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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Tab contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Valcour (AGF-1)
ex
USS Valcour (AVP-55) (1946 - 1965)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Quebec - Juliet NCQJ

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

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

Barnegat Class Small Seaplane Tender:

Laid down, 21 December 1942, at Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA.

Launched, 5 June 1943

Completed at Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, WA.

Commissioned, USS Valcour (AVP-55), 5 July 1946, CDR. Barnet T. Talbott in command

Reclassified Miscellaneous Command Flagship, (AGF-1), 15 December 1965

Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 17 June 1973

Towed to Solomons Island, MD. for use as a test-bed for the EMPRESS (Electromagnetic Pulse Radiation Environment Simulation for Ships) facility by the Naval Ordnance Laboratory (NOL), White Oak, MD;

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in May 1977

Specifications:
Displacement 1,766 t.(lt) 2,750 t.(fl) 2,800 t.(lim)
Length 310' 9"
Beam 41' 2"
Draft 13' 6" (lim)
Speed 18.2 kts. (trial)

Complement

Officers 23

Enlisted 201

Embarked Squadron Accommodations

Officers 50

Enlisted 93

Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.

Armament

one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount

two twin 40mm AA gun mounts

one quad 40mm AA gun mounts

four twin 20mm AA gun mounts

Fuel Capacities

Diesel 1,955 Bbls

Gasoline 84,340 Gals

Propulsion

four Fairbanks Morse Diesel 32D81/8

single Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gear

Ships Service Generators

two Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.

two Diesel-drive 200Kw 450V A.C.

