USS Hamlin (AV-15)

Last updated
USS Hamlin (AV-15) at anchor in Tanapag Harbor, Saipan, on 13 February 1945 (80-G-306648).jpg
USS Hamlin (AV-15) in February 1945
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Hamlin
Namesake Hamlin Sound in South Carolina
BuilderTodd Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Tacoma, Washington
Launched11 January 1944
Commissioned26 June 1944
Decommissioned15 January 1947
Stricken1 July 1963
Honors and
awards		3 battle stars (World War II)
FateSold for scrapping, 8 March 1962
General characteristics
Class and type Kenneth Whiting-class seaplane tender
Displacement
  • 8,510 long tons (8,647 t) light
  • 12,610 long tons (12,812 t) full
Length492 ft (150 m)
Beam69 ft 6 in (21.18 m)
Draft23 ft 9 in (7.24 m)
PropulsionSteam turbine, 2 boilers, 1 shaft, 8,500 hp (6,338 kW)
Speed19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Complement1,077
Armament

USS Hamlin (AV-15) was a Kenneth Whiting-class seaplane tender in the United States Navy.

Contents

Hamlin was launched by Todd-Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Tacoma, Washington on 11 January 1944; sponsored by Miss Constance Taffinder, daughter of Rear Admiral S. A. Taffinder; and commissioned on 26 June 1944.

Service history

Hamlin conducted shakedown drills off California until 16 August 1944 when she departed San Pedro for the Pacific. Arrived Pearl Harbor 24 August, the ship loaded aviation gasoline and supplies and got underway on 29 August for Eniwetok. She unloaded cargo and passengers there and continued to recently won Saipan, arriving on 11 September to take up her plane-tending duties. During this period, seaplanes tended by Hamlin were making important contributions to the Pacific fighting by engaging in reconnaissance, hunter-killer operations against submarines, and air coverage of fleet cripples. She moved to Ulithi 11 October and back to Saipan anchorage on 29 December 1944, all the time continuing her vital support of seaplane operations. Hamlin's aircraft protected the cruisers Houston (CL-81) and Reno (CL-96), damaged on 14 October off Luzon, and flew photographic missions and rescue flights as the Navy pressed home the ever-mounting attack on Japanese-held territory.

The operation next on her schedule was Iwo Jima, necessary to safeguard lines of communication and provide a base from which fighter aircraft could protect B-29s in bombing missions over Japan. Hamlin proceeded 15 February to Guam for fuel oil and two days later departed for Iwo Jima. She arrived two days after this historic and bitterly contested landing had begun, and with two other tenders established a floating seaplane base from which search and rescue missions were performed.

Debris and off-shore gunfire prevented the establishment of the seadrome until 24 February, and Hamlin worked under the handicap of large swells and congestion of the sea areas around Iwo Jima. The ship also experienced numerous air raids during this operation, but suffered no damage. She got underway for Saipan on 8 March 1945, and after another voyage to Guam, she returned to prepare for the Okinawa operation and the largest seaplane tending job of the war.

Hamlin sailed on 23 March from Saipan for Okinawa, the first step prior to the home islands in the long campaign across the Pacific. Her commander was designated Commander, Seaplane Base Group. The tenders arrived Kerama Retto, west of Okinawa, 28 March, the day after it had been secured and 4 days before the main landings on Okinawa. During the operation, Hamlin's planes provided long-range search, antisubmarine patrols, and air-sea rescue services, even providing aviation gasoline and luboil to battleships and cruisers. Her work was performed amid nearly constant air attack by Japanese suicide planes, and, though many ships in the anchorage were damaged by repeated attacks, Hamlin fought off all attacks without injury.

The tender group shifted its base of operations to Chimu Wan, Okinawa, 11 July. After the surrender of Japan, Hamlin and other tenders got underway to assist in the occupation 16 August, anchoring in Yokosuka harbor 30 August. She began tending seaplanes on patrol over Japanese home waters on 2 September, and was anchored in the harbor when the historic surrender was signed on board Missouri.

Hamlin returned to California following a short period in Japan and decommissioned at San Diego on 15 January 1947. She went to reserve with the San Diego Group and remained there until September 1962 when she was transferred to the Maritime Administration, under Navy ownership, and placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, California. She was struck from the Navy List on 1 July 1963.

Hamlin received three battle stars for service in World War II.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Santa Fe</i> (CL-60) Light cruiser of the United States Navy

USS Santa Fe (CL-60), a Cleveland-class light cruiser, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

USS <i>Ralph Talbot</i> (DD-390) Bagley-class destroyer

USS Ralph Talbot (DD-390) was a Bagley-class destroyer in the United States Navy, named for USMC Second Lieutenant Ralph Talbot (1897–1918), who was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War I. Talbot served in the Pacific Theater during World War II, from the attack on Pearl Harbor through the battle of Okinawa, earning 14 battle stars for her service.

