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NavSource Online: Escort Carrier Photo Archive

USS ALTAMAHA   (ACV-18)
(later CVE-18 and CVHE-18)



Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Uniform - Victor - Charlie

Unit Awards, Campaign and Service Medals and Ribbons

   

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: American Campaign Medal
2nd Row: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1 star) / World War II Victory Medal / Navy Occupation Service Medal ("Asia" clasp)

Bogue Class Escort Carrier
Ordered Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Stricken
(see below) 19 Dec 1941 22 May 1942 15 Sep 1942 27 Sep 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
Altamaha Sound
NS0301817
79k

ACV-18 was named Altamaha for a river and a sound in the state of Georgia. Altamaha was also the name of a town established in 1540 upon a site located in the present-day state of Georgia. Altamaha was mentioned in the journals of Hernando De Soto's expedition.

(Map courtesy of Google Maps.)

NavSource
World War II
ACV-18 Altamaha
NS0301823
741k

Aerial view of USS Altamaha (ACV-18) underway in Puget Sound, Wash., 27 October (September?) 1942. Note discrepancy between typed and handwritten dates.

Photo from a Division of Naval Intelligence manual, Identification and Characteristics Section, June 1943.

David Buell
ACV-18 Altamaha
NS0301824
676k

The flight deck of USS Altamaha (ACV-18) loaded with aircraft, 4 November 1942. The carrier had departed San Diego the previous day, and was steaming in convoy for the southwest Pacific.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-375596.

NARA
ACV-18 Altamaha
NS0301829
534k

S1/c Stacey following presentation of the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism aboard USS Lexington (CV-2). USS Altamaha (ACV-18), 14 December 1942.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-375684.

NARA
ACV-18 Altamaha
NS0301820
656k

New Year's Cake presented with Captain Jackson R. Tate, USS Altamaha (ACV-18), 1 January 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-375588.

NARA
CVE-18 Altamaha
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148k

USS Altamaha, Bremerton Naval Shipyard, 1943.

Photo in the National Archives, Seattle, WA.

Ric Hedman,
Webmaster, PigBoats.com
ACV-18 Altamaha
NS0301827
492k

USS Altamaha (ACV-18), 15 January 1943. 40mm gun "Sally Rand" and 3A crew.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-375649.

NARA
ACV-18 Altamaha
NS0301828
604k

Vice Admiral Herbert Fairfax Leary presenting awards aboard USS Altamaha (ACV-18) at Vita Levu, Nandi Bay, Fiji Islands, 26 January 1943. Ensign Francis R. Sanborn, USNR, receives the Navy Cross.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-375660.

ACV-18 Altamaha
NS0301825
618k

USS Altamaha (ACV-18), 6 February 1943. Torpedo decorated to resemble a lion’s head which the crew intends for Tojo! Shown is the Torpedoman who designed the lion’s head.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-375609.

ACV-18 Altamaha
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654k

USS Altamaha (ACV-18), 6 February 1943. Bombs aboard dedicated to celebrities. Ordnance crew with bomb dedicated to John H. Mulholland.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-375612.

ACV-18 Altamaha
NS0301825b
669k

USS Altamaha (ACV-18), 6 February 1943. Bombs aboard dedicated to celebrities. Officers with bomb dedicated to "Ed" Sedgwick.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-375617.

ACV-18 Altamaha
NS0301830
475k

USS Altamaha (ACV-18), medical boat bag, March 1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-375695.

NARA
ACV-18 Altamaha
NS0301826
542k

USS Altamaha (ACV-18), 5 March 1943. Bombs aboard dedicated to celebrities. Bomb and ordnance crew with bomb dedicated to musician Jimmy Dorsey.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-375633.

NARA
ACV-18 Altamaha
NS0301832
596k

USS Altamaha (CVE-18), 10 April 1943. Close-up of antenna onboard struck by an F4F Wildcat.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-375717.

NARA
ACV-18 Altamaha
NS0301831
597k

USS Altamaha (ACV-18), May 1943. Dead reckoning tracer.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-375633.

NARA
ACV-18 Altamaha
NS0301831a
701k

USS Altamaha (ACV-18), May 1943. Interior of Communications Room showing men performing their tasks.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-375706.

ACV-18 Altamaha
NS0301831b
498k

USS Altamaha (ACV-18), May 1943. Interior of Communications Room showing men performing their tasks.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-375707.

ACV-18 Altamaha
NS0301833
687k

USS Altamaha (CVE-18), 22 June 1943. SO3C Seamew, front view showing method of folding wings. This operation was the first of plane from carrier.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-375720.

NARA
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301801
196k

The Bogue class were used extensively as aircraft ferries in the later stages of the war. Here USS Altamaha (CVE-18) is seen with a deck load of Army P-51 Mustang fighters off San Francisco, California, on 16 July 1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command (# NH 106575).

Robert Hurst
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301802
110k USS Altamaha leaves San Francisco, 16 July 1943, with her decks crammed with P-51 Mustangs and a lone SOC Seagull. USN
CVE-18 Altamaha
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66k

USS Altamaha (CVE-18) underway 16 July 1943. The ship was commissioned 15 September 1942. National Archives photo (# 80-G-74432).

Note the deck cargo of P-51 Mustang fighters and the carrier's windbreak erected at the forward edge of the flight deck. (Thanks to Robert Hurst.)

Courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301806
144k Forward plan view of USS Altamaha (CVE-18) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 8 Nov 1943. Areas modified by the yard are indicated by circles and she was at the yard from 8 Oct until 9 Nov 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island, Calif., photo # 7515-43. Darryl Baker
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301807
84k Stern plan view of USS Altamaha (CVE-18) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 8 Nov 1943. Areas modified by the yard are indicated by circles and she was at the yard from 8 Oct until 9 Nov 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island, Calif., photo # 7516-43. Darryl Baker
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301808
46k Stern view of USS Altamaha (CVE-18) departing Mare Island Navy Yard on 9 Nov 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island, Calif., # 7540-43. Darryl Baker
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301809
70k Broadside view of USS Altamaha (CVE-18) off Mare Island Navy Yard on 9 Nov 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island, Calif., # 7542-43. Darryl Baker
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301809a
48k

45° off centerline view of USS Altamaha (CVE-18) departing Mare Island Navy Yard on 9 Nov 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island, Calif., photo # 7543-43.

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

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301810
64k Bow on view of USS Altamaha (CVE-18) departing Mare Island Navy Yard on 9 Nov 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island, Calif., photo # 7544-43. Darryl Baker
CVE-18 Altamaha
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66k

Port aerial view of USS Altamaha (CVE-18) employed as an aircraft transport, 30 November 1943. The flight deck is loaded with P-47 fighters, which will be assembled when off loaded.

Source: Australian War Memorial, photo No. 302535.

Mike Green
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301804
148k USS Altamaha (CVE-18). Drawing by L. Hecking, 1943. Carl Duncan
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301811
65k

Wartime picture of USS Altamaha (CVE-18) circa 1944, location unknown. Official U.S. Navy photo from Jane's Fighting Ships 1954–1955.

Robert Hurst
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301822
578k

This photo shows the Bogue-class escort carrier USS Altamaha (CVE-18) operating with blimp K-29 on 24 February 1944, in a test off the California coast. The camouflage pattern worn by Altamaha is Measure 33 Design 2A. The colors were: Pale Gray (5-P), Haze Gray (5-H) and Navy Blue (5-N). In this strong sunlight the contrast between panels of pale gray and haze gray is barely visible. K-29 is making a landing approach to Altamaha. Note also that the escort carrier is barely making headway. This photo was probably taken from another blimp from squadron ZP-31.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-220070.

Courtesy of C. Lee Johnson, usndazzle.com,
via Mike Green
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301822a
639k

Escort carrier USS Altamaha (CVE-18) operating with blimp K-29 on 24 February 1944, in a test off the California coast. The camouflage pattern worn by Altamaha is Measure 33 Design 2A. In this photo, K-29 has landed on Altamaha. This photo was probably taken from another blimp from squadron ZP-31.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-220074.

CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301822b
613k

This last photo in a sequence shows USS Altamaha (CVE-18) operating with blimp K-29 on 24 February 1944, in a test off the California coast. The camouflage pattern worn by Altamaha is Measure 33 Design 2A. K-29 is just taking off after having landed on Altamaha. This photo was probably taken from another blimp from squadron ZP-31.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-220075.

CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301812a
55k

An F4U Corsair conducts a RATO (Rocket-Assisted Take Off) aboard USS Altamaha (CVE-18), 1 March 1944.

Photo NS0301812, below, is one of the last in the same batch—that explains why the deck is so white.

National Archives photo (80-G-215654), College Park.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301812
905k

An F6F-3 Hellcat getting ready for a jet-assisted take-off from USS Altamaha (CVE-18), on 1 March 1944. A Douglas SBD Dauntless is visible behind the F6F.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Photo No. 1996.253.7193.009.

Mike Green
Yu Chu
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301818
777k

USS Altamaha (CVE-18), 11 April 1944. Crash of TBM Avenger #29 of VC-66 Squadron.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-225807.

NARA
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301819
522k

USS Altamaha (CVE-18). Crash landing of TBM Avenger (J26 of VC-66 Squadron) due to tail hook failure. After swinging around the bridge plane rights itself and begins to nose over.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-225814.

NARA
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301819a
673k

USS Altamaha (CVE-18). Crash landing of TBM Avenger (J26 of VC-66 Squadron) due to tail hook failure. Plane noses over against forward end of bridge.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-225815.

NARA
CVE-18 Altamaha
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803k

USS Altamaha (CVE-18) in the New Hebrides, September 1944. The camouflage pattern worn by the ship is Measure 33 Design 2A.

United States National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Photo No. 80-G-286157.

Courtesy of C. Lee Johnson, usndazzle.com,
via Mike Green
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301814
169k

[The escort carrier USS Altamaha (CVE-18)] was unusual in having a raised uptake on the starboard side aft, as shown in these February 1945 refit photos taken at San Francisco Navy Yard. The circles indicate changes, which appear to have been minor. Note that, to save weight, all her 20mm guns were unshielded; the ultimate 20mm weight saver, the replacement of single mounts by twin mounts, had not yet been carried out.

Photos and text from U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History, by Norman Friedman.

Robert Hurst
CVE-18 Altamaha
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122k
CVE-18 Altamaha
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45k

A piece of history—A 40mm Mk.2 shell from USS Altamaha (CVE-18), 1945.

Tommy Trampp
CVE-18 Altamaha
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73k
CVE-18 Altamaha
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48k
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301805
106k San Francisco Bay, probably in the morning of January 10, 1946. (Thanks to Dave Hoy, RM3/c who provided this info). Chris Albright

For more information and photos of this ship, see:

Read the USS Altamaha (ACV-18 / CVE-18 / CVHE-18) DANFS History entry

Crew Contact Information
Date:  
Place:  
Contact: Gordon McBride
Address: 18426 Watters Drive
Castro Valley, CA 94546
Phone: (510) 582-8048
E-mail: FlossyCM@AOL.com
Web site:  
Remarks:  

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Last update: 22 June 2023