two propellers, 6,080shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By / Source
USS Valcour (AVP-55)
09435541	52k	*Namesake* Valcour - Valcour Island is a 968-acre island in Lake Champlain, New York. The island is mostly in the Town of Peru and partly in the Town of Plattsburgh, southeast of the City of Plattsburgh. It is within the boundaries of the Adirondack Park. Valcour Island is about two miles long and one mile wide, and lies by the western shore of Lake Champlain, forming one side of a narrow strait against the New York mainland. (Wikipedia) Photo - Valcour Island, Lake Champlain ©2004 Roger and Doug Harwood, America's Historic Lakes Map - Map of Valcour Island	Tommy Trampp
	177k	Valcour (AVP-55) being launched at the Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA., 5 June 1943. US National Archives. photo # 19-N-51127, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Robert Hurst
	103k	Valcour (AVP-55) outboard of Timbalier (AVP-54) at pier 6-A, Bremerton Navy Yard, 10 January 1945. The two AVPs were built at Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA. and towed to the Navy Yard for completion. *Timbalierwas eventually towed back to the Lake Washington Shipyards and completed there while Valcour* was completed at Bremerton Navy Yard. The photo is taken from the flight deck of *USS Ticonderoga* (CVA-14)*. That ship was having 20mm galleries relocated from the aft end of the flight deck to the sides. Bremerton Navy Yard photo # 96-45*	Tracy White
	100k	Aerial view of Timbalier (AVP-54) nearest pier 6-A and inboard of Valcour (AVP-55) at Bremerton Navy Yard, 10 January 1945. The two AVPs were built at Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA. and towed to the Navy Yard for completion. *Timbalier* was eventually towed back to the Lake Washington Shipyards and completed there. Bremerton Navy Yard photo # 97-45	Tracy White
19-N-94952	58k	Valcour (AVP-55) underway in Puget Sound, 3 July 1946, two days before commissioning. US National Archives photo #'s 19-N-94952, 19-N-94953, 19-N-94951 and 19-N-94949 US Navy Bureau of Ships photos now in the collections of the US National Archives.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
19-N-94953	66k
19-N-94951	65k
19-N-94949	68k
	356k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55)** moored pierside, circa 1948-51, location unknown. Photo from 1952 cruise book.	Carl Musselman
	59k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55)** underway in the early 1950s. The ship lacks her 5"/38 gun, which was removed in 1951, but still displays a World War II-style small hull number. The quadruple 40mm gun mount on her fantail was probably added in a 1948 yard period. US Navy photo # NH 97986, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
09435540	155k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55)** underway, circa January 1952. US National Archives photo # 80-G-442085, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Rick Davis
	322k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55) moored outboard of USS Duxbury Bay (AVP-38), circa 1951-52, location unknown. Note Duxbury Bay still in her gray paint scheme and still with her 5" gun turret while Valcour** fresh out of the shipyard, sports her new white paint and has lost her 5" gun turret. Photo from 1952 Valcour cruise book.	Carl Musselman
	153k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55)** renders honors while serving as Commander Middle East Forces flagship, circa 1952.	Carl Musselman
	100k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55)** moored at Capetown, South Africa, circa 1952. Photo from Valcour 1952 Cruise book.	Carl Musselman
	161k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55)** at anchor, location unknown, circa 1952. Photo from Valcour 1952 Cruise book.	Carl Musselman
	127k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55)** at anchor, location unknown, while crew members enjoy swim call, circa 1952. Photo from Valcour 1952 Cruise book.	Carl Musselman
	107k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55)** underway, circa 1953, location unknown.. Photo from Valcour 1953 Cruise book.	Carl Musselman
	250k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55) arrives in the Red Sea/Persian Gulf area to relieve USS Duxbury Bay (AVP-38)** as flagship for Commander Middle East Forces in the spring of 1953.	Carl Musselman
	270k		Carl Musselman
	292k	Banner flown from *USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)** welcoming USS Valcour to the Red Sea/Persian Gulf area to assume flagship duties for Commander Middle East Forces in the spring of 1953.	Carl Musselman
	275k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55)** at anchor in the harbor at Genoa, Italy, March 1954.	Photo by Carlo Martinelli
	54k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55)** illuminated at night, 17 April 1954, probably in a Middle East port. Her hull number is larger than it was earlier in the 1950s. US Navy photo # NH 97987, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	2.20k	*USS Iowa* (BB-61) and USS Northampton (CLC-1) moored at Pier 7, Norfolk, VA., November 1956. Other ships in view include USS Valcour (AVP-55) (white ship)r and in the stream destroyer USS James. C. Owens (DD-776)a and the oiler USS Truckee (AO-147)*. US National Archives photo # 80-G-1011635*, a US Navy photo now in the collections of NARA, College Park, Maryland.	Sean Hert
	76k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55)** dry docked at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, VA. during her circa 1960 refit in which she received her tripod mast plus other alterations.	Carl Musselman
	69k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55)** viewed from a taxiing seaplane in an undated photograph probably taken no later than 1960. An aviation insignia was added in the mid- or late-1950s adjacent to her hull number. Her main battery consists of two quadruple 40mm mounts, one forward and one aft, and two twin 40mm mounts amidships. US Navy photo # NH 97988, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	64k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38) being relieved by USS Valcour (AVP-55)** as flagship for COMIDEASTFOR, late 1961. Photo from 1960-1961 USS Duxbury Bay Cruise Book.	Carl Musselman
	84k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55)** at anchor before departing her base at Little Creek, VA. for her fourteenth Middle East deployment in mid-1963. She now has a tripod foremast with a more modern air search radar, new ECM antennas around the stack, and a large communication antenna and a new deckhouse in place of her after 40mm gun mount, all probably fitted in an overhaul around 1960. She retains an aviation insignia adjacent her hull number. US Navy photo # NH 97989 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command	Robert Hurst
	65k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55)** at anchor, date and location unknown.	Don Weimer USS Valcour
	82k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55) conducting a highline transfer with USS Boston (CAG-1)*. 10 May 1964. She no longer displays an aviation insignia adjacent to her hull number, probably because of her administrative transfer from an aviation to a cruiser-destroyer type commander in January 1964. US Navy photo # NH 97990* from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command	Robert Hurst
	105k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55)** underway, circa 1964-1965. US Navy photo # NH 69837 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command . Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969.	Robert Hurst
	77k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55)** underway in a photograph released in September 1965. US Navy photo # NH 97991 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	Robert Hurst
	54k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55) painted white for Middle East service at Norfolk in August 1964. In background is USS Gyatt (DD-712)**	© Richard Leonhardt
USS Valcour (AGF-1)
	57k	*USS Valcour* (AGF-1)** underway, date and location unknown.	Hazegray and Underway
	90k	*USS Valcour* (AGF-1)** departing Hampton Roads, Virginia, on 18 April 1966 for her new home port of Bahrain. This, her sixteenth Middle East deployment, lasted until she returned to Norfolk in 1972 to decommission. US Navy photo # NH 97992 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	Robert Hurst
	83k	*USS Valcour* (AGF-1)** underway with awnings spread after 1965. US Navy photo # NH 97999 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	Robert Hurst
	108k	*USS Valcour* (AGF-1)** underway in July 1970. US Navy photo # NH 1144277 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	Robert Hurst
09435542	321k	*USS Valcour* (AGF-1)** in dry dock at the Pakistani Naval Shipyard at Karachi, Pakistan. U.S. Navy "All Hands" magazine October 1971, p. 18.	Robert Hurst
	1987k	*USS Valcour* (AGF-1)** moored in the Port of Wellington, New Zealand, 2 October 1972.	Photo from the Chris Howell collection with copyright
	92k	*USS Valcour* (AGF-1)** in her final configuration, in a photograph released in November 1972. US Navy photo # NH 98000 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	Robert Hurst
	90k	Ex-*USS Valcour* (AGF-1) moored at the Solomons Branch of the Naval Ordnance Laboratory after being towed there from Norfolk on 20 March 1973. The ex-Valcour** was used to study the effects of electro-magnetic pulses on her electronic equipment at the EMPRESS facility at Point Patience. The poles of this facility, which transmitted EMP signals to the ship, are visible in the background. US Navy photo # NH 98001 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	Robert Hurst

