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NavSource Online: Escort Carrier Photo Archive

USS CORE   (ACV-13)
(later CVE-13, CVHE-13, CVU-13 and AKV-41)



Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Uniform - Uniform - Quebec

Unit Awards, Campaign and Service Medals and Ribbons

 
 

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: American Campaign Medal / European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (1 star)
2nd Row: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal / World War II Victory Medal / Navy Occupation Service Medal ("Asia" clasp)

Bogue Class Escort Carrier
Ordered Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Stricken
(see below) 2 Jan 1942 15 May 1942 10 Dec 1942
1 Jul 1958 (*)
4 Oct 1946
25 Nov 1969

15 Sep 1970
Builder: Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp., Seattle, Wash.
(*) Under MSTS control (see below)

Specifications
(As commissioned, 1942)
Displacement: 7,800 tons standard; 15,700 tons full load (design)
Dimensions (wl): 465' x 69.5' x 23.25'  /  141.7 x 21.2 x 7.1 meters
Dimensions (max.): 495' 8" x 111.5'  /  151.1 x 34 meters
Armor: None
Power plant: 2 boilers (285 psi); 1 steam turbine; 1 shaft; 8,500 shp
Speed: 16.5 knots
Endurance:
Armament: 2 single 5"/51 (later 5"/38) gun mounts; (1943) 8 twin 40-mm/56-cal gun mounts; (1943) 27 single 20-mm/70-cal gun mounts
Aircraft: 24
Aviation facilities: 2 elevators; 2(?) hydraulic catapults
Crew: 890

Click on Thumbnail
for Full Size Image
Size Image Description Source
Name
Core Sound
NS0301316
89k

ACV-13 was named for Core Sound, North Carolina.

(Map courtesy of Google Maps.)

NavSource
USS Core, 1942-1958
CVE-13 Core
NS0301302
36k USS Core (ACV-13) at anchor while fitting out at Seattle-Tacoma Shipyard, Seattle, WA, January 24, 1943. She is painted in Measure 22 camouflage. USN photo. Robert Hurst
CVE-13 Core
NS0301302
60k Circa 1943, Measure 22 camouflage. Hazegray & Underway
CVE-13 Core
NS0301307
171k Aerial view, in Measure 22 camouflage, circa 1943. Courtesy of Tony Alter, via Bill Gonyo
CVE-13 Core
NS0301315
156k

German submarine, U-84 (Type VIIB), damaged by plane from USS Core (CVE-13), piloted by Ensign William McClane. Incident #4085, 7 August 1943. Photos released 23 August 1943.

NS0301315: Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-77193.

NS0301315a: Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-77194.

NARA
CVE-13 Core
NS0301315a
101k
CVE-13 Core
NS0301310
119k

"Shown here is U-185 under attack from U.S. Navy aircraft. The Type IXC boat U-185 left Bordeaux on 9 June 1943 under the command of Kapitänleutnant August Maus. Five days later it encountered the Type VIIC boat U-564 in the Bay of Biscay, which had been damaged the day before by Sunderland G.R.Mk.III (DV967) of No.228 Sqd flown by Flight Lieutenant L.B.Lee from Pembroke Dock, Wales, but had succeeded in shooting down the flying boat with the loss of the crew. This damaged U-boat was being attacked by Whitley G.R.Mk. V (BD220) of No.10 Operational Training Unit, flown by Sergeant A.J.Benson from St Eval, Cornwall, but the aircraft was hit by the combined fire from the two U-boats. It turned for home but was forced to ditch; all five crew members were picked up by a French fishing boat and taken into captivity. U-564 sank with the loss of twenty-eight crew members, but eighteen men were rescued by U-185, including the commander, and transferred to two German destroyers. Continuing its cruise, U-185 sank five merchant vessels and damaged another. On 11 August 1943 it shot down an American Liberator of Anti-Submarine Squadron VP-107, while rescuing survivors from the Type VIIC Boat U-604, which had been crippled by this Liberator and an American destroyer. The end came on 24 August 1943, as shown here. It was about 800 miles south-west of the Azores when it was bombed by a TBF-1 Avenger flown by Lieutenant R.P Williams and strafed by an F4F Wildcat flown by Lieutenant M.G. O'Neill, both of Composite Squadron VC-13 from the escort carrier USS Core commanded by Captain N.B. Greer. Twenty-nine men from U-185 and fourteen from U-604 died in this attack, and two more died among the survivors picked up by the USS Core. Kapitanleutnant Maus was among those who survived to become prisoners of war. Ref: ADM 199/1408."

