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Posted on 12/20/2004 10:24:46 PM PST by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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 In the twenties, the British produced their last Medium Tank Mark II. The projects proposed afterwards were so expensive for the budgets of the time, that they were rejected. After more than 10 years interruption, the medium tank reappeared under the designation "Cruiser Tank". It was designed to form the backbone of the armored divisions. Although British thinkers like Fuller of Liddell-Hart were precursors in the idea of large tank units, the British army started only late to set them up. The first generation of cruiser tanks was disastrous. The A-9 and A-10 had not only an insufficient armor, but also suffered from mechanical defects that made them unable to "go one mile without breaking a track". They were the only cruiser tanks available during the first year of the war. Their follower, the A-13, using Christie suspension, was only marginally better for the mechanic, and its armor remained insufficient.  Mark6A Crusader2 CS The final evolution of the A-13, the Convenanter, is probably the top in the horror story of British tanks. Ordered "off the drawing board" like most of its contemporaries, it proved useless on the battlefield because of its mechanical defects. Yet 1771 were built (7% of the total number of British tanks produced during the war, at a time when any war material was at a premium) and none of them ever saw action ! With the Crusader, the British had their first acceptable cruiser tank. Better on the mechanic, with a thicker armor, it temporarily restored the balance of quality on the battlefields of North Africa when it arrived in the end of 1941. It was the backbone of the British armored divisions until the battle of El-Alamein. At that time, it is outclassed by the latest German Panzers and it left the battlefields after the end of the campaign in Tunisia. The Cromwell was the first British tank to get rid of both the norm of the British Railways (limiting the width of the tanks) and of the practice of "off the drawing board" orders. Thanks to previous testing with the Cavalier and Centaur prototypes, it was mechanically sound, fast, with a reasonable armor and a good autonomy. It was armed with the 7.5 cm gun, the first able to fire antipersonnel as well as antitank shells (Up to then, the 2-pounder and 6-pounder guns could only fire antitank shells). Its gun was no match for the latest German Panzers though, but the gap was reduced. The Cromwell equiped the British units from 1943 until the end of the war.  Mark1 CS It was then time for the British to have their last horror story with tanks before turning out their first really brilliant cruiser tanks of the war. By attempting to mount an 17-pounder gun on the hull of a Cromwell, they perpetrate the dismal Challenger. More than 200 were built but very few ever saw war action since they were too handicapped by the overweight of the turret and its gun. The first very good cruiser tank was the Comet, which reached the frontline in December 1944. It used a shortened version of the 17-pounder, could really outgun the Panzer IV and could compete with a Panther. A still better tank was ready at the end of the war, the Centurion, but it arrived too late to take part in the war. The term "cruiser tank" is typically British. Other nations would have qualified those machines as "medium tanks", but they would have failed to capture the difference between a slow tank, intended to progress at the pace of walking men to support them, from the fast tank specialized in the pursuit and exploitation. The history of the cruiser tanks is no success story. Ordered "off the drawing board", going over directly to mass-production, they made their tests on the battlefield, with more than often, disastrous results. The models at the start of the war (A-9, A-10, A-13) were always one generation late in face of their German opponents. Their flimsy armor was a serious handicap. Later in the war, there were some successes, like the Crusader, but they were interspesed with total failure like the Convenanter.  The first really successful model was the Cromwell. It appeared at the right moment, when its mobility coul be put in good use in the exploitation phase in France and later in Germany. That first success was followed by two others in a row: the Comet and the Centurion, which had brilliant careers after the war.  A-9 tank, infantry support version with a 3.7 inch howitzer in the turret on a tank-carrying truck. Note the two bogies with 3 road-wheels each, common between the A-9, A-10 and Valentine tanks. The auxiliary turret is visible on the front of the hull. Named A-9 or Cruiser Mark I. The British doctrine planned, besides infantery tanks, a "Cruiser" tank for the armor mission in large tank units. The A-9 was the first tank aimed at that. The A-9 was far from perfect. Its armor was flimsy and it was mechanically fragile. It represented the quarter of all cruiser tanks at the onset of the war. It took part in the campaign in France and then fought in Africa against the Italians. Its intervention in Greece in 1941 cost much due to numerous mechanical breakdowns. It appeared for the last time on the battlefield during the disastrous operation "Battleaxe" in June 1941.  