Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USCGC Absecon (WHEC-374)
ex
 USCGC Absecon (WAVP-374) (1949 - 1966)
 USS Absecon (AVP-23) (1943 - 1949)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Bravo - November - Papa
 NBNP
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal

USCGC Absecon (WHEC-374) was transferred to South Vietnam and renamed RVNS Pham Ngu Lao (HQ-15), captured by North Vietnam and renamed PRVNS Pham Ngu Lao (HQ-1)
Barnegat Class Small Seaplane Tender:
  • Laid down, 23 July 1941, at Lake Washington Shipyard, Houghton, WA.
  • Launched, 8 March 1942
  • Commissioned USS Absecon (AVP-23), 28 January 1943, CDR. Robert S. Purvis Jr. USN in command
  • Decommissioned, 19 March 1947, at Orange, TX.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Texas Group, Orange
  • Loaned to the US Coast Guard, 5 January 1949
  • Commissioned USCGC Absecon (WAVP-374) in May 1949
  • Redesignated (WHEC-374), 1 May 1966
  • Decommissioned by the Coast Guard, 9 May 1972 and returned to the US Navy
  • Struck from the Naval Register and transferred to South Vietnam, 15 June 1972, renamed RVNS Pham Ngu Lao (HQ-15)
  • Captured by North Vietnam in May 1975, renamed PRVNS Pham Ngu Lao (HQ-01)
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Final Disposition, refitted with two SS-N-2 SSM and Soviet light guns. Reported still in service as late as 2000
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,766 t.(lt) 2,800 t.(fl)
    Length 311' 6"
    Beam 41' 1"
    Draft 12' 5"
    Speed 18.2 kts (trial)
    Complement
    USN
    Officers 14
    Enlisted 201
    USN Aviation Squadrons
    Officers 59
    Enlisted 93
    USCG
    Officers 13
    Enlisted 136
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    USCG Electronics
    Radar: SPS-23, SPS-29D
    Sonar: SQS-1
    Armament
    USN
    two single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    one quad 40mm AA gun mount
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    USCG
    one single 5"/38 cal. Mk 12, Mod 1 dual purpose gun mount
    one Mk 52 Mod 3 director
    one Mk 26 fire control radar
    one Mk 11 A/S projector
    two Mk 32 Mod 5 torpedo tubes
    Fuel Capacities
    Diesel 2,055 Bbls
    Gasoline 84,340 Gals
    Propulsion
    Fairbanks-Morse, 38D8 1/2 Diesel engines
    single Fairbanks-Morse Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
    two Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
    two Diesel-drive 200Kw 450V A.C.
    two propellers, 6,400shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS Absecon (AVP-23)
    Absecon
    09432327     		241k
    Namesake
    Absecon - Absecon Inlet leads from the Atlantic Ocean through barrier islands in Atlantic County, New Jersey. Its southern shore is the north end of Absecon Island, on which lies Atlantic City. Absecon Lighthouse is south of the inlet and overlooks it from the north end of Absecon Island. Brigantine Island is to the north and east. The Brigantine Bridge carries New Jersey Route 87 over the inlet. Absecon Inlet separates Absecon Island from Brigantine Island, and including its continuation, Absecon Channel, connects Absecon Bay and Reeds Bay with the Atlantic Ocean.
    Photo Absecon Lighthouse, circa 1900 (Library of Congress)
    Map Navigational chart showing Absecon Inlet    		 Tommy Trampp
    Absecon 118k USS Absecon (AVP-23) photographed, 12 July 1942, fitting out at Lake Washington Shipyard, Houghton, WA. The shields for her two partially-completed 5"/38 gun mounts are on the pier. Also visible are two other AVPs under construction and a converted yacht
    US National Archive photo # 19-N-59397, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Absecon 96k USS Absecon (AVP-23) photographed, 17 January 1943, at Houghton, WA., on a trial run shortly before commissioning. She has been specially fitted with twin cranes and a catapult to serve as a training ship for battleship and cruiser aircraft crews. The aircraft on the catapult is a Curtiss SO3C Seamew and the one on the fantail is a Vought OS2U Kingfisher.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-50264, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Absecon 92k USS Absecon (AVP-23) photographed, 17 January 1943, at Houghton, WA. trial run shortly before commissioning. She has been specially fitted with twin cranes and a catapult to serve as a training ship for battleship and cruiser aircraft crews. The aircraft on the catapult is a Curtiss SO3C Seamew.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-50263, a US Navy photo from Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Absecon 94k USS Absecon (AVP-23) photographed, 17 January 1943, at Houghton, WA. trial run shortly before commissioning. She has been specially fitted with twin cranes and a catapult to serve as a training ship for battleship and cruiser aircraft crews. The aircraft on the catapult is a Curtiss SO3C Seamew.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-50266, a US Navy photo from Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Absecon
    09432302    		 348k USS Absecon (AVP-23) underway off Fort Lauderdale, FL, 6 January 1944. Note the single catapult mounted to port, abaft the stack, and two aircraft handling cranes, of the type fitted to Cleveland-class light cruisers, at the after end of the main deck superstructure, to enable her to train catapult float plane pilots. Photographed by PHOM2c J. Chefetz, USN
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-388241, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 Rick Davis
    Absecon 19k Newspaper photo of USS Absecon (AVP-23) moored, probably in a port in Florida, circa after 1944. Carl Musselman with permission of David Christy, on behalf of his father the late R. Jack Christy, Jr. AO3/c USS Absecon August 1944 to July 1946.
