Bogue-class escort carrier

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USS Bogue ACV-9.jpg
USS Bogue (CVE-9)
Class overview
NameBogue class
Builders
Operators
Preceded by Long Island class
Succeeded by Sangamon class
Subclasses
In commission1942–1947
Completed45
Lost3
General characteristics
Type Escort carrier
Displacement
Length
  • 465 ft (142 m) (wl)
  • 495 ft 8 in (151.08 m) (oa)
  • 440 ft (130 m) (fd)
Beam
  • 69 ft 6 in (21.18 m) wl
  • 82 ft (25 m) (fd)
  • 111 ft 6 in (33.99 m) (extreme width)
Draft
  • 23 ft 3 in (7.09 m) (mean)
  • 26 ft (7.9 m) (max)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed18  kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Range26,300  nmi (48,700 km; 30,300 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Capacity
Complement890
Armament
Aircraft carried19-24
Aviation facilities

The Bogue class were a class of 45 escort carriers built in the United States for service with the US Navy and the Royal Navy, through the Lend-Lease program, during World War II. Following the war, ten Bogue-class ships were kept in service by the US Navy and were reclassified for helicopter and aircraft transport operations.

Contents

The first 22 ships of the class were converted from finished, or near finished, Maritime Commission C3-S-A1 and C3-S-A2 ships, with 11 retained by the US Navy, and the other 11 transferring to the Royal Navy, where they were renamed and grouped as the Attacker class. Prince William was the last of the USN ships built and comprised all of the lessons learned in the earlier ships, sometimes it is referred to as its own subclass of the Bogue class. The remaining 23 ships were built from the keel up on C3-class designs and classified as Ruler class, or the Ameer-class. Following the war, those ships that served with the Royal Navy were returned to the United States and were either scrapped or converted for mercantile use.

Construction and design

The Bogue-class escort carriers were based on the Maritime Commission's Type C3 cargo ships hull. [1] They all were named for sounds. [2] All of the ships for the US Navy and half of the ships for the Royal Navy were built by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, some of the early Royal Navy ships were produced by Ingalls Shipbuilding of Pascagoula, Mississippi, and Western Pipe and Steel Company of San Francisco, California. [3]

Specifications

The Bogue class displaced 8,390 long tons (8,520 t) at standard load and 13,980 long tons (14,200 t) at full load. The ships had a waterline length of 465 ft (142 m) with an overall length of 495 ft 8 in (151.08 m). Their beam was 69 ft 6 in (21.18 m) at the waterline with a maximum beam of 111 ft 6 in (33.99 m). The draft was 24 ft 8 in (7.52 m) at full load and 21 ft (6.4 m) at light load. [4]

Propulsion and power

The previous Long Island and Charger-class escort carriers had suffered from reliability issues with their diesel engines [ dubious – discuss ] so it was decided that the Bogues would use two water-tube boilers, built by Foster-Wheeler, feeding steam to an Allis-Chalmers steam turbine engine connected to a single shaft. This produced 8,500  bhp (6,300  kW ), which could propel the ship at 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph). They could sail 26,300 nmi (48,700 km; 30,300 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph). [4]

Aircraft facilities

Landing of a US Navy Grumman TBF-1 Avenger on the escort carrier Card on 9 December 1942. TBF-1 CVE-11 landing 1942.jpg
Landing of a US Navy Grumman TBF-1 Avenger on the escort carrier Card on 9 December 1942.
The US Navy escort carrier Barnes underway in the Pacific Ocean, on 1 July 1943, transporting US Army Air Forces Lockheed P-38 Lightning and Republic P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft. USS Barnes (CVE-20) transporting P-38s and P-47s 1943.jpeg
The US Navy escort carrier Barnes underway in the Pacific Ocean, on 1 July 1943, transporting US Army Air Forces Lockheed P-38 Lightning and Republic P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft.

