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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1)
ex
 USS Albemarle (AV-5) (1940 - 1966)

USS Albemarle (AV-5)
International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Echo - Delta
 NEED

USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1)
International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Xray - Foxtrot
 NAXF
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons
USS Albemarle (AV-5)


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp) - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service
USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1)

Precedence of awards is from left to right
National Defense Service Medal - Vietnam Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Curtiss Class Seaplane Tender:
  • Laid down, 12 June 1939, at New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.
  • Launched, 13 July 1940
  • Commissioned USS Albemarle (AV-5), 20 December 1940, CDR. Henry M. Mullinnix in command
  • During World War II USS Albemarle was assigned to both the European and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters
  • Decommissioned, 14 August 1950
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, New York Group, Brooklyn
  • Recommissioned, 2 October 1957
  • Decommissioned, 21 October 1960
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Norfolk Group
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1962
  • Custody transferred to the Maritime Administration, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Reinstated on the Naval Register, 27 March 1965
  • Converted to an Aircraft Repair Ship, Helicopter at Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston S.C.
  • Placed in service as USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1) in January 1966 under the control of the Military Sealift Command (MSC)
  • During the Vietnam War USNS Corpus Christi Bay participated in campaigns between 1966 to 1969
  • Placed out of-service in 1973
  • Returned to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Corpus Christi, TX.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 31 December 1974
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 17 July 1975, to Brownsville Steel and Salvage Inc
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,671 t.(lt) 14,079 t.(fl)
    Length 527' 4"
    Beam 69' 3"
    Draft 21' 11"
    Speed 19.7 kts.
    Complement
    (AV-5)
    Officers - 100
    Enlisted - 1,035
    (ARVH-1) 128 civilian, 308 Army Technicians
    Largest Boom Capacity 20 t.
    Armament
    (AV) As Built
    four single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    three quad 40MM AA gun mounts
    (AV) Added during WWII
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts
    (ARVH) none
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO - 9,670 Bbls
    Diesel - 290 Bbls
    Gasoline - 269,620 Ga;s
    Propulsion
    two New York Shipbuilding Parsons type geared turbines
    four Babcock and Wilcox Express boilers 400psi 600°
    double De Laval Main Reduction Gears
    four turbo-drive 500Kw 450V A.C. Ship's Service Generators
    two propellers, 12,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Albemarle (AV-5)
    Albemarle 99k USS Albemarle (AV-5) at anchor in Havana Harbour, Cuba, 22 February 1941, "dressed" for Washington's Birthday. Splinter protection (gun tubs) have been fitted around her single enclosed and three open 5"/38 gun mounts. The ship's OS2U Kingfisher seaplanes are on deck aft.
    US Navy photo # NH 96538 from the collections of the US Navy History and Heritage Command     		Robert Hurst
    Albemarle 69k USS Albemarle (AV-5) in Narragansett Bay, 8 August 1942. All four 5"/38 guns are now enclosed mounts, probably fitted during an overhaul at Boston in April 1942. her sister USS Curtiss (AV-4) never received this upgrade.
    US National Archives photo # (unknown), RG-19-LCM.    		 Robert Hurst
    Albemarle 137k USS Albemarle (AV-5) underway, 30 July 1943, in what is probably Measure 22(5-N) camouflage.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-76629, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 Haze Gray and Underway Web Site
    Albemarle 140k USS Albemarle (AV-5) underway near Norfolk, VA., 7 September 1943. The ship is loaded with aviation cargo for transportation to the British Isles. A Martin PBM Mariner flying boat is shown on her fantail.
    US Navy photo # 80-G-204836 from the collections of the US Navy History and Heritage Command.    		 Robert Hurst
    Albemarle 29k USS Albemarle (AV-5) at anchor, 5 April 1943, location unknown. Note Albemarle is painted in Measure 12(modified) camouflage scheme.
    US Navy photo    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Albemarle 76k USS Albemarle (AV-5) underway, 10 June 1943, location unknown. Note Albemarle is painted in Measure 12(modified) camouflage scheme.
    US Navy photo.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Albemarle 20k USS Albemarle (AV-5) at anchor, 5 May 1942, location unknown. Note Albemarle is painted in Measure 12(modified) camouflage scheme.
    US Navy photo         		.
    Albemarle 21k USS Albemarle (AV-5) at anchor, date and location unknown. Tom Camfield
    Albemarle 59k USS Albemarle (AV-5) moored at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, circa 1958-59. Albemarle was testing a new aft elevator to receive the Martin seaplane ( P6M ) program.
    US Navy photo    		 Haze Gray and Underway Web Site
    Albemarle 91k USS Albemarle (AV-5) probably in January 1959 after being rebuilt to support the P6M Seamaster jet flying boat. Note the ramp and hoisting gear on the stern, which enabled the ship to bring the huge P6M on board without using a crane. The P6M program was canceled in August 1959 and Albemarle never serviced this aircraft.
    US Navy photo # USN 1033848 from the collections of the US Navy History and Heritage Command.    		 Robert Hurst
    USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1)
    Albemarle 171k USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1) undergoing conversion from a Seaplane Tender to a Helicopter Repair Ship, at Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston S.C. fires up her boilers for the first time in five years on 19 July 1965. (See Charleston Naval Shipyard Newspaper article.
    US Navy photo    		 Robert Hall
    Albemarle 74k USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1) moored pierside, Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, S.C., date unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Haze Gray and Underway
    Albemarle 22k USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1) underway, overhead view, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Albemarle 95k USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1) fires up her boilers while in drydock, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, January 1969, by C. Ferguson JOC, USN.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Albemarle 43k USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1) at anchor off Vung Tau, South Vietnam, circa 1967-69. Pete Harlem, Courtesy Bob Sheasley USA
    Albemarle 44k USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1) at anchor off Vung Tau, South Vietnam, circa 1967-69. Pete Harlem, Courtesy Bob Sheasley USA
    Albemarle 55k USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    Albemarle 72k USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    Albemarle 122k USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 Robert Hurst
    View the USS Albemarle (AV-5) / USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Navy History and Heritage Command
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Ship Type Index Back To The Seaplane Tender (AV) Photo Index Back To The Aircraft Repair Ship, Helicopter (ARVH) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 5 June 2009