Originally named Anguilla Bay (ACV-96), the USS Salamaua (CVE-96) was reclassified as an escort carrier on 15 July 1943, receiving the name Salamaua in November 1943 for the New Guinea town liberated by Allied forces earlier that year.
The new escort carrier transported aircraft from San Diego to Hawaii and then from San Diego to New Guinea before returning to California for an overhaul. With the overhaul complete, the Salamaua soon sailed for Ulithi and on to the Philippines' Leyte Gulf where she provided convoy air cover from 14 through 23 November 1944. From Leyte, the Salamaua set off for the Admiralties in preparation for the upcoming Luzon invasion.
Arriving off Lingayen Gulf on 6 January 1945, the Salamaua soon was providing air cover and support to Allied warships and assault forces. Early on the morning of 13 January 1945, a heavily armed Japanese kamikaze pummeled the Salamaua's flight deck, lighting fires above and below decks, killing 15 and wounding more than 80 of her sailors. Despite the Salamaua's continuing defensive fire and the destruction of two additional kamikaze aircraft, one of her engine rooms was flooded and power, communications, and steering failed.
Rapid, albeit temporary, repairs saved the day and the damaged escort carrier soon left the war zone en route to California, arriving in late February 1945. Once more comprehensive repairs were complete, she was sent back to the Pacific, arriving at Guam in May, and later sailing to the Ryukyus to support U.S. operations in Okinawa.
On 5 June 1945, the Salamaua was damaged by a powerful typhoon, but she was again repaired, this time at Guam. Following her mending, the Salamaua continued work in the area conducting antisubmarine operations in island convoy lanes. She continued these operations around Okinawa until the surrender of the Japanese and then sailed for Leyte to replenish before escorting a troop convoy destined for delivery to Tokyo Bay.
The Salamaua escorted another convoy to Tokyo Bay and then transported American troops back home to the United States. Completing two additional troop transport runs back to the States, the Salamaua prepared for retirement. She was decommissioned on 9 May 1946 and sold for scrapping six months later on 18 November 1946.