Photo and text from Ultra Versus U-Boats, by Roy Conyers Nesbit.

Robert Hurst
CVE-13 Core
NS0301310a
455k

The explosion caused by depth charges dropped on German submarine U-185 by a plane from USS Core (CVE-13). The bow of the submarine protrudes from the bottom of the explosion. Incident #4082, 24 August 1943. Released 24 August 1943.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-77195.

NARA
CVE-13 Core
NS0301310b
599k

German submarine U-185 sinking after combined attack of a TBF-1 Avenger piloted by Lieutenant R.P. Williams, USNR, and two F4F-4 Wildcats from USS Core (CVE-13). Incident #4082, 24 August 1943. Released 24 August 1943.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-77196.

CVE-13 Core
NS0301310c
651k

German survivors from submarine U-185 in water after being sunk by a TBF-1 Avenger from USS Core (CVE-13), piloted by Lieutenant Robert P. Williams, USNR. They were in the water for six hours before being picked up by destroyer USS Barker (DD-213). Incident #4082, 24 August 1943. Released 24 August 1943.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-77198.

CVE-13 Core
NS0301310d
580k

The German captain of U-185, Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant) August Maus, and U-604 survivors, aboard USS Core (CVE-13). They are being directed by the Master-At-Arms. Incident #4082, 24 August 1943. Released 24 August 1943.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-77199.

CVE-13 Core
NS0301310e
514k

The German captain of U-185, Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant) August Maus, and U-604 survivors, aboard USS Core (CVE-13). CAPT Marshall R. Greer, Core's commanding officer, is questioning the prisoner. Incident #4082, 24 August 1943. Released 24 August 1943.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-77200.

CVE-13 Core
NS0301310f
620k

Survivors of German submarines U-185 and U-604 resting on the flight deck of USS Core (CVE-13). Released 24 August 1943.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-77202.

CVE-13 Core
NS0301310g
525k

Survivors of a German submarine sunk by a squadron from USS Core (CVE-13). A pharmacist's mate examines an injured prisoner.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-77211.

NARA
CVE-13 Core
NS0301319
798k

The body of one of four survivors of a German submarine, sunk by a squadron of USS Core (CVE-13) being lowered into the sea from the deck of the escort aircraft carrier. He had died aboard ship. Released 25 August 1943.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-77204.

NARA
CVE-13 Core
NS0301320
721k

Aboard USS Core (CVE-13) survivors of a German submarine sunk by one of the ship's squadrons. Shown are prisoners in custody. Released 2 September 1943.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-77221.

NARA
CVE-13 Core
NS0301309
122k

USS Core (CVE-13) underway in the Atlantic, probably on 10 October 1943. The wing of the plane from which the photograph was taken is in the foreground. Note also that the planes of her air group are painted white and gull grey to make them difficult for U-boats to see against the sky.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command (#NH 106565).

Robert Hurst
CVE-13 Core
NS0301321
590k

Attacks on German U-boats, 1943. Aerial attack on the Type VIIC submarine U-378, Incident #4786, 20 October 1943. The U-boat was sunk (all hands lost) by a Fido homing torpedo and depth charges from Avenger and Wildcat aircraft from Composite Squadron (VC) 13, based on USS Core (CVE-13).

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-207651.

NARA
CVE-13 Core
NS0301301
718k USS Core (CVE-13) underway, circa 1944. She is camouflaged in Measure 32, Design 4A scheme.

Part of a photograph album documenting the World War II service of Composite Squadron (VC) 6, that made a War Cruise aboard Core, 5 December 1943–18 January 1944.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo, # 1986.150.003.026.

