NavSource Photo Archives:

Small Seaplane Tender (AVP)
Index


Eyes of the Fleet: The U.S. Navy's Seaplane Tenders and Patrol Aircraft in World War II - David Bruhn. Cloaked by jungle foliage, the unheralded seaplane tenders operated ahead of the Fleet, like the Navy’s famed PT boats. As Halsey’s South Pacific, MacArthur’s Southwest Pacific, and Spruance’s Central Pacific forces advanced toward Japan, these ships served as afloat-bases for patrol planes referred to as the “eyes of the fleet.” The large fabric-clad PBY “Catalinas” and later PBM “Mariners” combed the seaways for Japanese forces and carried out bombing, depth charge, and torpedo attacks on enemy ships and submarines. Nighttime anti-shipping operations—“Black Cat” or “Nightmare” missions—were dangerous and daytime combat operations even more so, when encounters with more maneuverable and heavily-armed fighters necessitated hiding in clouds to survive. The Japanese were keen to destroy the scouts and their floating bases, and seaplane tenders often lived a furtive existence, particularly early in the war. Pilots, plane crews and shipboard personnel received scores of awards for valor, including the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Silver and Bronze Star Medals. 2016, 6x9, paper, index, 546 pp. 101-B5707 ISBN: 0788457071 The book can be Previewed and purchased on the Internet from Heritage Books Inc.

Click on ship name to view image(s) and DANFS history.

AVP-1 Lapwing ex AM-1
AVP-2 Heron ex AM-10
AVP-3 Thrush ex AM-18
AVP-4 Avocet ex AM-19
AVP-5 Teal ex AM-23
AVP-6 Pelican ex AM-27
AVP-7 Swan ex AM-34
AVP-8 Gannet ex AM-41
AVP-9 Sandpiper ex AM-51
AVP-10 Barnegat
AVP-11 Biscayne Reclassified AGC-18
AVP-12 Casco
AVP-13 Mackinac
AVP-14 Childs ex DD-241, Reclassified AVD-1
AVP-15 Williamson ex DD-244, Reclassified AVD-2
AVP-16 George E Badger ex DD-196, Reclassified AVD-3 / APD-33
AVP-17 Clemson ex DD-186, Reclassified AVD-4 / APD-31
AVP-18 Goldsborough ex DD-188, Reclassified AVD-5 / APD-32
AVP-19 Hulbert ex DD-342, ex AVD-6
AVP-20 William B Preston ex DD-344, Reclassified AVD-7
AVP-21 Humboldt Reclassified AG-121, Reverted back to AVP-21
AVP-22 Matagorda Reclassified AG-122, Reverted back to AVP-22
AVP-23 Absecon
AVP-24 Chincoteague
AVP-25 Coos Bay
AVP-26 Half Moon
AVP-27 Mobjack Reclassified AGP-7
AVP-28 Oyster Bay Reclassified AGP-6, Reverted back to AVP-28
AVP-29 Rockaway Reclassified AG-123, Reverted back to AVP-29
AVP-30 San Pablo Reclassified AGS-30
AVP-31 Unimak
AVP-32 Yakutat
AVP-33 Barataria
AVP-34 Bering Strait
AVP-35 Castle Rock
AVP-36 Cook Inlet
AVP-37 Corson
AVP-38 Duxbury Bay
AVP-39 Gardiners Bay
AVP-40 Floyds Bay
AVP-41 Greenwich Bay
AVP-42 Hatteras Canceled 22 April 1943
AVP-43 Hempstead Canceled 22 April 1943
AVP-44 Kamishak Canceled 22 April 1943
AVP-45 Magothy Canceled 22 April 1943
AVP-46 Martanzas Canceled 29 April 1943
AVP-47 Metomkin Canceled 29 April 1943
AVP-48 Onslow
AVP-49 Orca
AVP-50 Rehoboth Reclassified AGS-50
AVP-51 San Carlos Reclassified/Renamed Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1)
AVP-52 Shelikof
AVP-53 Suisun
AVP-54 Timbalier
AVP-55 Valcour Reclassified AGF-1
AVP-56 Wachapreague Reclassified AGP-8
AVP-57 Willoughby Reclassified AGP-9

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