At 1.10am, the bombs were completed and both commandos retreated back into the sewer tunnel, and climbed into their canoes on the other side and rowed back to Thu Thiem. An escort carrier that saw distinguished service as a submarine-hunter in the North Atlantic during World War II, during the early morning hours of May 2, 1964, Card was part of U.S. Military Sealift Command. After the bombs had been attached to Card's hull, Nao inspected both bombs to ensure they had been assembled properly. [4] Furthermore, Nao and his men must wash their bodies to get rid of the deadly odours to avoid detection, and probably arrest, by South Vietnamese authorities. [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. Procured by the Navy on May 1, 1942, she was classified as an Aircraft Escort Vessel, (AVG-11). USNS Card was a Bogue-class escort carrier that had served in 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. But the carrier turned out to be her sister ship, USNS Core. [18] The Card was returned to service by 11 December 1964 and remained in service until 1970, when she was placed into the Reserve Fleet. Card was first commissioned into the United States Navy during World War II. [9], Once the commandos finally got out of the tunnel, they both swam towards the broadside of the Card which anchored near the opening of the sewer. [3] With the war's escalation, the United States government stepped up military support for South Vietnam's fight against the Communist National Liberation Front (also known as the Viet Cong). However, raising Card would be a major salvage operation. 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. On May 2, 1964, fifty one years ago today, two Viet Cong commandos sunk the USNS Card in the Port of Saigon. California engineer ran train 'off the end of rail tracks' in attempted attack on USNS Mercy in Los Angeles, DOJ says . [4] Determined the operation would remain a secret, the commandos snuck back to Core and retrieved the explosive devices. The ship was refloated 17 days later, and was towed to the Philippines for repairs. The American brass and Pres. Undeterred by the level of protection which the South Vietnamese government normally afforded to American ships, Tran Hai Phung—commander of the Viet Cong’s Saigon-Gia Dinh Military District—ordered the 65th Special Operations Group to attack the USNS Card. [11] Amongst the divers was founding US Navy Seals member Roy Boehm, who claimed to have recovered the remains of a Hagerson Demolition Pack, a specialised explosive charge used by US navy frogmen. (U.S. Navy graphic) (U.S. Navy graphic) 210115-N-NO101-0178 This page was last modified on 15 April 2016, at 18:56. [1], With the escalation of the Vietnam War, the United States government stepped up military support for South Vietnam's fight against the Viet Cong. 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. During the periods between July and November, the Card’s aircraft and the escort vessels of TG21.14 destroyed a total of five German submarines. 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. With the USNS Card a regular visitor to the port, it became a target for local Viet Cong commando units. Today in Naval History - Naval / Maritime Events in History 2 May 1810 – Launch of French Friedland, an 80-gun Bucentaure-class ship of the line of the French Navy, designed by Sané The Friedland was an 80-gun Bucentaure-class ship of the line of the French Navy, designed by Sané. 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. [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 American brass and Pres. Card … Furthermore, five American civilians who worked on the ship died as a result of the attack. Back to the Modern Naval Discussion (1946 to 2010) Message Board. 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. But due to illness, Cay declined to take part in the operation, so Hung had to replace him. The South Vietnamese police patrol boat then started its engine and raced towards Card, instead of extracting another bribe. 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 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. For more information, see the TMP FAQ. Nao decided to utilise high explosives, enough to sink a ship, and to detonate them using a timer so that his men could get away safely. Departing San Diego 18 January 1943 Card arrived at Hampton Roads 1 February for … [2], After 1945 the Card was decommissioned and briefly put out of service when it was transferred to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. 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. WikiZero Özgür Ansiklopedi - Wikipedia Okumanın En Kolay Yolu The USNS Mercy briefly docked in the Port of LA in March and was one of several medical field locations established by the state in preparation for an expected COVID-19 surge Newsom said would require an additional 50,000 hospital beds. The attack was made by insurgents from the 65th Special Operations Group. On October 20, 1964, the North Vietnamese government issued a postage stamp which proclaimed an "Aircraft Carrier of America sunk in the Harbor of Saigon", to praise the Viet Cong commandos who carried out the attack. ... During the Phase III Offensive the Division's 1st Regiment was sent to attack Quảng Ngãi, but were intercepted by US forces and after 4 days of fighting the 1st Regiment withdrew west to its mountain bases leaving 567 dead. [6] Towards the end of 1963, Nao received news that the Card had arrived in Saigon with another load of armoured personnel carriers, artillery and aircraft. 