Copahee
| Country | United States |
| Ship Class | Bogue-class Escort Carrier |
| Hull Number | CVE-12 |
| Builder | Todd Pacific Shipyards, Tacoma, Washington, United States |
| Laid Down | 18 Jun 1941 |
| Launched | 21 Oct 1941 |
| Commissioned | 15 Jun 1942 |
| Decommissioned | 5 Jul 1946 |
| Displacement | 7,800 tons standard; 15,700 tons full |
| Length | 496 feet |
| Beam | 115 feet |
| Draft | 26 feet |
| Machinery | Two 285psi boilers, one steam turbine, one shaft |
| Power Output | 8,500 shaft horsepower |
| Speed | 16 knots |
| Crew | 890 |
| Armament | 2x102mm guns, 8x2x40mm Bofors guns, 27x20mm Oerlikon cannon |
| Aircraft | 24 |
ww2dbaseUSS Copahee was originally laid down as the civilian ship Steel Architect under Maritime Commission contract. On 8 Feb 1942, due to war demands, she was acquired by the United States Navy, and was converted into an escort carrier, commissioning in Jun 1942 with Commander J. G. Farrell in command. She reached the South Pacific in late Sep 1942, carrying with her aircraft, cargo, and passengers. Between 7 and 11 Oct, she cruised toward Guadalcanal, delivering 20 United States Marine Corps aircraft to Henderson Field. She spent the remainder of 1942 in overhaul in the United States. Upon completion of the overhaul, she participated in training exercises at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, United States, then returned to San Diego, California, United States briefly. On 25 Feb 1943, she departed San Diego for a transport run that would last until 7 Jun, carrying aircraft, cargo, and personnel to the Hawaii, New Hebrides, Fiji, and New Caledonia. Between 2 Sep 1943 and 19 Jan 1944, she made one transport run to Pearl Harbor and two transport runs to Townsville and Brisbane, Australia, delivering aircraft. Between 10 Apr and 3 Jun, she ferried aircraft between Pearl Harbor and Majuro, Marshall Islands. In Jun and Jul 1944, she supported the Mariana Islands Campaign by transporting replacement aircraft and airmen to the US Navy 5th Fleet. On 28 Jul 1944, she arrived at San Diego with 13 captured Japanese A6M Zero fighters and 1 captured B5N torpedo bomber, along with 37 engines, for further research. After a period in overhaul, she resumed transport duty, embarking on six voyages in the Pacific before the end of the Pacific War. Between 6 Sep and 21 Dec 1945, she participated in Operation Magic Carpet, transporting military personnel from the Mariana Islands, Gilbert Islands, and the Philippine Islands back to the United States, arriving at Alameda, California on 21 Dec 1945. She was decommissioned at Tacoma, Washington, United States on 5 Jul 1946 and entered the reserve fleet. In 1955, she was reclassified the helicopter escort carrier CVHE-12 in reserve, but never fulfilled that role. She was stricken for disposal in 1959, and was sold for scrap in 1961.
ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.
Last Major Revision: Sep 2010
Escort Carrier Copahee (CVE-12) Interactive Map
Photographs
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Copahee Operational Timeline
| 18 Jun 1941 | The keel for the civilian ship Steel Architect was laid down at Tacoma, Washington, United States by Todd Pacific Shipyards. |
| 21 Oct 1941 | Civilian ship Steel Architect was launched. |
| 8 Feb 1942 | The United States Navy acquired the civilian ship Steel Architect, which was still under construction, for military service. She was to be the future escort carrier Copahee. |
| 15 Jun 1942 | USS Copahee was commissioned into service at Puget Sound Navy Yard, Washington, United States with Commander J. G. Farrell in command. She was the first of 10 Bogue-class escort carriers converted from hulls of merchant ships. |
| 20 Aug 1942 | USS Copahee was reclassified an auxiliary aircraft carrier with hull number ACV-12. |
| 5 Sep 1942 | USS Copahee departed Alameda, California, United States. |
| 28 Sep 1942 | USS Copahee arrived at Nouméa, New Caledonia. |
| 7 Oct 1942 | USS Copahee departed Nouméa, New Caledonia with 20 US Marine Corps aircraft for Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. |
| 11 Oct 1942 | USS Copahee launched its cargo of 20 US Marine Corps aircraft for Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. |
| 29 Oct 1942 | USS Copahee arrived at San Diego, California, United States and began an overhaul. |
| 25 Feb 1943 | USS Copahee departed San Diego, California, United States. |
| 10 Apr 1943 | USS Copahee departed San Diego, California, United States. |
| 15 Jul 1943 | USS Copahee was reclassified an escort carrier with hull number CVE-12. |
| 28 Jul 1944 | USS Copahee arrived at San Diego, California, United States with 14 captured Japanese aircraft and 37 captured engines. |
| 6 Sep 1945 | USS Copahee embarked on her first Operation Magic Carpet run. |
| 21 Dec 1945 | USS Copahee arrived at Alameda, California, United States. |
| 5 Jul 1946 | USS Copahee was decommissioned from service at Tacoma, Washington, United States. |
| 12 Jun 1955 | USS Copahee, while in reserve, was reclassified an escort helicopter aircraft carrier with hull number CVHE-12. |
| 1 Mar 1959 | USS Copahee was stricken for disposal. |
| 1 Feb 1961 | USS Copahee was sold for scrap. |
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Visitor Submitted Comments
19 Jun 2012 11:38:28 AM
I would also like this info. Also, does anyone know how to get a book about the Copahee? My dad sailed on this ship.