For more photos and information about USS Valcour, see;
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
US Navy Patrol Squadrons - USS Valcour (AVP-55)
Naval Warfare - USS Valcour (AVP-55, AGF-1)
Barnegat Class Seaplane Tenders

Profile and Sky Views - Barnegat Class Small Seaplane Tenders - Lake Washington Shipyard, Houghton, WA.

Commanding Officers
01	CDR. Talbott, Barnet Thomas, USN (USNA 1920)	5 July 1946 - 10 June 1947
02	CDR. Denbo, Robert Wayne, USN (USNA 1929)	10 June 1947 - 18 October 1948
03	CDR. Easton, William Thomas, USN (USNA 1929)	18 October 1948 - 12 July 1949
04	CDR. Howell, John George, USN (USNA 1930)	12 July 1949 - 25 July 1950
05	CAPT. Stroh, Robert Joseph, USN (USNA 1930) :VADM	25 July 1950 - 5 April 1951
06	CAPT. Tatom, Eugene, USN (USNA 1931)	5 April 1951 - 21 March 1952
07	CAPT. Payne, Thomas Benjamin, USN (USNA 1931)	21 March 1952 - 1952
08	CAPT. McCracken, Reginald Rudolph, USN (USNA 1931)	1952 - 10 October 1953
09	CAPT. Lamade, John Dietrick, USN (USNA 1932)	10 October 1953 - 11 September 1954
10	CAPT. Maulsby, Robert J. C., USN (USNA 1932)	1955
11	CAPT. O'Grady, James Wadsworth, USN (USNA 1936) :VADM (Photo as RADM)	10 August 1956 - 29 July 1957
12	CAPT. Turner, Charles Herman, USN (USNA 1935)	29 July 1957 - August 1958
13	CAPT. Caldwell Jr., Turner Foster, USN (USNA 1935) :VADM	August 1958 - 23 March 1959
14	CAPT. Searcy Jr., Seth Shepard, USN (USNA 1933)	23 March 1959 - 30 May 1960
15	CAPT. Abbot Jr., James Lloyd USN (USNA 1939) :RADM	30 May 1960 - 15 April 1961
16	CAPT. Clarke, Walter Edward, USN	15 April 1961 - 21 June 1962
17	CAPT. Jones, William Weigold, USN (USNA 1941)	21 June 1962 - 22 April 1963
18	CAPT. Thurmon, Norman Edwin USN :ADM	22 April 1963 - October 1963
19	CDR. Barnette, James Brantley, USN	April 1964 - 11 November 1964
20	CDR. Curtis, Donald Putnam, USN (USNA 1945)	11 November 1964 - 11 July 1966
21	CDR. Schroeder, Robert Alan, USN	11 July 1966 - 16 September 1967
22	CDR. Blaskowsky, Carl, USN	16 September 1967 - May 1968
23	LCDR. Beck, Stuart Morgan, USN (USNA 1951)	May 1968 - 5 August 1968
24	CDR. Blaskowsky, Carl, USN	5 August 1968 - 17 October 1968
25	CDR, Beck, Stuart Morgan, USN (USNA 1951)	17 October 1968 - 1 August 1970
26	CDR. Kelly Jr., Alfred George, USN	1 August 1970 - 30 October 1971
27	CDR. Sterling Jr., John Corydon, USN (USNA 1956)	30 October 1971 - 20 November 1972
28	LCDR. Ellis, Martin Anderson, USN	20 November 1972 - 15 January 1973


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
USS Valcour AGF-1 - Hull Number.com

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 29 April 2022

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Valcour (AGF-1)ex USS Valcour (AVP-55) (1946 - 1965)

USS Valcour (AGF-1)
ex
USS Valcour (AVP-55) (1946 - 1965)