Curtiss 1954
| No | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comm | Fate |
| AV4 | Curtiss | New York SB, Camden | 3/1938 | 20/4/1940 | 11/1940 | stricken 7/1963 |
| AV5 | Albemarle | 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 |
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.
Ship project history: The first modern purpose-built seaplane tenders of USN. According to the project, each of them should maintain basing of two seaplanes 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 the equipment necessary for it. Handling of seaplanes from water was realised 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: 1942 - 1943, both: - 10 x 1 - 12.7/90; + 2 x 4 - 40/56 Bofors, 12 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon
1944 - 1945, both: + 2 x 4 - 40/56 Bofors
Naval service: Curtiss was badly damaged 21/6/1945 by kamikaze at Okinawa. Albermarle after conversion used for repair of army helicopters in Vietnam.
Curtiss 1940
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10