Launched on 22 May 1942 and commissioned on 15 September 1942, USS Altamaha (AVG-18/ACV-18/CVE-18) was a Bogue-class escort aircraft carrier in the United States Navy during World War II. Before commissioning, her designation was changed from AGV-18 to ACV-18. On 15 July 1943 the designation was changed again, this time to CVE-18.
From commissioning until March 1944, Altamaha undertook training and transport tasks, delivering planes and cargo throughout the Pacific.
On 24 February 1944, in a test off the California coast, blimp K-29 landed on USS Altamaha (CVE-18). this was the first time a non-rigid airship landed and took off from an aircraft carrier at sea.
From March to April 1944, she undertook anti-submarine patrols off the Marshall Islands. On 11 April she was the subject of a torpedo attack, but evaded all four torpedoes.
After returning the the US west coast for maintenance she resumed transport duties for the remainder of the war. Post war, she was assigned to Operation Magic Carpet, and transported armed forces personnel and equipment throughout the Pacific back to the United States.
The carrier was placed out of commission, in reserve, on 27 September 1946. The ship was redesignated CVHE-18 on 12 June 1955. Altamaha was sold on 25 April 1961 to Eisenberg & Co., New York City, N.Y., and, later that year, was scrapped in Japan.
Aerial view of USS Altamaha (ACV-18) underway in Puget Sound, Wash., 27 October (September) 1942USS Altamaha (ACV-18), 15 January 1943. 40mm gun Sally Rand and 3A crewUSS Altamaha (ACV-18), 6 February 1943. Torpedo decorated to resemble a lion’s head
USS Altamaha CVE-18
USS Altamaha (CVE-18), Bremerton Naval Shipyard, 1943Stern plan view of USS Altamaha (CVE-18) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 8 Nov 1943USS Altamaha (CVE-18) departing Mare Island Navy Yard on 9 Nov 1943Bow on view of USS Altamaha (CVE-18) departing Mare Island Navy Yard on 9 Nov 1943USS Altamaha (CVE-18) off Mare Island Navy Yard on 9 Nov 1943Stern view of USS Altamaha (CVE-18) departing Mare Island Navy Yard on 9 Nov 1943Forward plan view of USS Altamaha (CVE-18) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 8 Nov 1943USS Altamaha (CVE-18) February 1945USS Altamaha (CVE-18) February 1945
Interior Photos
Interior of Communications Room of USS Altamaha (ACV-18) May 1943Interior of Communications Room of USS Altamaha (ACV-18) May 1943
Transporting Aircraft
USS Altamaha leaves San Francisco, 16 July 1943, with her decks crammed with P-51 Mustangs and a lone SOC SeagullUSS Altamaha (CVE-18) with a deck load of Army P-51 Mustang fighters off San Francisco, California, on 16 July 1943USS Altamaha (CVE-18) underway 16 July 1943 with a deck load of P-51 MustangsUSS Altamaha (CVE-18) in the New Hebrides, September 1944
With Blimp K-29
On 24 February 1944, in a test off the California coast, blimp K-29 landed on USS Altamaha (CVE-18). this was the first time a non-rigid airship landed and took off from an aircraft carrier at sea.
USS Altamaha (CVE-18) operating with K-29 which is making a landing approach on 24 February 1944USS Altamaha (CVE-18) operating with blimp K-29 on 24 February 1944USS Altamaha (CVE-18) operating with blimp K-29 which has just taken off
Aircraft Operations
Grumman F4F Wildcat
The remarkable series of photographs was taken by an alert Official Navy Photographer aboard USS Altamaha, during a practice cruise on May 17, 1943. The Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat, attempting a landing on the deck, veered to one side and plunged into the water. The pilot was saved.
Crews on the catwalk and gun platform duck for safety when the Grumman F4F heads in their direction. May 17, 1943The Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat VC 11 White F4 veered over the edge with a damaged wingThe Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat plunging towards the waterThe Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat just after hitting the water. The pilot is exiting the cockpitThe Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat sinkingUSS Altamaha (ACV-18), 10 April 1943. Close-up of antenna onboard struck by an F4F Wildcat
Grumman F6F Hellcat
Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat getting ready for a jet-assisted take-off from USS Altamaha (CVE-18), on 1 March 1944
Grumman TBF Avenger
Grumman TBF Avengers being loaded onboard USS Altamaha (ACV-18), May 1943Grumman TBF Avenger with jet assisted take off, from the deck of USS Altamaha (CVE-18), on 1 March 1944.Crash landing of a Grumman TBM Avenger (J26 of VC-66) due to tail hook failureUSS Altamaha (CVE-18). Crash landing of a Grumman TBM Avenger (J26 of VC-66 ) due to tail hook failureCrash of a Grumman TBM Avenger J29 of VC-66 on USS Altamaha (CVE-18), 11 April 1944
Vought F4U Corsair
A Vought F4U Corsair conducts a RATO (Rocket-Assisted Take Off) aboard USS Altamaha (CVE-18), 1 March 1944
Launched on 8 September 1901, Borodino was the lead ship of her class of five pre-dreadnought battleships built for the Imperial Russian Navy. Entering service in August 1904, she sailed only two months later on 15 October, with the Second Pacific Squadron to break the Japanese blockade of Port Arthur.