The Bogue class had the capacity for up to 24 anti-submarine or fighter aircraft, which could be a mixture of the Grumman Wildcat, Vought F4U Corsair and Grumman Avenger. The exact composition of the embarked squadrons depended upon the mission. Some squadrons were composite squadrons for convoy defence, and would be equipped with anti-submarine and fighter aircraft, [5] while other squadrons working in a strike-carrier role would only be equipped with fighter aircraft. [6] When utilised in ferry service the ships could carry up to 90 aircraft between both the flight and hangar decks. Aircraft facilities consisted of a small combined bridge–flight control island on the forward starboard side of the ship. The flight deck was 440 ft × 82 ft (134 m × 25 m), with nine arresting wires and three barriers at the stern, along with one hydraulic catapult on the port side at the bow, which was able to launch a 3.5 short tons (3.2  t ) aircraft at 61 kn (113 km/h; 70 mph). Two 6.5 short tons (5.9 t) elevators were placed on the flight deck, one at the stern and one near the bow. The hangar deck was 262 ft × 62 ft × 18 ft (79.9 m × 18.9 m × 5.5 m) and fully enclosed, which was larger than the previous Long Island class. The hangar deck retained the camber at the bow and stern of the main deck of the merchant ships they were built on. Since the elevators were placed near the ends of the flight deck, pulleys were required for handling planes on and off of them on the hangar deck, which was difficult in normal conditions, and impossible in rough seas. The ships were also equipped with derricks for retrieving seaplanes and loading and unloading aircraft. [7] [4]

Armament

The Bogue class was equipped with a variety of weapons, which varied throughout the war and from ship to ship. The early ships were equipped with two 5-inch (130 mm)/51 caliber guns for surface targets, on sponsons at either side of the stern, these were soon refit with two 5-inch/38 caliber dual-purpose guns, and standardized on the remaining ships of the class. [8] For anti-aircraft (AA) cover they were only equipped with ten 20-millimeter (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons. This was later augmented with up to eight twin mounted 40-millimeter (1.57 in) Bofors AA guns and an additional 10 to 18 Oerlikons in single or twin mounts. [7] [4]

After the war, the 10 remaining Bogue class escort carriers retained in US service were re-designated as "helicopter escort carriers" (CVHE) in 1955, and five of these were re-designated as "utility escort carriers" (CVU) in 1958, then aircraft ferry (AKV) in 1958, and operating under US Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) during the Vietnam War. [8]

Transfer to the Royal Navy

Thirty-four of the 45 ships of the Bogue class were transferred to the Royal Navy under the provisions of the Lend-Lease program; they were given new names for their RN service and returned to the US Navy after the war. Out of the first group of 22 ships, 11 were transferred to the RN and reclassified as Attacker class. These ships had been converted from Maritime Commission Type C3 cargo ships that were finished or had already been laid down. [9] A second group of 23 ships were built from the keel up, based on C3-S-A1 or C3-S-A1 plans, and transferred to the RN and reclassified as Ruler class, or Ameer class, in British service, and sometimes as the Prince William class by the US Navy. [10]

As delivered, these carriers required modifications to conform to Royal Naval standards. The Attacker class ships had their conversions carried out in drydocks in United Kingdom, but due to these ports being overwhelmed 19 of the 23 ships of the Ameer class were converted by Burrard Dry Dock at Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. These included extending the flight deck, fitting redesigned flying controls and fighter direction layout, modifications to the hangar, accommodation and store rooms, extra safety measures, oiling at sea arrangements, gunnery and other internal communications, extra wireless and radio facilities, ship blackout arrangements and other changes necessary for British service. [11]

The consequential delays in getting these ships into active service caused critical comments from some in the US Navy. [12]

Ships of class

Converted from C-3 cargo ships.

