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fighting ships of the world

UNITED STATES NAVY (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

AIRCRAFT CARRYING SHIPS

BARNEGAT small seaplane tenders (1941-1946)

Absecon 1943

Barataria 1945

Casco 1963

Corson 1963

Valcour 1968

Cook Inlet 1970

Aircraft facilities: Aircraft fuel stowage was 303 000 l. There was 1 crane for handling seaplanes.

Project history: Unique American purpose-built small seaplane tenders. Intended for seaplane maintenance on distant Pacific islands and atolls with a harbour shallow depth that has predetermined occurrence in the design assignment of strong draught limitations. As in a wartime it was supposed to attract these ships as escorts of large tenders, the project provided fitting of anti-submarine armament and sonar.

Small seaplane tenders could provide basing of one seaplanes squadron. Designed armament was limited by two DP 127/38mm guns and 4 12.7mm MGs, but in 1942, when the first ships of this class were already commissioned, the new structure of armament has been approved: 4x1 127/38mm, 8x1 20mm MGs and 2 DCTs. Really ships were commissioned having from one to four 127mm guns and 6-8 20mm MGs.

In total 39 ships of this type have been ordered, the order for six of them later had canceled, four were completed as PT depot ships (AGP6-9).

Modernizations:  1943, Absecon: was converted to training ship for cruisers air groups. One catapult was fitted. - 2 x 1 -127/38, 2 DCT, 2 DCR

1943 - 1944, Barnegat, Biscayne, Casco, Mackinac, Humboldt, Matagorda: - 4 x 1 - 12.7/90; + 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 4, 2 DCT, 2 DCR

1943 - 1944, Chincoteague, Half Moon, Rockaway, San Pablo, Unimak, Yakutat, Onslow, Orca, Rehoboth, San Carlos, Barataria: - 2 x 1 - 127/38

1943 - 1944, Coos Bay: - 2 x 1 - 127/38; + 2 x 4 - 178 Mousetrap Mk 20 ASWRL

1944 - 1945, many ships: - 1 x 1 -127/38; + 1 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2

1/1946, Barnegat, Biscayne, Casco, Mackinac, Humboldt, Matagorda, Chincoteague, Half Moon, Rockaway, San Pablo, Unimak, Yakutat, Barataria, Onslow, Orca, Rehoboth, San Carlos, Shelikof, Suisun: 1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 30, 1 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 24, 2 DCT, 2 DCR, 12 seaplanes, presumably SA, SF or SL or SU, Mk 26 radars, QGa sonar

1/1946, Absecon: 1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 30, 1 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 24, 1 catapult, 12 seaplanes, presumably SA, SF or SL or SU, Mk 26 radars, QGa sonar

1/1946, Coos Bay: 1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 30, 1 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 24, 2 x 4 - 178 Mousetrap Mk 20 ASWRL, 2 DCT, 2 DCR, 12 seaplanes, presumably SA, SF or SL or SU, Mk 26 radars, QGa sonar

1/1946, Bering Strait, Castle Rock, Cook Inlet, Corson, Duxbury Bay, Gardiners Bay, Floyd Bay, Greenwich Bay: 1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 30, 1 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 6 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 2 DCT, 2 DCR, 12 seaplanes, presumably SA, SF or SL or SU, Mk 26 radars, QGa sonar

1946-1949, Casco, Mackinac, Humboldt, Matagorda, Chincoteague, Coos Bay, Half Moon, Rockaway, Unimak, Yakutat, Barataria, Bering Strait, Castle Rock, Cook Inlet received new armament consisted of 1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 30, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog Mk 15 ASWRL, 4 DCT, meteorological balloon, SA, SF or SL, SU, Mk 26 radars, QGa sonar

1948, Dexter received new armament consisted of 1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 30, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog Mk 15 ASWRL, 4 DCT, meteorological balloon, SA, SF or SL, SU, Mk 26 radars, QGa sonar

1948, Absecon received new armament consisted of 1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 30, 1 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog Mk 15 ASWRL, 4 DCT, meteorological baloon, SA, SF or SL, SU, Mk 26 radars, QGa sonar

1957, Dexter: diesels were replaced by new Fairbank-Morse.

early 1960s, all survived Coast Guard cutters: + SPQ-10 radar

1960s, all survived: - SA, SF or SL, SU radars; + SPS-6, SPS-10 radars

mid-1960s, all survived Coast Guard cutters: - balloon; + 2 x 3 - 324 ASW TT

Naval service: Absecon was completed as TS for training of pilots of shipboard seaplanes and equipped by a catapult (originally intended for one of incomplete Cleveland class cruiser). Chincoteague 17.7.1943 was damaged by Japanese aircraft. Orca 5.1.1945 was damaged by kamikaze.

San Carlos 1944

© Ivan Gogin, 2014-15