USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60)

The USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60) was an * escort carrier of the Casablanca class, commissioned by the United States Navy during World War II. Primarily tasked with anti-submarine warfare in the Atlantic theater, she is best known for the capture of German submarine U-505 in June 1944.

The Guadalcanal served as the flagship of Task Group 22.3, commanded by Captain Daniel V. Gallery. This hunter-killer group, consisting of the Guadalcanal and five destroyer escorts, actively hunted German U-boats operating in the Atlantic. The capture of U-505 was a pivotal event, marking the first time since 1815 that a U.S. Navy vessel captured an enemy warship. The U-505 was boarded and valuable Enigma codebooks and machinery were recovered, providing a significant intelligence advantage to the Allies.

Following World War II, the Guadalcanal was decommissioned in 1946 and placed in reserve. She was eventually sold for scrap in 1959. Although scrapped, the legacy of the USS Guadalcanal and its role in the capture of U-505 remain a significant part of naval history. The U-505 itself is now on display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.