USS Sangamon (CVE-26) by Donald T
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USS Sangamon (CVE-26) by Donald T. Schroeder Page 1 11-07-04 Update -1. This is a history of the U.S.S. Sangamon written in 1997 by me using the following as my references: U.S.S. Sangamon: Published in 1945 by Army and Navy Pictorial Publishers, Baton Rouge, LA. 15 volume History of U.S. Naval Operations in WWII: By Samuel Eliot Morison, Published by Atlantic Monthly Press Book, Little Brown and CO. Boston Massachusetts. The Little Giants, U.S. Escort Carriers against Japan, by William T. Y’ Blood, Published by Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland. Sangamon Evening News Ships paper Speed Victory, Norfolk Navy Yard Paper The Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch, Norfolk VA Kansas City Star Diary and memorabilia that I saved. Copy of USS Sangamon deck log from the US Navy Archives from March 1,1944 when I went aboard to Oct. 25 1945 when it was decommissioned. In November 2000 I obtained a copy of the rest of the ships log and made some additions and some minor changes. Later made some additions as I found out about them from former crew members. Having been a quartermaster in the navigation department, I had the opportunity to know on a daily basis what was going on and where we were. All the charts and invasion manuals were in the chart room or on the bridge where we stood watch. After the captain read the radiograms he received they usually were out in the open. I could also overhear a lot of conversations about what was going on, or what was going to take place. Donald Schroeder QM 3/c 868-91-83 3703 Dale Street Manitowoc, Wisconsin 54220 PH. 920-682-2013 Page 2 HISTORY OF USS SANGAMON CVE 26 "QUEEN OF THE CVE's" ========================================== This is the story of a tanker that sprouted wings. It is the history of a ship, which, through the experience of war, became an aircraft carrier and whose achievements earned her the name "Queen of the CVE's." The first Sangamon was built in 1862 at Chester, PA. As a “Passaic-class monitor” and was used on the James river and the blockade off Charleston, SC, After the Civil War she was re-commissioned in 1898 and renamed “Jason” and used for coastal defense during the Spanish-American War. It was decommissioned in 1904. As early as May 1927 the Light Aircraft Carrier was discussed by LCdr. Bruce Leighton as a possibility in the US Navy as a substitute for the light cruiser. From 1939 to 1941 the idea of converting merchant ships to light carriers was discussed by the President; Adm. Halsey and CNO to transport planes to England, to train pilots and to escort convoys. On Dec. 26, 1941 the Sec. Of The Navy approved the conversion of 24 merchant hulls. In 1942 he approved the conversion of cruiser hulls, which became the CVL’s. There were only 20 merchant hulls available. The remaining 4 were converted from Cimarron class fast fleet oilers, which had been taken over in the late 1940's from Standard Oil. Their size was considerably larger and was able to accommodate 2 squadrons. They could carry enough fuel for 30days for themselves, 4 destroyers and a light cruiser. Being tankers, they had many compartments, which made them less vulnerable to torpedoes. Work was rushed on them so they could be ready for the North Africa invasion along with the USS Ranger. The Santee left the yard on a shake down cruise with workmen aboard still working on the conversion. The ships were the Sangamon CVE 26, Santee CVE 29, Suwannee CVE 27 and Chenango CVE 28. They were all named after rivers. The Chenango was used for taking a load of Army P-40's to North Africa. The second Sangamon started as a merchant tanker (T3-S2- A1) when launched on Nov.4, 1939. It was one of 12 tankers built on a joint Navy-Maritime Commission design. It was started on March 13, 1939 as ESSO TRENTON (MC hull 7) by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. of Kearny, N.J. It was christened by Mrs. Clara Esselborn of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey. On Oct 22, 1940 the Navy acquired it as a fleet oilier and it was designated AO28 and renamed Sangamon. After service on the west coast and Hawaiian waters, Page 3 Sangamon went to the Atlantic fleet in the spring of 1941. On Dec 7,1941 when war broke out she was in Argentina off loading a cargo of oil. On Feb.14, 1942 it was re-designated AVG 26 and on Feb 25 she was decommissioned and work began to convert her to an Escort Carrier at the Norfolk Navy Yard. It was commissioned as ACV 26 on Aug. 25 1942. On July 29,1943 it was changed to CVE 26. Her name stems from the river Sangamon, which flows peacefully through central Illinois. Sangamon is an Indian name which means,(The Place Where There Is Plenty To Eat) Peace was not to be for the carrier Sangamon, however. Destiny had marked her for a turbulent career, a career that carried her into the far-flung battle fronts of the Atlantic and the Pacific. She participated in major operation after major operation. Her planes hurled tons of bombs and rockets on the enemy, helping clear the seaways of enemy shipping. Her guns blasted Jap aircraft from the skies. Her snub nose plowed through thousands of miles of dangerous waters. She took part in the Atlantic's first big invasion. She fought the Pacific War from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. She was a small carrier but she had a big punch. Although the Sangamon was classified as a CVE, she constituted a considerable increase in size over the early baby flattops. She was 553 feet long, displaced 12,500 tons and had a gross weight of 27,500 tons. She had a draft of 35 ft. The flight deck was 502 feet long and 81 feet wide. She had dual 20- millimeter and dual and quad 40-millimeter gun mounts. There were two five-inch guns in the rear of the ship, but they could not be elevated for air defense because they were partially under the flight deck. It was approximately 45 ft to flight deck and 70 ft to the bridge from which the ship was controlled. The structure that contained the bridge had the odd look of being glued to the starboard side of the flight deck. On the deck that was on the same level as the flight deck, was the chart room, which was used by the navigation department. The Admiral of Carrier Division 22 used the next level. It also had a manual steering station, which had a wood wheel about 4-1/2 ft in diameter. This thing was a bear to operate. It was only used when the electric power failed. The next level had what was called the open flying bridge. This had armor piercing metal about four feet high around the exterior. On the forward part it had a plastic front above the armor piercing metal with a canvas top. This was where the ship was controlled form at sea. The Officer of the Deck and Jr Officer of the Deck stood watch here. The Captain came up here when Page 4 needed. Other officers as the Air Officer, Navigator and Gunnery Officer also were up here at times. The quartermaster, helmsman and engine signalman were also up here. It was quite crowded when special sea detail was in progress. This deck contained a very small cabin where the captain could rest when we were in combat areas. This was to have him quickly available. Above that was the Signal Bridge, which had only canvas for a windbreak. There was an inside access to all these areas. Above that was the look out area, which also had only a canvas side. She was the first of four tankers converted into carriers, which became know as the Sangamon class. Her sister ships are the Suwannee, Chenango and Santee. She had a crew of 1100 including the aircrew. She had one catapult and two elevators to the hanger deck. The Captain, Admiral, and officers had their quarters in the forward part of the ship. The Combat Information Center was also located here. The majority of the crew had quarters below the water line. The quartermasters and stewards had quarters in the after part of the ship. On calm days or when in port, it was possible to open portholes for ventilation. At night no portholes or hatches could be open to maintain total black out while at sea. If you had to move around in these areas you would use a flashlight with red cellophane over the glass. The Chief Petty Officers also had quarters in the forward part of the ship. The sick bay was in the after part of the ship. The ship was like a small city. It had a well-stocked sick bay with a surgeon. Injured sailors from the smaller ships were sent over by a stretcher on ropes. This was called a breeches buoy. They had a dentist, a barber, laundry, dry cleaning, post office and a machine shop. It also had a (GEDUNK) store where toilet articles were sold. On some days they sold ice cream. They were able to make 77 gallons a day when everything went OK. When one of the escorts delivered mail they would receive a treat of ice cream.