After Nao had surveyed the tunnels which led into the port, he presented his plan of attack to the Saigon-Gia Dinh Military District Headquarters. Ultimately it took the salvors 17 days to refloat the Card, and when that was completed they began the process of moving the ship out of Saigon by installing a 6-inch pump and a load of generators inside the Card to get rid of excess water while at sea. The aftermath of the attack on the Card rallied American rescue and salvage crews to deal with a severe crisis. [11] Upon their arrival in Saigon, U.S. Navy divers and salvage teams tried to pump water out from Card's flooded compartments, but their initial attempts were hindered by a combination of malfunctions in the pumping equipment, and the poor diving conditions in the river. Torpedoed twice, she managed to stay afloat until Nao, on the other hand, reported the failure of his mission to the Saigon-Gia Dinh Military District Headquarters; his superiors did not express disappointment in the failure of the operation, but instead they encouraged Nao and his men to destroy the Card at all costs. The sewerage tunnel contained both wastes and toxic oils which could cause blindness, so Nao and his men would have to close their eyes as they move through the tunnel, in order to avoid blindness. It took place in the port of Saigon in the early hours of May 2, 1964, and mounted by commandos from the 65th Special Operations Group (Đội Biệt động 65). As a regular visitor to the port, Card became a target for local VC commando units. "The Attack on the USNS Card " Topic. Not long afterwards, the Core and its crew sailed out of Saigon, intact without any damage. When the commandos arrived at the sewer tunnel, they assembled the bomb device with each man carrying 40 kilograms (88 lb) of explosives down through the tunnel. On July 15, 1943, the Card was reclassified CVE-11 and became the flagship of Task Group 21.14 (TG21.14), a hunter-killer group formed to destroy German submarines in the North Atlantic. Back to the Modern Naval Discussion (1946 to 2010) Message Board. The Port of Saigon was situated between the Te and Ben Nghe Canals, and was about 700 meters (2,300 ft) wide from one side to the other. Meanwhile, the tugboat USS Tawakoni based at Subic Bay in the Philippines was placed on standby, and later received similar orders to head for South Vietnam. [16] Card was returned to service by December 11, 1964 and remained in service until 1970, when she was placed into the Reserve Fleet. USS CARD (CVE-11) Card (ACV-11) was launched as AVG 11 21 February 1942 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. Tacoma Wash. under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. J. Perry; reclassified ACV-11 20 August 1942; and commissioned 8 November 1942 Captain J. [5] As his unit was assigned with the mission to attack the American escort carrier, Nao took advantage of his position as an employee at the port facility, to reconnoitre the Card to design the best strategy to sabotage the ship and all the military hardware on board. As planned, Nao and Hung attached two bombs on the ship, with one near the bilge and one at the engine compartment, just above the water surface. The South Vietnamese police patrol boat then started its engine and raced towards Card, instead of extracting another bribe. The fervor and skill with which Card’s group attacked these subs earned them a Presidential Unit Citation. Lam Son Nao, a commando of the 65th Special Operations Group, was also an employee at the port facility. Departing San Diego 18 January 1943 Card arrived at Hampton Roads 1 February for … At top — ‘Card’ in 1944. The ship was reactivated on 16 May 1958 as USNS Card and operated with a civilian crew under Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) control as an aircraft transport. The American brass and Pres. But the aircraft carrier turned out to be the sister-ship the USNS Core. Shortly after midnight on May 2, 1964, two Viet Cong commandos climbed out of the sewer tunnel near the area where the Card was anchored, and they attached two loads of explosives to the ship’s hull. He advised Nao that the best way to enter the area where the American ships normally anchored, was through the sewer tunnel opposite Thu Thiem. The USNS Card was a Bogue class escort carrier that had served in the United States Navy with distinction. (U.S. Navy graphic) (U.S. Navy graphic) 210115-N-NO101-0178 While waiting for the right time, Nao briefed Hung on the objectives of the operation, which was to sink the largest American ship at the Saigon Port, and promptly report the results back to headquarters. The USNS Card had been shuttling heavy equipment into Saigon Harbour for three years – aircraft, armoured