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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Norton Sound (AVM-1)
ex
USS Norton Sound (AV-11) (1945 - 1951)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Sierra - Uniform NASU

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal

Currituck Class Seaplane Tender:

Laid down, 7 September 1942, at Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., San Pedro, CA.

Launched, 28 November 1943

Commissioned USS Norton Sound (AV-11), 8 January 1945, CAPT. Ben Scott Custer USN in command

During World War II USS Norton Sound (AV-11) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 May to 30 June 1945	3d Fleet operations against Japan, 10 to 25 July 1945

Following World War II USS Norton Sound was assigned to Occupation and China service from 2 September 1945 to 7 January 1946

Converted to a mobile missile launching platform at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, PA. from February 1948 to October 1948

Redesignated Guided Missile Ship, (AVM-1), 8 August 1951

Decommissioned, 10 August 1959, at Norfolk, VA.

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Norfolk, VA.

Recommissioned, 20 June 1960, at Baltimore, MD.

Decommissioned, 11 December 1986

Struck from the Naval Register, 26 January 1987

Title transfer to the Maritime Administration, 20 October 1988

Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet

Final Disposition, sold to C.J.W. Shipping and Trading Company, San Francisco, CA. for $1,725,000, and towed to Taiwan, to be scrapped

USS Norton Sound received two battle stars for World War II service

Specifications:
Displacement 9,090 t.(lt) 15,092 t.(fl)
Length 540' 5"
Beam 69' 3"
Draft 22' 3" (lim)
Speed 19.2 kts. (trial)

Complement

Officers -162

Enlisted - 1,085

Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.

