USS Rehoboth (AVP-50)

• Seaplane Tender Origins: USS Rehoboth (AVP-50) was originally built as a Barnegat-class small seaplane tender, designed to support flying boat operations during World War II. • Launched in 1943: The ship was launched on 8 October 1943 by Lake Washington Shipyard in Houghton, Washington, and commissioned on 23 February 1944. • Pacific Theater Service: During World War II, Rehoboth served in the Pacific, supporting air operations in locations such as Eniwetok, Saipan, and Okinawa. • Kamikaze Attack Survivor: While operating off Okinawa in 1945, Rehoboth survived multiple Japanese air raids and kamikaze attacks, playing a vital support role under fire. • Hydrographic Survey Ship Conversion: After WWII, the ship was converted into an oceanographic survey ship and reclassified as AGS-50 in 1948, reflecting its new scientific mission. • Cold War Oceanographic Missions: As USNS Rehoboth (T-AGS-50), the vessel conducted critical hydrographic and oceanographic surveys in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans during the Cold War. • Mapping the Ocean Floor: Rehoboth played a key role in mapping the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and gathering data for submarine warfare and navigation. • Discovery of the SOFAR Channel: The ship was instrumental in research that contributed to the discovery and understanding of the SOFAR (Sound Fixing and Ranging) channel, used for long-distance underwater communication. • Longest Serving Barnegat-Class Ship: Rehoboth was one of the longest-serving ships of her class, remaining in service until 1970—well after most of her sister ships had been retired or transferred. • Honors and Legacy: For her wartime service, Rehoboth earned two battle stars. Her legacy lives on in the fields of naval aviation support and oceanographic research.