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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

AVP-11 / AGC-18 Biscayne
WAGC-16 / WAVP / WHEC-385 Dexter

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




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation
Second Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp) - American Campaign Medal
Third Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (5) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Fourth Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (USCGC Dexter) - Philippines Liberation Medal

USS Biscayne (AGC-18 was transferred to the US Coast Guard after World War II
Barnegat Class Small Seaplane Tender:
  • Laid down, 27 October 1939, at Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, WA.
  • Launched, 23 May 1941
  • Commissioned USS Biscayne (AVP-11), 3 July 1941, Cdr. C. C. Champion, Jr., in command
  • Converted to an Amphibious Force Command Ship at Mers-el-Kebir, Morocco
  • Redesignated (AGC-18), 10 October 1944
  • Decommissioned, 29 June 1946
  • Custody transferred to US Coast Guard, 10 July 1946
  • Commissioned USCGC Dexter (WAGC-18), 8 June 1949, Cdr. A. G. Morrill, USCG, in command
  • Redesignated WAVP-385 (date unknown)
  • Decommissioned, 17 December 1952, and laid up at Curtis Bay, MD.
  • Recommissioned, 30 June 1958, Cdr. Bainbridge Leland, USCG, in command
  • Redesignated High Endurance Cutter (WHEC-385), 1 May 1966
  • Decommissioned, 9 July 1968
  • Returned to US Naval custody
  • Final Disposition, sunk as a target in 1968
  • Biscayne received six battle stars for World War II 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
    one single 5"/38 DP gun mount
    one quad 40mm AA gun mount
    two dual 40mm AA gun mounts
    four dual 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion diesel, two shafts, 6,000hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS Biscayne (AVP-11)
    Biscayne 34k Biscayne (AVP-11), painted camouflage scheme 12(modified), underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Haze Gray & Underway Web Site
    Biscayne 85k Biscayne (AVP-11), painted camouflage scheme 12(modified), broadside view, at Boston Navy Yard, 19 January 1942, in her original configuration with a large crane and clear fantail for handling aircraft. She is carrying a Vought OS2U "Kingfisher.".
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-83975, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Biscayne 95k Biscayne (AVP-11), painted camouflage scheme 12(modified), port bow view, at Boston Navy Yard, 19 January 1942, in her original configuration with a large crane and clear fantail for handling aircraft. She is carrying a Vought OS2U "Kingfisher.".
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-83976, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Biscayne 81k Biscayne (AVP-11), painted camouflage scheme 12(modified), port quarter view, at Boston Navy Yard, 19 January 1942, in her original configuration with a large crane and clear fantail for handling aircraft. She is carrying a Vought OS2U "Kingfisher.".
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-83977, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Biscayne 71k Biscayne (AVP-11), painted camouflage scheme 12(modified), off Boston Navy Yard, 7 May 1942. Her large seaplane handling crane has been replaced with a smaller model and she now carries anti-aircraft guns on her fantail.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-29521, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the U.S. National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Biscayne 93k Biscayne (AVP-11), serving as the flagship of the "Joss" (Licata) invasion force during the invasion of Sicily, July 1943. Photographed from Buck (DD-420).
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-259390, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Biscayne 112k Biscayne (AVP-11), serving as invasion force flagship for the Anzio landings, 21-22 January 1944. Photographed from Frederick C. Davis (DE-136). Note the PT boat alongside.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-223478, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Biscayne 112k Biscayne (AVP-11), docked at Arzew, Algeria, 11 June 1944, during amphibious exercises there. Doran (DD-634) and a sister are outboard. Photographed from Catoctin (AGC-5).
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-240881 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Biscayne 115k Biscayne (AVP-11), participating in amphibious exercises off Arzew, Algeria, as flagship of RADM B. J. Rodgers, 10-11 June 1944. Photographed from Catoctin (AGC-5).
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-240919, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    USCGC Dexter (WAVP-385) (WHEC-385)
    Biscayne 127k Dexter (WAVP-385) underway, date and location unknown.
    USCG photo    		 .
    Biscayne 40k Dexter (WAVP-385) underway, date and location unknown.
    USCG photo    		 Ken Laesser
    Biscayne 64k Dexter (WAVP-385), 12 August 1958. Original caption: "Coast Guard Cutter Dexter Approaches New Homeport. SAN FRANCISCO, 11 August.--The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter DEXTER entered the Golden Gate at noon today enroute to the Alameda Coast Guard Base, her new homeport. The DEXTER will primarily run offshore cruises for the training of Coast Guard reservists. During World War II, the vessel was the Naval USS BISCAYNE, which served in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pacific. Turned over to the Coast Guard in 1946, and re-named DEXTER, she served as a North Atlantic Weather Patrol vessel until 1953 when she was decommissioned. After reconditioning at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland, she was recommissioned last June 30, and last month began the voyage to her new station in Alameda. Commander Bainbridge B. Leland, USCG, commands the DEXTER, which carries his staff of eight other officers, ten Chief Petty Officers and 65 enlisted men. Many of the DEXTER personnel will make their homes in the East Bay area."
    USCG photo # 80458:12 CGD/ah, from the collections of the Office of the US Coast Guard Historian.    		 Mike Green
    View the Biscayne (AGC-18)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    The CG History Page
    U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office - Dexter
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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 7 April 2006