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fighting ships of the world

UNITED STATES NAVY (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS AND CRAFT

amphibious command ships converted from other classes

No Name Launched // Comm. Yard No Builder Disp. full, t Dimensions, m Speed, kts Fuel, t Armament Fate
WAGC33 (ex-WPC33) Duane (ex-William J. Duane) 3.6.1936 // 10.1944   Philadelphia N Yd 2350 99.7 x 12.5 x 3.81 19 oil 561 2x4-40, 3x2-40, 8x1-20 Coast Guard cutter WPC33 7.1946
AGC18 (ex-AVP11), 6.1949- WAGC18 Dexter (ex-Biscayne) 23.5.1941 // 10.1944   Puget Sound N Yd, Bremerton 2551 94.7 x 12.5 x 3.78 20 diesel oil 260 2x1-127/38, 5x2-40, 6x1-20 Coast Guard cutter 7.1946, later WAVP385
AGC369 (ex-PG56) Williamsburg 8.12.1930 // 11.1945   Bath Iron Works 1820 68.3x11.0x4.88 16 2diesels, 2200hp 2x1-76/50 stricken 4.1962

Project history: Duane together with other ships of her class served as amphibious command ship in days of WWII, but she only was designated as AGC. Plan to transfer this ship to the Navy was dropped and Duane served only in Coast Guard. Biscayne was ex-seaplane tender, converted in 1944. Williamsburg was ex-yacht, acquired by the Navy in 1941 and served as gunboat since October, 1941. Later she was converted and from November, 1945 classified as general communication vessel, really been a Presidential yacht.

Modernizations: None.

Naval service: Dexter was transferred to Coast Guard in July, 1946 but redesignated only in 1949. Later she was used as usual cutter WAVP385 (later WHEC385) till 1968.

© Ivan Gogin, 2014