First group

List of Bogue-class/​Attacker-class escort carriers
Hull
number		US namePennant
number		British nameBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedDecommissionedFate
CVE-6 Altamaha (ex-Mormacmail)D18Battler Ingalls Shipbuilding 15 April 19414 April 194215 November 194212 February 1946Returned to US, sold for scrap 14 May 1946
CVE-7 Barnes (ex-Steel Artisan)D02Attacker Western Pipe and Steel Company 17 April 194127 September 194130 September 19425 January 1946Returned to US, sold for mercantile use February 1947
CVE-8 Block Island (ex-Mormacpenn)D80Hunter (ex-Trailer)Ingalls Shipbuilding15 May 194122 May 19429 January 194329 December 1945Returned to US, sold for mercantile use 17 January 1947
CVE-9 Bogue (ex-Steel Advocate)—— Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation 1 October 194115 January 194226 September 194230 November 1946Sold for scrapping 1960
CVE-10 Breton D32ChaserIngalls Shipbuilding28 June 194115 February 19439 April 194312 May 1946Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-11 Card ——Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation27 October 194127 February 19428 November 194213 May 1946Converted to an aircraft transport as USNS Card, sold for scrapping in 1971
CVE-12 Copahee ——18 June 194121 October 194115 June 19425 July 1946Sold for scrapping 1961
CVE-13 Core ——2 January 194215 May 194210 December 19424 October 1946Sold for scrapping 1971
CVE-14 Croatan D64FencerWestern Pipe and Steel Company5 September 19414 April 194220 February 194321 December 1945Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-15 Hamlin D91Stalker6 October 19415 March 194221 December 194229 December 1945Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-16 Nassau ——Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation27 November 19414 April 194220 August 194228 October 1946Sold for scrap 1961
CVE-17 St. George D73PursuerIngalls Shipbuilding31 July 194118 July 194214 June 194312 February 1946Returned to US, sold for scrapping 1946
CVE-18 Altamaha ——Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation19 December 194122 May 194215 September 194227 September 1946Sold for scrapping 1961
CVE-19 Prince William D12StrikerWestern Pipe and Steel Company15 December 19417 May 194218 May 194312 February 1946Returned to US, sold for scrapping 1948
CVE-20 Barnes ——Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation19 January 19422 May 194220 February 194329 August 1946Sold for scrapping 1960
CVE-21 Block Island ——19 January 19421 May 19428 March 1943—Torpedoed by German submarine U-549, scuttled 29 May 1944
AVG-22—D40 Searcher 20 February 194220 June 19427 April 194329 November 1945Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-23 Breton ——25 February 194227 June 194212 April 194320 August 1946Sold for scrapping 1972
AVG-24—D70 Ravager 11 April 194216 July 194225 April 194327 February 1946Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-25 Croatan ——15 April 19421 August 194228 April 194320 May 1946Sold for scrapping 1971
BAVG-6—D24 Tracker 3 November 19417 March 194231 January 19432 November 1946Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-31 Prince William ——18 May 194223 August 19429 April 194329 August 1946Sold for scrapping, 1961

Second group

Built from the keel up as escort carriers. All were built by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation. General characteristics as the Attacker class, except for displacement and armament.

List of Bogue-class/​Ameer ("Ruler") -class escort carriers
Hull
number		US namePennant
number		British nameLaid downLaunchedCommissionedDecommissionedFate
CVE-32 Chatham D26Slinger25 May 194219 September 194211 August 194312 April 1946Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-33 Glacier D51Atheling9 June 19427 September 194228 October 19436 December 1946Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-34 Pybus D98Emperor23 June 19427 October 19426 August 194328 March 1946Returned to US, sold for scrapping 1946
CVE-35 Baffins D01Ameer18 July 194218 October 194220 July 194320 March 1946Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-36 Bolinas D38Begum3 August 194211 November 19422 August 194326 February 1946Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-37 Bastian D09Trumpeter25 August 194215 December 19424 August 194319 June 1946Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-38 Carnegie D42Empress9 September 194230 December 194212 August 194328 March 1946Returned to US, sold for scrapping 1946
CVE-39 Cordova D62Khedive22 September 194230 January 194325 August 194319 July 1946Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-40 Delgada D90Speaker9 October 194220 February 194320 November 194325 September 1946Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-41 Edisto D77Nabob20 October 194222 March 19437 September 194310 October 1944Torpedoed by German submarine U-354, judged not worth repair. Later salvaged and sold for mercantile use.
CVE-42 Estero D23Premier31 October 194222 March 19433 November 194321 May 1946Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-43 Jamaica D21Shah13 November 194221 April 194327 September 19437 February 1946Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-44 Keweenaw D07Patroller27 November 19426 May 194325 October 19437 February 1947Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-45 Prince D10Rajah17 December 194218 May 194317 January 19447 February 1947Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-46 Niantic D03Ranee5 January 19432 June 19438 November 194322 January 1947Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-47 Perdido D85Trouncer1 February 194316 June 194331 January 194412 April 1946Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-48 Sunset D48Thane23 February 194315 July 194319 November 19431945Torpedoed by German submarine U-1172, declared a total loss and sold for scrap.
CVE-49 St. Andrews D19Queen12 March 19432 August 19437 December 19431946Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-50 St. Joseph D72Ruler25 March 194321 August 194322 December 194329 January 1946Returned to US, sold for scrapping 1946
CVE-51 St. Simon D31Arbiter26 April 19439 September 194331 December 194312 April 1946Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-52 Vermillion D55Smiter10 May 194327 September 194320 January 19446 May 1946Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-53 Willapa D79Puncher21 May 19438 November 19435 February 194416 February 1946Returned to US, sold for mercantile use
CVE-54 Winjah D82Reaper5 June 194322 November 194318 February 19442 July 1946 Used for captured aircraft transport after May 1945,
then returned to US, sold for mercantile use.

