Photo. www.navsource.org
Displacement 7,800 Tons.
Dimensions, 512' 3" (oa) x 65' 2" x 22' 4" (Max)
Armament 1 x 5"/38AA 8 x 40mm, 12 x 20mm
27 Aircraft.
Machinery, 9,000 IHP; 2 Skinner, Uniflow engines, 2 screws
Speed, 19 Knots
Crew 860.
After providing air cover for a convoy routed to the British West Indies, Tripoli's covey of Wildcats and Avengers searched the sea lanes northwest, southwest, and west of the Cape Verdes before putting into Recife, Brazil, on 5 April to refuel and provision. Back at sea again two days later,
Following her return to
Tripoli's planes laid patterns of sonobuoys at the initial point and dropped smoke floats and float lights on an oil slick. Picking up the "scent," O'Toole straddled the floats with her hedgehog projectiles and depth charges and soon radioed victoriously "We hit the rodent!" A brief visual examination of the evidence—debris and a large quantity of diesel oil—satisfied the hunter-killer group that they had indeed sunk an enemy submarine.
However, a post-war examination of German records did not confirm the kill. As night fell,
USS Tripoli seen when departing Hampton roads with 12 Avengers and 9 Wildcats on her deck in May 1944. Photo. www.navsource.org.
DANFS DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL FIGHTING SHIPS
Above USS Tripoli seen anchored at Recife circa 1944