USS Core CVE-13 was a Bogue-class escort carrier built for the US Navy. Launched on 15 May 1942 and commissioned on 10 December 1942, she was originally designated AVG-13. On 20 August 1942 this was changed to ACV-13 and then to CVE-13 on 15 July 1943. While operating as a part of Hunter-Killer groups, Core and her escorts sank seven German U-boats during the Battle of the Atlantic.
USS Core also operated as an aircraft transport in the Atlantic and Pacific. Post war she took part in Operation Magic Carpet, the repatriation of homeward bound servicemen.
Post war she was redesignated as a helicopter escort carrier (CVHE-13) 12 June 1955, a utility carrier (CVU-13) 1 July 1958 and finally an aviation transport (T-AKV-41) 7 May 1959. During the Vietnam war she ferried aircraft to Saigon.
Core was stricken for disposal on 15 September 1970 and sold for scrap in 1971.
USS Core (CVE-13) ferrying aircraft steamed under the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge possibly 3 September 1945USS Core (CVE-13) underway at sea in 1944USS Core (CVE-13) wearing camouflage Measure 32, Design 4A, 31 August 1944USS Core underway in the Atlantic, probably on 10 October 1943USS Core (CVE-13)USS Core (CVE-13) underway, circa 1944. She is camouflaged in Measure 32, Design 4A schemeGerman prisoners of U-185 aboard USS Barker (DD-213) 24 August 1943 alongside USS Core
Aircraft Operations
General Motors (Grumman) F4F Wildcat
General Motors FM-2 Wildcat launched from USS Core (CVE-13) on 12 April 1944General Motors FM-2 Wildcat flies near USS Core (CVE-13) 1944General Motors FM-2 Wildcat #21 ready for catapulting, in the North Atlantic, 12 April 1944Crash of General Motors FM-2 Wildcat #19 into the ship’s port stacks, while landing, North Atlantic, 16 April 1944Grumman TBM Avengers and General Motors FM Wildcats of VC-36 on the flight deck of the USS Core CVE-13 Atlantic on April 9, 1944
Grumman TBF Avenger
Grumman TBM Avengers and General Motors FM Wildcats of VC-36 on the flight deck of the USS Core CVE-13 Atlantic on April 9, 1944Grumman TBF-1 Avenger of VGS-13 takes off from USS Core ACV-13 February 15, 1943
Captured Japanese Aircraft
Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka being transported aboard USS Core (CVE-13)Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka K-1 training glider being transported aboard USS Core (CVE-13)
USNS Core (T-AKV 41)
USNS Core (T-AKV 41) in Saigon River 1961USNS Core (T-AKV 41) in Saigon 1961 with 32 H-21 Shawnee helicoptersUSNS Core (T-AKV 41) in Saigon River 1961USNS Core arrived in Saigon Dec. 11 1961 carrying helicopters and U.S. Army pilots and ground crewsUSNS Core (T-AKV-41) docks in Saigon Feb. 7, 1962USNS Core (T-AKV 41) docks at Saigon harbor, South VietnamUSNS Core (T-AKV-41) docks in Saigon Feb. 7, 1962USNS Core (T-AKV 41) in Saigon Harbour 17 June 1965 with more than 70 Douglas EA-1F Skyraiders for the Vietnamese Air ForceUSNS Core (T-AKV 41) at Vancouver, BC, 15 June 1964USNS Core (T-AKV 41) at Vancouver, BC, 15 June 1964USNS Core (T-AKV 41) at Vancouver, BC, 15 June 1964An A-1G on the crane of USNS Core (T-AKV-41) at Saigon c1965Douglas A-1 Skyraider aircraft on deck of the USNS Core (T-AKV-41) at Saigon, South Vietnam, circa 1965. Core delivered more than seventy warplanes USNS Core (T-AKV 41) in Saigon RiverUSNS Core (T-AKV 41) docks at Saigon harbor, South VietnamUSNS Core (T-AKV 41) docks at Saigon harbor, South VietnamUSNS Core (T-AKV 41) in Saigon, 1960s.USNS Core (T-AKV 41) in San Francisco Bay. 1966–1967USNS Core (T-AKV 41) docked at Saigon harbor, South VietnamUSNS Core (T-AKV 41) docked at Saigon harbor, South VietnamUSNS Core (T-AKV 41) docked at Saigon harbor, South Vietnam
Galileo Galilei was an Archimede-class submarine built for the Italian Regia Marina. Launched on 19 March 1934, she was commissioned on 16 October 1934. At the time of Italy’s entry into the Second World War, Galileo Galilei was in the Red Sea. On her first patrol, she sank the Norwegian tanker James Stove on 16 June 1940. On the afternoon of 18 June a Yugoslavian steamer Drava was spotted. Galileo Galilei fired a shot across her bows to force her to stop, but on seeing the flag of a neutral country allowed her to proceed. The gunshot however was heard by HMS Moonstone an anti-submarine warfare trawler patrolling nearby.
