USS Currituck (AV-7)

• Seaplane Tender Role: USS Currituck (AV-7) was a Currituck-class seaplane tender, specifically designed to support seaplanes in remote operations by providing supplies, maintenance, and accommodations. • Commissioned During WWII: She was commissioned on 26 June 1944, joining the Pacific Theater in the final year of World War II to support reconnaissance and patrol operations. • Battle of Okinawa Support: Currituck participated in the Battle of Okinawa, tending seaplanes that conducted anti-submarine and air-sea rescue missions. • Post-War Occupation Duties: After World War II, the ship supported Allied occupation forces in Japan and China, tending seaplanes at Nagoya, Sasebo, and Shanghai. • Korean War Service: Reactivated for the Korean War, Currituck supported patrol squadrons conducting reconnaissance, mine-spotting, and search-and-rescue missions. • Vietnam War Operations: Currituck deployed to Vietnam, serving as a mobile base for seaplanes flying surveillance and reconnaissance missions in the Gulf of Tonkin. • Flagship Duties: The ship functioned as a flagship for various seaplane squadrons and patrol wings, illustrating her importance in command and control operations. • Support of Operation Market Time: During Vietnam, Currituck supported Operation Market Time, aiding in efforts to prevent North Vietnamese maritime supply routes. • Humanitarian Missions: Currituck took part in search and rescue operations, including recovering downed airmen and supporting disaster relief efforts in Asia. • Decommissioning and Fate: After decades of service and several reactivations, USS Currituck was decommissioned for the last time in 1967 and sold for scrap in 1972.