Mike Green
Robert Hurst
CVE-13 Core
NS0301308
218k

General Motors FM-2 Wildcat fighter is catapulted from USS Core (CVE-13), in the North Atlantic, 12 April 1944. Taken by Photographer's Mate N.H. Seehafer.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (#80-G-269035).

Gerd Matthes, Germany
CVE-13 Core
NS0301308a
93k

General Motors FM-2 Wildcat fighter flies near USS Core (CVE-13), during operations in the North Atlantic, 12 April 1944. Plane has its landing gear and tailhook down, in preparation for landing on board.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (#80-G-269036).

Robert Hurst
CVE-13 Core
NS0301317
533k

USS Core (CVE-13) wearing camouflage Measure 32, Design 4A, 31 August 1944. Colors are Pale Gray, Light Gray, Haze Gray and Navy Blue.

United States National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Photo # 80-G-269136.

Courtesy of C. Lee Johnson, usndazzle.com,
via Mike Green
CVE-13 Core
NS0301325
362k

Photo of a photo of USS Core (CVE-13) ferrying aircraft. The escort carrier has just steamed under the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, en route to Alameda. Date is possibly 3 September 1945.

-
CVE-13 Core
NS0301326
370k

A Japanese Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka ("Baka") flying bomb on the deck of USS Core (CVE-13) as part of a shipment of Japanese warplanes being loaded in Japan, 21 November 1945. Note that this is a two-seat training glider version of the "Baka." Plane in background is a Mitsubishi Ki-67 Hiryu ("Peggy") Army bomber.

Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # 80-G-269248.

Robert Hurst
USNS Core, 1958-1969
AKV-41 Core
NS0301318
388k

Chicago (CG-11), undegoing conversion to a guided missile cruiser, photographed in Berths No. 15-16 outboard of the "running pier," San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard Hunters Point, mid-to-late 1960. USNS Core (T-AKV 41) appears in berth No. 13 beyond. A seaplane tender, either Pine Island (AV-12) or Salisbury Sound (AV-13), can be seen in dock No. 3.

Mike Green
AKV-41 Core
NS0301314
78k

Undated picture of USNS Core (T-AKV 41) at anchor, possibly in South Vietnam. Note armed guard in foreground. Photographer unknown. Military Sealift Command (MSC) photo.

Robert Hurst
AKV-41 Core
NS0301323
219k

USNS Core (T-AKV 41) in Saigon, 1960s.

LIFE magazine photo.

Ron Reeves
CVE-13 Core
NS0301311a
367k

USNS Core (T-AKV 41) arriving in Saigon, 11 December 1961.

LIFE magazine photo.

manhhai,
via Yu Chu
CVE-13 Core
NS0301311b
363k

USNS Core (T-AKV 41) arriving in Saigon, 11 December 1961, with her deck full of aircraft.

LIFE magazine photo.

CVE-13 Core
NS0301311c
55k

USNS Core (T-AKV 41), docked in Saigon, 11 December 1961.

AKV-41 Core
NS0301311d
127k

USNS Core (T-AKV 41), Saigon.

Via Yu Chu
AKV-41 Core
NS0301311e
71k
CVE-13 Core
NS0301311
591k

"U.S. CARRIER ARRIVES SAIGON—The converted aircraft carrier USNS Core arrived in Saigon, Dec. 11[, 1961], carrying helicopters and U.S. Army pilots and ground crews, to begin a joint U.S.-South Vietnamese effort to stamp[?] out the Communist Viet Cong. The arrival of the helicopter companies marks the first time U.S. personnel will be flying actual missions against the rebels. Note security guard in foreground as the Core tied up. (AP WIREPHOTO via radio from Hong Kong)"

Tommy Trampp
manhhai,
via Yu Chu
AKV-41 Core
NS0301324
528k

Aircraft ferry USNS Core (T-AKV 41) docks at Saigon harbor, South Vietnam.

