US Navy Auxiliary Ships: Curtiss (AV-4) Class

USS Albemarle (AV-5) on 8 August 1942
Click on this photograph for links to larger images of this class.

Class:        CURTISS (AV-4)
Design:        Navy AV-4
Displacement (tons):        8,671 light, 13,475 max.
Dimensions (feet):        527.3' oa x 69.25' e x 21.3' max.
Original Armament:        4-5"/38 (1941: both)
Later armaments:        4-5"/38 10<22-20mm (1942: both);
4-5"/38 4-40mmQ 20>12-20mm (1943-47: AV-4);
4-5"/38 3-40mmQ 2-40mmT 20>12-20mm (1943-47: AV-5); 2-5"/38 3-40mmQ 2-40mmT (1947-48: AV-5);
2-5"/38 5-40mmQ 4<6-20mmT (1947-51: AV-4);
2-5"/38 4-40mmQ 2-40mmT 4-20mmT (1952-55: AV-5); 2-5"/38 4-40mmQ 4-20mmT (1952-55: AV-4); 2-5"/38 4-40mmQ (1957: AV-5);
4-40mmQ 6>4-20mmT (1955-59: AV-4)
Complement:        --
Speed (kts.):        19.7
Propulsion (HP):        12,000
Machinery:        NYSB Parsons turbines, 2 screws

Construction:

AV	Name	Ord.	Builder	Keel	Launch	Commiss.
4	CURTISS	27 Dec 37	New York SB	25 Apr 38	20 Apr 40	15 Nov 40
5	ALBEMARLE	14 Oct 38	New York SB	12 Jun 39	13 Jul 40	20 Dec 40

Disposition:

AV	Name	Decomm.	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
4	CURTISS	24 Sep 57	1 Jul 63	1 Jul 63	MA	10 Jan 72
5	ALBEMARLE	1974	31 Dec 74	17 Jul 75	MA	17 Jul 75

Class Notes:
FY 1938 (AV-4), 1939 (AV-5). Construction of AV-4 was directed by SECNAV on 29 Aug 36 as part of the Fiscal Year 1938 building program, while construction of AV-5 was directed on 20 Jul 38 as part of the Fiscal Year 1939 building program.

In postwar activity, AV-5 supported the first two atomic bomb tests at Bikini in mid-1946 and was then selected to be modified as an atom bomb preparation and laboratory ship for a third Bikini test (Test Charlie). This test, however, was cancelled. AV-5 was rebuilt under the Fiscal Year 1956 program (SCB project 134) to handle the P6M long-range nuclear strike jet seaplane at NSY Philadelphia between 15 Aug 56 and 28 Oct 58 and was fitted with a special aircraft servicing boom for supporting the aircraft while afloat alongside and an aircraft recovery ramp on the stern, which could bring the aircraft on board ship without using a crane. AV-4 was considered for a similar conversion in FY-1957 but AV-7 (q.v.) was selected instead. The P6M program was cancelled on 21 August 1959 after only three production aircraft had been delivered, partly because of the advent of a much more effective nuclear deterrent system, the Polaris ballistic missile submarine. AV-4 was then briefly considered for conversion to a satellite launching ship, SCB project 218 (unofficial designation AGSL) in August 1960. AV-5 was again rebuilt as a MSC-operated helicopter maintenance ship (ARVH) to support Army helicopters in Vietnam at NSY Charleston between late 1964 and 11 Jan 66, when she was transferred to MSC for operation. In August 1966 the Army and Navy agreed on conversion of a second ARVH and the Navy planned to turn over AV-4 for this purpose, but the Defense Department did not include the project in the Fiscal Year 1967 program. For the following fiscal year the Army requested conversion of AV-7 (q.v.) instead.

Ship Notes:

AV	Name	Notes
4	CURTISS	In USN reserve 1957-62. To NDRF 31 Oct 62, to buyer 1 Apr 72.
5	ALBEMARLE	In USN reserve 1950-57 (decommisioned 14 Aug 50). Recommissioned 21 Oct 57 as a tender for the planned P6M jet seaplane, decommissioned 21 Oct 60 and to NDRF 26 Oct 60. Stk. and to MA 1 Sep 62, from MA 7 Aug 64, reinst. 27 Mar 65 as CORPUS CHRISTI BAY (ARVH-1).