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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Salisbury Sound (AV-13)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Victor - Lima NAVL

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal
Fourth Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Quemoy-Matsu 1-Vietnam) - Vietnam Service Medal (2) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

Currituck Class Seaplane Tender:

Laid down, 10 April 1943, at Todd Shipyard Corp., San Pedro, CA., as Puget Sound

Launched, 18 January 1944

Renamed Salisbury Sound, 5 June 1944

Commissioned USS Salisbury Sound (AV-13), 26 November 1945, CAPT. Doyle G. Donaho in command

During World War II USS Salisbury Sound was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Following World War II USS Salisbury Sound was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East and China service for the following periods;

Navy Occupation Service Medal	China Service Medal (extended)
16 April to 30 August 1947	16 April to 30 August 1947
6 to 7 April 1948 1948	1 December 1949 to 6 February 1950
17 April to 2 July 1948	18 March to 5 April 1950
29 July to 5 August 1948	12 August to 11 May 1950
27 October to 27 November 1950	22 August to 17 October 1950
	12 to 26 August 1953

During the Vietnam War USS Salisbury Sound participated in the following campaigns:

**Vietnam War Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Vietnam Counteroffensive 4 to 26 March 1966 15 May to 3 June 1966	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II 10 July to 9 August 1966 7 to 28 October 1966

Decommissioned, 31 March 1967

Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown

Transferred to the Maritime Administration, 3 July 1968, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia WA.

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping by MARAD, 7 February 1972, to Ziddell Explorations Inc., Portland, OR.

USS Salisbury Sound earned two battle stars for Vietnam War service

Specifications:
Displacement 9,090 t.(lt) 15,092 t.(fl)
Length 540' 5"
Beam 69' 3"
Draft 22' 3" (lim)
Speed 19.2 kts. (trial)
Complement

Officers -162

Enlisted - 1,085
Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.
Armament

four single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts

four twin 40mm AA gun mounts

three quad 40mm AA gun mounts

twenty single 20mm AA gun mounts
Fuel Capacities

NSFO - 15,330 Bbls

Diesel - 285 Bbls

Gasoline - 278,030 Gals
Propulsion

two Allis Chalmers steam turbines

four Babcock and Wilcox Express boilers, 400psi 690°

double Falk Main Reduction Gears

four 500Kw 450V A.C. Ships Service Generators

two propellers, 12,000shp

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
52k	*USS Salisbury Sound* (AV-13)** at anchor, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.	Hazegray & Underway
94k	*USS Salisbury Sound* (AV-13)** conducting seaplane operational test training off Alameda, California, 8 July 1953. The aircraft is a P5M Marlin flying boat. US Navy photo # USN 626592 from the collections of the US Navy History and Heritage Command.	Robert Hurst
63k	*USS Salisbury Sound* (AV-13)** at anchor in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, in March 1955.	Photo by Robert Otten AT2 V3 div. USS Salisbury Sound
42k	*USS Salisbury Sound* (AV-13)** at anchor, location unknown, circa 1960s. US Navy photo	Hazegray & Underway Web Site
271k	*USS Salisbury Sound* (AV-13) crew welcoming USS Currituck (AV-7)** and her crew to Okinawa, January 1961. USS Salisbury Sound handed over duties as tender for forward deployed VP squadrons to USS Currituck. US Navy photos from the collection of CDR. R.F. Dresel USN, USS Currituck	Suzanne D. Simpson
165k	*USS Salisbury Sound* (AV-13), right being relieved by USS Currituck (AV-7)** at Okinawa, January 1961. US Navy photos from the collection of CDR. R.F. Dresel USN, USS Currituck	Suzanne D. Simpson
56k	*USS Salisbury Sound* (AV-13)** at anchor in San Diego Bay, date unknown. Note the "trailer hitch" at the stern of the ship which was use to attach a float support system for the beaching gear for the canceled R3Y "Trade Wind." The float system was tethered together into an "L" shape to form a floating dock for crews to move easily from plane to ship and back thus, saving transient time to and from the seaplane anchorage. US Navy photo	.
31k	*USS Salisbury Sound* (AV-13)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
22k	*USS Salisbury Sound* (AV-13)** at anchor, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
324k	*USS Salisbury Sound* (AV-13)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "Jane's Fighting Ships" 1964-1965 edition.	Robert Hurst