Introduction
The U.S.S. Guadalcanal (CVE-60) towing the recently captured U-505.
Escort Carrier and Anti-Submarine Strategy
Guadalcanal was a “Casablanca-class” Escort Carrier and was a part of an Anti-Submarine “Hunter-Killer” group deployed in the Atlantic.
Detecting and Capturing U-505
On 4 June 1944, Guadalcanal and her task force detected the German submarine U-505 west of Cape Blanco in French West Africa. Using her aircraft to coordinate the attacks, the U-505 was forced to surface after numerous depth charge attacks damaged the vessel. As soon as the U-505 surfaced, boarding teams from the Destroyer USS Pillsbury stormed the crippled submarine and prevented its crew from scuttling their vessel.
Towing and Escorting the Captured Submarine
Later, a larger salvage party from Guadalcanal arrived on board and managed to connect a tow line from the submarine to the Escort Carrier. The Guadalcanal would tow the U-505 until the fleet tug USS Abnaki could take over. From there, Guadalcanal continued to escort the U-505 all the way to Bermuda.
Historical Significance and Recognition
The Guadalcanal and her task force became the first naval vessel to capture an enemy ship since 1815, and as a result, they were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. Not bad for a ship that was never meant for front-line service, huh? ~NC
