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NavSource Online: Escort Carrier Photo Archive

USS NASSAU   (ACV-16)
(later CVE-16 and CVHE-16)


(Profile courtesy of ©Windjammer-Arts Naval Art & Aviation Art)



Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Uniform - Sierra - Tango

Unit Awards, Campaign and Service Medals and Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: American Campaign Medal / Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (5 stars) / World War II Victory Medal
2nd Row: Navy Occupation Service Medal ("Asia" clasp) / Philippine Presidential Unit Citation / Philippine Liberation Medal

Bogue Class Escort Carrier
Ordered Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Stricken
(see below) 27 Nov 1941 4 Apr 1942 20 Aug 1942 28 Oct 1946 1 Mar 1959
Builder: Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp., Seattle, Wash.

Specifications
(As converted, 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; 1 hydraulic catapult
Crew: 890

Click on Thumbnail
for Full Size Image
Size Image Description Source
Name
Nassau Sound
NS0301619
76k

ACV-16 was named for a sound off the coast of Florida.

(Map courtesy of Google Maps Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History, by Norman Friedman..)

NavSource
World War II
ACV-16 Nassau
NS0301615
200k

Sailors and Marines stand at attention on the pier alongside the auxiliary carrier USS Nassau (ACV-16) following her commissioning ceremony at the Puget Sound Navy Yard on Thursday, 20 August 1942. Note the bow art on the ship used to inspire the Navy Yard workers.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, photo # 2000.091.054.048. Austin K. Doyle Collection.

Mike Green
ACV-16 Nassau
NS0301615a
248k

Navy personnel and guests stand for the playing of the national anthem during the commissioning ceremonies of USS Nassau (ACV-16) at the Puget Sound Navy Yard on Thursday, 20 August 1942.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, photo # 2000.091.054.040. Austin K. Doyle Collection.

Mike Green
ACV-16 Nassau
NS0301615b
191k

Guests and Naval personnel are seated on benches next to the unfinished island of USS Nassau (ACV-16) during her commissioning ceremonies on Thursday, 20 August 1942.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, photo # 2000.091.054.045. Austin K. Doyle Collection.

Mike Green
ACV-16 Nassau
NS0301612
242k

USS Nassau (ACV-16, later CVE-16) underway in December of 1942. This photograph has been retouched by wartime censors to hide radar and other antennas on the ship's mast.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command (#NH 106566).

Robert Hurst
ACV-16 Nassau
NS0301624
378k

Port broadside photo of USS Nassau (ACV-16) underway on 12 December 1942, in the South Pacific, as seen from another unidentified carrier.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo, # 2000.091.054.049.

Mike Green
ACV-16 Nassau
NS0301624a
180k

Not exactly the same photo. This one was taken a few seconds later—note bow wave and aircraft in the air.

ACV-16 Nassau
NS0301607
383k

The national ensign flies from an unidentified ship, part of a Pacific War Zone convoy circa 1942–1943. An unidentified tanker and the auxiliary aircraft carrier USS Nassau (ACV-16) are the ships in the distance.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo, # 2000.091.054.022.

Mike Green
ACV-16 Nassau
NS0301625
196k

Grumman F4F Wildcat trapping aboard USS Nassau, 1943.

Tommy Trampp
ACV-16 Nassau
NS0301626
261k

Grumman F4F Wildcat launching from USS Nassau, 1943.

Tommy Trampp
ACV-16 Nassau
NS0301601
69k Steaming astern of battleships USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) and USS Idaho (BB-42). Attu occupation, May 1943. USN
ACV-16 Nassau
NS0301602
130k

USS Nassau (ACV-16) underway and rolling to port in moderate seas during the invasion of Attu, May 1943. The vessels of this class were considered maneuverable and habitable, but flight operations were difficult in anything over moderate seas.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, photo # 1996.488.032.008.

Mike Green
ACV-16 Nassau
NS0301603
70k Off Attu, 13 May 1943. The position of the small starboard stack is disclosed by its smoke plume. USN
ACV-16 Nassau
NS0301604
57k Underway off California, June 1943. Courtesy of Richard White
ACV-16 Nassau
NS0301616
118k

Port side view of USS Nassau (ACV-16) underway, 2 July 1943. Note that the slope of the forward sponson conforms to the sheer of the original main deck of the C3-S-A1 merchant hull. The ship is painted in Measure 14 camouflage scheme.

Source: Australian War Memorial, Photo No. 302683.

Mike Green
ACV-16 Nassau
NS0301616a
153k

Aerial port quarter view of USS Nassau (ACV-16) underway on 2 July 1943. Good detail shot of the ship's configuration with elevators up and AA armament along her flight deck and on stern. The ship was reclassified CVE-16 on July 15th.

Source: Australian War Memorial, Photo No. 302684.

Mike Green
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301620
615k

Bow view of USS Nassau (CVE-16), 2 August 1943, Mare Island, California.

National Naval Aviation Museum, Austin K. Doyle collection, # 2000.091.054.021.