Mark1 A9 E1 prototype Identification: Like the Valentine or the A-10, it had an running gear with two bogies with three road-wheels each. Its tracks were narrower than those of the Valentine, whereas it had an auxiliary turret with MG's in front of the vehicule, while the A-10 had none.  An A-10 on its way to the frontline for the operation "Battleaxe". The mechanical fragility of the first British cruiser tanks forced them to use extensively tank-carrying vehicles. (Picture: Imperial War Museum) Named A-10 or Cruiser Mark II. Planned as an infantery support tank, its armor was deemed insufficient for that mission. Thus it became a cruiser tank, although its speed was insufficient. It fought in France, in Africa, in Greece, where it distinguished itself by its numerous mechanical breakdowns. It went on fighting in North Africa until the end of 1941. "Crusader" was the last war action it took part in.  Mark 2A A10 Identification: Very close to the A-9 externally, with the same two bogies with 3 road-wheels each. Devoid of the auxiliary turret with MG at the front.  A-13, original model with straight turret sides The A-13 was the first real Cruiser tank. It introduced in the British armor force the Christie suspension and the idea to use an aircraft engine to propel a tank (ideas that the Russians had put into practice long before). They barely saw combat in France in 1940 but the A-13 were very successful against the Italians in North Africa and were roughly equal to the Panzer III engaged by Rommel at his arrival there. Later, new German models overtook them and they left the frontline at the end of 1941. Besides the A-13 Mark I and A-13 Mark II, a third series of tanks (later renamed Convenanter) were designated as "A-13". Although they were built in large numbers, they never saw action, because a faulty design made them unfit for combat !.  Mark 3 A13 E3 Named A-13 Mark I or Cruiser Mark III. Only two units took part in the campaign of France. It fought afterwards in Libya against the Italians and then against the Germans. It was a match for the Panzer III but was overtaken in the course of 1941 by new German models. It left frontline service at the end of the year. Identification: The introduction of the Christie suspension (large road-wheels, no return rollers) allow to differentiate the A-13 from the previous cruiser tanks (A-9 et A-10), with their bogies.  A-13 Mark II during an excercice short before the war. Note the V-shaped sides of the turret, distinctive of the Mark II Named A-13 Mark II or Cruiser Mark IV. The most glaring drawback of the A-13 Mark I was its insufficient protection. The next version was thus uparmored while the older units were brought up to the new standard. The A-13 Mark II had V-shaped turret sides, different from the lightly sloped side of the Mark I. Afterwards, the Mark I got the same turret as the next model. The history of the A-13 Mark II is the same as the original A-13. It fought in France and then in North Africa until the end of 1941. Identification: The new turret had distinctive V-shaped sides.  Mark 4 A version Mark IV A got a new mantlet and a coaxial MG.  Mark 4A Basically the Mark 4 was a upgrade of the A13. Extra armor was added for crew protection. Hollow "V" sides were fitted to the turret - though the purpose is unsure. Hollow charge shells were only then being "discovered" for anti-armor use. The upper part of the V could be used to deflect a side turret shot upwards, but why the bottom was a purposeful shot trap is clearly a mistake. The Mark 4 was in production before the Mark 3 in 1938. The Mark 4 saw action in Africa and France. Note the Christie suspension.  Convenanter. Thanks to its turret, it bears some ressemblance with the Crusaders. You can make the difference by looking at the road-wheels: there are only four, while the Crusader had five. Note the cooling louvres left in front the the hull. Named A-13 Mark III or Cruiser Mark V. The idea to build a heavy cruiser tank resulted in the Convenanter, a model of the A-13 Mark II with an increased armor. The machine was plagued from the start by cooling problems, which limited its role to training in Britain. It never saw combat.  Covenanter pilot model Identification: The turret of the Convenanter looks like the one of a Crusader, being low with sloped sides but the hull looks the same as the one of a A-13, with only four large road-wheels. The Convenanter had cooling louvres on the hull before the turret.
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Morning E.G.C.
That snow show up? We had a mixed weather day yesterday, cloudy in the morning, turned nice mid-day and rain in the evening.
Our ISP experienced a breakdown of it's primary database server yesterday afternoon. Brought it to the attention of one of the techs and got service restored in 5-10 minutes.