See also

Related Research Articles

The escort carrier or escort aircraft carrier, also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the United States Navy (USN) or "Woolworth Carrier" by the Royal Navy, was a small and slower type of aircraft carrier used by the Royal Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy, the United States Navy, the Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II. They were typically half the length and a third the displacement of larger fleet carriers, more-lightly armed and armored, and carried fewer planes. Escort carriers were most often built upon a commercial ship hull, so they were cheaper and could be built quickly. This was their principal advantage as they could be completed in greater numbers as a stop-gap when fleet carriers were scarce. However, the lack of protection made escort carriers particularly vulnerable, and several were sunk with great loss of life. The light carrier was a similar concept to the escort carrier in most respects, but was fast enough to operate alongside fleet carriers.

USS <i>Casablanca</i> Casablanca-class escort carrier of the US Navy

USS Casablanca (AVG/ACV/CVE-55) was the first of fifty Casablanca-class escort carriers built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was named after the Naval Battle of Casablanca, conducted as a part of the wider Operation Torch, which pitted the United States Navy against the remnants of the French Navy controlled by Vichy France. The American victory cleared the way for the seizure of the port of Casablanca as well as the Allied occupation of French Morocco. The ship was launched in April 1943, commissioned in July, and served as a training and transport carrier throughout the war. Postwar, she participated in Operation Magic Carpet, repatriating U.S. servicemen from throughout the Pacific. She was decommissioned in June 1946, when she was mothballed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She was sold for scrap in April 1947.

HMS <i>Battler</i> (D18) 1942 Attacker-class escort carrier of the Royal Navy

HMS Battler (D18) was an American-built escort carrier that served with the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

HMS <i>Attacker</i> (D02) 1942 Attacker-class escort carrier of the Royal Navy

HMS Attacker (D02) was an American-built escort carrier that served with the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

HMS <i>Hunter</i> (D80) 1943 Attacker-class escort carrier later converted to a merchant ship

USS Block Island (CVE-8) was an Attacker-class escort aircraft carrier that served during World War II.

HMS <i>Chaser</i> (D32) 1943 Attacker-class escort carrier of the Royal Navy

HMS Chaser (D32/R306/A727) was an American-built Attacker-class escort carrier that served with the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

HMS <i>Fencer</i> (D64) Royal Navy escort carrier

HMS Fencer (D64/R308) was an American-built Attacker-class escort carrier that served with the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

HMS <i>Stalker</i> (D91) 1942 Attacker-class escort carrier of the Royal Navy

USS Hamlin (CVE-15) was one of a large group of escort aircraft carriers built on Maritime Commission C-3 hulls and transferred to the Royal Navy under Lend Lease during World War II. The ship was launched by Western Pipe and Steel Company, San Francisco, California, on 5 March 1942, as AVG-15, aircraft escort vessel. She was sponsored by Mrs. William H. Shea. Her designation was changed to ACV-15, auxiliary aircraft carrier, 20 August 1942, and she was acquired and simultaneously transferred to the United Kingdom 21 December 1942. Hamlin's designation was changed to CVE-15, escort aircraft carrier, 15 July 1943.

HMS <i>Pursuer</i> (D73) 1943 Attacker-class escort carrier

USS St. George (CVE-17) was laid down on 31 July 1941 as a C3-S-A2 by Ingalls Shipbuilding, Hull 296 of Pascagoula, Mississippi, under Maritime Commission contract as the (second) SS Mormacland for Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc.,. She was renamed St. George (AVG-17) by the United States Navy on 7 January 1942; and assigned to the United Kingdom under Lend-Lease as HMS Pursuer on 24 February 1942. The vessel was launched on 18 July 1942, sponsored by Mrs. Mary Ann S. Bartman. The escort carrier was reclassified ACV-17 on 20 August 1942, acquired by the US Navy and simultaneously transferred to Britain on 14 June 1943. She was reclassified CVE-17 on 15 July 1943.

HMS <i>Striker</i> (D12) American escort carrier transferred to the Royal Navy

The name Prince William (CVE-19) was assigned to MC hull 198, a converted C3 laid down by the Western Pipe and Steel Company, San Francisco, California, 15 December 1941.

HMS <i>Nabob</i> (D77) Escort carrier

HMS Nabob (D77) was a Ruler-class escort aircraft carrier which served in the Royal Navy during 1943 and 1944. The ship was built in the United States as the Bogue-classUSS Edisto (CVE-41) but did not serve with the United States Navy. In August 1944 the ship was torpedoed by the German submarine U-354 while participating in an attack on the German battleship Tirpitz. Nabob survived the attack, but upon returning to port, was considered too damaged to repair. The escort carrier remained in port for the rest of the war and was returned to the United States following it. Nabob is one of two Royal Navy escort carriers built in the United States which is listed as lost in action during World War II. The ship was sold for scrap by the United States but found a second life when purchased and converted for mercantile use under her British name, Nabob. Later renamed Glory, the ship was sold for scrapping in 1977.

