Block Island 1943
Croatan 1943
| No | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comm | Fate |
| ACV6 | Altamaha | Ingalls, Pascagoula | 15/4/1941 | 4/4/1942 | 15/11/1942 // --- | to United Kingdom 31/10/1942 (Battler) |
| ACV7 | Barnes | Western Pipe & Steel, San Francisco | 17/4/1941 | 27/9/1942 | 10/10/1942 // --- | to United Kingdom 30/9/1942 (Attacker) |
| ACV8 | Block Island | Ingalls, Pascagoula | 15/5/1941 | 22/5/1942 | 11/1/1943 // --- | to United Kingdom 9/1/1943 (Hunter) |
| ACV9, 7/1943- CVE9, 6/1955- CVHE9 | Bogue (ex-Steel Advocate) | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 1/101941 | 15/1/1942 | 26/9/1942 | helicopter escort carrier 6/1955, stricken 3/1959 |
| ACV10 | Breton | Ingalls, Pascagoula | 28/6/1941 | 15/2/1942 | 9/4/1943 // --- | to United Kingdom 9/4/1943 (Chaser) |
| ACV11, 7/1943- CVE11, 6/1955- CVHE11, 7/1958- CVU11, T-CVU11 1958, 5/1959- T-AKV40 | Card | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 27/10/1941 | 21/2/1942 | 8/11/1942 | helicopter escort carrier 6/1955, utility carrier 7/1958, aviation transport 5/1959, stricken 9/1970 |
| AVG12, 8/1942- ACV12, 7/1943- CVE12, 6/1955- CVHE12 | Copahee (ex-Steel Architect) | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 18/6/1941 | 21/10/1941 | 15/6/1942 | helicopter escort carrier 6/1955, stricken 3/1959 |
| ACV13, 7/1943- CVE13, 6/1955- CVHE13, 7/1958- CVU13, 1958- T-CVU13, 5/1959- T-AKV41 | Core | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 2/1/1942 | 15/5/1942 | 10/12/1942 | helicopter escort carrier 6/1955, utility carrier 7/1958, aviation transport 5/1959, stricken 9/1970 |
| ACV14 | Croatan | Western Pipe & Steel, San Francisco | 5/9/1941 | 4/4/1942 | 20/2/1943 | to United Kingdom 27/2/1943 (Fencer) |
| ACV15 | Hamlin | Western Pipe & Steel, San Francisco | 6/10/1941 | 5/3/1942 | 30/12/1942 // --- | to United Kingdom 21/12/1942 (Stalker) |
| ACV16, 7/1943- CVE16, 6/1955- CVHE16 | Nassau | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 27/11/1941 | 4/4/1942 | 20/8/1942 | helicopter escort carrier 6/1955, stricken 3/1959 |
| ACV17 | St. George | Ingalls, Pascagoula | 31/7/1941 | 18/7/1942 | 14/6/1943 // --- | to United Kingdom 11/6/1943 (Pursuer) |
| ACV18, 7/1943- CVE18, 6/1955- CVHE18 | Altamaha | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 19/12/1941 | 22/5/1942 | 15/9/1942 | helicopter escort carrier 6/1955, stricken 3/1959 |
| ACV19 | Prince William | Western Pipe & Steel, San Francisco | 15/12/1941 | 7/5/1942 | 29/4/1943 // --- | to United Kingdom 28/4/1943 (Striker) |
| ACV20, 7/1943- CVE20, 6/1955- CVHE20 | Barnes | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 19/1/1942 | 22/5/1942 | 20/2/1943 | helicopter escort carrier 6/1955, stricken 3/1959 |
| ACV21, 7/1943- CVE21 | Block Island | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 19/1/1942 | 6/6/1942 | 8/3/1943 | sunk 29/5/1944 |
| ACV22 | --- | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 20/2/1942 | 20/6/1942 | 8/4/1943 // --- | to United Kingdom 7/4/1943 (Searcher) |
| ACV23, 7/1943- CVE23, 6/1955- CVHE23, 7/1958- CVU23, 1958- T-CVU23, 5/1959- T-AKV42 | Breton | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 25/2/1942 | 27/6/1942 | 12/4/1943 | helicopter escort carrier 6/1955, utility carrier 7/1958, aviation transport 5/1959, stricken 8/1971 |
| ACV24 | --- | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 11/4/1942 | 16/7/1942 | 26/4/1943 // --- | to United Kingdom 25/4/1943 (Ravager) |
| ACV25, 7/1943- CVE25, 6/1955- CVHE25, 7/1958- CVU25, 1958- T-CVU25, 5/1959- T-AKV43 | Croatan | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 15/4/1942 | 3/8/1942 | 28/4/1943 | helicopter escort carrier 6/1955, utility carrier 7/1958, aviation transport 5/1959, stricken 9/1970 |
| ACV31, 7/1943- CVE31, 6/1955- CVHE31 | Prince William | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 19/5/1942 | 23/8/1942 | 9/4/1943 | helicopter escort carrier 6/1955, stricken 3/1959 |