Although the photos are dated March 1962, they appear to have been taken on 11 December 1961, when Core arrived in Saigon transporting 32 Boeing Vertol (formerly Piasecki) H-21C Shawnee helicopters and 400 soldiers of the US Army's 8th and 57th Transport Companies. (Compare to photo NS0301311.)

manhhai,
via Yu Chu
AKV-41 Core
NS0301324a
547k
AKV-41 Core
NS0301324b
529k
AKV-41 Core
NS0301324c
227k

Aircraft ferry USNS Core (T-AKV 41) docked at Saigon harbor, South Vietnam. Possibly taken on the same occasion as the photos above.

manhhai,
via Yu Chu
AKV-41 Core
NS0301324d
408k
AKV-41 Core
NS0301324e
414k
AKV-41 Core
NS0301324f
48k Via Yu Chu
AKV-41 Core
NS0301324g
61k
T-AKV 41 Core
NS0301322
400k

The cargo ship and aircraft ferry USNS Core (T-AKV 41) in Saigon harbor, 1962, with two large cranes added on deck to handle cargo aircraft. Her deck load includes a TF-9J Cougar, which the Marines used in the gunfire spotting role during the Vietnam War; three USN Grumman HU-16C Albatross amphibians; and a cocooned Vought F-8 Crusader fighter.

Photo from U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History, by Norman Friedman.

Robert Hurst
CVE-13 Core
NS0301305
104k

The aircraft ferry ship USNS Core (T-AKV 41, ex-T-CVU 13, ex-CVHE 13, ex-CVE 13, ex-ACV 13) dockside, with helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft (most of them "cocooned") on deck. USN/MSTS photo.

Wayne Mutza comments: "[This] photo would have been taken in September 1962. Aboard are 15 'cocooned' Bell HU-1A Huey helicopters destined for the Army's airmobile evaluation unit (UTTCHO) at Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam."

Robert Hurst
AKV-41 Core
NS0301313
104k

USNS Core (T-AKV 41) at Vancouver, BC, 15 June 1964.

Source: City of Vancouver Archives.

NS0301313: Photo No. AM1506-S3-3-: CVA 447-4100.2, by Walter E. Frost.

NS0301313a: Photo No. AM1506-S3-3-: CVA 447-4100, by Walter E. Frost (14? June 1964).

NS0301313b: Photo No. AM1506-S3-3-: CVA 447-4100.1, by Walter E. Frost.

Mike Green
AKV-41 Core
NS0301313a
77k
AKV-41 Core
NS0301313b
108k
CVE-13 Core
NS0301303
277k

USNS Core (T-AKV 41) approaching a berth in Saigon Harbour, 17 June 1965, with more than 70 Douglas EA-1F Skyraiders for the Vietnamese Air Force.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, photo # 1996.488.032.007.

Robert Hurst
Mike Green
AKV-41 Core
NS0301312
228k

Navy Skyraiders (at least some of them A-1H's) crowd the deck of USNS Core (T-AKV 41) berthed in Saigon Harbor at an unknown date. Core delivered more than 70 warplanes under heavy security. This is the same dock where USNS Card (T-AKV 40) was sunk on 2 May 1964.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, photo # 1996.253.3109.

Mike Green
AKV-41 Core
NS0301312a
205k

Under strict security conditions, an A-1G Skyraider is swung off USNS Core (T-AKV 41) onto a waiting barge at an unknown date. Core is berthed in Saigon Harbor.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, photo # 1996.253.3110.

Mike Green
AKV-41 Core
NS0301306
137k

USNS Core entering San Francisco Bay. Time frame is possibly 1966–1967.

Robert M. Cieri

For more information about this ship, see:

Read the USS Core (ACV-13 / CVE-13 / CVHE-13 / CVU-13 / AKV-41) DANFS History entry

Crew Contact and Reunion Information
Date:  
Place:  
Contact: Mr. Tony Conte
Address: 13 Armstrong Ave
Wayne, NJ, 07470-6301
Phone: 973-839-0120
E-mail:  
Web site:  
Remarks:  

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Last update: 30 April 2024