Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

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 / Philippine Liberation Medal
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
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301801		 40k The Bogue-class were used extensively as aircraft ferries in the later stages of the war. Here Altamaha is seen with a deck load of P-51 Mustangs. USN
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
NS0301803		 110k Another view of USS Altamaha (CVE-18), 16 July 1943. USN photo: 80-G-74432. USN
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. US Navy 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. US Navy 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. US Navy photo # 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. US Navy photo # 7542-43. Darryl Baker
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301810		 64k Bow on view of USS Altamaha (CVE-18) departing Mare Island Navy Yard on 9 Nov 1943. US Navy photo # 7544-43. Darryl Baker
CVE-18 Altamaha
NS0301804		 148k USS Altamaha (CVE-18). Drawing by L. Hecking, 1943. Carl Duncan
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:
View the USS Altamaha (ACV-18 / CVE-18 / CVHE-18)
DANFS History entry located on the Hazegray & Underway Web Site.
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:  
Related Links
Hazegray & Underway World Aircraft Carrier Pages By Andrew Toppan.
Official U.S. Navy Carrier Website
Escort Carrier Sailors & Airmen Association
Main
Photo Index		 Escort Carrier
Photo Index Page

Comments, Suggestions or Image submissions, E-mail Carrier Information
Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster

This page was created by Paul Yarnall and is maintained by Fabio Peña
All Pages Copyright © 1996 – 2008 Paul R. Yarnall ©2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.

Last update: 15 January 2006