USS Long Island (CVE-1)
USS Long Iceland (CVE -1)
21 aircraft
P1
Nelly (1948-1953) Seven Seas (1953-1977)
The USS Long Iceland was the first American escort carrier and later served as a passenger, school and residential ship.
History
The ship was originally given on behalf of the shipping company Moore - McCormack Lines as a cargo ship in order and baptized by Diane B. Holt, the daughter of the vice president of the shipping company, the name Mormacmail. The Mormacmail counted on the series C3 -S -A1 and was built as part of the Long Range Shipbuilding Program of the United States Maritime Commission ( MARCOM ).
On March 6, 1941, the U.S. Navy took over the freighter and let him convert to the aircraft carrier at the shipyard Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News. First, the designation APV -1 ( Transport and Aircraft Ferry ), in putting AVG -1 ( Escort Carrier, Auxiliary ) was used. He was put into service on 2 June 1941 and handed over the command of Donald B. Duncan. Before entering the war the United States the possibilities of this type were tested on the support, and important results were incorporated into the design of the later classes of escort aircraft carriers. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the USS Long Iceland was transferred to the Pacific Ocean and provided there, the carrier Admiral Chester Nimitz fleet after the Battle of Midway. In December 1941, the Scouting Squadron 201 (VS -201 ) with 17 Curtiss SOC and seven Brewster F2A was stationed on the ship. In summer 1942 VS -201 was replaced by the squadron VGS -1, which was equipped with the same aircraft types.
After a brief phase in which again pilots were trained, the USS Long Iceland took part in the battle for Guadalcanal. As of August 13, 1942 took part in the aircraft carrier combat operations and supported the Marines fighting the Japanese defenders. Aircraft of this carrier were the first who landed on Henderson Field, a conquered airfield on Guadalcanal. It took place on 20 August 1942 the reclassification to Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier called ACV -1.
The planes were mostly hunter type Grumman F4F or Douglas TBD torpedo bombers, they played a major role in many famous battles.
For the following period of one year, the carrier was again in front of San Diego responsible for the training of carrier pilots, an inglorious but important task. On 15 July 1943, a reclassification for CVE -1 ( Escort Aircraft Carrier ) was made again.
In the years 1944-1945 the USS Long Iceland supplied smaller outposts in the Pacific with aircraft and supplies.
After the defeat of Japan, it participated in Operation Magic Carpet, the repatriation of troops in the United States.
On April 12, 1946, she was stricken from the Naval Vessel List and sold to the steel company Zidell Ship Dismantling Company in Portland, Oregon for scrapping on 24 April 1947. On March 12, 1948 sold Zidell the carrier at the shipping company Canada -Europe line further, after which the warship was reconstructed at the shipyard Albina Engineering & Machine Works in Portland for passenger ship Nelly. For some time the partially converted former carrier immigrants from Bremerhaven transported to Melbourne and after a further remodeling in 1953 in the USA and Canada. Chance took the Nelly but also travel to other trades, such as New Zealand. In 1953 he was sold to the University of the Seven Seas and served for twelve years as a school ship Seven Seas until broke out on 18 July 1965 an Atlantic crossing a fire on board. The repairs lasted until June 1966 and in September of the same year it was sold to the University of Rotterdam, who used the ship as an accommodation ship. Finally, the Seven Seas served as accommodation for shipyard workers, until it finally arrived on 4 May 1977 in Ghent for scrapping.
Landing of a Curtiss SOC of the VGS-1 on Long Iceland in April 1942
Grumman F4F -4 Wildcat and Curtiss SOC of the VGS-1 in the hangar of Long Iceland in June 1942