In the shadowy waters of Saigon Port during the escalating conflict in Vietnam, the USNS Card (T-AKV-40), a former World War II escort carrier turned supply ship, was subjected to a clandestine attack that marked the last time an American aircraft carrier has been sunk by enemy action. This historical event unfolded in the early morning hours of May 2, 1964, when Viet Cong commandos infiltrated the port and detonated explosives that sent the Card stern-first to the harbor’s bottom.
The attackers, two Viet Cong commandos, had embarked on a daring mission, creeping through a sewer tunnel to reach the Card. Each carrying 90 pounds of high explosives, their audacious strike was a vivid demonstration of the potential impact of asymmetrical warfare—highlighting the vulnerability even the mightiest naval powers face when confronted by a determined low-tech adversary.
One of the civilian Vietnamese stevedores, Lam Son Nao, played a pivotal role in the sinking. Nao had previously attempted to blow up another U.S. vessel and was experienced in commando activity. He described his thought process in an interview with the U.S. Naval Institute: “When I found out that the USS Card was coming up the river—this was a ship which was carrying all kinds of airplanes to the country in order, to kill the Vietnamese—people I got extremely mad. But I was able to turn my anger into action when I was given the job of trying to blow the ship up in order to give support to the political struggles of the city population.”
The USNS Card was acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1942 as a Bogue-class escort carrier capable of carrying up to two dozen anti-submarine or fighter airframes. Its sinking underlined the vulnerability of U.S. warships and the necessity for vigilant security measures. While naval vessels are engineered to withstand significant damage, they are not indestructible fortresses immune to innovative enemy tactics.
The Viet Cong’s low-tech attack foreshadowed future asymmetric assaults, including the notorious bombing of the USS Cole in 2000 by Al Qaeda operatives. James Holmes, a naval historian and analyst, reflected on the incident: “A castle is a fortification whose walls can take enormous punishment, whereas most modern warships have thin sides…So a guy with a charge can do a lot of damage.”
In the wake of the attack, the U.S. Navy rallied to salvage the Card, raising it from nearly 50 feet of water in 17 days. Despite the damage, the USNS Card returned to service six months later, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of American naval forces—an attribute that has defined U.S. military operations across seas and decades.
The sinking of the Card, while a tactical victory for the Viet Cong, also served as a strategic reminder of the constant evolution required in military technology and tactics. It remains a point of reflection for military tech and history enthusiasts, illustrating the enduring lessons of the past that continue to inform present and future defense strategies.
Relevant articles:
– The Sad Story of How Viet Cong Commandos ‘Sank’ an ‘Aircraft Carrier’, The National Interest
– The Sad Story of How Viet Cong Commandos ‘Sank’ an ‘Aircraft Carrier’, nationalinterest.org
– In 1964, Viet Cong Commandos Sank an American Aircraft Carrier, The National Interest
– Kitty Hawk II (CVA, United States Navy (.mil)