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* The initial classification as auxiliary vessel (AV) was cancelled on 15 July 1943 and all ships were upgraded to CVE (Carrier Vessel Escort). Therefore in the following the designation used in practice is used.
Konstruktionsdetail: |
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Displacement: |
8.000 ts |
7.800 ts |
11.400 ts |
7.800 ts |
11.373 ts |
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Propulsion system: |
Diesel |
steam turbine |
steam turbine |
steam-piston engine | steam turbine | ||||||||||
Horsepower: |
8.500 PS |
8.500 PS |
13.500 PS |
9.000 PS |
16.000 PS |
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Speed max: |
17 kn (31,5 km/h) |
18 kn (33,3 kmh) |
18 kn (33,3 kmh) |
19 kn (35,2 km/h) |
19 kn (35,2 km/h) |
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Length: |
150,00 m |
151,20 m |
168,70 m |
169,90 m |
132,10 m |
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Flight Deck Width: |
33,90 m |
34,00 m |
34,80 m |
32,90 m |
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Catapults: |
1 |
2 |
1 (from 1944 2) |
1 |
2 |
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Aircraft: |
21 |
28 |
30 |
28 |
34 |
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Crew: |
856 |
890 |
1.080 |
860 |
1.066 |
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Armament at start: |
1x12,7 cm, 2x7,6cm, 10 x 20mm |
2 x 12,7 cm, 20 x 40 mm, 27 x 20 mm |
2 x 12,7 cm, 14 x 40 mm, 21 x 20 mm |
1 x 12,7 cm, 16 x 40 mm, 20 x 20 mm |
2 x 12,7 cm, 24 x 40 mm, 20 x 20 mm |
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Source: Stefan Terzibaschitsch, "Flugzeugträger der U.S. Navy, Geleitflugzeugträger, Verlag Bernard & Graefe, München, ISBN 3-7637-5119-9
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To free Grumman to produce the new F6F-3 Hellcat, production of the F4F-4 Wildcat and TBF-1C Avenger was transferred to General Motors' Eastern Corporation. The Grumman type designations, ending in "F", were now replaced by General Motors' "M". According to this, instead of F4F-4 now FM-1 (though MG's reduced to four), TBF-1C became TBM-1C. The much improved FM-2 (easily recognized by the side exhaust ports and the higher vertical stabilizer) and the TBM-3 were subsequent developments by General Motors. They were organized into what were called "Composite Squadrons," meaning a "VF-" fighter squadron and a "VT"-torpedo bomber squadron now operated under the joint designation "Composite Squadron," "VC-," plus number. However, the much more powerful F6F-3 Hellcats delivered from summer 1943 onward were out of the question for CVE, since they were urgently needed by the fleet carriers. The only exceptions were the four carriers of the Sangamon class, which carried an Air Group of F6F Hellcats and, in individual cases, a VC squadron. On carriers of the Casablanca class, FM Wildcats and TBM Avengers were standard. Depending on the individual case, F6F-5 Hellcat, F4U-1D Corsair and TBM-3 Avenger could be seen on carriers of the Comencement class, since the few carriers that were still in use had not been assigned to the U.S. Navy but to the U.S. Marine Corps, and it was necessary to see if aircraft could be obtained for them there. Therefore, in the beginning, they had a variety of markings and were sometimes provided with "nose art", which was forbidden in the Navy. As for the particular paint scheme, see: "Colors US Navy 1941-1945". Note: As seen below in an original 1944 color photo, the decks of all (!) aircraft carriers were not wood colored, but covered with a protective and camouflage paint. Blue-gray, later blue-black (see page "Colors...") . If a deck appears brown on a photo, an original black and white photo has been incorrectly recolored.
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Atlantic:
CVE-9 "Bogue" was the first American escort
carrier (also called "carrier" for short) to hunt German U-boats in the
(mid-) Atlantic by February 1943. CVE-21 "Block Island," CVE-1^3 "Core,"
CVE-1 "Card," and CVE-25 "Croatan" followed until August. The remaining six
"Bogue" CVEs were engaged in training and transporting U.S. Army Air Force
aircraft to Liverpool and Glasgow and those of the Marines to Guadalcanal.
