View source for USS Corregidor

{{short description|Casablanca-class escort carrier of the US Navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=USS Corregidor CVE58.png
|Ship caption=USS ''Corregidor'' (CVE-58)
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1943}}
|Ship name=* HMS ''Atheling''
* ''Anguilla Bay''
* ''Corregidor''
|Ship namesake=* [[Ætheling]]
* Anguilla Bay, Alaska
* The [[Battle of Corregidor]]
|Ship ordered=as a [[Casablanca-class escort carrier|Type S4-S2-BB3]] hull, [[Maritime Commission|MCE]] hull 1095{{sfn|Kaiser Vancouver|2010}}
|Ship original cost= $6,033,429.05{{sfn|MARCOM}}
|Ship awarded= 18 June 1942
|Ship builder=[[Kaiser Shipyards|Kaiser Shipbuilding Company]], [[Vancouver, Washington|Vancouver]], Washington
|Ship yard number=304{{sfn|Kaiser Vancouver|2010}}
|Ship way number=10{{sfn|MARCOM}}
|Ship laid down= 17 December 1942
|Ship launched=12 May 1943
|Ship sponsor=
|Ship christened=
|Ship completed=
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=31 August 1943
|Ship decommissioned=30 July 1946
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship renamed=
|Ship reclassified=* ACV, 20 August 1942
* CVE, 15 July 1943
|Ship refit=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport=
|Ship identification=*[[Hull classification symbol#Aircraft carrier type|Hull symbol]]: AVG-58
*ACV-58
*CVE-58
*[[International Code of Signals|Code letters]]: NXRB
*{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|X-ray}}{{ICS|Romeo}}{{ICS|Bravo}}
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honors= 4 × [[Service star#Navy warships|battle star]]s
|Ship captured=
|Ship fate= Transferred to [[Military Sea Transportation Service]] (MSTS), 19 May 1951
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=yes
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1958}}
|Ship name= ''Corregidor''
|Ship operator= MSTS
|Ship commissioned=19 May 1951
|Ship decommissioned=4 September 1958
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship renamed=
|Ship reclassified= CVU, 12 June 1955
|Ship refit=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport=
|Ship identification=[[Hull classification symbol#Aircraft carrier type|Hull symbol]]: T-CVU-58
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honors=
|Ship captured=
|Ship fate= Sold for scrapping, 28 April 1959
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class={{sclass|Casablanca|escort carrier}}
|Ship type=
|Ship displacement={{Casablanca class displacement}}
|Ship length={{Casablanca class length}}
|Ship beam={{Casablanca class beam}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draft={{Casablanca class draft}}
|Ship depth=
|Ship decks=
|Ship power={{Casablanca class power}}
|Ship propulsion={{Casablanca class propulsion}}
|Ship speed={{Casablanca class speed}}
|Ship range={{cvt|10240|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|15|kn}}
|Ship boats=
|Ship complement=
*Total: 910–916 officers and men
**Embarked Squadron: 50–56
**Ship's Crew: 860
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament={{Casablanca class armament}}
|Ship armor=
|Ship aircraft=27 aircraft
|Ship aircraft facilities= 
*1 × [[aircraft catapult|catapult]]
*2 × [[Elevator#Aircraft elevators|elevators]]
|Ship notes=
}}
{{infobox service record
|is_ship=yes
|label=
|partof=[[United States Pacific Fleet]] (1943-46), [[Military Sealift Command]] (1951-58)
|codes=
|commanders=
|operations=[[Western New Guinea campaign]], [[Battle of Saipan]], [[Battle of Guam (1944)|Battle of Guam]], [[Korean War]], [[1958 Lebanon crisis]]
|victories=
|awards=4 [[Battle star]]s
}}
|}

'''USS ''Corregidor'' (AVG/ACV/CVE/CVU-58)''' was the fourth of fifty {{sclass|Casablanca|escort carrier}}s built to serve the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]]. Launched in May 1943, and commissioned the following August, she was originally named for Anguilla Bay, in [[Maurelle Island]], in the [[Alexander Archipelago]], of Alaska.

