USS Salisbury Sound (AV-13)

• Seaplane Tender Origins: USS Salisbury Sound (AV-13) was a Currituck-class seaplane tender, commissioned on November 26, 1945, designed to support seaplane operations by providing repair, refueling, and resupply at sea. • Post-WWII Service: Although completed too late to participate in World War II combat, Salisbury Sound became instrumental in postwar U.S. Navy operations throughout the Pacific. • Korean War Deployment: The ship served as a mobile base for patrol bombers (PBYs and P5Ms) during the Korean War, conducting reconnaissance, search and rescue, and anti-submarine missions. • Taiwan Strait Patrols: Salisbury Sound was heavily involved in supporting U.S. and Nationalist Chinese seaplane operations during the tense Taiwan Strait Crises of the 1950s. • Operation Market Time: During the Vietnam War, Salisbury Sound participated in Operation Market Time, providing seaplane tenders and logistics to patrol aircraft combating Viet Cong supply lines. • Flagship Duties: The ship often served as flagship for Commander, Patrol Force Seventh Fleet, overseeing seaplane and reconnaissance operations across the Western Pacific. • Humanitarian Missions: In 1956, Salisbury Sound assisted in evacuating civilians and providing aid during the Quemoy-Matsu Crisis, a major Cold War flashpoint. • Exotic Ports of Call: The crew visited numerous Asian ports, including Hong Kong, Manila, Yokosuka, and Kaohsiung, fostering diplomatic relations as part of the U.S. Navy’s “show the flag” missions. • Decommissioning and Fate: Salisbury Sound was decommissioned on March 31, 1967, after over two decades of service, and was later sold for scrap in 1968. • Legacy: Known for her reliability and the camaraderie of her crews, Salisbury Sound is remembered at reunions and by military historians as a vital part of Cold War naval aviation history.