United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Core (CVE-13)

 USS Core (CVE-13)

Name: USS Core
Namesake: Core Sound in North Carolina
Laid down: 2 January 1942
Launched: 15 May 1942
Commissioned: 10 December 1942
Decommissioned: 4 October 1946
Fate: Sold for scrap, 1971

General characteristics (as built)

General characteristics:
Class and type: Bogue-class escort carrier
Displacement: 7,800 tons
Length: 495.7 ft (151.1 m)
Beam: 69.5 ft (21.2 m)
Draft: 26 ft (7.9 m)
Speed: 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Complement: 890 officers and men
Armament: 2 × 5 inch guns

 

USS Core (CVE-13), a Bogue-class escort carrier named for the Core Sound in North Carolina, was originally classified AVG-13, but was reclassified ACV-13, 20 August 1942; CVE-13, 15 July 1943; CVHE-13, 12 June 1955; CVU-13, 1 July 1958; and T-AKV-41, 7 May 1959. She was launched 15 May 1942 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding of Tacoma, Washington, under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. B. B. Smith, wife of Lieutenant Commander Smith; acquired by the Navy, 1 May 1942; and commissioned 10 December 1942, Captain M. R. Greer in command.

Description and construction

The USS Core (CVE-13) was a Bogue-class escort carrier designed to provide air support and anti-submarine capabilities during World War II. Initially built as a merchant ship hull and converted for military purposes, the ship underwent several upgrades throughout its service to adapt to evolving wartime needs.

Types of Aircraft Carried

The USS Core (CVE-13) typically carried a mix of aircraft designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), air defense, and convoy escort duties. The exact composition of her air group varied depending on mission requirements and the time period during her service, but her air complement generally included:
Fighter Aircraft: Grumman F4F Wildcat / FM-2 Wildcat: These rugged, carrier-based fighter planes were used for air defense and patrol duties. The FM-2 variant was lighter and had improved performance, making it ideal for escort carriers like the USS Core.
Torpedo Bombers and Patrol Aircraft: Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger: The Avenger was a versatile torpedo bomber equipped for anti-submarine warfare. It could carry depth charges, torpedoes, or bombs, making it an effective tool for hunting submarines and providing air support for convoys.
Douglas SBD Dauntless (early service): While primarily a dive bomber, the Dauntless was occasionally deployed for scouting and light bombing missions early in the war.
Reconnaissance and Patrol Aircraft (in some deployments): Curtiss SOC Seagull (limited early use): These scout planes were used for reconnaissance and spotting missions but were phased out as escort carriers transitioned to more modern aircraft.
Specialized Aircraft (later service): General Motors FM-2 Wildcat with ASW Modifications: Later in her service, the Wildcats were fitted with radar and other modifications for night-fighting and ASW duties. The air group composition aboard the USS Core typically prioritized aircraft that were compact and multifunctional, reflecting the space and mission constraints of escort carriers.

Flight deck arrangements

The USS Core featured a flight deck approximately 495.7 feet (151.1 meters) in length and 69.5 feet (21.2 meters) in beam. This deck was sufficient to accommodate a complement of 19 to 24 aircraft, primarily fighter planes and anti-submarine patrol bombers. The ship was equipped with one hydraulic catapult, enabling the rapid launch of aircraft even in challenging weather conditions. Two elevators connected the hangar deck to the flight deck, allowing efficient movement of aircraft for maintenance, arming, or storage. Over time, the flight deck was enhanced with additional reinforcement to handle the increasing weight of newer aircraft models and to sustain operations in combat conditions.

Propulsion

The propulsion system of the USS Core comprised two Foster-Wheeler boilers operating at 285 psi, which generated steam for a single Allis-Chalmers steam turbine. This system delivered 8,500 shaft horsepower (6,300 kW) to a single screw propeller. With this setup, the carrier achieved a maximum speed of 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph). Though slower than fleet carriers, this speed was adequate for escort missions, convoy protection, and anti-submarine operations. The reliable and efficient propulsion system provided endurance for extended deployments in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.

Armament

The USS Core's armament evolved throughout her service. Initially, she was equipped with two 5-inch (127 mm)/51 caliber guns for surface defense and ten 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons for close-in protection. As threats from enemy aircraft and submarines increased, upgrades added twin 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft mounts, significantly enhancing the carrier's ability to defend against aerial attacks. By the end of the war, her armament consisted of two 5-inch dual-purpose guns, eight twin 40 mm Bofors mounts, and twenty 20 mm Oerlikon cannons, providing robust defensive coverage against air and surface threats.