==Design and description==
{{main|Casablanca-class escort carrier}}
[[File:Inboard and outboard profiles of a Casablanca-class escort carrier, 1946.png|thumb|left|A profile of the design of {{USS|Takanis Bay|CVE-89|2}}, which was shared with all ''Casablanca''-class escort carriers.]]

''Corregidor'' was a ''Casablanca''-class escort carrier, the most numerous type of [[aircraft carrier]]s ever built,{{sfn|Chesneau|Gardiner|1980|p=109}} and designed specifically to be mass-produced using prefabricated sections, in order to replace heavy early war losses. Standardized with her [[sister ship]]s, she was {{cvt|512|ft|3|in}} [[length overall|long overall]], had a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{cvt|65|ft|2|in}}, and a [[draft (nautical)|draft]] of {{cvt|20|ft|9|in}}. She [[Displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{cvt|8188|LT|lk=on}} [[Standard displacement|standard]], {{cvt|10902|LT}} with a [[Full-load displacement|full load]]. She had a {{cvt|257|ft}} long [[Hangar#Hangars aboard ships|hangar deck]] and a {{cvt|477|ft}} long [[flight deck]]. She was powered by two [[Uniflow steam engine#Skinner Unaflow|Skinner Uniflow reciprocating steam engines]] which drove two [[Propellers|shafts]], providing {{cvt|9000|hp|lk=in}} and enabling her to make {{Casablanca class speed}}. The ship had a cruising range of {{cvt|10240|nmi|lk=in}} at a speed of {{cvt|15|kn}}. Her compact size necessitated the installment of an [[aircraft catapult]] at her bow, and there were two [[Elevator#Aircraft elevators|aircraft elevators]] to facilitate movement of aircraft between the flight and hangar deck: one each fore and aft.{{sfn|Y'Blood|2014|pp=34–35}}{{sfn|Chesneau|Gardiner|1980|p=109}}{{sfn|Hazegray|1998}}

One [[5"/38 caliber gun|{{cvt|5|in|mm|0}}/38]] [[Caliber (artillery)|caliber]] [[dual-purpose gun]] was mounted on the stern. Anti-aircraft defense was provided by eight [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors {{cvt|40|mm|in|1}} anti-aircraft guns]] in single mounts, as well as 12 [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|Oerlikon {{cvt|20|mm|in|1}} cannon]]s, which were mounted around the perimeter of the deck.{{sfn|Hazegray|1998}} ''Casablanca''-class escort carriers were designed to carry 27 aircraft, but the hangar deck could accommodate more, which was often necessary during transport or especially training missions, due to the constant turnover of pilots and aircraft.{{sfn|Y'Blood|2014|p=39}}

==Construction==
Ordered as HMS ''Atheling'', she was laid down as ''Anguilla Bay'', was reclassified '''ACV-58''' on 20 August 1942, and launched as ''Corregidor'' on 12 May 1943, by the [[Kaiser Shipbuilding Company]], of [[Vancouver, Washington|Vancouver]], Washington, under a [[Maritime Commission]] contract; sponsored by Mrs. J. Hallett.  She was reclassified '''CVE-58''' on 15 July 1943, acquired by the Navy on 31 August 1943; and commissioned the same day.{{sfn|DANFS|2020}}

==Service history==

===World War II===
Clearing [[San Diego]], California, on 26 October 1943, ''Corregidor'' joined [[Carrier Division 24]] (CarDiv 24) at [[Pearl Harbor]] for air strikes in the [[Gilbert Islands]] invasion from 10 November-6 December. She returned to San Diego, to undergo repairs and load aircraft and men, then resumed operations out of Pearl Harbor, with her division. From 22 January-3 March 1944, she sailed in the [[Marshall Islands]] operation, providing air cover for the invasion of [[Kwajalein]].{{sfn|DANFS|2020}}