Armament

four single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts

four twin 40mm AA gun mounts

three quad 40mm AA gun mounts

twenty single 20mm AA gun mounts

Fuel Capacities

NSFO - 15,330 Bbls

Diesel - 285 Bbls

Gasoline - 278,030 Gals

Propulsion

two Allis Chalmers steam turbines

four Babcock and Wilcox Express boilers, 400psi 690°

double Falk Main Reduction Gears

four 500Kw 450V A.C. Ships Service Generators

two propellers, 12,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Norton Sound (AV-11)
	1186k	*USS Norton Sound* (AV-11)** prior to launching, 28 Nov 1943, at Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., San Pedro, CA.	David Buell
	1212k	*USS Norton Sound* (AV-11)** slides down the builders ways as she is launched, 28 Nov 1943, at Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., San Pedro, CA.	David Buell
	62k	*USS Norton Sound* (AV-11)** underway, in World War II configuration painted in Measure 32/15Ax camouflage scheme. US Navy photo	Haze Gray & Underway web site
	340k	*USS Norton Sound* (AV-11)** in harbor being assisted by tugs probably near the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1945 US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Ron Reeves
	116k	*USS Norton Sound* (AV-11)** crew standing personnel inspection, date and location unknown.. US Navy photo	David Buell
	141k	*USS Norton Sound* (AV-11)** crew standing personnel inspection, date and location unknown.. US Navy photo	David Buell
	89k	*USS Norton Sound* (AV-11)** underway in San Pedro Bay, CA., 24 January 1945, soon after completion. US National Archives photo # 19-N-77525, RG-19 LCM a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Robert Hurst
	59k	*USS Norton Sound* (AV-11)** anchored in Tanapag Harbor, Saipan, April 1945. Note Ship's round SK-2 radar antenna. Photographed by ENS Thomas Binford, USNR US Navy photo	Joe Radigan, MACM USN Ret
	234k	*USS Norton Sound* (AV-11)** anchored while tending seaplanes at Kerama Retto, Ryukyu Islands in 1945. US Navy photo	David Buell
	108k	*USS Norton Sound* (AV-11)** at anchor at Kerama Retto, Ryukyu Islands, 8 June 1945, with two PBM Mariner flying boats on deck. US Navy photo # 80-G-343673 from the collections of the US Navy History and Heritage Command.	Robert Hurst
	599k	*USS Norton Sound* (AV-11)** anchored at Kerama Retto, Ryukyu Islands, circa April to July 1945. A Martin PBM Mariner Patrol Bomber, part of Patrol Squadron (VPB-26), is being hoisted onboard. US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Photo No. 2011.003.139.001	Mike Green
	198k	Close up view of the bridge of *USS Norton Sound* (AV-11)**, in October 1948. Aft end of the foredeck landing platform is in the foreground. Quad-mount 40mm guns remain, although the two 5-inch gun mounts were removed to make room for the helicopter and balloon launching platform. US Navy photo.	Dale Hargrave
	681k	*USS Norton Sound* (AV-11)** moored pierside, date and location unknown.	BILL JESSUP AF3/c USS Norton Sound
	296k	Special rocket launching racks installed on the afterdeck of *USS Norton Sound* (AV-11)** in October 1948. US Navy photo.	Dale Hargrave
USS Norton Sound (AVM-1)
	78k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** underway, after conversion to a mobile missile launching platform. US Navy photo	Haze Gray & Underway
	187k	Rocket launch from *USS Norton Sound* (AVM-11)**, 16 January 1950. US Navy photo.	Dale Hargrave
	54k	Rocket launch from *USS Norton Sound* (AVM-11)**, 3 March 1953. Wirephoto	Tommy Trampp
	145k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** in her initial trials ship configuration with an Aerobee rocket in its launcher on deck aft. The photo is dated November 1950 but may have been taken during Aerobee cold weather trials at the beginning of that year. The helicopter deck forward was fitted during the initial conversion in 1948 and removed in 1957. US Navy photo # USN 411858 from the collections of the US Navy History and Heritage Command	Robert Hurst
	117k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** operating as a test platform for the Terrier and Tartar anti-aircraft missile systems after removal of the helicopter deck forward in 1957. Note the Terrier Twin-arm launcher on deck aft and the Terrier fire control system over the bridge. Norton Sound received her first terrier launcher and radars in the fall of 1950.US Navy photo from the collections of the US Navy History and Heritage Command and the 1968-69 Edition of "Jane's Fighting Ships"	Robert Hurst
	505k		Robert Hurst
	102k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** underway in San Francisco Bay, 1958. Photo by Allied Photographers, San Francisco, CA. US Navy photo	Robert M. Cieri
	77k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1) underway in the South Atlantic. Photo was taken from USS Tarawa (CVS-40)** during "Operation Argus" in August-September 1958.	Allyn Howard VS-32 Det. USS Tarawa
	334k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** underway, circa 1960, location unknown. US Navy photo from "Jane's Fighting Ship's" 1964-1965 edition.	Robert Hurst
	360k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** underway while in "Typhoon" missile test ship configuration, circa 1964, location unknown. US Navy photo from 1966/67 edition of "Jane's Fighting Ships".	Robert Hurst
	116k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** underway off Santa Barbara, California, on 16 June 1969. The additional structure level between the bridge and stack was fitted in 1962-64 when the ship was modified to test the Typhoon anti-aircraft missile system, but the 153-ton Typhoon radar tower, which rose above it, was removed after the program was canceled in 1965. During the late 1960s the ship tested the lightweight 5"/54 gun, forward and the Sea Sparrow point defense missile system, at the extreme stern. US Navy photo # K-74869 from the collections of the US Navy History and Heritage Command	Robert Hurst
	78k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** underway while in "Aegis" systems test ship configuration. US Navy photo	Haze Gray & Underway web site
	77k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** underway while in "Aegis" systems test ship configuration. US Navy photo	Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr
	1070k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** participates in a disaster readiness drill at Naval Hospital, Port Hueneme, CA., 1972. Note ambulances waiting alongside the ship. US Navy photo from the Navy Medicine Historical Files Collection - Facilities - Port Hueneme #12-0186-004	Michael Rhode, Archivist / Curator, US Navy BUMED Office of Medical History
	105k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** underway off Port Hueneme, CA., in March 1975, after being modified in 1972-73 to test the AEGIS weapon system. The Mk-26 twin-armed missile launcher for the AEGIS system has replaced the Terrier launcher aft. A missile vertical launch system was installed later, in 1978 US Navy photo # KN-23839 from the collections of the US Navy History and Heritage Command	Robert Hurst
	76k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** moored pierside at Pier 4, Naval Station, San Diego, CA, 1979. She is configured with a "Twin Armed Bandit" twin rail standard launcher to starboard aft.	Photo by Edward Cleary
	136k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.	Robert M. Cieri
	98k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** underway, circa 1980. Photo @copy Marine Photos.	Robert M. Cieri
	67k	Stern view of *USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** moored pierside at San Francisco, May 1980.	Photo by Robert M. Cieri
	77k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** view of forward main deck looking aft while moored at San Francisco, May 1980.	Photo Robert M. Cieri
	71k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)**'s hanger area looking forward from the flight deck while moored at San Francisco, May 1980.	Photo by Robert M. Cieri
	64k	Port bow view of *USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** while moored pierside at San Francisco, May 1980.	Photo by Robert M. Cieri
	63k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** main deck aft, view of a prototype Mk 26 Launcher (later fitted to the Virginia-class CGN's, the first 5 Ticonderogas) while moored at San Francisco, May 1980.	Photo by Robert M. Cieri
	82k	*USS Norton Sound* (AVM-1)** moored pierside at Port Hueneme, 16 June 1986. US Navy photo	Robert M. Cieri

USS Norton Sound Memorabilia
Welcome Aboard pamphlet. Contributed by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.	1986 Welcome Aboard pamphlet Contributed by Robert M. Cieri

Additional Ships Patches
Contributed by Mike Smolinski	Contributed by Mike Smolinski	Contributed by Robert M. Cieri

For more photos and information about USS Norton Sound, see;
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
MARAD Vessel History Database
USS Norton Sound (AV 1) (AVM 11) 1944-1986
US Navy Patrol Squadrons - USS Norton Sound (AV-11)
Commanding Officers (Courtesy USS Norton Sound web site)

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 5 November 2014

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Norton Sound (AVM-1)ex USS Norton Sound (AV-11) (1945 - 1951)

USS Norton Sound (AVM-1)
ex
USS Norton Sound (AV-11) (1945 - 1951)