Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfred.MONZAT
VGF means Escort Fighting Squadron (and VGS Escort Scouting Squadron) so the G letter means the unit was used aboard an escort carrier (I think this designation was only applied in 1942/1943).
The G is probably the kind of designation that only the US Navy have the secret and do not stand for any word starting by G but I may be wrong
|
Escort carriers were a new class of warships and it seems the US Navy had troubles to find a suitable abbreviation in their hull designation system for them. Initially it was planned to classify them APV, but this was changed to AVG before the first ship of this type was commissioned. Presumably to prevent a mix up with the AVP class vessels (auxiliary aircraft tender, patrol). However, in August 1942 these ships were reclassified as ACV (auxiliary aircraft carrier) before they were eventually classified as CVE (aircraft carrier, escort) in July 1943.
So Squadrons assigned to these ships in 1941/42 got the "G" from the hull classification AVG and became VGF (Fighting) or VGS (Scouting). In March 1943 such Squadrons were reorganized into VC (Composite).
It is probably correct that the "G" in AVG does not stand for a certain word as the ships were called "auxiliary aircraft escort carriers" at that time, but nobody knows for sure why the US Navy choose the abbreviation CV for aircraft carriers anyway.
For those serving aboard they were "C"ombustible, "V"ulnerable, "E"xpendable