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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

SS Curtiss (AVB-4)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Bravo - Lima
 NCBL
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
National Defense Service Medal - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Wright Class Aviation Logistics Support (Roll-on/Roll-off) Container Ship:
  • Laid down, date unknown, under Maritime Administration contract (MA 222) as SS Great Republic, 1 April 1968, at Ingalls Shipbuilding Inc., Pascagoula, MS.
  • Launched, 1 December 1968
  • Delivered to the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 1 July 1969
  • Renamed SS Curtiss (AVB-4), 14 May 1986, and assigned to the MARAD Ready Reserve Force, (RRF), MSC PM-5 Sealift Program Office, Logistics Prepositioning Force
  • SS Curtis provides support for Marine Corps helicopters and is maintained in reduced status ROS-5 (five day reactivation status) at San Diego, CA.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,106 t(lt) 23,800 t(fl)
    Length 602'
    Beam 90'
    Draft 30'
    Speed 18.7 kts.
    Propulsion geared steam turbine, single propeller
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Curtiss 119k SS Curtiss (AVB-4) underway north of Camp Pendleton near San Clemente, CA. in March 1995.
    US Marine Corps photo by Cary Paul    		 MSC web site
    Curtiss 60k SS Curtiss (AVB-4) moored pierside at Naval Station San Diego, CA., July 2005. Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Curtiss 262k SS Curtiss (AVB-4) moored pierside at Naval Station San Diego, CA., June 2007. Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    YR-93 645k YR-93, APL-4 and SS Curtiss (AVB-4) moored at Naval Station San Diego, 27 July 2008.
    Photo courtesy of Tom Saint    		 Bill Gonyo
    Curtiss 213k SS Curtiss (AVB-4) moored pierside under lights, 15 February 2011.
    US Navy (MSC) photo    		 Robert Hurst
    Curtiss 170k SS Curtiss (AVB-4) arrives at Port Hueneme to support exercise Pacific Blitz 19, March 6, 2019. Pacific Blitz 19 is designed to train Marines and Sailors in maritime prepositioning force operations and aims to increase proficiency, expand levels of cooperation and to enhance maritime capabilities.
    US Marine Corps photo 190306-M-HD015-0004 PORT HUENEME, Calif. (March 6, 2019) by Cpl. Jacob A. Farbo    		 Lee Wahler
    SS Curtiss (AVB-4)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 29 March 2019