The French submarine Narval was an Acciaoia class submarine operated by the Free French Navy during the Second World War.
Originally operated by the Italian Regina Marina as Bronzo, she was captured on 12th July 1943 after being engaged by HMS Seaham, HMS Boston, HMS Cromarty, and HMS Poole. Towed into to Syracuse by HMS Seaham, she was as later transferred to Malta and renamed HMS P714.
It was originally intended to transfer her to the Hellenic Navy, but was given to the Free French naval forces instead on 29 January 1944. She was renamed Narval and remained in operation until the end of the war when she was decommissioned. She was finally scrapped in 1948.
Bronzo (on the right) next to Volframio in early 1942Bronzo at her base in Cagliari, Sardinia, in early 1943Bronzo was commanded for most of her life by Tenente di Vascello Cesare BuldriniBuldrini (with binoculars around his neck) and other members of Bronzo’s crew in August 1942.On 12th July 1943, Bronzo surfaced among a group of British minesweepers, who immediately opened fire on her with their 3-inch gunsBronzo being towed towards Syracuse by HMS SeahamThe captured Italian submarine Bronzo sits in the harbor at Syracuse, Sicily The captured Italian submarine Bronzo sits in the harbor at Syracuse, SicilyThe captured Bronzo at Syracuse, with damage to the conning tower clearly visible
HMS X1 was designed as a commerce raider for the British Royal Navy. The concept was to engage a convoys escorts with her gun armament, which would then enable her and other submarines to sink the merchant vessels.
X1’s gun armament consisted of four 5.2 inch guns in twin turrets, one fore and the other aft. In addition she carried six 21-inch torpedo tubes, each armed with one reload.
Launched on 16 June 1923, she was commissioned in December 1925. In operation, she suffered continual engine problems, resulting in the majority of her time undergoing repairs. It was found that conditions were cramped because of the large crew needed to operate the guns (58 men) and associated auxiliary equipment.
HMS X1 was laid up in 1930 and scrapped in 1936.
HMS X1HMS X1HMS X1HMS X1HMS X1HMS X1HMS X1 at seaHMS X1 at seaHMS X1 at seaHMS X1 being broken up
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
