Dutch cargo ship ss (ex-USS Kedive 1943, HMS Kedive 1943-1946, Kedive 1946-1947) Rempang 1948-1968 (Daphne 1968-1975)

Bogue-class©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Rempang©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Escort carrier, first classifed as AVG-39, then ACV-39 and since 15 July 1943 CVE-39 USS Cordova as part of the Bogue-class and in British service Ruler-class. The U.S. Navy (USN) started with the hull classification Aircraft Escort Vessels (AVG) for escort aircraft carriers nicknamed ‘jeep carriers’ or even ‘baby flattop’ by the USN and ‘Woolworth Carrier’ by the British Royal Navy, that became Auxiliary Aircraft Carriers (ACV) on 5 August 1942 followed on 15 July 1943 Escort Aircraft Carriers (CVE). The last classification supplied an better impression of their combat and support roles.  Being (much) smaller and slower than a standard fleet carrier were they mainly used for convoy duties, supporting amphibious landings or just as a kind of cargo ship especially for transporting aircraft across the ocean.

Laid down by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation as USS Cordova on 22 September 1942, launched on 30 January 1943, transferred to the British Royal Navy, renamed HMS Khedive D62, commissioned on 25 August 1943, decommissioned on 19 July 1946, as Kedive owner/manager United States Maritime Commission, Washington, USA since 20 January 1946, bought by Waterman Steamship Corporation, Mobile, USA and converted into a cargo ship by the Gulf Shipbuilding Corporation, Mobile in 1946, bought by the Dutch government on 23 January 1947, as Rempang owner/manager N.V. Stoomvaart Maatschappij Nederland, Amsterdam, Netherlands since 15 January 1948, sold, renamed Daphne and owner Atlas Enterprises Inc., Panama, manager Africa Liner Agencies Inc. S.A., Genoa, Italy since 4 July 1968, sold to owner/manager Comaran Africa Line (Compagnie Maritime de L'Afrique Noire S.A., Vlahakis), Abidjan, Ivory Coast, sold to be broken end 1975, arrived at Gandia, Spain on 20 January 1976 and breaking up by Hierros Ardes S.A. begun in February 1976. 

Dutch cargo ship (McClure 1942-1943, Prince 1943-1944, Rajah 1944-1946) s.s. Drente 1948-1966 (Lambros 1966-1969, Ulysse 1969-1973)

As Drente. Postcard. 

USS Bogue

C3-cargo ship

C3-S-A.1 Laid down as escort carrier USS McClure (AVG45) with yard nummer 40 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation Inc., Tacoma, Washington, USA on 17 December 1942, launched as USS Prince (CVE 45) on 18 May 1943, delivered on 17 January 1944 as the HMS Rajah (D 01) to the British Royal Navy, since 1 November 1948 owner Koninklijke Rotterdamsche Lloyd and manager Firma Willem Ruys&Zonen, Rotterdam, Netherlands, since 2 February 1966 as Lambros owner Compania Naviera Odiseo S.A., Panama and manager N.&J. Vlassopoulos Ltd., London, England, Liberia-flagged, homeport Monrovia, since March 1969 as Ulysse owner Atlas Enterprises Inc., Panama and manager Africa Liner Agencies S.A., Genoa, Italy, Panama-flagged, since 1971 owner/manager Comaran Africa Line (Compagnie Maritime de L'Afrique Noire S.A., Vlahakis), Abidjan, Ivory Coast and arrived at Savona, Italy on 23 June 1975 to be broken up. In USN called a Bogue-class escort carrier, in British service Ruler-class escort carrier. Gross tonnage 8,299 tons, net tonnage 4,905 tons, deadweight 12,470 tons, grain capacity 720,000 cubic feet, bale capacity 705,000 cubic feet and as dimensions 143.45 (between perpendiculars)-150.06 (over all) x 21.22 x 13.08 (depth) x 8.89 (draught) metres. 

Large number of German submarines off Ivory Coast sighted according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee Daily summary dated 9 May 1942

An item reported that a trans-Atlantic ferry pilot and other crew members sighted on 5 May of the Ivory Coast 25 enemy submarines within a distance of 100 miles. Two were described as large, five of medium size and the remaining of small size. Lacking other sources no more details were available.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 150 dated 9 May 1942

Large number of enemy submarines sighted of the West African Ivory coast according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee Daily summary dated 6 May 1942

Möltenort, Germany U-Boat Memorial for German submarine sailors died in both world wars

Original postcard

An item reported that on 5 May a trans-Atlantic ferry pilot and his crew members sighted 25 enemy submarines of the Ivory coast, all lying still surfaced. Two were said to fire on the ferry and five others dived. The Joint Intelligence Committee believed that the number of 25 should be erroneous while in the mentioned area recently just 3 submarines and a supply vessel were reported.

Dutch tug Lauwerzee towed dredger Tropicale and tug Robuste towards Bassam, Ivory Coast according to the Dutch newspaper Rotterdamsch nieuwsblad dated 27 April 1905

An item dated Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast 6th reported that the Dutch tug Lauwerzee towed the dredger Tropicale and tug Robuste destined for Port Bouet towards Bassam. On the 1st was tried to enter with both ships the lagoon. The Robuste was suddenly by the waves thrown at the beach while the Tropicale grounded at the entrance of the Comoe due to the stream. Finally both ships were salvaged and brought safely into the lagoon.