''Corregidor'' put to sea on 11 March 1944, for [[Guadalcanal]], arriving there on 21 March. With the [[United States Third Fleet|3rd Fleet]], she sortied on 30 March, to provide air cover for the landings on [[Emirau Island]], returning to [[Purvis Bay|Port Purvis]], on [[Nggela Islands|Florida Island]], on 14 April. Two days later, she sailed to join the [[United States Seventh Fleet|7th Fleet]] for air operations at [[Jayapura|Hollandia (currently known as Jayapura)]], between 22 and 26 April, then put into [[Manus Island]], for replenishment and antisubmarine patrols until 4 May. Embarking Commander, Carrier Division 24 for the [[Marianas]] operation, ''Corregidor'' provided combat air patrols and [[anti-aircraft]] support for the invasion of [[Saipan]], from 15 to 25 June, with her aircraft accounting for at least eight enemy planes. She covered the logistics force off [[Eniwetok]], from 1–3 July, then aided in the softening up bombardment of [[Guam]], and provided air cover for the invasion until 28 July, when she returned to San Diego, for overhaul.{{sfn|DANFS|2020}}

She worked on qualifying pilots in carrier operations at Pearl Harbor, from 12 October-21 November 1944. On 26 October, she formed as a hunter-killer group with EscDiv 64, around to check out reported enemy [[submarine]] movements between Pearl Harbor and California. On 2 January 1945, this group moved to patrol the area between Pearl Harbor and [[Eniwetok]], to protect heavy Allied shipping, returning to Pearl Harbor, on 13 February.{{sfn|DANFS|2020}}

''Corregidor'' sailed from Pearl Harbor, on 27 February, to search for an overdue plane carrying [[Lieutenant General]] [[Millard Harmon|M. F. Harmon]], USA, arriving at [[Majuro]], on 20 March. From 21 March-27 April, she conducted an [[anti-submarine]] patrol in the vicinity of Japanese-held [[Wotje]] and [[Maloelap]], in the Marshalls, then off [[Eniwetok]].{{sfn|DANFS|2020}} Future U.S. Congressman [[Ralph Hall]] flew off the Corregidor during this time.

===Post-War===
Returning to Pearl Harbor on 4 May 1945, ''Corregidor'' was assigned duty as a training ship in [[Hawaii]], conducting carrier pilot qualifications until the end of the war. From 2 October 1945 – 10 January 1946, she alternated this duty with three voyages from Pearl Harbor to [[San Diego]], to return homeward-bound servicemen. ''Corregidor'' cleared San Diego on 18 January 1946, for [[Norfolk, Virginia]], arriving there on 4 February. Here she was placed out of commission in reserve on 30 July 1946.{{sfn|DANFS|2020}}

===Korea===
[[File:USS Corregidor CVE-58 off Lebanon 1958.jpg|thumb|left|U.S. Army aircraft lift off ''Corregidor'' off Lebanon, 1958.]]
[[File:USS Corregidor in Bremenshaven.ogv|thumb|left|Newsreel video of ''Corregidor'' delivering [[Sikorsky H-34|H-34]] helicopters to [[Bremerhaven]] in 1956.]]
Recommissioned on 19 May 1951, ''Corregidor'' was assigned to operate with the [[Military Sea Transport Service]] (MSTS). She ferried men, aircraft, and aviation cargo to [[NATO]] nations under the [[Mutual Defense Assistance Plan]], but also made five voyages through the [[Panama Canal]], to bring men and cargo to the [[United Nations]] forces in [[Korea]], in 1952–1954. ''Corregidor'' was reclassified '''T-CVU-58''' on 12 June 1955. When the [[Lebanon crisis]] broke in the summer of 1958, ''Corregidor'' was at [[Brindisi]], Italy, and immediately lifted two reconnaissance planes of the [[24th Infantry Division (United States)|24th Infantry Division]], and 10 helicopters to support the landings in [[Lebanon]].{{sfn|DANFS|2020}} Returning to the United States, the ship suffered hull damage in the [[Atlantic Ocean]] due to high seas on the night of 2 April 1958. She was transiting from [[Barcelona, Spain]] to [[NAS Pensacola]], Florida, with 20 officers and 150 enlisted men. She made an emergency stop-over in the [[Azores]].{{sfn|AP}} ''Corregidor'' was decommissioned on 4 September 1958, and sold for scrap on 28 April 1959.

