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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AVP-53 Suisun

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



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Service Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal - Korean Service Medal (1) - United Nations Korean Service Medal
Barnegat Class Small Seaplane Tender: Laid down, 4 October 1942, at Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA.
  • Launched, 14 March 1943
  • Commissioned, USS Suisun (AVP-53), 14 September 1943, CDR. J. J. Vaughn in command
  • During World War II Suisun was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 28 March to 30 June 1945     		3d Fleet operations against Japan
    10 July to 15 August 1945

  • During the Korean War Suisun participated in the following campaign
  • Decommissioned, 5 August 1955
  • Laid up in the Reserve Fleet
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 April 1966
  • Final Disposition, sunk as a target, October 1966
  • Suisun received two battle stars for World War II service and one battle star Korean 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 two single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts, two dual 40mm gun mounts, four dual 20mm gun mounts
    Propulsion diesel, two propellers, 6,000hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed By /
    Source
    Suisun 89k Suisun (AVP-53) off Houghton, WA., 17 September 1944, a few days after commissioning. She was the first of her class completed with the late war standard main armament of one 5"/38 gun and one quadruple 40mm mount, both forward. Her camouflage scheme is Measure 32 Design 2Ax.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-74567, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Suisun 91k Suisun (AVP-53) off Houghton, WA., 17 September 1944. She is wearing Measure 32 Design 2Ax camouflage.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-74568, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Suisun 89k Suisun (AVP-53) off Houghton, WA., 17 September 1944. She is wearing Measure 32 Design 2Ax camouflage.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-74569, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Suisun 60k Suisun (AVP-53) off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, 5 October 1944. She is wearing Measure 32 Design 2Ax camouflage.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-72541, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Suisun 67k Suisun (AVP-53) off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, 5 October 1944. She is wearing Measure 32 Design 2Ax camouflage.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-72544, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Suisun 82k Suisun (AVP-53) off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, 5 October 1944. She is wearing Measure 32 Design 2Ax camouflage.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-72545, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Suisun 82k Suisun (AVP-53) passing a line to Castle Rock (AVP-35), off Javapog, Saipan, in April 1945. Photographed by Ensign Thomas Binford, USNR, from one of Castle Rock's 40mm gun tubs. Note Suisun's Measure 32 Design 2Ax camouflage.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-K-16189, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Suisun 97k Suisun (AVP-53) at New York, 17 August 1946. Photo courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969.
    US Navy photo # NH 67897, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Suisun 116k Suisun (AVP-53) underway in a photograph dated 1952. The quadruple 40mm gun mount on her fantail was added in around 1948. Note the small aviation insignia just forward of her small bow number.
    US Navy photo # NH 97926, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center    		 US Naval Historical Center
    View the Suisun (AVP-53)
    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
    No Information Available
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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 19 October 2007