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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AVP-26 Half Moon
WAVP-378 / WHEC-378 Half Moon

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Bravo - Quebec - Romeo

USS Half Moon (AVP-26) was transferred to the US Coast Guard after World War II
USS Half Moon (AVP-26) Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)
USCGC Half Moon (WHEC-378) Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation - National Defense Service Medal
Bottom Row - Vietnam Service Medal (6) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (1) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Barnegat Class Small Seaplane Tender:
  • Laid down, 10 March 1942, at Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA.
  • Launched, 12 July 1942
  • Commissioned USS Half Moon (AVP-26), 15 June 1943, CDR. W. O. Gallery in command
  • During WWII USS Half Moon (AVP-26) was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Leyte operation
    21 October to 27 December 1944     		Luzon operation
    Mindoro landings, 30 December 1944 to 17 February 1945

  • Decommissioned, 4 September 1946, at San Diego
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Loaned to the Coast Guard and commissioned, USCGC Half Moon (WAVP-378), 30 July 1948
  • Redesignated High Endurance Cutter (WMEC-378) (date unknown)
  • During the Vietnam War USCGC Half Moon (WMEC-378) participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    24 April to 31 May 1967     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    2 April to 30 June 1958
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    1 June 1967 to 29 January 1968     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    1 July to 1 November 1968
    Tet Counteroffensive
    30 January to 1 April 1968     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI
    2 November to 18 December 1968

  • Decommissioned, 15 July 1969
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrap
  • USS Half Moon received two battle stars for World War II service and USCGC Half Moon earned six campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,766 t.(lt) 2,750 t.(fl)
    Length 311' 8"
    Beam 41' 1"
    Draft 13' 6"
    Speed 18.6 kts.
    Complement 215
    Armament one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount, one quad 40mm gun mount, two dual 40mm gun mounts, four dual 20mm gun mounts
    Propulsion diesel, two shafts, 6,000hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS Half Moon (AVP-26)
    Half Moon 86k Half Moon (AVP-26) off Houghton, WA., 15 June 1943, the day of her first commissioning. She was completed with a main battery of four 5"/38 guns.<
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-47445, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Half Moon 84k Half Moon (AVP-26) off Houghton, WA., 15 June 1943.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-47450, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Half Moon 129k Half Moon (AVP-26) at her builder's yard at Houghton, WA., 15 June 1943
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-47451, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Half Moon 161k Half Moon (AVP-26)at her builder's yard at Houghton, WA., 15 June 1943
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-47452, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives    		 US Naval Historical Center
    USCGC Half Moon (WAVP-378) (WHEC-378)
    Half Moon 40k Half Moon (WAVP-378) underway, date and place unknown. Ken Laesser
    Half Moon 55k Half Moon (WAVP-378) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Coast Guard photo    		 Ken Laesser
    Half Moon 35k Half Moon (WAVP-378) underway, circa 1952, location unknown.
    US Coast Guard photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    Half Moon 44k Half Moon (WAVP-378) underway during UNREP off the coast of Vietnam, date unknown.
    US Coast Guard photo from the Office of the US Coast Guard Historian    		 Mike Green
    View the Half Moon (AVP-26)
    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
    USCGC Half Moon WAVP/WHEC 378
    U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office - Half Moon (WHEC-378)
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 13 April 2007