USS Sangamon (ACV-26) was an escort aircraft carrier, originally laid down as the civilian tanker Esso Trenton by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company on March 13, 1939. She was launched on November 4, 1939, operated by the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, then acquired by the United States Navy on October 22, 1940. She was renamed Sangamon after a river in central Illinois and commissioned on October 23. In 1942, she was converted to an escort carrier by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company.

In January 1943, Sangamon arrived at Efate, New Hebrides. She operated in the New Caledonia-New Hebrides-Solomons area for the next eight months. Together with USS Suwanee and USS Chenango, she provided protection for resupply convoys en route to Guadalcanal and for the assault forces moving on the Russells. On October 20, she arrived in the Gilberts to support the assault on Tarawa. During the first two days of the operation, her aircraft struck enemy positions on the island.

From January to February 1944, Sangamon supported the assault and operation of Kwajalein. She then moved on to Enewetak, where her planes covered the landing forces from February 17 to February 24. On October 13, she sortied with Task Group 77.4, the escort carrier group of the Leyte invasion force. Prior to the October 20 landings on Leyte, Sangamon launched regular flights in support of the advance units of the invasion force and sent strikes against Leyte and Visayan airfields. On the 20th, her planes covered the landing forces and the ships in the transport areas. She was not spared from enemy air attack and was hit at the main deck level.

In March 1945, Sangamon was called on to join one of the escort carrier groups assigned to the initial assault phase of Operation Iceberg, the invasion of the Ryukyus. On March 21, she departed Ulithi with other ships assigned to the Kerama Retto assault force. Covering the force en route, she operated to the south of Okinawa and launched planes for combat air patrol and landing force support as Kerama Retto was secured. She continued launching support strikes and patrol groups from an area some 50 miles south of Okinawa through April 8.

Sangamon was decommissioned on October 24, 1945, and subsequently sold to Hillcone Steamship Company. She passed through many owners through the 1950s and was eventually scrapped in Osaka starting in August 1960. She earned eight battle stars for service in World War II.

At Maritime Modelworks, we bring ordinary wood models to life. Each museum quality USS Sangamon ship model is created step-by-step meticulously. No machines are involved in the process; everything is made by hand. Skilled craftsmen chip away at a piece of mahogany until a ship appears, which is then sanded and puttied. Hand-casted resin and handmade metal parts are also added. Gifted artists paint on the colors and all details, no matter how big or small. Afterwards, clear lacquer is applied for protection. Each model ship is complemented with a handsome display base with brass pedestals and a brass name plate. Products are always double-checked before being delivered to customers in professionally-packaged double-lined boxes with high density foam.