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| USN Bogue-Class Escort Carrier 7,800 Tons 495.7' x 111.5' x 26' 2 x 4"/50 guns 8 x Twin 40mm AA guns 27 x 20mm AA guns Aircraft: 24   USN July 1944 |
Ship History Built by Todd Pacific Shipyards in Tacoma, Washington. Laid down on June 18 1941 under Maritime Commission contract with hull number 169 as a Steel Architect type C3-S-A1. On February 8, 1942 acquired by the U.S. Navy (USN) and completed as an aircraft carrier at Bremerton Navy Yard as Aircraft Escort Vessel 12 (AVG-12). On August 20, 1942 reclassified as Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier 12 (ACV-12). On July 15, 1943 again reclassified as Bogue-Class Escort Carrier (CVE-12). Launched October 21, 1941 as USS Copahee CVE-12 named for Copahee Sound in South Carolina. Commissioned June 15, 1942 in the U.S. Navy (USN) with commander J. G. Farrell in command and underwent a shakedown cruse ending at Alameda. Wartime History On September 5, 1942 departs Alameda with planes, stores and passengers on her first voyage across the Pacific to Noumea arriving September 28, 1942. Copahee departs October 7, 1942 bound for Guadalcanal. On October 9, 1942 twenty F4F-4 Wildcats from Marine Fighter Squadron 121 (VMF-121) launch on a 3.2 hour ferry flight to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. Afterwards, returns to San Diego arriving October 29, 1942 and underwent an overhaul then training at Pearl Harbor. On February 25, 1943 departs San Diego to begin transporting aircraft, aviation stores and personnel to New Hebrides, Fiji and New Caledonia and Hawaii until June 7, 1943. On September 2, 1943 departs with 45 x A-20s and 2 x P-47s and 8 P-40s on a voyage across the Pacific. On September 26, 1943 at 12:04am arrives at Townsville and begins unloading aircraft, completed by 3:55pm. On September 27, 1943 the carrier embarked 13 x P-39 Airacobras and A6M3 Zero (Rebuilt) XJ001. Afterwards, returns to the United States. Later, makes a second voyage to deliver aircraft to Brisbane then returns via to Pearl Harbor to San Diego on Janury 19, 1944. On April 10, 1944 departs San Diego to ferry aircraft from Pearl Harbor to Majuro. On June 3, 1944 began supporting the Marianas operation by supplying replacement pilots and planes to aircraft carriers of the 5th Fleet. Captured Japanese Aircraft During July 1944, Copahee loaded as deck cargo 13 A6M5 Zeros and one B5N Kate plus other captured enemy equipment including spare parts and 37 engines and transported them across the Pacific back to the United States for technical evaluation. Among the aircraft embarked were A6M5 4340, A6M5 5357, A6M5 5350, A6M5 1303, A6M5 Zero 5352, A6M5 5356. On July 28, 1944 arrives at San Diego. After an overhaul, Copahee returned to transport duty. Until the end of the Pacific War, she made six voyages loaded with cargo from Alameda across the Pacific to locations including Manus, Majuro, Guam, Saipan and Pearl Harbor. Postwar Starting on September 6, 1945 until December 21, 1945 participated in "Magic Carpet" duty, transporting U.S. personnel from Saipan, Guam, Eniwetok, and the Philippines back to the west coast of the United States. On December 21, 1945 returned to Alameda and was decommissioned. On July 5, 1946 placed into reserve at Tacoma, Washington. On June 12, 1955 redesignated as a helicopter escort carrier (CVHE-12). On March 1, 1959 officially stricken from the Navy register. Awards For her World War II services, earned one battle star. Fate During 1961 sold for scrap and broken up. References Note, some sources list CVE-12 delivery of VMF-121 as October 11, 1942 in fact, the flight was October 9, 1942 per Joe Foss logbook] NavSource - USS Copahee (AVG-12, ACV-12, CVE-12 and CVHE-12) Oz@War - Aircraft erection Depot Townsville or Aircraft Assembly Depot Townsville during WWII Contribute
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