>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1963) Vol. 2, pp.207-208.





CROATAN



CVE-25

Displacement:  9,800 t.

Length:  495’8”

Beam:  69’6”

Extreme Width:  111’6”

Draft:  26’

Speed:  17 k.

Complement:  890

Armament:  2 5”

Class:  BOGUE



	CROATAN (AVG-25) was reclassified ACV-25 on 20 August 

1942, and CVE-25 on 15 July 1943.  She was again 

reclassified CVHE-25, 12 June 1955; CVU-25, 1 July 1958; and 

AKV-43, 7 May 1959.  She was launched 1 August 1942 by 

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Seattle, Wash., under a 

Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. J. S. 

Russell; and commissioned 28 April 1943, Captain J. B. Lyon 

in command.



	Sailing from San Diego 2 July 1943, CROATAN arrived at 

Norfolk 19 July.  As the nucleus for a hunter-killer group, 

she sailed 5 August for antisubmarine operations in the 

Atlantic covering the movement of convoys.  Her planes had 

two skirmishes with surfaced submarines and on 5 September 

initiated night flying operations from escort carriers.  She 

returned to Norfolk 22 September.



	From 17 October to 29 December 1943, CROATAN made two 

voyages to Casablanca ferrying aircraft and plane crews for 

the North African operations.  After another antisubmarine 

patrol from 14 January to 27 February 1944, she took part in 

tests with the Naval Research Laboratory at Annapolis.  From 

24 March to 11 May, CROATAN made a most successful patrol.  

On 7 April, her planes marked out U-856, which was sunk by 

her escorts CHAMPLIN (DD-601) and HUSE (DE-145) at 40d 18m 

N., 62d 22m W.  On the night of 25-26 April, her four 

escorts joined in sinking U-488 at 17d 54m N., 38d 05m W.  

She was also successful in her patrol from 2 June to 22 

July.  On 10 June, CROATAN's planes and escorts FROST 

(DE-144), HUSE, and INCH (DE-146) attacked U-49O and 

remained in constant contact with it, forcing it to surface 

the next day.  Sixty survivors, including the commanding 

officer, were rescued before the submarine sank from 

scuttling charges at 42d 47m N., 40d 08m W.  Aircraft and 

escorts FROST and INCH combined again to sink U-154 on 3 

July, at 34d 00m N., 19d 30m W.



	Following a brief overhaul and radar tests with the 

Naval Research Laboratory, CROATAN put to sea again 20 

August 1944.  On 15 September, she aided survivors from 

WARRINGTON (DD-383) who had foundered in a hurricane.  

Returning to Norfolk 1 October, CROATAN next sailed for 

antisubmarine training at Guantanamo Bay and Bermuda, then 

proceeded to provide air cover for a high-speed east bound 

task force, returning to New York 4 February 1945.  For the 

next month, she qualified pilots in carrier operations, then 

sailed from Norfolk 25 March to join a barrier line to 

intercept German submarines.  On 16 April, her escorts, 

FROST and STANTON (DE-247) sank U-880 and U-1235 at 47d 53m 

N., 30d 26m W.  CROATAN returned by way of Argentia, 

Newfoundland, to New York 14 May for overhaul.



	From 15 September to 3 November 1945, CROATAN qualified 

aviators at Quonset Point, then cleared Norfolk 23 November 

on the first of two transatlantic voyages to bring troops 

home from Le Havre, France.  CROATAN was placed out of 

commission in reserve at Norfolk 20 May 1946.  Reactivated, 

CROATAN was assigned to MSTS in a noncommissioned status, 

manned by a civilian crew on 16 June 1958.  She continued to 

operate with MSTS into 1961.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com