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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USCGC Cook Inlet (WHEC-384)
ex
 USCGC Cook Inlet (WAVP-384) (1948 - 1966)
 USS Cook Inlet (AVP-36) (1944 - 1948)

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Lima - Whiskey
 NYLW
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (21 December 1971) Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Vietnam Service Medal (2)
Fourth Row - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (2) - Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

USCGC Cook Inlet (WHEC-384) was transferred to South Vietnam and renamed RVNS Tran Quoc Toan (HQ-6) and later transferred to the Philippines
Barnegat Class Small Seaplane Tender:
  • Laid down , 23 August 1943, at Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA.
  • Launched, 13 May 1944
  • Commissioned USS Cook Inlet (AVP-36), 5 November 1944, CDR. William P. Woods, USN in command
  • During World War II Cook Inlet was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 2 to 16 March 1945

  • Following World War II USS Cook Inlet was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 3 December 1945 to 5 January 1946
  • Decommissioned, 31 March 1946
  • Loaned to the US Coast Guard in September 1948
  • Commissioned USCGC Cook Inlet (WAVP-384), 15 January 1949
  • Redesignated High Endurance Cutter (WHEC-384), 1 May 1966
  • During the Vietnam War USCGC Cook Inlet (WHEC-384) was assigned to Coast Guard Squadron Three, Vietnam, from 2 July to 21 December 1971 and participated in the following campaigns:

    Vietnam Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Consolidation I
    16 July to 9 August 1971
    27 August to 15 September 1971
    1 to 24 October 1971
    22 to 30 November 1971     		Consolidation II
    1 to 15 December 1971