Hi Snippy! Hi Sam!
Almost in time for Christmas. ;-)
Hi Solderette.
A new "regular feature" on Treadhead Tuesday? :-)
BTW SAM I already got my present,neener neener, the wife saw fit to grace me with a tool box that is the size of Rhode Island for the workshop.
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Read: Hebrews 12:12-24
Make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. —Hebrews 12:13
Bible In One Year: Micah 4-5; Revelation 12
The cover of a recent Our Daily Bread pictures a leaf-strewn road through the mountains of Vermont. Those who use the road can enjoy a smooth and beautiful ride over difficult terrain. To make this possible, others had to work hard to chart the route, clear the trees, and level the rough spots.
In a way, all Christians are road builders. We are paving the way of faith for the next generation. The faithfulness of our lives may determine how difficult their journey will be. Will they have to repair the damage we have done to the road? Will they be able to build new roads for others to find the way to God?
To be good road builders, we must heed the advice found in God's Word. The author of Hebrews instructed us to live in peace and be holy (12:14), to make sure no one misses the grace of God, and not to permit a root of bitterness to grow and cause trouble (v.15).
Those of us who have come to Jesus owe gratitude to those who have made "straight paths" for our walk of faith (v.13). In turn, we must remember those who will follow us and make straight paths for them. Let's practice our faith in a way that makes it easy for others to come to Jesus and to follow Him. What kind of road builder are you? —Julie Ackerman Link
Good morning Sam!
I couldn't help myself, I really like that logo and it seems so perfect for Tuesday. I hope you don't mind.
Are you all set for Christmas? I am, just a few more presents to wrap and I'm ready. I even got the cards out on time and for the first time ever, they will actually arrive before Christmas this year.
I'm rather feeling smug about that.
"Cromwell"
What an unfortunate name for a tank.
On This Day In History
Birthdates which occurred on December 21:
1117 Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury
1537 Johan III king of Sweden (1569-92)
1804 Benjamin Disraeli (author, statesman: "No government can be long secure without a formidable opposition.")
1818 Lewis H Morgan, US, etnologist (Systems of Consanguinity)
1879 Joseph Stalin, [Dzoegashvili], Russian dictator; murdered at least 11,000,000 people
1892 Walter Hagen (golf champion: U.S. Open [1914 & 1919], British Open [1922, 1924, 1928-29], PGA [1921, 1924-27])
1908 Pat Weaver (President of NBC-TV, credited with the idea for Today and Tonight shows; father of actress, Sigourney Weaver)
1911 Josh Gibson, pro baseball player, "Negro Babe Ruth" (hit 800+ HRs)
1918 Donald Regan, White House staffer/US Secretary of Treasury (1981-85)
1918 Kurt Waldheim Nazi/4th UN Secretary-General (1972-81)/Austrian President (1986-92)
1922 Paul Winchell, NYC, ventriloquist (Jerry Mahoney, Knucklehead Smith)
1926 Joe Paterno (football coach: Penn State)
1937 Jane Fonda (Academy Award-winning actress/traitor)
1940 Frank Zappa (musician, songwriter, singer: group: Mothers of Invention)
1940 Ray Hildebrand, "Paul" of the duo Paul and Paula
1954 Chris Evert (tennis champion)
1959 Florence Griffith Joyner (Flo-Jo) (track star:
Good morning everyone.
Heh heh heh, Yer gonna burn for that!
BTW, ROFLMAO!
....hehehehehe....
I think I just hurt myself!
Today's classic warship, USS Santee (CVE-29)
Cimarron class fleet oiler converted to aircraft carrier
Displacement: 6,534 t.
Length: 559’
Beam: 75’
Draft: 33’9”
Speed: 18 k.
Complement: 860
Armament: 2 5”, 4 twin 40mm, 12 20mm
The USS SANTEE was launched on 4 March 1939 as ESSO SEAKAY under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 3) by the Sun Shipbuilding and DryDock Co., at Chester, Pa.; sponsored by Mrs. Charles Kurz; acquired by the Navy on 18 October 1940; and commissioned on 30 October 1940 as AO-29, Comdr. William G. B. Hatch in command.