| CVE32 | Chatham | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 25/5/1942 | 19/9/1942 | 11/8/1943 // --- | to United Kingdom 11/8/1943 (Slinger) |
| ACV33, 7/1943- CVE33 | Glacier | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 9/6/1942 | 7/9/1942 | 3/7/1943 | to United Kingdom 1/8/1943 (Atheling) |
| ACV34, 7/1943- CVE34 | Pybus | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 23/6/1942 | 7/10/1942 | 31/5/1943 | to United Kingdom 6/8/1943 (Emperor) |
| ACV35, 7/1943- CVE35 | Baffins | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 18/7/1942 | 18/10/1942 | 28/6/1943 | to United Kingdom 20/7/1943 (Ameer) |
| CVE36 | Bolinas | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 3/8/1942 | 11/11/1942 | 22/7/1943 | to United Kingdom 3/8/1943 (Begum) |
| CVE37 | Bastian | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 25/8/1942 | 15/12/1942 | 4/8/1943 // --- | to United Kingdom 4/8/1943 (Trumpeter) |
| CVE38 | Carnegie | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 9/9/1942 | 30/12/1942 | 13/8/1943 // --- | to United Kingdom 12/8/1943 (Empress) |
| CVE39 | Cordova | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 30/12/1942 | 30/1/1943 | 23/8/1943 | to United Kingdom 25/8/1943 (Khedive) |
| CVE40 | Delgada | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 9/10/1942 | 20/2/1943 | 20/11/1943 // --- | to United Kingdom 20/11/1943 (Speaker) |
| CVE41 | Edisto | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 20/10/1942 | 22/3/1943 | 7/9/1943 // --- | to United Kingdom 7/9/1943 (Nabob) |
| CVE42 | Estero | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 31/10/1942 | 22/3/1943 | 3/11/943 // --- | to United Kingdom 3/11/1943 (Premier) |
| CVE43 | Jamaica | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 13/11/1942 | 21/4/1943 | 27/9/1943 // --- | to United Kingdom 27/9/1943 (Shah) |
| CVE44 | Kennenaw | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 27/11/1942 | 6/5/1943 | 25/10/1943 // --- | to United Kingdom 22/10/1943 (Patroller) |
| CVE45 | Prince | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 17/12/1942 | 18/5/1943 | 17/1/1944 // --- | to United Kingdom 17/1/1944 (Rajah) |
| CVE46 | Niantic | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 5/1/1943 | 2/6/1943 | 8/11/1943 // --- | to United Kingdom 8/11/1943 (Ranee) |
| CVE47 | Perdido | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 1/1/1943 | 17/6/1943 | 31/1/1944 // --- | to United Kingdom 31/1/1944 (Trouncer) |
| CVE48 | Sunset | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 22/2/1943 | 15/7/1943 | 19/11/1943 // --- | to United Kingdom 19/11/1943 (Thane) |
| CVE49 | St. Andrews | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 12/3/1943 | 2/8/1943 | 7/12/1943 // --- | to United Kingdom 7/12/1943 (Queen) |
| CVE50 | Joseph | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 25/3/1943 | 21/8/1943 | 22/12/1943 // --- | to United Kingdom 22/12/1943 (Ruler) |
| CVE51 | St. Simon | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 26/4/1943 | 9/9/1943 | 31/12/1943 // --- | to United Kingdom 31/12/1943 (Arbiter) |
| CVE52 | Vermillion | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 10/5/1943 | 27/9/1943 | 20/1/1944 // --- | to United Kingdom 20/1/1944 (Smiter) |
| CVE53 | Willapa | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 21/5/1943 | 5/2/1944 | 5/2/1944 // --- | to United Kingdom 5/2/1944 (Puncher) |
| CVE54 | Winjah | Seattle-Tacoma, Seattle | 5/6/1943 | 22/11/1943 | 21/2/1944 // --- | to United Kingdom 18/2/1944 (Reaper) |
|
Displacement standard, t |
9393 |
|
Displacement full, t |
13891 |
|
Length, m |
141.7 wl 151.1 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
21.2 wl 34.0 oa |
|
Draught, m |
7.09 full load |
|
No of shafts |
1 |
|
Machinery |
Allis-Chalmers geared steam turbines, 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
8500 |
|
Max speed, kts |
16.5 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 1746 - 3420 |
| Endurance, nm (kts) | 26300 (15) |
|
Armament |
