USS Bogue


USS Bogue was the lead ship in the of escort carriers in the United States Navy during World War II. She was originally classified AVG-9, but was changed to ACV-9, 20 August 1942; CVE-9, 15 July 1943; and CVHP-9, 12 June 1955. Aircraft operating from Bogue, plus her escorts, sank eleven German and two Japanese submarines, making her the most successful anti-submarine carrier in World War II.
Bogue was laid down on 1 October 1941 as Steel Advocate under Maritime Commission contract by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding in Tacoma, Washington. Bogue was launched 15 January 1942; sponsored by Mrs. W. Miller, Jr., wife of Lieutenant Commander Miller; transferred to the United States Navy 1 May 1942; and commissioned 26 September 1942, Captain G. E. Short in command.
The ship was named for Bogue Sound in North Carolina.

Service history

After an extensive shakedown and repair period Bogue joined the Atlantic Fleet in February 1943 as the nucleus of the pioneer American anti-submarine hunter-killer group. During March and April 1943 she made three North Atlantic crossings but sank no submarines. She departed on her fourth crossing on 22 April and claimed her first submarine on 22 May when her aircraft sank the at.
During her fifth North Atlantic cruise her planes sank two German submarines: at on 5 June and at on 12 June.
On 23 July 1943, during her seventh patrol, her planes sank at. The destroyer, of her screen, sank during this patrol.
Bogues eighth patrol was her most productive with three German submarines sunk. was sunk by her planes on 29 November 1943 at. On 30 November, Grumman TBF Avengers from Bogue damaged east of the Azores. On 13 December was sunk by her planes, with the aid of destroyers George E. Badger,, and at. And on 20 December was sunk by planes at.
Bogue had a break from her anti-submarine operations during January and February 1944 when she carried a cargo of United States Army fighter aircraft to Glasgow, Scotland. The carrier then returned to her anti-submarine role and on 13 March her aircraft teamed with British planes,, and the RCN to sink at.
On 5 May 1944, Bogue and her escorts departed Hampton Roads, Virginia, for a cruise that netted two more submarines and lasted until 2 July., of the screen, sank the Japanese on 13 May and Bogues aircraft sank the Japanese submarine at on 24 June. During the next cruise, from 24 July to 24 September 1944, Bogues planes sank another German submarine,, on 20 August at.
Following her return in September 1944, Bogue operated on training missions out of Bermuda and Quonset Point, Rhode Island, until February 1945 when she made a trip to Liverpool, England, with Army planes. In April 1945, she put to sea again as an anti-submarine vessel, forming part of Captain George J. Dufek's Second Barrier Force during Operation Teardrop. On 24 April, success came as,,,,,, and sank. This was the last of 13 submarines sunk by Bogue or her escorts.
With the war in the Atlantic over, Bogue moved to the Pacific, arriving at San Diego on 3 July 1945. She then steamed westward to Guam, arriving on 24 July. She made a trip to Adak, Alaska, and then joined the "Operation Magic Carpet" fleet returning servicemen from the Pacific islands. She was placed out of commission in reserve on 30 November 1946 at Tacoma, Washington.

Awards

Bogue received a Presidential Unit Citation and three battle stars for her World War II service.