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 21.14. [7] 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. Torpedoed twice, she managed to stay afloat until Reclaimer and Tawakoni then towed the damaged Card out of Saigon, and headed for Subic Bay where it underwent further repairs.[13]. The Attack on USNS Card was a Viet Cong (VC) operation during the Vietnam War. On December 15, 1961, the Card left Quonset Point, Rhode Island, with a cargo of H-21 Shawnee helicopters and U.S. soldiers from Fort Devens, Massachusetts, bound for Vietnam. On December 15, 1961, USNS Card left Quonset Point, Rhode Island, with a cargo of H-21 Shawnee helicopters and U.S. soldiers from Fort Devens, Massachusetts, bound for Vietnam. [3], Despite their best efforts to control VC activities across the river in the Thu Thiem area, the South Vietnamese military and police could not stop VC agents from operating there. Finally on May 1, 1964, Viet Cong reconnaissance teams spotted USNS Card as the ship sailed through Ganh Rai Bay and entered Long Tau River, so they immediately reported the information to the 65th Special Operations Group in Saigon. B. Sykes in command.. The ship was refloated 17 days later, and was towed to the Philippines for repairs. [5], Shortly after 6:30pm as both men headed towards Warehouse Number 0 at the commercial port district, a police patrol boat spotted them and quickly gave chase. At top — ‘Card’ in 1944. 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. For more details on sinking of the USNS Card, see Attack on the USNS Card. [7] In response, Nao claimed that he and Hung intended to go to the other side of the river, to buy some new clothes at the market. 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. Five Navy divers investigated damage to Card. Nao than ordered Hung to throw the hand grenade and both men would retreat towards the local village, if their bombs were discovered by the police. 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. 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. As Nao and Hung approached the patrol boat, an explosion was heard and a bright light could be seen in the commercial port area. military. 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. U.S. Navy photos** The sinking of the Card was stunning victory for the Viet Cong, yet little remembered today. Nao's superiors approved the plan and they ordered him to launch the attack before sunrise to avoid killing local Vietnamese civilians. Again, the police patrol boat was waiting for Nao and Hung to arrive, because the commander wanted another bribe. [14], The USS Reclaimer rescue and salvage ship, which was heading for the Philippines at the time, was ordered to change course and sailed for Saigon. 3rd Division (Vietnam)-Wikipedia. The fervor and skill with which Card’s group attacked these subs earned them a Presidential Unit Citation. 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. [8], When Nao received news the Card had arrived in Saigon, he inspected the equipment which now included a new battery and a redesigned bomb. [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. For more details on sinking of the USNS Card, see Attack on the USNS Card. The Attack on the USNS Card was a Viet Cong operation during the Vietnam War. 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. 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). At Subic Bay in the Philippines, the cargo and troops were … Nao concluded that the tunnel would provide the best way to get in and out of the American area, but using it also presented challenges. … On May 16, 1958, the Card re-entered service with the Military Sea Transport Service, under the control of the United States Navy. Smaller marches also occur in Boston, Seattle, and Madison, … There had been an earlier attempted attack on the Core, in late 1963, which had failed but the IEDs had actually been … Both men than pulled over in the Thu Thiem area, to avoid detection from South Vietnamese authorities by intermingling with the local workers who lived there. After Nao had surveyed the tunnels which lead into the port, he presented his plan of attack to the Saigon-Gia Dinh Military District Headquarters. [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. [12], USS Reclaimer, a rescue and salvage ship, which was heading for the Philippines at the time, was ordered to change course and sailed for Saigon. There had been an earlier attempted attack on the Core, in late 1963, which had failed but the IEDs had actually been … The attack was a success