Type and Characteristics - Small seaplane tender, Barnegat-class, AVP-12, built by Puget Sound Navy Yard, launched 15 November 1941, commissioned 27 December 1941. 2,800 tons, 311ft long x 41ft beam x 13ft draft, 20kts, armed with 4-5in guns, 215 crew, first commanded by Commander T. S. Combs.

Log Period and Areas of Service - 1941-47, Alaska, Aleutians, Central, South West and Western Pacific campaigns.

Summary of Service

Early 1942 – Patrol and seaplane tender duties off NW coast.

5 May 1942 – Arrived Sitka, Alaska to survey for seaplane moorings and carry out tender duties. Based at Cold Harbor, and visited Dutch Harbor, Chernofski Harbor, Kodiak, and Nazan Bay.

30 August 1942 – At anchor in Nazan Bay, torpedoed and damaged by Japanese submarine RO.61, got underway, beached and later salvaged. Five crew killed and 20 wounded.

12 September 1942 – Refloated, followed by emergency repairs at Dutch Harbor and Kodiak.

3 March 1943 – Repairs and overhaul completed at Puget Sound Navy Yard.

March 1943 - Returned to Aleutians, based at Constantino Harbor, Amchitka as tender to Fleet Air Wing Four.

May 1943 – Supported US Army's invasion of Japanese-occupied Attu island as tender to seaplanes carrying out anti-submarine and search missions.

November 1943 – Sailed for Bremerton, WA for overhaul.

February 1944 – Arrived Marshall Islands, tender to patrol squadron seaplanes at Majuro, Kwajalein and later Eniwetok.

September 1944 – Temporary duties as cargo carrier during build-up for Philippines operations, shuttling between Saipan, Ulithi and the Palaus.

November 1944 – Returned to seaplane tender duties in the Palaus.

January 1945 – Same duties at Ulithi.

April 1945 – Overhauled at Saipan.

25 April 1945 – Arrived Kerama Retto for Okinawa invasion. Tender to both seaplanes and a motor torpedo boat squadron.

July 1945 – Returned to West Coast.

Spring 1946 – Returned to Far East for operations in Philippines, followed by training duties off Galveston, TX.

Fate - Decommissioned 10 April 1947, transferred to Coast Guard on 19 April 1949.

Links: DANFS, also Aleutian campaign:
Documentary made by John Huston in 1943 - at http://archive.org/details/Report_From_The_Aleutians
United States Navy Combat Narrative The Aleutians Campaign June 1942--August 1943 at http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Aleutians.html

Casco 2

In Puget Sound, Washington, 3 March 1943 after completion of repairs. She was torpedoed by Japanese RO.61 in the Aleutians on 30 August 1942

Casco 3

Running trials off Vashon Island in Puget Sound, 3 March 1943 after the repairs

Casco 4

Massacre Bay, Attu Island in the Aleutians, around May 1943, soon after its recapture from the Japanese. Catalina patrol flying boats taking off

A general note on the sources.