launched: May 27, 1944, 1944
	Commissioned: July 8, 1944
	Decommissioned: September 13, 1946
	Builder: Kaiser Shipbuilding Co., Vancouver, Wash.
	Propulsion system: four boilers
	Propellers: two
	Length: 512.5 feet (156.2 meters)
	Flight Deck Width: 108 feet (32.9 meters)
	Beam: 65 feet (19.9 meters)
	Draft: 22.6 feet (6.9 meters)
	Displacement: approx. 10,400 tons full load
	Speed: 19 knots
	Catapults: one
	Aircraft: 28 planes
	Armament: one 5-inch L/38 gun, 16 40mm guns, 20 20mm guns
	Crew: 860

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS MUNDA. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

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History of USS MUNDA:

MUNDA, laid down 29 March 1944 under Maritime Commission contract as MC hull 1141 by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Corp., Vancouver, Wash., was originally designated ACV 104; redesignated CVE 104, 15 July 1943; named TONOWEK BAY, 23 September 1943; renamed MUNDA, 6 November 1943; launched 27 May 1944; sponsored by Mrs. James E. Dyer, and accepted and commissioned 8 July 1944, Capt. L. A. Pope in command.

After a west coast shakedown, MUNDA, assigned to Carrier Transport Squadron, Pacific Fleet, got underway independently 16 August 1944 on her maiden voyage. With 71 planes and 202 passengers aboard, she arrived at Espiritu Santo, 1 September. Proceeding next to Finschafen and Manus, she returned to Alameda, Calif., for brief availability, before setting out again to carry replacement planes and personnel to forward areas. Returning from her second supply run 5 December, she was underway again on the 12th. She completed three more runs to various islands in the Pacific before mid-year, 1945, when she sailed for Eniwetok (3 July). There, she joined TG 30.8 and commenced supplying planes pilots, and aviation stores to the fast carriers of TF 38.

She rendezvoused with that force on 20 July, as it blasted the enemy's home islands, and remained in the area through the 26th, when she returned to Guam for replenishment. At sea again by the end of the month, she rejoined TF 38 on 3 August, resupplying the carriers then, and again on the 7th and the 11th. On 13 August, she departed the formation and was en route back to Guam when she received word of the Japanese surrender. Rejoining TG 30.8, she remained off Japan through the first week of the occupation and on 10 September steamed into Tokyo Bay.

Departing Tokyo 2 October, she joined the ships assigned to operation "Magic Carpet," and, into the next year, ferried servicemen back to the United States. After completion of that duty, 18 January 1946, MUNDA prepared for inactivation at Port Angeles. Decommissioned 13 September 1946, she joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet, berthing at Tacoma. Redesignated CVU 104, 12 June 1955, she was shifted to Bremerton 29 April 1958. MUNDA was struck from the Naval Register 1 September 1958 and sold, 17 June 1960, to the General Ore Co., New York.

MUNDA received one battle star for her service in World War II.

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