Prior to her acquisition by the Navy, ESSO SEAKAY had been operated by Standard Oil of New Jersey on the west coast. During her commercial service, she set several records for fast oil hauling.
After commissioning, SANTEE served in the Atlantic. When American neutrality ended on 7 December 1941, SANTEE was carrying oil for a secret airdrome at Argentia, Newfoundland. In the spring of 1942, SANTEE's conversion to an aircraft carrier was begun at the Norfolk Navy Yard.
On 24 August 1942, SANTEE was commissioned as an escort carrier, Comdr. William D. Sample in command. The ACV was fitted with such haste that workmen from Norfolk were still on board during her shakedown training and her decks were piled high with stores. After conversion, nominally completed on 8 September, SANTEE reported to Task Force 22 and the first plane landed on her flight deck on the 24th.
After shakedown, SANTEE departed Bermuda on 25 October and headed for the coast of Africa. While the escort carrier was en route on the 30th, an SBD-3 scout bomber being launched from a catapult dropped a 325-pound depth bomb onto the flight deck. It rolled off the deck and detonated close to the port bow shaking the entire ship, carrying away the range finder and a searchlight base, and damaging radar antennas.
Nevertheless, SANTEE continued steaming with Task Group 34.2. On 7 November, the escort carrier, with destroyers RODMAN (DD-456) and EMMONS (DD-457), and minelayer, MONADNOCK (CMc-4), left the formation and, the following morning, took positions off Safi, French Morocco. SANTEE launched planes and fueled ships until Friday, 13 November, when she rejoined TG 34.2 and returned to Bermuda. The group departed that island on the 22d and anchored in Hampton Roads two days later.
After voyage repairs and drydock, SANTEE got underway with destroyer EBERLE (DD-430), on 26 December. On 1 January 1943, SANTEE anchored at Port of Spain, Trinidad. Two days later, with destroyers EBERLE and LIVERMORE (DD-429), she headed for the coast of Brazil. After disembarking passengers at Recife, she sailed to join Task Unit 23.1.6 at sea in tightening the noose on enemy merchant shipping and naval activity in the south Atlantic.
For a month, her planes flew antisubmarine missions and regular patrols. On 15 February, the escort carrier put in at Recife, remaining until the 21st. Back conducting routine sorties in the same manner, SANTEE operated from 21 February through 2 March when she again put in to Recife.
Her next period at sea, which began on 4 March, brought action. On 10 March, light cruiser SAVANNAH (CL-42) and EBERLE were investigating a cargo liner which had been spotted by SANTEE's aircraft and which had been tentatively identified as the KARIN, a Dutch merchantman. It turned out to be the German blockade runner KOTA NOPAN (ex-Dutch KOTA PINANG). As the EBERLE boarding party drew alongside, explosives placed by the abandoning crew detonated, killing eight boarders. On 15 March, SANTEE set out for Norfolk and anchored at Hampton Roads on the 28th.
Underway again on 13 June, with four-stacked destroyers, BAINBRIDGE (DD-246), OVERTON (DD-239), and MacLEISH (DD-220), SANTEE reached Casablanca on 3 July. Four days later, the escort carrier departed the harbor with a convoy of homeward-bound empties. No submarines were sighted, but one of her Avengers made a forced landing in Spain, and its crew was interned. SANTEE's small task group left the convoy on 12 July with orders to operate independently against Nazi submarine concentrations south of the Azores. She remained at this antisubmarine work until 25 July and managed to attack seven surfaced U-boats, at the price of two Dauntless dive bombers.
On the 25th, she joined a west-bound convoy, which reached the Virginia coast on 6 August. On 26 August, SANTEE, with destroyers BAINBRIDGE and GREER (DD-145), again headed into the Atlantic; and two days steaming brought them to Bermuda.
SANTEE made another convoy run from Bermuda to Casablanca and back to Hampton Roads from 29 August to 13 October. On 25 October, the escort carrier departed the east coast for Casablanca, reaching Basin Delpit on 13 November. Standing out of Casablanca the next day, she rendezvoused on the 17th with IOWA (BB-61), carrying President Roosevelt. After providing air cover for the battleship and her escorts for several days, SANTEE was ordered to the Bay of Biscay, where she engaged in antisubmarine work until the end of November.