vehicles and the like. Again, the police patrol boat was waiting for Nao and Hung to arrive, because the commander wanted another bribe. It was about 5,000 yards in front of the ship so that the men of the crew, of the [escort aircraft carrier USS] Card [CVE-11], could … The Attack on USNS Card was a Viet Cong (VC) operation during the Vietnam War. Card … The American brass and Pres. USNS Card TAKV40: Added: Jul 23, 2012: Captured: IMO: Unavailable: Hits: 2,152: Photo Category: Aircraft Carriers: Description: This is the former WW2 fleet carrier USNS Card (CV11) seen approaching Gibraltar from the West from on board the ST London Valour in the late Summer of 1966. [9], For the VC commandos of the 65th Special Operations Group, the explosion on Card signalled a successful mission. [6], However, the bombs failed to explode as planned, because the battery had expired due to long periods of storage. He advised Nao that the best way to enter the area where the American ships normally anchored, was via the sewer tunnel opposite Thu Thiem. Just after evening chow [meal], as the night planes were getting ready to take off, one of our lead destroyers came in contact with a [German] submarine [U-233]. [3] To facilitate the arrival of Card and other American ships which pulled into Saigon, the South Vietnamese military often deployed navy vessels to conduct patrols around the port, while the surrounding shores were protected by an elite Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Airborne battalion. The ship was manned by a civilian crew and was prefixed "USNS" (United States Naval Ship) instead of "USS" (United States Ship) as it was in service but not commissioned. The ship supported an escalating military commitment of the South Vietnamese government that occurred well before the Tonkin Gulf Incident. The Card was first commissioned into the United States Navy during World War II, playing a significant role in destroying German Navy submarines as the flagship of Task Group … On May 16, 1958, Card re-entered service with the Military Sea Transport Service, under the control of the United States Navy. The police patrol stopped about 20 meters (66 ft) away from Nao’s canoe, and the patrol boat commander questioned both men about their activities during that time of the evening. [13] In the days that followed, five U.S. Navy divers were deployed to Saigon from the Philippines, in addition to several salvage teams from U.S. bases in Japan and the Military Sea Transport Service Command. Attack on Camp Holloway; Attack on USNS Card; Peter Badcoe; Battle of Ban Me Thuot; Battle of Binh Gia; Birdy (film) Bombing of Tan Son Nhut Air Base; Born on the Fourth of July (film) George Scratchley Brown; Cambodian Civil War; Cambodian–Vietnamese War; Cambodian campaign; Coast Guard Squadron One; George Thomas Coker; Commercial Import Program; Battle of Coral–Balmoral; Typhoon Dan … Five Navy divers investigated damage to Card. The USNS Card had been shuttling heavy equipment into Saigon Harbour for three years – aircraft, armoured vehicles and the like. Two ships, the USNS Card and the USNS Core, had been serving as transports for helicopters and other essentials. B. Sykes in command.. [5], Despite their best efforts to control Viet Cong activities across the river in the Thu Thiem area, the South Vietnamese military and police could not stop Viet Cong agents from operating there. The Attack on USNS Card was a Viet Cong (VC) operation during the Vietnam War. Lam Son Nao, a commando of the 65th Special Operations Group, was also an employee at the port facility. [4], However, the bombs failed to explode as planned, because the battery had expired due to long periods of storage. It took place in the port of Saigon in the early hours of May 2, 1964, and mounted by commandos from the 65th Special Operations Group. Back to the Cold War (1946-1989) Message Board. 294–296. While waiting for the right time, Nao briefed Hung on the objectives of the operation, which was to sink the largest American ship at the Saigon Port, and promptly report the results back to headquarters. Card was first commissioned into the United States Navy during World War II. The port itself was guarded round the clock by South Vietnamese police, as undercover South Vietnamese agents operated across the river in the Thu Thiem area to disrupt Viet Cong activities there. [4] Towards the end of 1963, Nao received news that Card had arrived in Saigon with another load of armored personnel carriers, artillery and aircraft. The commandos attached the explosives to Core's hull, set the timer and retreated back into the sewer to wait for the outcome. WikiZero Özgür Ansiklopedi - Wikipedia Okumanın En Kolay Yolu 3 Posts. The aftermath of the