Currituck (AV-7) Class: Photographs

These photographs were selected to show the original configuration of this class and major subsequent modifications. For most classes many other photographs exist.
For more complete online collections of U. S. Navy ship photographs see in particular the NHHC Online Library of Selected Images and the NavSource Photo Archive.

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

USS Currituck (AV-7)

Near the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 19 July 1944 three days before completion.

Photo No. 19-N-69352
Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM

USS Norton Sound (AV-11)

In San Pedro Bay, California, on 24 January 1945 soon after completion.

Photo No. 19-N-77525
Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM

USS Pine Island (AV-12)

Photographed by her builder, the Todd Shipyards Corp., San Pedro, California, probably on 17 April 1945 a few days before her completion and commissioning.

Photo No. 19-N-85291
Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM

USS Norton Sound (AV-11)

At Kerama Rettu, Ryukyu Islands, on 8 June 1945 with two PBM seaplanes on deck.

Photo No. 80-G-343673
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

USS Salisbury Sound (AV-13)

Conducting seaplane operational test training off Alameda, California, on 8 July 1953.

Photo No. USN 626592
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

USS Currituck (AV-7)

Loading a SP-5B (formerly P5M) Marlin seaplane during seaplane operations off Canta Catalina Island, California, on 12 November 1964.

Photo No. USN 1108994
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

The following illustrations are of USS Norton Sound (AVM-1, ex AV-11) as a trials ship.

USS Norton Sound (AV-11)

In her initial trials ship configuration with an Aerobee rocket in its launcher on deck aft.
The photo is dated November 1950 but may have been taken during Aerobee cold weather trials at the beginning of that year. The helicopter deck forward was fitted during the initial conversion in 1948 and removed in 1957.

Photo No. USN 411858
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

USS Norton Sound (AVM-1)

Operating as a test platform for the Terrier and Tartar anti-aircraft missile systems after removal of the helicopter deck forward in 1957.
Note the Terrier twin-arm launcher on deck aft and the Terrier fire control system over the bridge. Norton Sound received her first Terrier launcher and radars in the fall of 1950.

Photo No. Unknown
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

USS Norton Sound (AVM-1)

Underway off Santa Barbara, California, on 16 June 1969.
The additional superstructure level between the bridge and stack was fitted in 1962-1964 when the ship was modified to test the Typhon anti-aircraft warfare system, but the 153-ton Typhon radar tower, which rose above it, was removed after the program was cancelled in 1965. During the late 1960s the ship tested the lightweight 5"/54 gun, visible forward, and the Sea Sparrow point defense missile system, at the extreme stern.

Photo No. K-74869
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

USS Norton Sound (AVM-1)

Underway off Port Hueneme, California, in March 1975, after being modified in 1972-1973 to test the AEGIS weapon system. The Mk-26 twin-armed missile launcher for the AEGIS system has replaced the Terrier launcher aft. A missile vertical launch system was installed later, in 1978.

Photo No. KN-23839
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

USS Currituck (AV-7) Near the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 19 July 1944 three days before completion. Photo No. 19-N-69352 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM
USS Norton Sound (AV-11) In San Pedro Bay, California, on 24 January 1945 soon after completion. Photo No. 19-N-77525 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM
USS Pine Island (AV-12) Photographed by her builder, the Todd Shipyards Corp., San Pedro, California, probably on 17 April 1945 a few days before her completion and commissioning. Photo No. 19-N-85291 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM
USS Norton Sound (AV-11) At Kerama Rettu, Ryukyu Islands, on 8 June 1945 with two PBM seaplanes on deck. Photo No. 80-G-343673 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command
USS Salisbury Sound (AV-13) Conducting seaplane operational test training off Alameda, California, on 8 July 1953. Photo No. USN 626592 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command
USS Currituck (AV-7) Loading a SP-5B (formerly P5M) Marlin seaplane during seaplane operations off Canta Catalina Island, California, on 12 November 1964. Photo No. USN 1108994 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

USS Norton Sound (AV-11) In her initial trials ship configuration with an Aerobee rocket in its launcher on deck aft. The photo is dated November 1950 but may have been taken during Aerobee cold weather trials at the beginning of that year. The helicopter deck forward was fitted during the initial conversion in 1948 and removed in 1957. Photo No. USN 411858 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command
USS Norton Sound (AVM-1) Operating as a test platform for the Terrier and Tartar anti-aircraft missile systems after removal of the helicopter deck forward in 1957. Note the Terrier twin-arm launcher on deck aft and the Terrier fire control system over the bridge. Norton Sound received her first Terrier launcher and radars in the fall of 1950. Photo No. Unknown Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command
USS Norton Sound (AVM-1) Underway off Santa Barbara, California, on 16 June 1969. The additional superstructure level between the bridge and stack was fitted in 1962-1964 when the ship was modified to test the Typhon anti-aircraft warfare system, but the 153-ton Typhon radar tower, which rose above it, was removed after the program was cancelled in 1965. During the late 1960s the ship tested the lightweight 5"/54 gun, visible forward, and the Sea Sparrow point defense missile system, at the extreme stern. Photo No. K-74869 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command
USS Norton Sound (AVM-1) Underway off Port Hueneme, California, in March 1975, after being modified in 1972-1973 to test the AEGIS weapon system. The Mk-26 twin-armed missile launcher for the AEGIS system has replaced the Terrier launcher aft. A missile vertical launch system was installed later, in 1978. Photo No. KN-23839 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command