USS Manila Bay

	USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) underway whilst operating as an attack carrier in the Pacific, circa 1944.
History
United States
Name	Manila Bay
Namesake	Battle of Manila Bay
Ordered	as Bucareli Bay (ACV-61)
Builder	Kaiser Shipyards, Vancouver, Washington
Laid down	15 January 1943
Launched	10 July 1943
Commissioned	5 October 1943
Decommissioned	31 July 1946
Reclassified	CVU-61 on 12 June 1955
Stricken	27 May 1958
Identification	Hull symbol:CVE-61; Code letters:NKVK; ;
Fate	Sold for scrap on 2 September 1959
General characteristics
Class & type	Casablanca-class escort carrier
Displacement	7,800 long tons (7,925 t)
Length	512 ft (156 m) overall
Beam	65 ft (20 m)
Draft	22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
Installed power	4 × 285 psi boilers; 9,000 shp (6,700 kW);
Propulsion	2 × 5-cylinder reciprocating Skinner Unaflow engines; 2 2 × screws;
Speed	19 kn (22 mph; 35 km/h)
Range	10,240 nmi (18,960 km) at 10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h)
Complement	Total: 910–916 officers and men; Embarked Squadron: 50–56; Ship's Crew: 860;
Armament	1 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 caliber dual purpose gun; 16 × 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors guns (8×2), 20 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons (20×1);
Aircraft carried	27
Service record
Operations	Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign, Western New Guinea campaign, Battle off Samar, Battle of Mindoro, Invasion of Lingayen Gulf, Operation Magic Carpet
Awards	8 battle stars

USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) was a Casablanca-class escort carrier of the United States Navy.

She was laid down as Bucareli Bay (ACV-61) under Maritime Commission contract by Kaiser Company, Inc., Vancouver, Washington on 15 January 1943; renamed Manila Bay on 3 April 1943; launched on 10 July 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Robert W. Bockius; reclassified CVE-61 on 15 July 1943; acquired by the Navy on 5 October 1943; and commissioned the same day at Astoria, Oregon, Captain Boynton L. Braun in command.