USS <i>Halligan</i> Fletcher-class destroyer

USS Halligan (DD-584) was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Rear Admiral John Halligan, Jr. (1876–1934).

USS <i>Williamson</i> (DD-244) Tender of the United States Navy

USS Williamson (DD-244/AVP-15/AVD-2/APD-27) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Commander William Price Williamson.

USS <i>Hopkins</i> (DD-249) Clemson-class destroyer

USS Hopkins (DD-249/DMS-13) was a Clemson-class destroyer built in 1920 and in United States Navy service between 1921-1946. The third Navy ship named in honor of Commodore of the Continental Navy Esek Hopkins, she saw extensive action in the Pacific Theatre during World War II, emerging the most decorated Clemson-class warship of that conflict.

USS <i>Anthony</i> (DD-515) Fletcher-class destroyer

USS Anthony (DD-515), a Fletcher-class destroyer, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Marine Sergeant Major William Anthony (1853–1899).

USS <i>Porterfield</i> Fletcher-class destroyer

USS Porterfield (DD-682) was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy. Commissioned in 1943, she served in several Pacific campaigns during World War II, earning ten battle stars. She was decommissioned immediately after the end of the war but reactivated in 1951 for the Korean War, earning four more battle stars, and then served continuously until 1969. She was sunk as a target in 1982.

USS <i>Southampton</i> (AKA-66) Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Southampton (AKA-66) was a Tolland-class attack cargo ship of the United States Navy, named after Southampton County, Virginia. Southampton was designed to carry military cargo and landing craft, and to use the latter to land weapons, supplies, and Marines on enemy shores during amphibious operations. She served as a commissioned ship for 21 months.

USS <i>Hendry</i> (APA-118)

USS Hendry (APA-118) was a Haskell-class attack transport of the US Navy that was built and served in World War II. She was of the VC2-S-AP5 Victory ship design type. She was named after Hendry County, Florida.

USS <i>Rutland</i> (APA-192)

USS Rutland (APA-192) was a Haskell-class attack transport built and used by the US Navy in World War II. She was a Victory ship design, VC2-S-AP5. She was named after Rutland County, Vermont, USA.

USS <i>Thomas E. Fraser</i> Robert H. Smith-class destroyer minelayer

USS Thomas E. Fraser (DD-736/DM-24) was a Robert H. Smith-class destroyer minelayer in the United States Navy.

USS <i>Gilmore</i>

USS Gilmore (DE-18) was an Evarts-class short-hull destroyer escort in the service of the United States Navy.

USS <i>Wabash</i> (AOG-4) Patapsco-class gasoline tanker

USS Wabash (AOG-4) was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations.

USS <i>Onslow</i> (AVP-48) Tender of the United States Navy

USS Onslow (AVP-48) was a United States Navy Barnegat-class seaplane tender in commission from 1943 to 1947 and from 1951 to 1960.

USS <i>Yakutat</i> (AVP-32) Tender of the United States Navy

USS Yakutat (AVP-32) was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1946. Yakutat tended seaplanes in combat areas in the Pacific during the latter stages of World War II. After the war, she was in commission in the United States Coast Guard from 1948 to 1971 as the Coast Guard cutter USCGC Yakutat (WAVP-380), later WHEC-380, seeing service in the Vietnam War during her Coast Guard career. Transferred to South Vietnam in 1971, she was commissioned into the Republic of Vietnam Navy as the frigate RVNS Trần Nhật Duật (HQ-03). When South Vietnam collapsed in 1975 at the end of the Vietnam War, she fled to the Philippines, where the Philippine Navy took custody of her and cannibalized her for spare parts until discarding her in 1982.

USS <i>Shelikof</i> (AVP-52) Tender of the United States Navy

USS Shelikof (AVP-52) was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1947 and from 1952 to 1954.

USS Zaurak (AK-117) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

USS Valve (ARS-28) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.

USS <i>William C. Cole</i> Buckley-class destroyer escort

USS William C. Cole (DE-641) was a Buckley-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy, named in honor of Vice Admiral William C. Cole (1868–1935).

USS Winterberry (AN-56/YN-75) was an Ailanthus-class net laying ship which served with the United States Navy in the Pacific Ocean theatre of operations during World War II. Despite being attacked near Okinawa by enemy suicide planes, she managed to return safely home after the war with the ship bearing one battle star.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.