USS Sangamon (CVE-26)

	USS Sangamon (ACV-26), September 1942
History
United States
Name	Esso Trenton
Owner	Standard Oil Company
Ordered	as type (T2-S2-A1) hull, MCE hull 7
Awarded	3 January 1939
Builder	Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Kearny, New Jersey
Cost	$876,284.03
Yard number	153
Way number	5
Laid down	13 March 1939
Launched	4 November 1939
Sponsored by	Mrs. Clara Esselborn
In service	14 December 1939
Out of service	22 October 1940
Fate	Sold to US Navy, 22 October 1940
United States
Name	Sangamon
Namesake	Sangamon River, in Illinois
Acquired	22 October 1940
Commissioned	23 October 1940
Decommissioned	25 February 1942
Identification	Hull symbol: AO-28; Callsign: NEPK; ;
Recommissioned	25 August 1942
Decommissioned	24 October 1945
Refit	Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, Virginia
Stricken	1 November 1945
Identification	Hull symbol:; AVG-26 (14 February 1942); ACV-26 (20 August 1942); CVE-26 (15 July 1943); Callsign: NWQD; ;
Fate	Sold, 11 February 1948, scrapped in Osaka, Japan, August 1960
General characteristics as fleet oiler
Class & type	Cimarron-class oiler
Displacement	7,470 long tons (7,590 t) light ; 25,425 long tons (25,833 t) full load;
Length	525 ft (160 m) wl
Beam	75 feet (23 m)
Draft	32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
Installed power	4 × Babcock & Wilcox steam boilers (450 psi (3,100 kPa)); 13,500 shp (10,100 kW);
Propulsion	2 × Westinghouse geared steam turbines; 2 × shafts;
Speed	18.3 kn (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph)
Capacity	122,400 bbl (19,460 m3) of oil; 805,000 US gal (3,050,000 L; 670,000 imp gal) of gasoline;
Complement	301 officers and men
Armament	4 × single 5 in (130 mm)/51 cal guns]; 4 × twin Bofors 40 mm (1.6 in) anti-aircraft guns ; 4 × twin Oerlikon 20 mm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft cannons;
General characteristics as escort carrier
Class & type	Sangamon-class escort carrier
Displacement	11,400 long tons (11,583 t) standard ; 24,275 long tons (24,665 t) full;
Length	553 ft 6 in (168.71 m) oa; 503 ft (153 m) flight deck;
Beam	75 ft (23 m); 105 ft (32 m) flight deck;
Draft	30 ft 7 in (9.32 m)
Range	23,920 nmi (44,300 km; 27,530 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement	830 officers and men
Sensors &; processing systems	SG Radar
Armament	2 × 5"/51 caliber guns ; 4 × twin Bofors 40 mm L/60 anti-aircraft guns ; 12 × single Oerlikon 20 mm cannons;
Aircraft carried	25
Aviation facilities	1 × hydraulic catapult; 2 × elevators;
General characteristics 1945
Complement	1,080 officers and men
Armament	2 × quad Bofors 40 mm L/60 anti-aircraft guns; 10 × twin Bofors 40 mm L/60 anti-aircraft guns ; 19 × single Oerlikon 20 mm cannons;
Aircraft carried	32
Aviation facilities	2 × hydraulic catapults
Service record
Operations	World War II
Awards	8 battle stars. Her three air groups were each awarded the Presidential Unit Citation

USS Sangamon (AVG/ACV/CVE-26), was a US Navy escort carrier of World War II. Originally built as Esso Trenton, one of twelve tankers built by a joint Navy-Maritime Commission design. This design was later duplicated and designated a T3-S2-A1 oiler. She was acquired by the Navy in October 1940, and renamed Sangamon, for use as a Cimarron-class fleet oiler. In 1942, she converted into the lead ship of the Sangamon-class escort carrier. Originally classified as an "Aircraft Escort Vessel", and designated AVG-26, in February 1942, she was reclassified as an "Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier", ACV-26, in August 1942. When the US Navy had another major reclassification on 15 July 1943, Sangamon was again reclassified, this time as an "Escort Carrier", CVE-26. She was named after the Sangamon River, in Illinois.