USS Wasp aircraft carrier

This was a very emotional experience listening to these men today ... who still after all this time ... cry at the thought of what happened !

9NEWS.com | Colorado's Online News Leader | Sharing war stories almost 70 years later

USS Wasp - CV/CVA/CVS-18 Home Page

 

There are some who still do not realise the "real" value of Aircraft Carriers in WW2. Enough people to populate a small town and the first target for submarines and from the air by the enemy.

 

She played a vital role in the relief of Malta, shipping Spitfires to the island:

Aircraft Carrier Photo Index: USS WASP (CV-7)



A Spitfire Mk.Vc being loaded aboard USS Wasp (CV-7) at Port Glasgow, Scotland, in April 1942, at the start of Operation Calender. Note some F4F Wildcat fighters parked on deck, with their wings folded—Wasp carried twelve Wildcats during the two aircraft ferrying missions she carried out with the Royal Navy to augment the dwindling defenses of Malta (Operation Calender, in April, and Operation Bowery, in May 1942).

Different Wasp, Annie This one was commissioned after the one that was sunk off Guadalcanal

This is the one that was sunk:
USS Wasp (CV-7 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

 

Another pic, which doesn't show the dark blue that the Spits were painted to protect them against the elements (not official RAF colours but the only paint available on ship)

http://www.spitfiresite.com/history/spitfire-in-service/1942/1942-defence-of-malta.htm



and an approxiamate rendition of one of the "blue" Spits:



Merlins Over Malta - The Defenders Returneded!

For the duration of the project BM597 will depict a Spitfire V wearing the codes U-2 that was to join 603 Squadron. When the aircraft were put aboard the USS Wasp they were wearing standard camouflage schemes but on the deck of an aircraft carrier sailing through the Mediterranean these camouflage patterns offered no protection. The solution was to paint the top surfaces of the aircraft blue. Paint was taken from the stores and applied to the aircraft. There is no definitive colour match because paint was mixed and watered down to ensure there was enough to go around.

 

You're right K ...... I knew it was really CV7

 

Just checking we were awke?

 

I've got a DVD about the Merlins over Malta "tour". Still haven't watched it...need to find it.

 

Wasp was the victim of one of the most successful torpedo salvoes ever fired. The submarine I-19 fired six torpedoes from only 500 yards from Wasp and scored two hits. The carrier was in the middle of flight operations, and it was damage to the full gasoline lines that caused her loss five hours later. The other four torpedoes continued on their way.
Meanwhile, five miles away, the battleship North Carolina was minding its own business when a torpedo passed under her. The next one hit her. One of her escorting destroyers, O'Brien, was also hit. North Carolina suffered significant damage. (I understand that the blast damaged a belt plate that was never replaced. That would mean she still carries a cracked plate to this day; she is a museum now.) O'Brien was badly damaged. If I can find a certain photo, you'll see why. Her structural damage was misdiagnosed, so even though she received temporary repairs at a forward base, she later broke apart while en route to the US.
One salvo = one carrier sunk, one battleship damaged, one destroyer sunk.

 

Here's a pic of O'Brien:

That's Wasp back there, burning away.

 

Here is another thread on this forum that pertains to the Wasp.

http://ww2chat.com/forums/war-air/2814-u-s-s-wasp-ships-spitfires-malta.html

 

Hi Kyt
In the photo of the beautiful looking blue spitfire you have shown, could you please enlighten a non plane person, what the thin wire on the bottom of the plane's right wing and also what are the 2 black items on the left wing ??
I will end up a plane person yet.

lease:

 

The items on the left wing appear to be the pitot tube and one of the 20mm cannon (look for the other on the right wing--it's there, but not silhouetted). I should note that I too am no plane person.

 

Thanks Tiorna, for your help. That other cannon was easy to miss if not careful which I wasn't. If I had notice I would have twigged it was guns of some sort. I would still like to find out what that small wire is hanging on the right wing
:attention:

 

How about an IFF aerial or something like that? I have no clue.

 

Amazing, did not know that. How on earth did she get that close?! Was there any loss of lilfe on O'Brien when she did finally sink?

Phenomenal photo especially considering the background.

John, the pitot tube is on her port (high) wing and is the L-shaped bit hanging under the wing. The thin wire you refer to appears to be a necessarily modern fixture. As Tiornu says, probably a transponder or something like that. Owen'll know.

 

Luck? Japanese subs were hardly stealthy, but the Americans foolishly meandered for some days in known submarine waters, so I guess there's no surprise.

I believe she was successfully abandoned with no loss of life.

Here's a tidbit on Wasp. She was the first carrier with a deck-edge lift.

 

She was lucky ! .... no loss of life !!

 

Am I the only one having trouble reconciling this assessment and the photo posted above?

 

It's almost like some words are missing from that sentence. One would think minor damage could have been repaired in Australia etc.

 

I just checked to see if I missed something out - but thats what it says !! ..... I should have given my source ! sorry !!

WW2DB: USS O'Brien