Curtiss 1963
| No | Name | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comm | Fate |
| AV4 | Curtiss | 418 | New York SB, Camden | 3/1938 | 20.4.1940 | 11.1940 | stricken 7.1963 |
| AV5 | Albemarle | 420 | New York SB, Camden | 6.1939 | 13.7.1940 | 12.1940 | repair ship for helicopters ARVH1 Corpus Christi Bay 3.1965, stricken 12.1974 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
12053 |
|
Displacement full, t |
14900 |
|
Length, m |
154.8 wl 160.7 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
21.1 |
|
Draught, m |
6.50 full load |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
12000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
18 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 2164 |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | |
|
Armament |
4 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 10 x 1 - 12.7/90, 30 seaplanes (SOC/SON, OS2U) |
|
Complement |
1195 |
Aircraft facilities: Aircraft fuel stowage was 1 020 500 l. There were 3 heavy cranes for handling seaplanes.
Project history: First USN modern purpose-built seaplane tenders. According to the design, each of them should maintain two seaplane squadrons and provide small repair of aircraft. For this purpose the deck aft has been exempted for placing of aircrafts requiring repair, and there was a hangar in a superstructure with necessary equipment. Seaplanes were lifted onboard by three powerful cranes (one on aft part of the aviation deck and two on a superstructure). Hull had underwater protection, aviation fuel tanks took places below a waterline. Total stowage of an aviation fuel notably exceeded accepted for aircraft carriers.
Ship protection: There was 4-compartment underwater protection.
Modernizations: 1941, Curtiss: + CXAM-1 radar
1942 - 1943, both: - 10 x 1 - 12.7/90; + 2 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 12 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, Mk 26 radar
1945, Curtiss: (presumably) - CXAM-1 radar
1944 - 1945, both: + 2 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, presumably SG, SK radars
1.1946, both: 4 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 30, 4 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 12 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 30 seaplanes, presumably SG, SK, Mk 26 radars
Naval service: Curtiss was badly damaged 21.6.1945 by kamikaze at Okinawa. Albermarle after conversion was used for repair of army helicopters in Vietnam.
Curtiss 1940
© Ivan Gogin, 2014-15