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. There had been an earlier attempted attack on the Core, in late 1963, which had failed but the IEDs had actually been … The ship’s crew were meant to treat trauma patients, allowing hospitals to concentrate on people suffering from COVID-19. Nao's superiors approved the plan and they ordered him to launch the attack before sunrise to avoid killing local Vietnamese civilians. 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. 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. [7], Once the commandos finally got out of the tunnel, they both swam towards the broadside of Card which anchored near the opening of the sewer. [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. First Seal by Roy Boehm and Charles Sasser pp. 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. [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. On their next patrol, Card and her task group suffered another loss. [9], For the VC commandos of the 65th Special Operations Group, the explosion on Card signalled a successful mission. [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. [16] The U.S. Navy refused to admit the Card had been sunk even for a brief period of time, instead it simply stated the Card was damaged and quickly repaired. 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. 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. Decommissioned in 1945, Card was reactivated in 1958 and entered service with the Military Sea Transport Service, transporting military equipment to South Vietnam as part of the United States military commitment to that country. The Attack on the USNS Card was a Viet Cong operation during the Vietnam War. The Attack on the USNS Card was a Viet Cong operation during the Vietnam War. 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. [16] Card was returned to service by December 11, 1964 and remained in service until 1970, when she was placed into the Reserve Fleet. [4], From 1961 onwards, the Card and the USNS Core regularly docked in Saigon to unload heavy artillery, M-113 armored personnel carriers, aircraft, helicopters and ammunition for the South Vietnamese government. Lyndon Johnson wanted to keep the results of the attack as quiet as possible. Furthermore, five American civilians who worked on the ship died as a result of the attack. [11] After that Nao stuck the battery onto a pole and connected it to the bombs with wires, then set the timer. [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. 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. 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. [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. However, raising Card would be a major salvage operation. 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. 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. 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. Nao then ordered Hung to throw the hand grenade and both men would retreat towards the local village, if their bombs were discovered by the police. 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. [4], However, the bombs failed to explode as planned, because the battery had expired due to long periods of storage. 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. Two of the WWII CVEs in particular, USNS Card (T-AKV-40 / ex-CVE-11) and USNS Core (T-AKV-41 / ex-CVE-13) were heavily involved in the Vietnam War. 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. At top — ‘Card’ in 1944. For more information, see the TMP FAQ. [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. it and a sister ship, the USNS Core had attracted the attention of local insurgents. The commandos attached the explosives to Core's hull, set the timer and retreated back into the sewer to wait for the outcome. USNS Card listing following attack by VC commandos in Saigon, May 2, 1964. [6], 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 (Đội Biệt động 65). The South Vietnamese police patrol boat than started its engine and raced towards the Card, instead of extracting another bribe. 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. [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. The commandos attached the explosives to Core’s hull, set the timer and retreated back into the sewer to wait for the outcome. The American brass and Pres. [5] As usual, Card docked at the commercial port district in the city to unload another shipment of cargo and military helicopters, as well as load a cargo of helicopters scheduled to be returned to the United States. Nao decided to utilise high explosives, enough to sink a ship, and detonate it using a timer so that his men could get away safely. 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. Card was first commissioned into the United States Navy during World War II. If you look at Mr. Ahmad’s answer it is exhaustive in its detail. The Attack on USNS Card was a Viet Cong (VC) operation during the Vietnam War. But due to illness, Cay declined to take part in the operation, so Hung had to replace him. California engineer ran train 'off the end of rail tracks' in attempted attack on USNS Mercy in Los Angeles, DOJ says . Torpedoed twice, she managed to stay afloat until The port itself was guarded round the clock by Republic of Vietnam National Police, as undercover South Vietnamese agents operated across the river in the Thu Thiem area to disrupt VC activities 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. … The USNS Card had been shuttling heavy equipment into Saigon Harbour for three years – aircraft, armoured vehicles and the like. 3 Posts. 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]. 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. The aftermath of the attack on the Card rallied American rescue and salvage crews to deal with a severe crisis. Lam Son Nao, a commando of the 65th Special Operations Group, was also an employee at the port facility. 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 USNS Card. 3rd Division (Vietnam)-Wikipedia. Reclaimer and Tawakoni then towed the damaged Card out of Saigon, and headed for Subic Bay where it underwent further repairs.[13]. 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). Mounted by commandos from the 65th Special Operations Group . The ship supported an escalating military commitment of the South Vietnamese government that occurred well before the Tonkin Gulf Incident. [15] For the remainder of 1964, the VC launched further attacks on U.S. targets such as the Brinks Hotel and Bien Hoa Air Base, but there were no significant responses from the U.S. 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. 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. 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. Again, the police patrol boat was waiting for Nao and Hung to arrive, because the commander wanted another bribe. For more details on sinking of the USNS Card, see Attack on the USNS Card. [9] 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. 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. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by The Miniatures Page. [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. As Nao and Hung approached the patrol boat, an explosion was heard and a bright light could be seen in the commercial port area. (1) USNS Card began life with a Maritime Commission hull number 178, style type C3-S-A1 merchant hull. 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). The ship was refloated 17 days later, and was towed to the Philippines for repairs. The USNS Card had been shuttling heavy equipment into Saigon Harbour for three years – aircraft, armoured vehicles and the like. WikiZero Özgür Ansiklopedi - Wikipedia Okumanın En Kolay Yolu [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. [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). 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). [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. Card … The fervor and skill with which Card’s group attacked these subs earned them a Presidential Unit Citation. **Above — USNS ‘Card’ in Saigon Port after the attack. [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. 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. [6] Determined the operation would remain a secret, the commandos snuck back to the Core and retrieved the explosive devices. It illustrated how vulnerable naval vessels can be even when faced with a low-tech enemy … and how difficult maintaining port security can be in a war with no real front. The South Vietnamese police patrol boat then started its engine and raced towards Card, instead of extracting another bribe. 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. Finally on May 1, 1964, Viet Cong reconnaissance teams spotted the USNS Card sailed through Ganh Rai Bay and entered Long Tau River, so they immediately reported the information to the 65th Special Operations Group in Saigon. [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. At Subic Bay in the Philippines, the cargo and troops were … Lam Son Nao, a commando of the 65th Special Operations Group, was also an employee at the port facility. USNS Card was a Bogue-class escort carrier that had served in the United States Navy. 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 … Two ships, the USNS Card and the USNS Core, had been serving as transports for helicopters and other essentials. After the bombs had been attached to the Card’s hull, Nao inspected both bombs to ensure they had been assembled properly. 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 … 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. [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. [9] After that Nao stuck the battery onto a pole and connected it to the bombs with wires, then set the timer. On May 16, 1958, the Card re-entered service with the Military Sea Transport Service, under the control of the United States Navy. [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. it and a sister ship, the USNS Core had attracted the attention of local insurgents. 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. (2005). 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. 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. Back to the Modern Naval Discussion (1946 to 2010) Message Board. 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