As TG 21.11, SANTEE and a trio of four-stackers patrolled the North Atlantic from 1 to 9 December. The group was dissolved upon arrival at the Norfolk Navy Yard on 10 December, and SANTEE, minus her aircraft, stood out of Norfolk on 21 December, and headed for New York in company with battleship TEXAS (BB-35), and several destroyers. From 22 to 28 December, the escort carrier packed her hangar and flight decks with P-38 fighter planes at Staten Island. Getting underway in convoy on the 29th, she steamed unchallenged across the North Atlantic, reaching Glasgow on 9 January 1944.
Emptied of her P-38 cargo, SANTEE departed Glasgow in convoy on 13 January and returned to Norfolk on the 24th. She stood out of Norfolk on 13 February with destroyer escort TATUM (DE-789), transited the Panama Canal on 18 and 19 February and moored at San Diego on the 28th. There, SANTEE embarked 300 Navy and Marine Corps personnel and 31 aircraft for delivery to Pearl Harbor. She also took on 24 Wildcat fighters and Avenger dive bombers as her own instruments of war.
Standing out of San Diego Bay on 2 March, the CVE unloaded her ferried aircraft and personnel at Pearl Harbor upon her arrival on the 9th.
Escort carriers SANGAMON (CVE-26), SUWANEE (CVE-27), CHENANGO (CVE-28) and SANTEE, all former oilers, swarmed out of Pearl Harbor with a flock of destroyers on 15 March, heading southwest. Designated Carrier Division (CarDiv) 22, they joined the fast carriers of the 5th Fleet on 27 March and sped west to the Palaus. There, their planes of CarDiv 22 flew patrols over vulnerable tankers before setting course for Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides on 4 April.
In this, the closing phase of the New Guinea campaign, SANTEE fueled and provisioned near Espiritu Santo from 7 to 10 April; then sailed to Purvis Bay, Solomons, on the 13th. CarDiv 22 joined CarDiv 24 and a destroyer squadron on 16 April and set course for New Guinea.
SANTEE's air group aircraft aided in destroying 100 enemy aircraft and ripping up enemy airfields before the landings, prior to departing for Manus Island, Admiralties, on 24 April. Arriving at Seeadler Harbor the next day, SANTEE and her sister ships took on fuel and food; then sailed again on the 26th for Hollandia. From 12 May through 1 June, SANTEE traded in her own air arm for 66 Corsairs and 15 Hellcats and personnel of Marine Air Group 21. On 2 June, Carrier Division 22 started north for Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshalls. On 4 August, the CVE reached newly-won Guam. The 81 aircraft of Air Group 21 became the first planes to operate from the reconquered island.
After training exercises and the re-embarkment of her own planes at Manus, SANTEE got underway on 10 September and rendezvoused with Task Force 77 near Mapia Island. At Morotai in the Moluccas, SANTEE Avengers bombed ground installations. One plane was lost to the enemy, but SANTEE herself had no contact with the Japanese. By 1 October, the CVE was back in Seeadler Harbor.
Sailing from Manus on 12 October, SANTEE and accompanying combatants reached Philippine waters on the 20th. The escort carrier's gunners shot down an enemy plane during an air attack that morning, and her aircraft splashed two more.
At 0736 on 25 October, SANTEE launched five Avenger and eight Wildcat aircraft for an attack against Japanese surface units some 120 miles to the north. At 0740, a Japanese plane made a suicide dive on SANTEE with an estimated 63 kilogram bomb, crashing through the flight deck and stopping on the hangar deck. At 0756, a torpedo struck the ship, causing flooding of several compartments and a six degree list. Emergency repairs were completed by 0935.
Between 18 and 27 October, SANTEE planes shot down 31 Japanese planes and sank one 5,000 ton ammunition ship, in addition to damage inflicted by strafing during their 377 sorties. On 31 October, the CVE anchored in Seeadler Harbor for temporary repairs to battle damage.
Underway again on 9 November, she moored at Pearl Harbor on the 19th. Following more repairs, the escort carrier embarked 98 marines for transportation to the United States and entered Los Angeles Harbor on 5 December. SANTEE completed the year undergoing repairs to battle damage and general overhaul.
