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fighting ships of the world

UNITED STATES NAVY (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

AIRCRAFT CARRYING SHIPS

BOGUE escort aircraft carriers (1942-1943)

Block Island 1943

Croatan 1943

Core 1963

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 elevators in the center line (6.3 t, 12.6 x 10.1 m). There was 1 H 2 catapult. Aircraft fuel stowage: 341 000 l.

(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 elevators in the center line (6.3 t, 12.6 x 10.1 m). There was 1 H 2 catapult. Aircraft fuel stowage: 225 000 l.

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. C-3-S type turbine-engined cargo vessel was chosen as the base for new design. Experience of conversion of Long Island and Charger was used but with some alterations. So, flight deck and a hangar had increased sizes, elevators were two instead one.

Bogue class carriers were built in two series. The first included 21 ships: 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 Mk 1.2, 17 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4

1943, Card: - 2 x 1 - 127/51; + 2 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 4 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 15 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4

1943, Copahee, Croatan: - 2 x 1 - 127/51; + 2 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 8 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 17 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4

To 1945, Bogue, Card, Core, Nassau, Altamaha, Barnes, Breton: + 6 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2

To 1945, Copahee, Croatan: + 2 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2

To 1945, Prince William: + 8 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 7 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4

1/1946, Bogue, Card, Copahee, Core, Nassau, Altamaha, Barnes, Breton, Croatan: 2 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 30, 10 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 27 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 1 catapult, 28 aircraft, SC, SG radars

1/1946, Prince William: 2 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 30, 10 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 10 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 24, 7 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 1 catapult, 28 aircraft, SC, SG radars

Naval service: Block Island 29.5.1944 in 420nm S of Azores was torpedoed by German submarine U549 and was broken in half and sunk one hour after of three torpedo hits.

Bogue 1943

© Ivan Gogin, 2014-15