The Japanese captured the port while the squadron was in transit and their destination was changed to Vladivostok. The ship was sunk during the Battle of Tsushima in May 1905 due to explosions set off by a Japanese shell hitting a magazine. There was only a single survivor from her crew of 855 officers and enlisted men.
Borodino under constructionBorodino just after launch 8 September 1901Borodino in 1904 at KronshtadtThe bridge of BorodinoBorodino in 1904 at KronshtadtBorodino in 1904 at KronshtadtAugust 1904 Borodino in Kronstadt, Russia.
Bismarck was the first of two Bismarck-class battleships built for Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine. Named after Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, the ship was laid down at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg in July 1936 and launched in February 1939. Work was completed in August 1940, when she was commissioned into the German fleet. Bismarck and her sister ship Tirpitz were the largest battleships ever built by Germany, and two of the largest built by any European power.
In the course of the warship’s eight-month career under its sole commanding officer, Captain Ernst Lindemann, Bismarck conducted only one offensive operation, lasting 8 days in May 1941, codenamed Rheinübung. The ship, along with the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, was to break into the Atlantic Ocean and raid Allied shipping from North America to Great Britain. The two ships were detected several times off Scandinavia, and British naval units were deployed to block their route. At the Battle of the Denmark Strait, the battlecruiser HMS Hood initially engaged Prinz Eugen, probably by mistake, while HMS Prince of Wales engaged Bismarck. In the ensuing battle Hood was destroyed by the combined fire of Bismarck and Prinz Eugen, which then damaged Prince of Wales and forced her retreat. Bismarck suffered sufficient damage from three hits to force an end to the raiding mission.
The destruction of Hood spurred a relentless pursuit by the Royal Navy involving dozens of warships. Two days later, heading for occupied France to effect repairs, Bismarck was attacked by 16 obsolescent Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal; one scored a hit that rendered the battleship’s steering gear inoperable. In her final battle the following morning, the already-crippled Bismarck was severely damaged during a sustained engagement with two British battleships and two heavy cruisers and sank with heavy loss of life.
Construction
Bismarck under construction at Blohm & Voss Hamburg, GermanyBismarck Fitting OutBismarck LaunchingBismarck Fitting OutBismarck Stern ViewBismarck BowBismarck in floating dry dock, Hamburg, July 1940Bismarck Propeller ShaftBismarck PropellersBismarck LaunchingBismarck LaunchingBismarck Fitting OutBismarck Fitting OutBismarck Fitting OutBismarck Being PaintedBismarck fitting out at the Blohm & Voss, Dec 1939. Shows details of her forward twin 380mm Guns
At Sea
BismarckBismarckBismarckBismarckBismarckBismarckBismarck Underway From Prinz EugenBismarck UnderwayBismarckBismarckBismarckBismarckBismarckBismarck at SeaBismarck at SeaBismarck BowBismarck at SeaBismarckBismarck at anchorage in Bergen just before it set out for the AtlanticBismarck from the Rensburger Bridge, March 8, 1941
Detailed Photos
Bismarck Port Bow BismarckBismarck Starboard BowBismarck in KielBismarck Starboard SternBismarck Bismarck Main ArmamentBismarck Main ArmamentBismarck Aft Main ArmamentBismarck Main ArmamentDetail of the Aft Main ArmamentBismarckBismarck Aft Main ArmamentBismarck BoatsBismarck BoatsBismarck Bismarck Bismarck Main MastBismarckBismarck BoatsBismarck Secondary ArmamentBismarckBismarckArmored tube and trunking – FWD conning tower.BismarckBismarckBismarckBismarck Port Side Secondary ArmamentBismarck Fitting OutBismarck CommissioningBismarck CommissioningBismarck CraneBismarck Looking ForwardBismarck BridgeBismarckBismarck fire control computer C38 K
In Battle
Bismarck During the BAttle of the Denmark StraitBismarck FiringBismarck Under FireBismarck Firing in the Denmark StraitBismarck Firing in the Denmark StraitBismarck FiringBismarck Firing on HMS Prince of WalesBismarck, a few hours after the Battle of the Denmark Strait, 24 May 1941The sinking of the German Battleship Bismarck as seen from HMS Dorsetshire.HMS Dorsetshire Rescuing Bismarck Survivors