HMS <i>Puncher</i> (D79) 1944 Ruler-class escort aircraft carrier

USS Willapa (AVG-53/ACV-53/CVE-53) was a Bogue-class escort carrier built during World War II for the United States Navy. Never seeing American service, the ship was transferred to the United Kingdom as part of Lend-Lease. The escort carrier was renamed HMS Puncher (D79) of the British Ruler class and crewed by the Royal Canadian Navy with aircrew from the Fleet Air Arm. Primarily used as an aircraft transport, Puncher took part in operations along the Norwegian coast towards the end of the war. Following the war the ship was converted for mercantile service and renamed Muncaster Castle, Bardic and Ben Nevis, before being broken up in 1973.

HMS <i>Dasher</i> (D37) 1942 Avenger-class escort carrier of the Royal Navy

HMS Dasher (D37) was a British Royal Navy aircraft carrier, of the Avenger class, converted merchant vessels, and one of the shortest-lived escort carriers. She served in the Second World War and sank on 27 March 1943.

HMS <i>Biter</i> (D97) 1942 Avenger-class escort carrier of the Royal Navy and French Navy

HMS Biter was a Royal Navy escort carrier during the Second World War. She was laid down as a merchant ship at the Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Company yard at Chester, Pennsylvania. Laid down on 28 December 1939, she was converted to an escort carrier and commissioned in the Royal Navy on 6 May 1942. She was returned to the United States in 1945 and subsequently lent to France.

<i>Avenger</i>-class escort carrier Aircraft carrier class of the US & Royal Navy

The Avenger-class escort carrier was a class of escort carriers comprising three ships in service with the Royal Navy during the Second World War and one ship of the class in the United States Navy called the Charger Type of 1942-class escort carrier. All three were originally American type C3 merchant ships in the process of being built at the Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company Chester, Pennsylvania. The ships laid down in 1939 and 1940 were launched and delivered to the Royal Navy by 1942 under the Lend-Lease agreement.

<i>Attacker</i>-class escort carrier 1942 class of escort aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy

The Attacker class were a class of escort aircraft carriers in service with the British Royal Navy during the Second World War.

HMS <i>Avenger</i> (D14) 1942 Avenger-class escort carrier of the Royal Navy

HMS Avenger was a Royal Navy escort aircraft carrier during the Second World War. In 1939 she was laid down as the merchant ship Rio-Hudson at the Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Company yard in Chester, Pennsylvania. Launched on 27 November 1940, she was converted to an escort carrier and transferred under the lend lease agreement to the Royal Navy. She was commissioned on 2 March 1942.

HMS <i>Nairana</i> (D05) 1943 Nairana-class escort carrier of the Royal Navy

HMS Nairana was the lead ship of the Royal Navy's Nairana-class escort carriers that saw service in the Second World War. She was built at John Brown & Company shipyards in Clydebank, Scotland. When construction started in 1941 she was intended as a merchant ship, but was completed and launched as an escort carrier, entering service at the end of 1943.

HMS <i>Vindex</i> (D15) 1943 Nairana-class escort carrier of the Royal Navy

HMS Vindex (D15) was a Nairana-class escort carrier of the Royal Navy that saw service during the Second World War. She was built at Swan Hunter shipyards in Newcastle upon Tyne. When construction started in 1942 she was intended as a merchant ship, but was completed and launched as an escort carrier, entering service at the end of 1943.

<i>Nairana</i>-class escort carrier British-built class of escort carrier

The Nairana-class escort carrier was a British-built class of three escort carriers. They were constructed one each in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland to the same basic design during the Second World War for service with the Royal Navy.

References

  1. ↑ Petrescu & Petrescu 2013, p. 196.
  2. ↑ Jane, Prendergast & Parkes 1961, p. 320.
  3. ↑ Fontenoy 2006, p. 286.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Chesneau 1998, p. 216.
  5. ↑ Poolman 1972, p. 98.
  6. ↑ Morison 2002, p. 342.
  7. 1 2 Konstam 2019, p. 26.
  8. 1 2 Wragg 2005, p. 192.
  9. ↑ Konstam 2019, p. 23.
  10. ↑ Konstam 2019, pp. 29–30.
  11. ↑ Poolman 1972, pp. 88–89.
  12. ↑ Konstam 2019, p. 30.

Bibliography

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