The substantial accomplishments of the U.S. Navy's mini-carriers in such battles as Leyte Gulf, Guadalcanal, the Marianas, and Okinawa never gained the attention given the fast carriers, but there is little question that their vital operations played an important role in the Pacific campaign. These remarkably versatile vessels, called CVEs, baby flattops, and even jeeps, hunted submarines, escorted convoys, provided air support, and performed dozens of other tasks that are vividly described in this book.

Based on interviews with the CVE crewmen and on war diaries, ship histories, and other documents, it tells a moving story of escort carrier operations, from the work of the first CVEs to their final assignment transporting GIs home after the war. Seldom seen photographs add to this fascinating portrait of the little giants.