USS Anzio (CVE-57)

USS Anzio (ACV/CVE/CVHE-57), known as Coral Sea until September 1944, was the third of fifty Casablanca-class escort carriers built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was the first Navy vessel to be named after the Battle of the Coral Sea, a major naval engagement in the Pacific War and the Battle of Anzio, an amphibious landing in the Italian campaign.

In December 1942, she was laid down in Vancouver, Washington, by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company. In January 1943, she was named Alikula Bay, renamed Coral Sea in April, launched in May, and commissioned in August. She participated in the Battle of Makin, the Battle of Kwajalein, the Western New Guinea campaign, and the Battle of Saipan. While engaging in preparatory airstrikes for the Battle of Guam, her engines failed, forcing her to return to the West Coast for repairs. In September 1944, she was renamed Anzio, under which she took part in the Philippines campaign, the Battle of Iwo Jima, and the Battle of Okinawa. As Anzio, she operated primarily in an antisubmarine role, contributing to the sinking of five Japanese submarines. Post-war, she participated in Operation Magic Carpet, repatriating U.S. servicemen from around the Pacific. She was decommissioned in July 1946 and mothballed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. Ultimately, she was sold for scrap in 1959.