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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USCGC Matagorda (WHEC-373)
ex
 USCGC Matagorda (WAVP-373) (1949 - 1966)
 USS Matagorda (AVP-22) (1945 - 1949)
 USS Matagorda (AG-122) (1945)
 USS Matagorda (AVP-22) (1941 - 1949)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Foxtrot - Victor
 NIFV


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal
Barnegat Class Small Seaplane Tender:
  • Laid down, 6 September 1940, at Boston Navy Yard, Boston, MA.
  • Launched, 18 March 1941
  • Commissioned USS Matagorda (AVP-22), 16 December 1941, CDR. Stanley J. Michael in command
  • Redesignated Miscellaneous Auxiliary (press ship), (AG-122), 30 July 1945
  • Conversion canceled, 25 August 1945
  • Reverted to (AVP-22), 10 September 1945
  • Decommissioned, 20 February 1946, at Orange, TX.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Texas Group, Orange
  • Transferred on loan to the US Coast Guard, 7 March 1949
  • Commissioned USCGC Matagorda (WAVP-373), 8 June 1949
  • Redesignated High Endurance Cutter(WHEC-373), 1 May 1966
  • Decommissioned by the Coast Guard and returned to US Naval custody in 1968
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1968
  • Final Disposition, expended as target 72 miles off Hawaii at 20° 08'N, 158° 30'W.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,766 t.(lt) 2,800 t.(fl)
    Length 311' 6"
    Beam 41' 1"
    Draft 12' 5"
    Speed 18.2 kts (trial)
    Complement
    USN
     Officers 14
     Enlisted 201
     USN Aviation Squadrons
     Officers 59
     Enlisted 93
     USCG
     Officers 13
     Enlisted 136
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    USCG Electronics
    Radar: SPS-23, SPS-29D
    Sonar: SQS-1
    Armament
    USN
     two single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts
     one quad 40mm AA gun mount
     two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
     four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
     USCG
     one single 5"/38 cal. Mk 12, Mod 1 dual purpose gun mount
     one Mk 52 Mod 3 director
     one Mk 26 fire control radar
     one Mk 11 A/S projector
     two Mk 32 Mod 5 torpedo tubes
    Fuel Capacities
    Diesel 2,055 Bbls
    Gasoline 84,340 Gals
    Propulsion
    Fairbanks-Morse, 38D8 1/2 Diesel engines
    single Fairbanks-Morse Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
     two Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
     two Diesel-drive 200Kw 450V A.C.
    two propellers, 6,400shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS Matagorda (AVP-22)
    Matagorda
    09432220    		 109k
    Namesake
    Matagorda - Matagorda Bay is a large Gulf of Mexico bay on the Texas coast, located approximately 80 miles northeast of Corpus Christi. It is one of seven major estuaries along the Gulf Coast of Texas and serves as the mouth of numerous streams, most notably the Lavaca and Colorado Rivers. Matagorda Bay, is connected to the Gulf of Mexico by two inlets, Pass Cavallo and the Matagorda Ship Channel. Pass Cavallo is a natural inlet located at the southwest terminus of Matagorda Peninsula, and the Matagorda Ship Channel is an artificially cut, deep-draft federally maintained navigation channel approximately 4.5 miles northeast of Pass Cavallo. The city of Palacios is found on northeastern extension of Tres Palacios Bay and Port O'Connor is located on the southwestern tip of the main bay's shore.
    Photo - Shrimping boats in the harbor at Palacios, Texas. Matamaniac (Wikipedia)/
    Map - Location-map-for-Pass-Cavallo (ResearchGate.com)    		 Tommy Trampp
    Matagorda 113k Matagorda (AVP-22) being christened by Miss Nancy Rowland Brand, during launching ceremonies at the Boston Navy Yard, MA., 18 March 1941.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-30428 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Robert Hurst
    Matagorda 208k Matagorda (AVP-22) launching at Boston Navy Yard, 18 March 1941. Her sister, Humboldt (AVP-21) was launched from the adjoining slipway a day earlier.