19 Jun 2012 12:31:29 PM
Ancestry.com has a crew list for the USS Copahee.
3 May 2013 01:24:50 PM
A friend of mine said his Dad served on the USS Copahee CVE 12 during WWII and would like to know if there any reunion groups or any surviving ship mates who might know his Dad. His last name was Feathers and he was from Arkansas. His son Bill has som memoribelia that belonged to his father. Any info will be helpfull.
9 Jul 2015 04:37:31 PM
I was wondering if anyone has pictures of my dad, Charles Jesse Steadman. He served on USS Copahee starting on November 29, 1942, from San Diego. His rating was that of AM (Aviation Structural Mechanic). He was transferred to the Nassau on February 2, 1943. Thank you!
24 May 2016 04:43:54 PM
Sorry I have no personal information on people serving on the Copahee. My dad, Bob (Robert) F. Miller (Navy), from Morristown, NJ was transported on this ship from San Diego to New Caledonia where he repaired sheet metal on planes that had been hit. I did find a very short voluntary list of names for service men at the following website:
http://www.hullnumber.com/CVE-12
My dad is living in Oceanside, CA at the age of 92. He and his 2 brothers all made it home after the war! Hope you all can find some information and some contacts. Good luck and many thanks to your family members who served - The Greatest Generation!!
23 Oct 2016 10:04:46 PM
My great grandpa served on the. USS Copahee, I think he was one that guarded what they carried, I have a big picture at my great grandmas estate I will take pictures of and put on here there is probably 250 men in this photo my grandpa was ROYE Stewart he died in 2010
26 May 2019 02:00:43 PM
Hello. To the anonymous post from 10/23/2016, I was wondering if you have posted the photo of men from your grandfathers picture. My father served on the Copahee, and I know he was on the ship during Thanksgiving 1945. I have the ship menu from that date. I would love to see the photo
11 Jun 2019 05:42:42 AM
This may seem a very odd question, but,
I'm a Belgian Military, going trough a relative's paperwork.
I came across a US Navy ID Card belonging to FELIZ, George Richard, service number 5651983, enlisted on 15/apr/1943 and came on board USS Copahee on 20/aug/1943. Now comes the odd part, as the CVE-12 served in the pasific my relative was captured and held prisoner in Germany (prison of Wolfenbuttel) My question is now how did the ID card of Feiz end up between the papers of Wolfenbuttel Germany?
Someone an idea?
3 Sep 2019 12:28:30 PM
My father Lawrence W. Krieger was on board the entire war on the USS Copahee. My five brothers and I woud treasure a photo of the ship's crew. Let me know.
13 Jul 2020 02:08:46 PM
Where can I send pictures of the men on USS Copahee from March 1944. My uncle William J Kec is deceased but had given me picture to send to "Leroy" in Schertz, Texas" but could find him. Would like to send then to the proper place to be shared.
1 Mar 2021 05:49:11 PM
Would love any pictures from the July 1943 of the Copahee crew. My father in law was on that ship
7 Dec 2021 04:05:43 PM
I belive my father was on this ship. His name was Frank Moreau. I am looking for the picture of the 250 men on board. I've seen it as a young girl.
I would like to get a print of that picture again. And I would like to have a list of the crew if anyone can help me with this.
Thank you!
9 Jul 2023 02:47:37 PM
My uncle, Howard Thomas Alderson was on board and believed to be an aviation boatswain mate. Not sure of rate. I would appreciate any info.
I was a machinist mate on a destroyer escort during Vietnam War.
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9 Dec 2011 05:42:51 PM
My Grandfather, Claude Courville was on the USS Copahee, does anyone know of where the crew list may be found. His great grand daughter is studying WW II and made a trip to the New Orleans museum.