and the Card sank 48 feet, and five civilian crew members were killed by the explosions. From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core, First Seal by Roy Boehm and Charles Sasser pages 294-296, "Commando recalls sinking of US aircraft carrier", https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Attack_on_the_USNS_Card&oldid=715445162, Articles containing Vietnamese-language text, Vietnam articles missing geocoordinate data, Battles and operations of the Vietnam War in 1964, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, About Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core. Back to the Cold War (1946-1989) Message Board. The Attack on the USNS Card was a Viet Cong operation during the Vietnam War. In August … By the end of World War II, the Card and her aircraft destroyed a total of 11 German submarines, which made it the second most successful ship of its class. Again, Nao decided to set off the bombs during the early hours of May 2, so that he and his fellow operative could escape safely and avoid inflicting casualties on the local population. [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. 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. [2], Card while in service with the United States Navy, From 1961 onwards, Card and USNS Core regularly docked in Saigon to unload heavy artillery, M113 armored personnel carriers, aircraft, helicopters and ammunition for the South Vietnamese government. If you look at Mr. Ahmad’s answer it is exhaustive in its detail. Shortly after the Card was sunk, North Vietnam made full use of the incident for propaganda purposes. As a regular visitor to the port, Card became a target for local VC commando units. On October 20, 1964, the North Vietnamese government issued a postage stamp which proclaimed an "Aircraft Carrier of America sunk in the Harbor of Saigon", to praise the Viet Cong commandos who carried out the attack. [9] After that Nao stuck the battery onto a pole and connected it to the bombs with wires, then set the timer. Five Navy divers investigated damage to Card. 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. 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. But due to illness, Cay declined to take part in the operation, so Hung had to replace him. The aftermath of the attack on the Card rallied American rescue and salvage crews to deal with a severe crisis. Not long afterwards, Core and its crew sailed out of Saigon, intact without any damage. Areas … At Subic Bay in the Philippines, the cargo and troops were transferred to USS Princeton, which arrived and unloaded off the coast of Da Nang the following month. On May 2, 1964, before even the Gulf of Tonkin Incident that heralded major US involvement in the Vietnam War, a Viet Cong or North Vietnamese frogman placed an explosive charge against the hull of the USS Card (USNS Card at the time of sinking), blowing a hole in the ship and sinking 48 feet as she lay berthed at the dock at Saigon. [7] As usual, the Card docked at the commercial port district in the city to unload another shipment of cargo and military helicopters, as well as upload a batch of helicopters scheduled to be returned to the United States. Again, Nao decided to set off the bombs during the early hours of May 2, so that he and his fellow operative could escape safely and avoid inflicting casualties on the local population. He has not forgotten the afternoon of April 30 in 1964, when port operator Do Toan, who was one of his three comrades, informed him that the USNS Card would arrive at the port on May 1. Adapted from Chaplain Bell interview in box 2 of World War II Interviews, Archives, Naval History and Heritage Command. 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. An inspection later revealed that the explosion had torn open a hole which measured 12 feet (3.7 m) long and 3 feet (0.91 m) high, on the starboard side of the ship. "The Attack on the USNS Card " Topic. 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. 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). Lyndon Johnson wanted to keep the results of the attack as quiet as possible. 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. Ultimately it took the salvors 17 days to refloat 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 Card to get rid of excess water while at sea. The ship supported an escalating military commitment of the South Vietnamese government that occurred well before the Tonkin Gulf Incident. [1] On November 11, 1943, the Card and her escort destroyers were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their success as part of TG21.14, and the Card became the first escort carrier to receive such an award for combating German submarines. 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 … [7], Shortly after 6:30pm as both men headed towards Warehouse Number 0 at the commercial port district, a police patrol boat spotted them and quickly gave chase. 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 Card at all costs. 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