Mike Green
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301605
427k Aft plan view of USS Nassau (CVE-16) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 21 Aug 1943. She was at the yard for repairs from 23 July until 23 Aug 1943. Official Mare Island photo # 6023-43. Darryl Baker
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301606
410k Forward plan view of USS Nassau (CVE-16) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 21 Aug 1943. She was at the yard for repairs from 23 July until 23 Aug 1943. Official Mare Island photo # 6025-43. Darryl Baker
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301614
113k

F4F-4 Wildcats landing aboard USS Nassau (CVE-16)—note the stretched arresting cable—in the South Pacific, September 1943. National Archives (NARA II) photo # 80-G-469565.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301608
67k

SN2 Lawrence Britton on duty at port lookout aboard USS Nassau (CVE-16), October 1943. National Archives photo # 80-G-415475.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301617
107k

Two photos taken aboard USS Nassau (CVE-16). Both are dated October 1943.

NS0301617: National Archives photo # 80-G-469576.

NS0301618: The Hellcat is pointed directly to port and is probably being turned to line up with the catapult. The photo is shot from the port catwalk. National Archives photo # 80-G-469577.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301618
66k
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301622
768k

Born during the national call-to-arms immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Marine Fighting Squadron (VMF) 311 was first commissioned on 1 December 1942, assigned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and headquartered at MCAS Cherry Point. Quickly transitioning from a training squadron flying the SNJ Texan to a combat squadron flying the F4U Corsair, VMF-311 participated in what was one of the earliest American catapult operations involving the Corsair when 21 F4Us launched from USS Nassau (CVE-16) on 6 October 1943. By this time the squadron formed part of MAG-31. During World War II, VMF-311 was one of the first to utilize and develop tactics for the Corsair in a ground attack mode, foreshadowing the squadron's future role as an attack squadron. Indicative of its combat effectiveness, the squadron destroyed 71 Japanese aircraft in a four-month period during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. The end of World War II saw VMF-311 leaving Chimu airfield on Okinawa to start occupational duty flying from Yokosuka airfield on Japan's mainland.

The original nickname adopted by VMF-311 was "Hell's Belles." Although it remained with the squadron throughout WW II, this nickname was used infrequently.

Tommy Trampp
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301622a
79k
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301609
183k

Amidships view of USS Nassau (CVE-16) at Mare Island on 28 April 1944. She was undergoing repairs at the yard from 2 April to 29 April 1944. Official Mare Island photo # 2576-44.

Darryl Baker
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301609a
661k

USS Nassau (CVE-16), looking aft, Mare Island Navy Yard, 28 April 1944. Circles mark recent alterations. Note stacks.on both sides of the ship protruding outward and upward from beneath the flight deck.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 19-N-65112.

Mike Green
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301609b
651k

USS Nassau (CVE-16), looking forward, Mare Island Navy Yard, 28 April 1944. Circles mark recent alterations. Note test load on catapult.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 19-N-65111.

Mike Green
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301610
147k

Bow on view of USS Nassau (CVE-16) departing Mare Island on 29 April 1944. Official Mare Island photo # 2592-44.

Darryl Baker
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301610b
32k

Broadside, starboard view of USS Nassau (CVE-16) departing Mare Island on 29 April 1944. Official Mare Island photo # 2595-44.

Source: Mare Island Shipyard Photos, Ship Files, NARA San Francisco.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301610a
151k

Stern view of USS Nassau (CVE-16) departing Mare Island on 29 April 1944. Official Mare Island photo # 2597-44.

Darryl Baker
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301610c
487k

USS Nassau (CVE-16) wearing Measure 33 Design 2A, 29 April 1944, at Mare Island, California. (See NS0301213a for comments about the "zipper" on the ship's port side.)

Photo source: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # BS 65106.

Courtesy of C. Lee Johnson, usndazzle.com, via David Buell
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301610d
484k

USS Nassau (CVE-16) wearing Measure 33 Design 2A, 29 April 1944, at Mare Island, California.

Photo source: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # BS 65105. This is also official Mare Island photo # 2594-44.

Courtesy of C. Lee Johnson, usndazzle.com, via David Buell and Mike Green
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301621
613k

USS Nassau (CVE-16) wearing a slightly weathered 33/2A camouflage scheme on 24 July 1944, off Point Mugu, California.

National Archives and Records Administration, # 80-G-242903.

Courtesy of C. Lee Johnson, (usndazzle.com), via Mike Green
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301611
154k

This appears to be a late-war photo, taken while USS Nassau (CVE-16) was performing transport and ferry missions between Alameda, Pearl Harbor, Guam, Manus, Samar, and Saipan.

Gerd Matthes, Germany
CVE-16 Nassau
NS0301623
223k

"U.S.S. Nassau, CVE-16, Escort Aircraft Carrier, United States Navy, Commissioned 20 August, 1942, Struck from Navy Register 1 March, 1959" Wooden plaque.

Tommy Trampp

For more information about this ship, see:

Read the USS Nassau (ACV-16 / CVE-16 / CVHE-16) DANFS History entry

Crew Contact and Reunion Information
Date:  
Place:  
Contact: Mr. Sam A Moore
Address: 10320 Calimesa Blvd Space 221
Calimesa, CA, 92320-2316
Phone: 909-795-6070
E-mail:  
Web site:  
Remarks:  

Related Links
Hazegray & Underway World Aircraft Carrier Pages By Andrew Toppan.
Escort Carrier Sailors & Airmen Association

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Last update: 18 September 2021