USS Block Island (CVE-21)

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Branch

U.S. Navy

Members

About USS Block Island (CVE-21)

USS Block Island (CVE-21) was a Bogue-class escort carrier commissioned by the United States Navy in March 1943 during World War II. She played a critical role in anti-submarine operations in the Atlantic, notably helping to sink German U-boats and protecting Allied convoys. On May 29, 1944, Block Island became the only American aircraft carrier sunk in the Atlantic after being torpedoed by U-549. Despite the loss, her crew's swift evacuation efforts resulted in the survival of most personnel, and her legacy continued with the commissioning of a second carrier bearing her name.

Unit Members

Harold Harper

U.S. Navy

USS Block Island (CVE-21)View Profile

Photos

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

About USS Block Island (CVE-21)

About this Unit

Historical Facts

• First of Her Name: USS Block Island (CVE-21) was the first American ship to bear the name, honoring Block Island, Rhode Island. • Bogue-class Escort Carrier: She was a Bogue-class escort carrier, originally laid down as Mormacpenn before being acquired and converted by the U.S. Navy. • Commissioned in 1943: The ship was commissioned on 8 March 1943 and played a key role in anti-submarine warfare during WWII. • Hunter-Killer Group: She led one of the first hunter-killer groups, using aircraft to find and destroy German U-boats in the Atlantic. • First U.S. Carrier Sunk by Enemy Submarine: On 29 May 1944, Block Island (CVE-21) was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-549, making her the only American carrier lost in the Atlantic during WWII. • Survival Rate: Out of a crew of nearly 1,000, only six sailors were lost when she sank—an impressive survival rate thanks to swift rescue operations by escorting destroyers. • Rescue and Retaliation: The destroyer escort USS Eugene E. Elmore and USS Ahrens rescued the survivors and located and sank U-549 shortly after the attack. • Decorated Service: Block Island’s crew and air groups were credited with the destruction of at least two German U-boats and damaging others before her loss. • Legacy Continues: After her sinking, a second escort carrier, USS Block Island (CVE-106), was commissioned in her honor and served in the Pacific. • Personal Accounts: The ship's loss and the dramatic rescue of her crew are well-documented in personal memoirs, highlighting the close-knit bonds formed aboard escort carriers during WWII.