attack on the Card rallied American rescue and salvage crews to deal with a severe crisis. Areas … The ship was manned by a civilian crew and was prefixed "USNS" (United States Naval Ship) instead of "USS" (United States Ship) as it was in service but not commissioned. Not long afterwards, Core and its crew sailed out of Saigon, intact without any damage. At Subic Bay in the Philippines, the cargo and troops were transferred to the USS Princeton, which arrived and unloaded off the coast of Da Nang the following month. With the USNS Card a regular visitor to the port, it became a target for local Viet Cong commando units. Meanwhile, the tug boat USS Tawakoni based at Subic Bay in the Philippines was placed on standby, and later received similar orders to head for South Vietnam. When the patrol boat commander received the bribe, he gave both Nao and Hung permission to move on but demanded another bribe when they return. The South Vietnamese security guard in front has a WWII-era M1918 BAR.) The spectre of the attack on the Card would rear its head again in October, 2000, when 17 sailors lost their lives when the USS Cole (DDG-67) was attacked by al-Qæda suicide bombers while in port at Aden, Yemen. But due to illness, Cay declined to take part in the operation, so Hung had to replace him. For more details on sinking of the USNS Card, see Attack on the USNS Card. As Nao and Hung approached the patrol boat, an explosion was heard and a bright light could be seen in the commercial port area. 3rd Division (Vietnam)-Wikipedia. [11] In the days that followed, five U.S. Navy divers were deployed to Saigon from the Philippines, in addition to several salvage teams from U.S. bases in Japan and the Military Sea Transport Service Command. All members in good standing are free to post here. The Attack on the USNS Card was a Viet Cong operation during the Vietnam War. [14] The U.S. Navy refused to admit Card had been sunk even for a brief period of time, instead it simply stated Card was damaged and quickly repaired. The ship was reactivated on 16 May 1958 as USNS Card and operated with a civilian crew under Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) control as an aircraft transport. To ensure that his operation would go smoothly, Nao measured the height, length and width of the sewer tunnel to assemble the bomb devices to the right size, so it could be carried through the tunnel unhindered. [12] Due to the rapid response from the ship’s crew and the local authorities, flooding inside the ship was quickly stopped and it was stabilized. The sewerage tunnel contained both waste and toxic oils which could cause blindness, so Nao and his men would have to close their eyes as they moved through the tunnel, in order to avoid blindness. [13] Upon their arrival in Saigon, U.S. Navy divers and salvage teams tried to pump water out from the Card’s flooded compartments, but their initial attempts were hindered by a combination of malfunctions in the pumping equipment, and the poor diving conditions in the river. Viet Cong operation during the Vietnam War. Bohem speculated that the explosives used in the attack had actually been stolen from his own South Vietnamese Navy unit by a group of deserters who had been mistreated by a South Vietnamese officer. At 6pm, after Nao had finished unloading the bombs onto one canoe, he and Hung traveled down the Saigon River in two separate canoes, towards the commercial port district. The ship was refloated 17 days later, and was towed to the Philippines for repairs. The American brass and Pres. On the evening of December 29, 1963, Nao and Cay managed to carry their bomb devices through the sewer tunnel which had about 80 kilograms (180 lb) of explosives. California engineer ran train 'off the end of rail tracks' in attempted attack on USNS Mercy in Los Angeles, DOJ says . To avoid delaying the operation, Nao bribed the patrol boat commander 1000 Vietnamese dong,[8] as the South Vietnamese police were widely known for their corruption. On their next patrol, Card and her task group suffered another loss. The Port of Saigon was situated between the Te and Ben Nghe Canals, and was about 700 meters (2,300 ft) wide from one side to the other. [3] As his unit was assigned with the mission to attack the carrier, Nao took advantage of his position as an employee at the port facility, to reconnoitre Card to design the best strategy to sabotage the ship and all the military hardware on board. [5] At around 9am on May 1, Nao rushed to Hung's home, where the latter was given a hand grenade and was notified of an upcoming operation without much detail. The Attack on the USNS Card was a Viet Cong operation during the Vietnam War. 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