After post repair trials at San Diego, the escort carrier headed toward Hawaii on 31 January 1945, and arrived at Pearl Harbor on 8 February. On 7 March, she got underway for Ulithi in the Western Carolines, altering her course en route to assist in the search for the B-24 which had disappeared while carrying Army Lt. Gen. Millard F. Harmon, before anchoring on 19 March. Two days later SANTEE steamed toward Leyte Gulf.
On 27 March, SANTEE departed the Philippines to provide air coverage for southern transport groups Dog and Easy en route to the objective area at Okinawa Gunto for the invasion of Okinawa Jima, the largest combined operation of the Pacific war.
On Easter Sunday, 1 April 1945, SANTEE provided direct support to the American ground forces landing on Okinawa and she continued this duty until 8 April, when she turned to aid British carriers in denying the use of Sakishima Gunto airfields to the enemy. For 42 consecutive dawns, SANTEE's aircraft winged over target sectors in the East China Sea, with daily returns to Okinawa itself for routine ground support. On 16 June, SANTEE launched a fighter bomber mission against specified targets on Kyushu, Japan.
Pulling out of the Okinawa area that day, SANTEE reached Leyte Gulf on the 19th, where minor repairs were made. Out again on 1 July, she operated west of Okinawa from the 5th to the 14th, covering minesweeping operations. On 7 July, a tail hook broke on a landing aircraft, allowing it to clear all barriers, crash among parked planes, and cause a fire. Four fighters and two torpedo bombers were jettisoned, six torpedo bombers were rendered non-flyable duds, and one of the pilots of the parked aircraft was killed.
SANTEE was detached from the task unit on 15 July and proceeded to Guam, arriving at Apra Harbor four days later. Following flight deck repairs and general upkeep, the escort carrier got underway on 5 August for Saipan, engaging in carrier aircraft training for squadrons flown from that island en route. Anchoring in Saipan Harbor on the 9th, the CVE got underway for the Philippines on 13 August. SANTEE received word of the cessation of the hostilities against Japan on the 15th and anchored in San Pedro Bay, Leyte, two days later.
On 4 September, while en route to Korea to support occupation forces there, SANTEE was ordered to northern Formosa to evacuate ex-prisoners of war. On 5 September, the escort carrier received, from destroyer escort KRETCHMER (DE-329), 155 officers and men of the British and Indian Armies. These soldiers had been captured by the Japanese in Malaya in 1942. They were given medical aid and berthed on the hangar deck. The next day, SANTEE picked up additional men from destroyer escorts FINCH (DE-328) and BRISTER (DE-327), making a total of 322 officers and men. They included 30 American Army and Naval officers and men who had been taken on Bataan and Corregidor, and 10 officers and men from the Dutch Army and Merchant Marine, captured in Java. On 9 September, SANTEE disembarked the 477 evacuees at Manila Bay.
Five days later, SANTEE stood out of Manila Bay and steamed for Okinawa, anchoring at Buckner Bay on the 19th. Underway again the next day, SANTEE reached Wakanoura Wan, Honshu, Japan, on the 22d. From 24 to 26 September, SANTEE steamed along the coast, providing air coverage for occupation forces landing at Wakayama.
SANTEE departed Wakanoura Wan on 3 October, left her formation on the 6th to search for a missing PBM aircraft which had carried Rear Admiral William D. Sample, the ship's first commanding officer after her conversion to an escort carrier.
On 20 October, SANTEE got underway for Okinawa, arriving two days later at Buckner Bay. On 23 October, SANTEE got underway for Pearl Harbor, disembarking 375 passengers there on 4 November. The next day, SANTEE continued her role in operation "Magic Carpet" by embarking 18 marines bound for the west coast.
Anchoring at San Diego on 11 November, SANTEE remained there until the 26th, when she got underway for Guam on additional "Magic Carpet" duty.
On 27 February 1946, SANTEE departed San Diego and arrived at Boston Harbor on 25 March, via the Panama Canal. The CVE was placed in reserve on 21 October. SANTEE was reclassified on 12 June 1955 as an escort helicopter aircraft carrier, CVHE-29, and struck from the Navy list on 1 March 1959. On 5 December 1959, she was sold to the Master Metals Co. for scrapping.
SANTEE received nine battle stars for World War II service.
None of that breakdown business, I will have none of that.
?
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