One British aircraft responded to Moonstone’s signal, arriving at 16:40 and which forced the submarine to dive. After nightfall, Galileo Galilei surfaced to recharge her batteries, but was spotted by Moonstone forcing her to dive again. Subjected to a depth charge attack which caused no damage, she waited out the night on the seabed. On the morning on 19 June, methylchloride poisoning began affecting the crew. At this time, she was detected by Moonstone which commenced a depth charge attack. Considering the weak armament of Moonstone (one 4-inch gun and two machine guns, Captain Nardi decided on a surface action with his two-100mm guns and machine guns.
HMS Moonstone moved too fast for the 100mm deck guns to accurately target her, compounded when the sighting mechanism of the forward gun broke. Hits on the forward gun position, conning tower (killing the captain) and then the jamming of the rear gun caused the senior officer to surrender the submarine when the British destroyer HMS Kandahar also arrived.
After her capture, Galileo Galilei was berthed at Port Said and served as a generating station to charge the batteries of British submarines. She was commissioned into the Royal Navy in June 1942 as HMS X2 (later changed to P 711), and was operated as a training boat in the East. She was scrapped on 1 January 1946.
Galileo GalileiGalileo GalileiGalileo Galilei being captured 19 June 1940 by the British armed trawler MoonstoneGalileo Galilei after her capture along with along with HMS KandaharHMS X2 (ex-Galileo Galilei) at Aden after her capture showing the damage to her finGalileo Galilei after her captureGalileo Galilei after being capturedGalileo Galilei after being captured
KMS UB was a Grampas-class minelaying submarine of the German Kriegsmarine during the Second World War. Originally built and operated by the British Royal Navy, she was captured on 5 May 1940. HMS Seal was launched on 28 September 1938 and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 28 January 1939.
On 4 May 1940 after laying a minefield in the Skagerrak, Seal was hunted by German trawlers after being spotted by aircraft. Successfully avoiding the trawlers, she ran into an uncharted minefield. Suffering considerable damage she sank to the bottom and waited until nightfall before attempting to surface.
After considerable difficulty, the crew managed to raise her, but she could no longer submerge and damage to her rudder meant she could only steer in reverse. After destroying all confidential papers and equipment Seal made for Sweden and internment. Unfortunately she was spotted by two Arado Ar 196 floatplanes, which were soon joined by a Henkel He 115. With his guns out of action, wounded crew members and unable to dive, Captain Lonsdale surrendered.
Despite the crew’s expectation that the submarine would sink by herself as she was listing and holed, the Germans managed to salvage her. She was repaired at huge cost, renamed UB and used as a training ship and for propaganda purposes. A lack of spares and high maintenance costs saw her paid off, stripped and abandoned in 1943. KMS UB was never used operationally against British forces.
HMS SealHMS SealHMS Seal after being capturedFlags after the surrender of HMS SealKMS UJ 128 towing HMS Seal toward Frederikshavn, Denmark. Note the white surrender flag on Seal’s periscopeGermans examining HMS Seal20mm cannon damage to HMS SealHMS Seal riddled with gunfire at Frederikshavn after she was captured on May 5th 1940HMS Seal after being capturedHMS Seal in Kiel after her captureHMS Seal at the Krupp Shipyard ready to be refurbished as a German U-boat. Note the unidentified German light cruiserHMS Seal undergoing repairs at Frederikshavn, Denmark, May 1940The first German crew to man UB (ex-HMS Seal). The photo was probably taken at the commissioning ceremonyKMS UB (ex-HMS Seal) being taken by its German crew for a trial run. UB was never used as a warships against the British
