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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Tango - Oscar
 NYTO
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)
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia Clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Korean Service Medal (4) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal

USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39) was transferred to Norway and renamed KNM Haaken VII (A537)
Barnegat Class Small Seaplane Tender
  • Laid down, 14 March 1944, at Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA.
  • Launched, 2 December 1944
  • Commissioned, USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39), 11 February 1945, CDR. Carlton C. Lucas in command
  • During World War II USS Gardiners Bay was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 7 June to 15 August 1945     		3rd Fleet operations against Japan, 15 August 1945

  • During the Korean War USS Gardiners Bay participated in the following campaigns:
    Korean War Campaign
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    North Korea Aggression, 2 to 28 October 1950 First UN Counter Offensive, 1 to 5 March 1951
    Communist China Aggression, 9 to 19 November 1950 Korean Summer-Fall 1953, 16 June to 1 July 1953

  • Decommissioned, 1 February 1958
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 May 1958
  • Transferred to Norway, 17 May 1958, renamed KNM Haaken VII (A537)
  • Struck from the Norwegian Navy for disposal in 1974
  • Final Disposition, scrapped
  • USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39) earned two battle stars for World War Two service and four battle stars for Korean War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,766 t.(lt) 2,800 t.(fl)
    Length 310'
    Beam 41' 2"
    Draft 13' 6" (limiting)
    Speed 18.2 kts. (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 14
    Enlisted 201
    Aviation Unit Accommodations
    Officers 59
    Enlisted 93
    Largest boom capacity 10 t.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    one quad 40mm AA gun mount
    two dual 40mm AA gun mounts
    four dual 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    Diesel 1,955 Bbls.
    Gasoline 84,340 Gals.
    Propulsion
    four Fairbanks Morse 38D816 diesel engines
    single Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gear
    Ships Service Generators
    two diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
    two diesel-drive 200Kw 50V A.C.
    two propellers, 6,080shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39)
    Gardiners Bay 91k USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39) launching at Lake Washington Shipyard, Houghton, WA
    2 December 1944
    US Navy photo 19-N-79691         		US Navy Historical Center
    Gardiners Bay 132k USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39) underway in Lake Washington, 18 February 1945
    Paint scheme is Camouflage Measure 33, Design 1F
    US Navy photo 19-N-85076         		US Naval Historical Center
    Gardiners Bay 153k USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39) underway in Lake Washington, 18 February 1945
    US Navy photo 19-N-85074         		US Naval Historical Center
    Gardiners Bay 39k USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39) underway, circa 1956, location unknown.
    Photo courtesy LCDR. G.R.G. Murray, RN, from "Jane's Fighting Ships 1956-57".    		 Robert Hurst
    Gardiners Bay 84k USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39) underway in San Francisco Bay in 1957. Photo ©Allied Photographers of San Francisco. Robert M. Cieri
    KNM Haaken VII (A537)
    Gardiners Bay 45k Ex-USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39) underway in British waters while in Norwegian service as KNM Haaken VII (A537), circa 1959.
    Photo Wright & Logan, Southsea, England, from "Jane's Fighting Ships 1959-60".    		 Robert Hurst
    Gardiners Bay 47k KNM Haaken VII (A537), circa 1968, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Gardiners Bay 46k KNM Haaken VII (A537) at anchor,date and location unknown.
    R.Nor.R. Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    Gardiners Bay 59k KNM Haaken VII (A537) underway off Washington D.C. March 1970. Robert Hurst
    View the USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    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
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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 29 May 2009