CVE9, 18: 2 x 1 - 127/51 Mk 14/15, 10 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 28 aircraft (F4F Wildcat fighters, SBD Dauntless dive bombers, TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, SOC Seagull, F4F Wildcat reconnaissance planes) CVE11, 13, 20, 21, 23, 25: 2 x 1 - 127/51 Mk 14/15, 10 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 28 aircraft (F4F Wildcat, F4U Corsair fighters, SBD Dauntless dive bombers, TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, SOC Seagull, F4F Wildcat, F4U-P Corsair reconnaissance planes) CVE12, 16: 2 x 1 - 127/51 Mk 14/15, 10 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 28 aircraft (F4F Wildcat fighters, SBD Dauntless dive bombers, TBD Devastator, TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, SOC Seagull, F4F Wildcat reconnaissance planes) ACV31: 2 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 2 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors, 10 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 28 aircraft (F4F Wildcat, F4U Corsair fighters, SBD Dauntless dive bombers, TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, SOC Seagull, F4F Wildcat, F4U-P Corsair reconnaissance planes) |
| Sensors |
SC, SG radars |
|
Complement |
890 |
Aircraft facilities (ACV9, 11 - 13, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25) (fd - 3,245 m², ha - 1,504 m² / 7,974 m³): Flight deck: 133.1 x 24.4 m. Hangar: 79.6 x 18.9 x 5.3 m. There were 2 lifts in center line (6.3 t, 12.6 x 10.1 m). There was 1 H-II catapult. Aircraft fuel stowage: 341 000 l.
Aircraft facilities (ACV31) (fd - 3,387 m², ha - 1,504 m² / 7,974 m³): Flight deck: 141.7 x 23.9 m. Hangar: 79.6 x 18.9 x 5.3 m. There were 2 lifts in center line (6.3 t, 12.6 x 10.1 m). There was 1 H-II catapult. Aircraft fuel stowage: 225 000 l.
| Year | fighters | torpedo bombers | reconnaissance planes |
| 5/1943 Nassau | 26 F4F-4 | --- | 3 F4F-3P, 1 SOC-3A |
| 1943 - 1945 ASW carriers | 9 F4F-8/FM-2 | 10 - 12 TBF-1/TBM-3 | --- |
Ship project history: The decision on mass conversion of merchant vessels hulls to escort aircraft carriers was accepted at once after an attack of Japanese on Pearl Harbour. As base for new carrier design C-3-S type turbine-driven transport has been chosen. Experience of conversion of Long Island and Charger was used but with some changes. So, the flight deck and a hangar had increased sizes, elevators were two.
Bogue class carriers were built in two series. The first included 21 ship: 10 for the USN and 11 for the RN (Attacker class). Second (24 ships of Ameer class) was built specially for Royal Navy, but one ship, Prince William, remained in the USN. The main difference of 2nd series ships was the flight deck extended to 141.7m and a smaller aviation fuel stowage.
Modernizations: 1943, Bogue, Card, Core, Nassau, Altamaha, Barnes, Block Island, Breton: - 2 x 1 - 127/51; + 2 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 4 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors, 17 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon
1943, Card: - 2 x 1 - 127/51; + 2 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 4 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors, 15 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon
1943, Copahee, Croatan: - 2 x 1 - 127/51; + 2 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 8 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors, 17 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon
To 1945, Bogue, Card, Core, Nassau, Altamaha, Barnes, Breton: + 6 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors
To 1945, Copahee, Croatan: + 2 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors
To 1945, Prince William: + 8 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors, 7 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon
Naval service: Block Island 29/5/1944 in 420 miles S of Azores was torpedoed by German submarine U549, in half an hour after hits of three torpedoes she has sunk (31°13’N, 023°03'W).
Bogue 1943
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10