  • Decommissioned, 21 December 1971
  • Struck from the Naval Register and transferred to South Vietnam, renamed RVNS Tran Quoc Toan (HQ-6)
  • USS Cook Inlet (AVP-36) earned one battle star for World War II service and as USCGC Cook Inlet (WHEC-384) earned two campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Final Disposition, custody assumed by the Philippines in April 1976, but never commissioned in Philippine Navy, used for spare parts
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,766 t.(lt) 2,800 t.(fl)
    Length 310' 9"
    Beam 41' 2"
    Draft 13' 6"
    Speed 18.2 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 14
    Enlisted 201
    Aviation Unit Accommodations
    Officers 59
    Enlisted 93
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    one quad 40mm AA gun mount
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    Diesel 1,955 Bbls.
    Gasoline 84,340 Gals.
    Propulsion
    four Fairbanks Morse 38D8 1/8 Diesel engines
    single Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gear
    Ships Service Generators
    two diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
    two diesel-drive 200Kw 450V A.C.
    two propellers, 6,080shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS Cook Inlet (AVP-36)
    Cook Inlet
    09433616    		 147k
    Namesake
    Cook Inlet - Cook Inlet stretches 180 miles from the Gulf of Alaska to Anchorage in south-central Alaska. Cook Inlet branches into the Knik Arm and Turnagain Arm at its northern end, almost surrounding Anchorage. On its southern end, it merges with Shelikof Strait, Stevenson Entrance, Kennedy Entrance and Chugach Passage.
    Photo - Cook Inlet at low tide from downtown Anchorage, Alaska (September 2005), Photo by Peter Rimar
    Map - Cook Inlet, showing Knik and Turnagain Arms ©Matthew Trump    		 Tommy Trampp
    Cook Inlet 70k Cook Inlet (AVP-36) being christened by Mrs. H. K. Stubbs during launching ceremonies on 13 May 1944 at the Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-68235. A US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives         		Robert Hurst
    Cook Inlet 136k Cook Inlet (AVP-36) being launched at the Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA., 13 May 1944.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-68236. A US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives         		US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Cook Inlet 73k Cook Inlet (AVP-36) photographed off Houghton, WA., 3 November 1944, two days before commissioning. She has a main armament of 1-5"/38 gun and carries boats on her otherwise clear fantail. Note her camouflage measure 33/1F.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-79525. A US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives         		US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Cook Inlet 96k Cook Inlet (AVP-36) photographed off Houghton, WA., 3 November 1944, two days before commissioning. Note her camouflage measure 33/1F.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-79526 A US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives         		US Naval History and Heritage Command
    USCGC Cook Inlet (WAVP-384) (WHEC-384)
    Cook Inlet 125k Amidships looking forward plan view of USCGC Cook Inlet (WAVP-384) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 24 January 1949. Cook Inlet was under repair at the shipyard from 17 September to 27 October 1948.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 2884-1-49, 1/24/49    		 Darryl Baker
    Cook Inlet 193k Amidships looking aft plan view of USCGC Cook Inlet (WAVP-384) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 24 January 1949.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 2886-1-49, 1/24/49    		 Darryl Baker
    Cook Inlet 118k Broadside view of USCGC Cook Inlet (WAVP-384) off Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 24 January 1949.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 2890-1-49, 1/24/49    		 Darryl Baker
    Cook Inlet 59k USCGC Cook Inlet (WAVP-384) underway in 1949, location unknown.
    US Coast Guard photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    Cook Inlet 90k USCGC Cook Inlet (WAVP-384) under way, location unknown, prior to the Coast Guard's 1967 adoption of the "racing stripe" markings on its ships.
    US Coast Guard photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    Cook Inlet 38k USCGC Cook Inlet (WHEC-384) underway, date and location unknown. Ken Laesser
    Cook Inlet 77k Ice encrusted USCGC Cook Inlet (WHEC-384) arriving at Portland, ME., 28 January 1971. Cook Inlet encountered minus 9 degree weather about 75 miles off the coast of Maine while returning from ocean station Charlie in mid-Atlantic.
    AP Wirephoto.    		 Ron Reeves
    Cook Inlet 137k USCGC Cook Inlet (WHEC-384) conducts a close fire support mission off the coast of Vietnam in 1971.
    Photo by EN3 James Riley, USCG.    		 Robert Hurst
    RVNS Tran Quoc Toan (HQ-6)
    Bering Strait 69k Ex-USCGC Castle Rock (WHEC-383) in South Vietnamese naval service as RVNS Tran Binh Trong (HQ-5) moored outboard of ex-USCGC Cook Inlet (WHEC-384) in South Vietnamese naval service as RVNS Tran Quoc Toan (HQ-6) and ex-USCGC Bearing Strait (WHEC-382) in South Vietnamese naval service as RVNS Tran Quang Khia (HQ-2) at Saigon in May 1972. © Richard Leonhardt
    Cook Inlet 65k The President of South Vietnam passes in review as the crew of RVNS Tran Quoc Toan (HQ-6) mans the rail, date and location unknown. Tommy Trampp
    USS Cook Inlet (AVP-36)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    USS Cook Inlet (AVP-36) Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Woods, William Power, USN (1931)5 November 1944 to ?
    USCGC Cook Inlet (WAVP-385 / WHEC-385) Commanding Officers
    04CAPT. Harding, Chester Lawrence, USCG (USCGA 1931) :RADMSeptember 1950 - November 1951
    05LCDR. Moreau, James Walter, USCG (USCGA 1943) :RADMNovember 1951 - April 1952
    06CAPT. Craik, John Daly, USCG (USCGA1932) :RADMJuly 1957 - October 1958
    07CAPT. Dinsmore, Robertson Pickett, USCG (USCGA 1947)no dates
    08CDR. Lessing, Frederick James, USCG (MMA 1951)1971 - 21 December 1971
    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
    Barnegat Class Seaplane Tenders
    Profile and Sky Views - Barnegat Class Small Seaplane Tenders - Lake Washington Shipyard, Houghton, WA.
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Ship Type Index Back To The Small Seaplane Tender (AVP) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 17 September 2021