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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

Avocet (AVP 4)



Call sign:
Nan - Able - Dog - Peter

ex-AM-19
ex-Minesweeper No. 19

Lapwing Class Minesweeper:

  • Laid down, 13 September1918 by Baltimore Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co., Baltimore, MD
  • Launched, 9 March 1918
  • Commissioned USS Avocet, Minesweeper No.19, 17 September 1918
  • Designated AM-19, 17 February 1920
  • Decommissioned 3 April 1922 at Cavite Navy Yard, Philippines
  • Recommissioned, 8 September 1925 at Cavite
  • Reclassified as a Small Seaplane Tender, AVP-4, 22 January 1936
  • Decommissioned, 10 December 1945
  • Sold for scrap 12 December 1946.

    AM-19 Specifications:

  • Displacement 950 t.
  • Length 187' 10"
  • Beam 35' 6'
  • Draft 9' 10"
  • Speed 14 kts.
  • Complement 78
  • Armament: Two 3" gun mounts and machine guns
  • Propulsion two Babcock and Wilcox boilers, triple expansion reciprocating steam engine, one shaft.

    AVP-4 Specifications:

  • Displacement 1,350 t.
  • Draft 13' 1"
  • Speed 13.5 kts.
  • Complement 85
  • Armament: One 3"/50 dual purpose mount
  • Propulsion: Two Babcock and Wilcox header boilers, one 1,400shp Baltimore Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co. 200psi saturated steam vertical triple expansion reciprocating engine, one shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS Avocet (AM 19)
    Avocet 94k c. July/August 1921
    USS California (BB 44) and Avocet in the Mare Island Channel.    		 Darryl Baker
    Avocet 85k 10 August 1921
    Commissioning ceremony aboard USS California (BB 44) at Mare Island Navy Yard. Avocet is alongside the California's port side.
    U.S. Navy photo 6627    		 Darryl Baker
    Avocet 106k Avocet after being blown onto a sand bar at Chefoo, China by a typhoon on 26 August 1928. She is carrying a Martin T3M-2 torpedo plane of Torpedo Squadron VT-5A. USS Jason (AC-12), also serving as an aircraft tender, is in the distance.
    U.S. Marine Corps Museum photo, Jack A. Wagner collection, from copy at the Naval History and Heritage Command    		 Robert Hurst
    USS Avocet (AVP 4)
    Avocet 335k 7 December 1941
    Position of Avocet and other ships at Pearl Harbor.
    Map courtesy of National Geographic Book Division    		 Joe Radigan
    Avocet 94k Avocet at Berth Fox-1A, at Ford Island, prior to 1045 hrs. on 7 December, when she moved to avoid oil fires drifting southward along the shore of Ford Island.
    U.S. Navy photo 80-G-32669    		 Naval Historical Center
    Avocet 102k Avocet in foreground with Nevada (BB-36) in background, headed down channel after being intensely attacked by Japanese dive bombers. Photographed from Ford Island
    U.S. Navy photo NH 97396    		 Naval Historical Center
    Avocet 83k Gunners on board Avocet look for more Japanese planes, at about the time the air raid ended. Photographed from atop a building at Naval Air Station Ford Island, looking toward the Navy Yard. Nevada (BB-36) is at right, with her bow afire. Beyond her is the burning Shaw (DD-373). Smoke at left comes from the destroyers Cassin (DD-372) and Downes (DD-375), ablaze in Drydock Number One.
    U.S. Navy photo 80-G-32445     		Naval Historical Center
    View the Avocet (AM-19)
    DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway web site
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Association of Minemen
    Hazegray & Underway World Aircraft Carrier Pages
    Report of Offensive Measures Taken During December 7th
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Mine Warfare Ship Photo Index Back to the Minesweeper (AM) Photo Index Back to the Auxiliary Ship Photo Index Back To The Small Seaplane Tender (AVP) Photo Index
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    This page created by Gary P. Priolo and maintained by Joe Radigan
    © 2006 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2006 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.