==Awards==
''Corregidor'' received four [[Service star#Navy warships|battle star]]s for her World War II service. {{sfn|DANFS|2020}}
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army_of_Occupation_ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|ribbon=Korean_Service_Medal_-_Ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed_Forces_Expeditionary_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Republic of Korea War Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|[[American Campaign Medal]]
|[[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]]<br>(4 [[battle star]]s)
|[[World War II Victory Medal (United States)|World War II Victory Medal]]
|-
|[[Navy Occupation Service Medal]]<br>(with Europe clasp)
|[[National Defense Service Medal]]
|[[Korean Service Medal]]
|-
|[[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]]
|[[United Nations Korean Medal]]
|[[Korean War Service Medal|Republic of Korea War Service Medal]]<br>(retroactive)
|-
|}

== Citations ==
{{Reflist|20em}}

== General sources==
===Online sources===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite web|url= http://usmaritimecommission.de/query.php?datalist=1&typeofquery=Name%20of%20Ship&valueofquery=Corregidor&code=A1095a|title= ''Corregidor Statistics''| publisher = United States Maritime Commission| access-date= 23 November 2020|ref= {{sfnRef|MARCOM}}}}
* {{cite DANFS | url = https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/corregidor.html | title = Corregidor (CVE-58)| publisher = Naval History and Heritage Command | date = 8 April 2020| access-date = 23 November 2020| ref = {{sfnRef|DANFS|2020}}}}
* {{cite web| url = http://shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/emergencylarge/kvancouver.htm| title = Kaiser Vancouver, Vancouver WA| work =  www.ShipbuildingHistory.com| date = 27 November 2010| access-date = 23 November 2020| ref = {{sfnRef|Kaiser Vancouver|2010}}}}
* {{cite web | url = http://www.navsource.org/archives/03/058.htm | title= USS CORREGIDOR (CVE-58)| publisher= Navsource.org | date= 16 August 2020| access-date= 23 November 2020| ref= {{sfnRef|Navsource|2020}}}}
* {{cite web | url = https://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/us_esc2.htm| title= World Aircraft Carriers List: US Escort Carriers, S4 Hulls| publisher= Hazegray.org | date= 14 December 1998| access-date= 1 July 2019| ref= {{sfnRef|Hazegray|1998}}}}
* {{cite news |publisher= [[Associated Press]] |title = "High Seas Crack Hull of Carrier" |newspaper =[[The Washington Post and Times-Herald]] |date= 3 April 1958 |volume= 81 |number= 119 |page= A3 |ref= {{sfnRef|AP}}}}
{{refend}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{citation|last1= Chesneau|first1= Robert|last2= Gardiner|first2 = Robert|title= Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|year= 1980 |publisher= Naval Institute Press |location= [[Annapolis]], Maryland|isbn= 9780870219139}}
* {{citation|last= Y'Blood|first= William|title= The Little Giants: U.S. Escort Carriers Against Japan|year= 2014 |publisher= Naval Institute Press |location= [[Annapolis]], Maryland|isbn= 9781612512471}}
{{refend}}

{{Casablanca class escort carrier}}
{{Kaiser Vancouver Shipyard}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Corregidor (Cve-58)}}
[[Category:Casablanca-class escort carriers]]
[[Category:World War II escort aircraft carriers of the United States]]
[[Category:Korean War aircraft carriers of the United States]]
[[Category:Cold War auxiliary ships of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships built in Vancouver, Washington]]
[[Category:1943 ships]]
[[Category:S4-S2-BB3 ships]]