Ship's Names: O

Name

Ship(s)

Source

Okinawa

CVE-127 - Commencement Bay-class escort carrier

LPH-3 - Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship

"The largest of the Ryukyu Islands. Okinawa was the site of one of the last major island landings of World War II and scene of some of its heaviest fighting. The operation, under the strategic command of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, began with 5th Fleet air strikes against Kyushu on 18 March 1945, and initial landings on Okinawa itself on Easter Sunday, 1 April. An enormous assemblage of ships participated in the operation, during which 36 of them of destroyer size or smaller were lost, most to the heaviest concentration of kamikaze attacks of the war. Almost 8,000 enemy aircraft were destroyed in the air or on the ground. As part of the action, on 7 April last remnants of the Imperial Japanese Navy ventured forth, only to be met by the overwhelming Navy airpower. Japanese super-battleship Yamato, a cruiser, and four destroyers were sunk in the one-day battle. As a result of securing Okinawa, the supply lanes of the East China Sea were blocked, isolating all southern possessions still in Japanese hands; and the last obstacle in the path to the Japanese Home Islands was cleared."

Ommaney Bay

CVE-79 - Casablanca-class escort carrier

"A bay off the coast of Alaska."

Oriskany

CV-34 - Essex-class fleet carrier

"A village in central New York state and the scene of one of the bloodiest battles of the Revolutionary War. On 6 August 1777, some 700 Tryon County militiamen and Oneida warriors under Brigadier General Nicholas Herkimer and Chief Skenandoah were ambushed by an equal force of Tories and Mohawks under Sir John Johnson, Col. John Butler and Joseph Brant. In the six hour battle the American force was prevented from relieving Fort Stanwix; but, in turn, prevented the British force from reaching General John Burgoyne, thus contributing to that gentleman's losses at Bemis Heights and his defeat at Saratoga. Losses at Oriskany were severe on both sides. American losses amounted to half the original force, including General Herkimer. The latter, severely wounded, died a week later."

Dedication

Ship's Names: O

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Ship(s)

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