Fire control and electronics

The USS Core was outfitted with advanced fire control systems for her main and anti-aircraft guns. These systems included radar-directed targeting for increased accuracy in low-visibility conditions and rapid response to fast-moving targets. The ship was equipped with air-search and surface-search radars, enabling early detection of enemy aircraft and submarines. Upgrades during her service included improved radar systems with greater range and resolution, enhancing her ability to perform her primary role as an escort and anti-submarine carrier.

Armor

As a converted escort carrier, the USS Core had limited armor compared to fleet carriers. The focus was on protecting critical areas such as the engine room, magazines, and command spaces. The hull was reinforced to withstand torpedo hits, and the flight deck received additional steel plating to resist bomb fragments. While this armor was not sufficient to repel heavy enemy fire, it provided essential protection against the threats typically encountered during escort missions.

In summary, the USS Core was a versatile escort carrier that played a vital role in convoy protection, anti-submarine warfare, and air support operations during World War II. Her flight deck arrangements, propulsion system, evolving armament, advanced fire control systems, and practical armor made her an invaluable asset in the Allied war effort.

Service history - World War 2

German submarine U-378 sunk by USS Core (CVE-13) Wildcat and Avenger VC-13 aircraft mid Atlantic 20th Oct 1943
German submarine U-378 sunk by USS Core (CVE-13) Wildcat and Avenger VC-13 aircraft mid Atlantic 20th Oct 1943

Clearing Puget Sound 6 February 1943, Core qualified pilots in carrier operations off San Diego, then sailed on to the east coast, arriving at Norfolk 11 April. She continued to train pilots in Chesapeake Bay until 27 June when she sortied as the nucleus of TG 21.12,^[1] a hunter-killer group. Such groups, providing cover for the movement of convoys, made a contribution of great significance to winning the Battle of the Atlantic, and the innovation represented by their formation was a marked advance in antisubmarine warfare. Planes from Core worked in coordination with accompanying destroyers scoring a number of successful attacks. Her planes sank U-487 on 13 July 1943, at 27°15′N 34°18′W, and U-67 on 16 July at 30°05′N 44°17′W. One of her escorts, George E. Badger, sank U-613 on 23 July, at 35°32′N 28°36′W. Core returned to Norfolk 31 July from a most successful first patrol.

On Core's second hunter-killer patrol, from 16 August to 2 September 1943, her planes sank U-84 on 24 August at 27°09′N 37°03′W, and U-185 the same day at 27°00′N 37°06′W. Putting to sea again 5 October in TG 21.15, Core's planes sank U-378 on 20 October at 47°40′N 28°27′W. She returned to Norfolk 19 November.

Following another hunter-killer patrol from 6 December 1943 to 18 January 1944, Core ferried 56 P-51s and other cargo to Liverpool from 6 February to 9 March. From 3 April to 29 May, she operated with TG 21.16 in the central and North Atlantic, then sailed from New York 24 June to ferry 85 Army aircraft to Glasgow, Scotland, returning to Norfolk 20 July. Returning to antisubmarine operations 8 August as CTG 22.4, Core conducted training exercises against newly revealed enemy submarine tactics off Bermuda until 8 October when she returned to Norfolk for an overhaul. After a period qualifying carrier pilots at Quonset Point, she sailed from Norfolk 24 January 1945 to lead her group against weather reporting submarines operating in the North Atlantic, but fog and rough weather prevented successful attacks. She sailed from Norfolk 3 April to join a large antisubmarine unit at Guantanamo Bay 7 April. Operating in the central and North Atlantic as part of Operation Teardrop, the escorts of this group combined to sink U-546 on 24 April at 43°53′N 40°07′W, after the enemy submarine had torpedoed and sunk Frederick C. Davis. Core returned to New York 11 May for repairs and replenishment.

Core transporting aircraft to Vietnam, 1967.

Clearing Norfolk 13 June 1945, Core arrived at San Diego 25 June. She carried aircraft and aviation personnel to Pearl Harbor and to Samar, returning 30 August. Until 20 October, she sailed between Alameda and Seattle on transport duty then sailed for Yokosuka, Japan, on "Magic Carpet" duty, to return homeward-bound servicemen. She made two such voyages from 20 October 1945 to 18 January 1946. Core was placed out of commission in reserve 4 October 1946 at Port Angeles, Washington.

The ship 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. On 11 December 1961, the USNS Core docked in the Saigon Port to unload 32 H-21 Shawnee helicopters and more than 400 U.S. soldiers from the 57th Transportation Company (Light Helicopter) from Fort Lewis, and the 8th Transportation Company (Light Helicopter) from Fort Bragg.^[2]

Core was stricken for disposal on 15 September 1970 and sold for scrap in 1971.

Awards

Core received one battle star for World War II service.