USS Cape Gloucester was a Commencement Bay-class escort carrier of the United States Navy, in service from 5 March 1945 to 5 November 1946.

In 1941, as United States participation in World War II became increasingly likely, the US Navy embarked on a construction program for escort carriers, which were converted from transport ships of various types.

These proved to be very successful ships, and the Commencement Bay class, authorized for Fiscal Year 1944, were an improved version of the Sangamon design.

[1] They proved to be the most successful of the escort carriers, and the only class to be retained in active service after the war, since they were large enough to operate newer aircraft.

Given the very large storage capacity for oil, the ships of the Commencement Bay class could steam for some 23,900 nautical miles (44,300 km; 27,500 mi) at a speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).

She contributed her fighter aircraft to the combat air patrol defending minesweepers clearing Japanese defensive minefields in the area from 5 to 17 July.

Over the following months, she made four Operation Magic Carpet voyages between Japan and Pearl Harbor, returning American soldiers, sailors, and marines home.

[7] With her role in the repatriation effort over, Cape Gloucester sailed to Tacoma on 22 May 1946, where she was decommissioned and reduced to reserve status on 5 November.