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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AVP-49 Orca

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Kilo - Hotel
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (3-27 August 1944, 26 November 1944, 2 January 1945)
Second Row - Presidential Unit Citation- American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)
Individual Awards and Citations

Legion of Merit CDR. Morton K. Fleming, Jr.

USS Orca (AVP-49 was transferred to Ethiopia and renamed Ethiopia (A 01)
Barnegat Class Small Seaplane Tender
  • Laid down, 13 July 1942, at Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA.
  • Launched, 4 October 1942
  • Commissioned, USS Orca (AVP-49), 23 January 1944, CDR. Morton K. Fleming, Jr., in command
  • Decommissioned, 31 October1947, at San Francisco, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Francisco Group
  • Recommissioned, 15 December 1951, CDR. A. K. Espenas, in command
  • Decommissioned in March 1960, at Tongue Point Naval Station, Astoria, OR.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group
  • Reactivated in 1961 at San Francisco Naval Shipyard, Hunters Point, CA., for conversion to a training ship
  • Transferred (loaned) to Ethiopia in January 1962 under terms of the Military Assistance Program, renamed Ethiopia (A 01)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Final Disposition, during Eritrean revolution in 1991 Ethiopia (A 01) escaped to Yemen with other units of the Ethiopian navy. By then in unserviceable condition, she was probably sold locally for scrap
  • Orca earned three battle stars for service in World War II
    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 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    one quad 40mm AA gun mount
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion diesel, two shafts, 6,000hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed By /
    Source
    USS Orca (AVP-43)
    Orca 104k Orca (AVP-49) ready for launching, 4 October 1942. Her builder's number, "Hull 538," is displayed on her bridge.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-44301, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Orca 104k Orca (AVP-49) being launched at Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA,, 4 October 1942.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-47209, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Orca 122k Orca (AVP-49) fitting out outboard of Onslow (AVP-48) at Lake Washington Shipyard, Houghton, WA., 10 July 1943. The old paddle-wheel ferry was the West Seattle.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-51143, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Onslow 127k Orca (AVP-49) outboard of Onslow (AVP-48) fitting out at Lake Washington Shipyard, Houghton, WA., 10 July 1943. Also visible in this photo are Oyster Bay (AGP-6), lower left, and Mobjack (AVP-7), lower right with the crane. The old paddle-wheel ferry is the West Seattle.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-51144, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Orca 114k Orca (AVP-49) fitting out at Lake Washington Shipyard, Houghton, WA., 12 January 1944, about two weeks before commissioning.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-58186, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Orca 73k Orca (AVP-49) off Houghton, WA., 6 February 1944, about two weeks after commissioning. She was completed with three 5"/38 guns, including an open mount on her fantail. Note she is wearing camouflage scheme 32/2Ax.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-61647, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Orca 73k Orca (AVP-49) off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 8 January 1946 after completion of an overhaul. Her 40mm quadruple mount had been moved forward replacing one 5"/38 mount, but she retained two 5"guns, including one in an open mount on her fantail.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-92244, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Orca 57k Orca (AVP-49) at anchor off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 8 January 1946 after completion of an overhaul.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-92245, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Orca 73k Orca (AVP-49) off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 8 January 1946 after completion of an overhaul.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-92246, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Orca 57k Orca (AVP-49) at anchor off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 8 January 1946 after completion of an overhaul.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-92247, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Orca 70k Orca (AVP-49) off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 8 January 1946 after completion of an overhaul. Note the flock of seagulls following the ship.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-92248, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.         		US Naval Historical Center
    Orca 80k Orca (AVP-49) at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 8 January 1946 after completion of an overhaul. Note her 40mm quadruple mount had been moved forward replacing one of her two forward 5"/38 mounts.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-92249, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.         		US Naval Historical Center
    Orca 106k Orca (AVP-49) at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 8 January 1946 after completion of an overhaul. Alterations shown included her amidships boat stowage.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-92250, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.         		US Naval Historical Center
    Orca 111k Orca (AVP-49) at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 8 January 1946 after completion of an overhaul. The boats shown here displaced her 40mm quadruple mount, which was moved forward. A Mk. 51 director is also shown.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-92251, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.         		US Naval Historical Center
    Catalpa/Orca 127k Orca (AVP-49) at San Francisco Naval Shipyard, Hunters Point, CA. 21 December 1951, a week after being reactivated. In the foreground is Catalpa (AN-10) showing the arrangement of her radar and other electronic antennas.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-445892, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.         		US Naval Historical Center
    Catalpa/Orca 141k Orca (AVP-49) at San Francisco Naval Shipyard, Hunters Point, CA., 21 December 1951, a week after being reactivated. In the foreground is an annotated view of Catalpa (AN-10)'s foremast showing the arrangement of her radar and other electronic antennas. Photographed at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard, California, on 21 December 1951. Note the sailor climbing the mast.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-445891, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.         		US Naval Historical Center
    Orca 96k Orca (AVP-49) underway, 4 April 1955. Note the aviation insignia on the bow aft of the hull number. The open 5"/38 mount formerly on her fantail was removed between late 1951 and 1955.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-668276, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.         		US Naval Historical Center
    Orca 89k Orca (AVP-49) arriving at Tongue Point, Astoria, OR., 23 February 1960 for inactivation after a transit from San Diego. A tug is pushing the ship towards the pier as the special sea detail crewmen take slack out of the mooring lines.
    US Navy photo # NH 97805, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center         		US Naval Historical Center
    Ethiopia (A 01)
    Orca 38k Ex-Orca (AVP-49) in Ethiopian service as Ethiopia (A 01) moored pierside, date and place unknown. Robert Hurst
    View the Orca (AVP-49)
    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
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 19 October 2007