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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AV-11 / AVM-1 Norton Sound

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Papa - Uniform

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal

Currituck Class Seaplane Tender:

Laid down, 7 September 1942, at Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., San Pedro, CA.

Launched, 28 November 1943

Commissioned USS Norton Sound (AV-11), 8 January 1945, CAPT. Ben Scott Custer USN in command

Converted to a mobile missile launching platform at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, PA. from February 1948 to October 1948

Redesignated Guided Missile Ship, (AVM-1), 8 August 1951

Decommissioned, 10 August 1959, at Norfolk, VA.

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Norfolk, VA.

Recommissioned, 20 June 1960, at Baltimore, MD.

Decommissioned, 11 December 1986

Struck from the Naval Register, 26 January 1987

Title transfer to the Maritime Administration, 20 October 1988

Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet

Final Disposition, sold to C.J.W. Shipping and Trading Company, San Francisco, CA. for $1,725,000, and towed to Taiwan, to be scrapped

Norton Sound received two battle stars for World War II service

Specifications:
Displacement 9,090 t.(lt) 14.000 t.(fl)
Length 640' 5"
Beam 69' 3"
Draft 22' 3"
Speed 19 kts.
Complement 1,247
Armament

As Built

four single 5"/38 DP gun mounts

four quad 40mm AA gun mounts
Propulsion steam turbines, four boilers, two shafts, 12,000hp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Norton Sound (AV-11)
	62k	Norton Sound (AV-11) underway, in World War II configuration painted in Measure 32/15Ax camouflage scheme. US Navy photo	Haze Gray & Underway web site
	116k	Norton Sound (AV-11) crew standing personnel inspection, date and location unknown.. US Navy photo	David Buell
	141k	Norton Sound (AV-11) crew standing personnel inspection, date and location unknown.. US Navy photo	David Buell
	78k	Norton Sound (AV-11) at anchor, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	.
	59k	Norton Sound (AV-11) anchored in Tanapag Harbor, Saipan, April 1945. Note Ship's round SK-2 radar antenna. Photographed by ENS Thomas Binford, USNR US Navy photo	Joe Radigan, MACM USN Ret
	234k	Norton Sound (AV-11) anchored while tending seaplanes in 1945, location unknown. US Navy photo	David Buell
USS Norton Sound (AVM-1)
	78k	Norton Sound (AVM-1) underway, after conversion to a mobile missile launching platform. US Navy photo	Haze Gray & Underway web site
	102k	Norton Sound (AVM-1) underway in San Francisco Bay, 1958. Photo by Allied Photographers, San Francisco, CA. US Navy photo	Robert M. Cieri
	77k	Norton Sound (AVM-1) underway in the South Atlantic. Photo was taken from Tarawa (CVS-40) during "Operation Argus" in August-September 1958.	Allyn Howard VS-32 Det. USS Tarawa
	78k	Norton Sound (AVM-1) underway while in "Typhoon" missile test ship configuration, circa 1964, location unknown. US Navy photo	Haze Gray & Underway web site
	78k	Norton Sound (AVM-1) underway while in "Aegis" systems test ship configuration. US Navy photo	Haze Gray & Underway web site
	77k	Norton Sound (AVM-1) underway while in "Aegis" systems test ship configuration. US Navy photo	Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr
	76k	Norton Sound (AVM-1) moored pierside at Pier 4, Naval Station, San Diego, CA, 1979. She is configured with a "Twin Armed Bandit" twin rail standard launcher to starboard aft.	Photo by Edward Cleary
	136k	Norton Sound (AVM-1) underway, date and place unknown. US Navy photo.	Robert M. Cieri
	98k	Norton Sound (AVM-1) underway, circa 1980. Photo @copy Marine Photos.	Robert M. Cieri
	67k	Stern view of Norton Sound (AVM-1) moored pierside at San Francisco, May 1980 Photo Robert M. Cieri	Robert M. Cieri
	77k	Norton Sound (AVM-1) view of forward main deck looking aft while moored at San Francisco, May 1980 Photo Robert M. Cieri	Robert M. Cieri
	71k	View of Norton Sound (AVM-1)'s hanger area looking forward from the flight deck while moored at San Francisco, May 1980 Photo Robert M. Cieri	Robert M. Cieri
	64k	Port bow view of Norton Sound (AVM-1) while moored pierside at San Francisco, May 1980 Photo Robert M. Cieri	Robert M. Cieri
	63k	Norton Sound (AVM-1) main deck aft, view of a prototype Mk 26 Launcher (later fitted to the Virginia-class CGN's, the first 5 Ticonderogas) while moored at San Francisco, May 1980. Photo Robert M. Cieri	Robert M. Cieri
	82k	Norton Sound (AVM-1) underway at Port Hueneme, 16 June 1986. US Navy photo	Robert M. Cieri

Norton Sound Memorabilia
Welcome Aboard pamphlet. Contributed by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.	1986 Welcome Aboard pamphlet Contributed by Robert M. Cieri

Additional Ships Patches
Contributed by Mike Smolinski	Contributed by Mike Smolinski	Contributed by Robert M. Cieri

View the Norton Sound (AV-11)
DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS Norton Sound (AV 1) (AVM 11) 1944-1986

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Last Updated 21 December 2007