In 1944, individual carriers of the "Casablanca" class followed, with CVE-60
"Guadalcanal" receiving the most publicity by capturing U-505 with its
"Enigma" encryption machine intact (U-505 provided valuable information
about the diving depth of German submarines, and after decrypting "Enigma"
they also knew where to find them. The only loss was CVE-21 "Block Island",
on 29 May 1944 off the Canary Islands by a German torpedo. Since each carrier was accompanied only by destroyers, there was no possibility of mistaken identity, simple numbering of its aircraft was enough. For the Atlantic paint scheme "Dark Gull Gray" / "Insignia White" see "Colors US Navy 1941 - 1945". |
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Schlicht nummerierte Atlantik FM-2 |
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* Markings: In the late 1930s, the extensive markings left no questions unanswered (see "Markings 1936 to 1941"). When, on December 30, 1940, paint in "Light Gray" (FS 36440, ANA 602) was ordered for all first-line aircraft, the colors on the vertical stabilizer, which identified the carrier to which the aircraft belonged, disappeared along with them. All colorful squadron and merit badges also had to be omitted. In the spring of 1942 - the USA was now at war - the squadron number was also omitted (the enemy was not to know which squadron or carrier he was dealing with), followed by the now irrelevant letter, which indicated the purpose of the squadron. This left only the individual number.
As the number of escort carriers increased and the usual grouping of four to six carriers into a carrier division became more common, a mere number made it more difficult to link up with one's own formation when collecting after the attack. A number 3 occurred more often. Also, problems could arise during landing if the number three asked permission to land twice. A marking that clearly identified the unit was urgently needed. Which was not officially allowed. But after the Navy had not intervened when fleet carriers, which had had the same problem, had attached simple geometric signs ("G symbols") to the vertical stabilizer, the first squadrons of escort carriers soon dared to use such decorations too. For some a letter was enough, for others a white bar or whatever was considered practical. Later, more imaginative ones fololowed. No formation markings were required when the carrier was sailing alone in the Atlantic (accompanied by destroyers, of course), nor as a training carrier or aircraft transporter. This left only escort for resupply transports and preparation and support of landing operations, and there it depended on the squadron deployed whether it considered a formation marker necessary. All of these missions lasted only a few weeks at a time; more than 2 months was rare. Characteristic of escort carriers was their constantly changing mission. Example CVE-71 "Kitkun Bay": Jan. to Mar. 1944 aircraft transport; May 1944: training cruises; Jun. 1944: deployment off Tinian and Saipan; Aug. 1944: Guam; Sep. 1944: Palau Islands; Oct. 1944: Leyte, Samar (damaged by kamikaze on Oct. 25); Jan. 1945: aircraft transport (damaged by kamikaze on 8. Jan.); Feb. 1945: shipyard, repair; Jun. 1945: support of fleet carriers off Japan; Aug. 1945: Adak, Alaska; Oct. 1945: part of "Magic Carpet" operation, repatriation of soldiers and prisoners of war. *Squadron, Air Group: A squadron was and is a miniature task force in the Navy. Nominal strength on prewar carriers 18 aircraft (more or less for land-based Sqns), practice-oriented during the war, usually a slight preponderance of fighters over bombers. Formed when needed and disbanded when no longer needed. Their designation begins with a "V" for "heavier than air" (for airships it was "Z"), followed by one or two letters indicating the purpose (on fleet carriers in WW II "F" Fighter, "B" Bomber, "S" Scout, "T" Torpedo), followed by the individual number. On escort carriers, limitation was to one fighter and torpedo bomber each, which would have been possible only with reduced numbers in each case. A "composite squadron", VC, fighter and 'bomber in one squadron, solved the problem. On carriers of the "Bogue" and "Casablanca" classes, VC squadrons were the rule. On carriers of the "Sangamon" class, the same was true in principle, but the VF squadron equipped with about 22 F6F Hellcats was also an "air group" because a VC squadron with mixed types was also on board. |
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All in all, it took years of research. Above all, captions had to be checked for plausibility in order to correctly assign markings. Color drawings and sketches" that merely attributed the "G symbol" to a carrier were not taken into account. |
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Damage was inflicted on 28 ships. Of these, CVE-26 Sangamon and CVE-27 Suwanee three times each, seven others two times each. 13 x Kamikaze, 10 x Typhoons. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sources: Photos US National Archives, US Navy; Profiles Srecko Bradic, Wilfried Eck; Literature: Stefan Terzibaschitsch, "Flugzeugträger der U.S. Navy, Geleitflugzeugträger, Verlag Bernard & Graefe, München, ISBN 3-7637-5119-9; John M. Elliot, The Official Monogram US Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide 1940-1949, ISBN 0 914144-32-4; Geoff Thomas, US Navy Carrier Aircraft Colors, ISBN 1 871187036; William T. Y'Blood, The Little Giants, ISBN I-55750-980-8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Acknowledgements for their help to Walter Koch, Switzerland, and Adam Lewis, USA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Modeling: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Text copyright Wilfried Eck | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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