    Absecon 1036k USS Absecon (AVP-23) underway off the coast of Florida, 14 February 1945. Photographed by PHOM Terry, USN from an aircraft based at the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Naval Air Station.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-388539, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 Carl Musselman
    Absecon 134k USS Absecon (AVP-23) moored pierside at Pier 3, Miami, FL,. in November 1945.
    US Navy photo from the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com    		 Mike Green
    Absecon 98k USS Absecon (AVP-23) moored pierside at an east coast Navy Yard, circa 1945-46. Note the Vought OS2U Kingfisher on the catapult and a second OS2U astern of the ship as well as the armed guards stationed at the foot of the USS Gearing (DD-710)'s brow. Photo was taken from USS Gearing by Ltjg Thomas S. Tolar. William Tolar, son of the late LTjg Thomas Tolar USS Gearing
    Absecon 187k A Vought OS2U Kingfisher being readied for launch from the catapult of USS Absecon (AVP-23) while another Kingfisher is landing astern of the ship, April 1946. Carl Musselman with permission of David Christy, on behalf of his father the late R. Jack Christy, Jr. AO3/c USS Absecon August 1944 to July 1946.
    Absecon 197k A Vought OS2U Kingfisher being hoisted by the starboard crane atop the catapult of USS Absecon (AVP-23) while another Kingfisher is on the fantail, April 1946. Carl Musselman with permission of David Christy, on behalf of his father the late R. Jack Christy, Jr. AO3/c USS Absecon August 1944 to July 1946.
    USS Absecon (AVP-23) 1/350 Scale Model
    Absecon 217k Overhead view of Carl Musselman's scale model of USS Absecon (AVP-23) about to launch an aircraft. Photo by Carl Musselman
    Absecon 75k Carl Musselman's scale model of USS Absecon (AVP-23) conducting flight operations. Photo by Carl Musselman
    Absecon 89k Stern view of Carl Musselman's scale model of USS Absecon (AVP-23) conducting flight operations. Photo by Carl Musselman
    USCGC Absecon (WAVP-374) (WHEC-374)
    Absecon 75k Ex- USS Absecon (AVP-23) in US Coast Service as USCGC Absecon (WAVP-374) underway at Charleston S.C., 10 May 1949
    US Naval Shipyard Charleston photo # NSY-7-L-381 from the collections of the Office of the US Coast Guard Historian    		 Mike Green
    Absecon 108k USCGC Absecon (WAVP-374) moored pierside, close up view of port side bridge area, date and location unknown.
    US Coast Guard photo from the collections of the Office of the US Coast Guard Historian    		 Mike Green
    Absecon 106k USCGC Absecon (WAVP-374) moored pierside, close up view amidships port side, date and location unknown.
    US Coast Guard photo from the collections of the Office of the US Coast Guard Historian    		 Mike Green
    Absecon 129k USCGC Absecon (WAVP-374) moored pierside, close up view stern area, date and location unknown.
    US Coast Guard photo from the collections of the Office of the US Coast Guard Historian    		 Mike Green
    Absecon 29k USCGC Absecon (WAVP-374) underway, date and location unknown.
    USCG photo    		 Ken Laesser, CG History Page
    Absecon 207k USCGC Absecon (WAVP-374) moored pierside, Pier L, Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 1962. Note base radio tower in the background. Photo by Dave Cupples MM2 USS Norris (DD-859)
    Absecon 124k USCGC Absecon (WAVP-374) underway off the Cuban coast near Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 1962. Photo by Dave Cupples MM2 USS Norris (DD-859)
    Absecon 59k USCGC Absecon (WHEC-374) underway, date and location unknown. Haze Gray & Underway
    Absecon 47k USCGC Absecon (WHEC-374) underway, 27 December 1969, location unknown.
    US Coast Guard photo from the collections of the Office of the US Coast Guard Historian    		 Mike Green
    RVNS Pham Ngu Lao (HQ-15)
    Bearing Strait 57k Ex-USCGC Absecon (WMEC-374), in South Vietnamese naval service as RVNS Pham Ngu Lao (HQ-15) underway, date and location unknown. William Toohey
    Bearing Strait 31k Line drawing of RVNS Pham Ngu Lao (HQ-15) by Francois, B.
    Photo from Vietnam.com    		 Tommy Trampp
    USS Absecon (AVP-23)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Purvis Jr., Robert Selden, USN (USNA 1926) :RADM28 January 1943 - 27 July 1943
    02CDR. Davison, John Walter, USN (USNA 1929)27 July 1943 - 31 May 1944
    03CDR. Bunch, Peris Graves, USN (USNA 1932)31 May 1944 - 17 August 1945
    04LCDR. Shafer, William Edward, USN (USNA 1933)17 August 1945 - ?
     Decommissioned19 March 1947 - 5 January 1949
    01CDR. West, Ralph McMurray, USCG (USCGA-1939)August 1957 - July 1959
    02CDR. Leven, USCG1961
    03CDR. Forrester, Jack E., USCG1963
    04CDR. Brown Jr., Gerald G., USCG (USCGA-1946)1966
    05CDR. Dawley, Joseph P., USCG (USMMA)July 1970
    06CAPT. Hartlove, Herbert Maurice (Herby), USCG (USCGA-1949)1971
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Barnegat Class Seaplane Tenders
    Profile and Sky Views - Barnegat Class Small Seaplane Tenders -Lake Washington Shipyard, Houghton, WA.
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To the Service Ship Type Index Back To The Small Seaplane Tender (AVP) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 10 September 2021