    US National Archives photo #'s 19-N-30410, 19-N-30410 and 19-N-30421, US Navy Bureau of Ships photos now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Robert Hurst
    Matagorda 159k
    Matagorda 127k
    Matagorda
    09432221    		 205k USS Matagorda (AVP-22), launching at Boston Navy Yard, 18 March 1941.
    Planet News LTD., London England    		 David Wright
    Matagorda 48k USS Matagorda (AVP-22), painted measure 12(modified) camouflage scheme, underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo     		Haze Gray & Underway
    Matagorda 166k USS Matagorda (AVP-22), 3 April 1942, at Boston, MA, in her original configuration with 2 5"/38 guns. She is wearing Measure 12(modified) camouflage.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-28802, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 Robert Hurst
    Matagorda 296k USS Matagorda (AVP-22) off Boston Navy Yard, 11 May 1942.
    Navy Yard Boston photo # 2021-42.May 11 1942    		 Tommy Trampp
    Matagorda 85k USS Matagorda (AVP-22), 27 September 1943 at Norfolk, VA, with a main armament of 4 5"/38 guns.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-51366, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 Naval History and Heritage Command
    Matagorda 104k USS Matagorda (AVP-22), 27 September 1943 at Norfolk, VA. Her two unshielded 5"/38 mounts aft are clearly visible.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-51368, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 Naval History and Heritage Command
    Matagorda 122k USS Matagorda (AVP-22) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 David Buell
    USCGC Matagorda (WAVP-373) (WHEC-373)
    Matagorda 46k Ex-USS Matagorda (AVP-22) in US Coast Guard service as USCGC Matagorda (WAVP-373) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Coast Guard photos by Don Hanley    		 Robert Hurst
    Matagorda 38k
    Matagorda 42k USS Matagorda (WAVP-373) underway circa 1956, probably at Ocean Station Victor.
    US Coast Guard photos by Don Hanley    		 Robert Hurst
    Matagorda 45k USS Matagorda (WAVP-373) circa 1956, preparing to relieve USCGC Bering Strait (WAVP-382) on OS Victor.
    US Coast Guard photos by Don Hanley    		 Robert Hurst
    Matagorda 36k USS Matagorda (WAVP-373) circa 1956, after being relieved by USCGC Bering Strait (WAVP-382) on OS Victor. Do you think they are in a hurry?
    US Coast Guard photos by Don Hanley    		 Robert Hurst
    Matagorda 74k USCG Matagorda (WAVP-373) underway in 1965, location unknown.
    US Coast Guard photo    		 Robert Hurst
    Matagorda 123k USCGC Matagorda (WAVP-373) underway in 1965, location unknown.
    US Coast Guard photo    		 Robert Hurst
    Matagorda 56k USCGC Matagorda (WAVP-373) underway circa 1965, location unknown.
    US Coast Guard photos by Don Hanley    		 Robert Hurst
    Matagorda 63k USCGC Matagorda (WAVP-373) moored pierside circa 1965, location unknown.
    US Coast Guard photos by Don Hanley    		 Robert Hurst
    USS Matagorda (AVP-22)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    USS Matagorda (AVP-22/ AG-122) Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Michael, Stanley J. USN (USNA 1920) :RADM16 December 1941 - 1 August 1942
    02LCDR. Treadwell, Paul Chester USN (USNA 1923)1 August 1942 - 15 October 1942
    03LCDR. Perry, Ernest Reide USN (USNA 1926) (acting)15 October 1942 - 8 November 1942
    04CDR. Rice, Lester Kimme USN (USNA 1924) :RADM8 November 1942 - 13 March 1943
    05CDR. Wheelock, Austin Wadsworth USN (USNA 1925)13 March 1943 - 3 August 1945
    06CDR. Bartels, William USNR3 August 1945 - 20 February 1946
    USCGC Matagorda (WAVP-372 / WHEC-372) Commanding Officers
    05CDR. Land, Harold (Gus), USCG (USCGA 1937)1956
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USCGC Matagorda (WHEC-373)
    Barnegat Class Seaplane Tenders
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    Last Updated 5 January 2024