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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

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  • Ship History
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  • World War II 1939-1945
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Biscayne (AVP-11)

1941–1946

A bay in Florida. 

(AVP-11: displacement 1,766; length 310'9"; beam 41'1"; draft 13'6"; speed 18 knots; complement 215; armament 2 5-inch; class Barnegat)

Biscayne (AVP-11) was launched on 23 May 1941 by Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Wash.; sponsored by Mrs. A.M. Charleton; and commissioned on 3 July 1941, Cmdr. C.C. Champion, Jr., in command.

Following her shakedown cruise, Biscayne joined the Atlantic Fleet and operated out of Boston, Mass., on patrol and plane guard missions (7 December 1941–27 May 1942). For the next four months she served as a seaplane tender and communications ship in Newfoundland and Greenland waters. The tender departed Norfolk, Va., on 17 October 1942, and after a short stop at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, moved to Freetown, Sierra Leone, with Patrol Squadron (VP) 92 embarked, arriving on 2 November 1942. She moved to Casablanca, French Morocco, on 18 November and remained there until 25 April 1943, supporting patrol squadrons.

Biscayne arrived at Mers-el-Kebir, Algeria, on 26 April 1943 and became flagship of Rear Adm. R.L. Connolly, Commander, Landing Craft and Bases, Northwest African Waters. While at Mers-el-Kebir she was fitted out as an amphibious force flagship by repair ship Delta (AR-9) (2–31 May 1943). She was not reclassified AGC-18 until 10 October 1944. In may she shifted her moorings to Bizerte, Tunisia. Clearing the port on 10 July 1943, she served as flagship of the Joss (Licata) Force in the invasion of Sicily. Biscayne remained off Sicily until 22 July and then returned to Bizerte.

During 9 September–11 October 1943, Biscayne took part in the landings at Salerno, Italy, as flagship for Adm. Connolly and Vice Adm. Henry K. Hewitt. While off Salerno, she escaped unscathed from frequent air and gunfire attacks. On 12 September she sent a fire and rescue team on board the British ammunition ship Lyinge and saved that vessel and her cargo of ammunition from destruction. Biscayne also served as a temporary hospital ship while off Salerno

Biscayne retired to Bizerte on 11 October 1943, and on 7 November became flagship of Rear Adm. Frank J. Lowry, Commander, 8th Amphibious Force. Sailing for Italy once again, she served as flagship during the Anzio landings (22 January–2 February 1944). She became flagship of Rear Adm. Bertram J. Rodgers, Commander, Amphibious Group 2, 8th Amphibious Force, in May 1944 and during 15 August–16 September 1944 took part in the invasion of southern France.

Biscayne left the Mediterranean on 12 October 1944 for Boston and then steamed to the Pacific. She arrived at Pearl Harbor, T.H., on 9 January 1945, and became flagship of Commodore F. Moosbrugger, Commander, Destroyer squadron 63. She took part in the invasion of Iwo Jima (19 February–4 March 1945) as flagship of the transport screen. Biscayne carried out similar duties furing the landings on Kerama Retto, Okinawa (26 March–1 April) and on Okinawa itself. She remained off Okinawa until 1 July 1945, during which time she served as flagship for the occuptation of Iheya and Aguni Islands, Okinawa (3–9 June). After her tour at Okinawa, Biscayne retired to Leyte and remained in the Philippines until departing for the occupation of Korea 8 September. She remained on occupation duty in Korean and Chinese waters until 30 October when she left for the United States.

Biscayne arrived at San Diego, Calif., on 21 December 1945, and Portland, Maine, on 7 January 1946. She then moved to the Naval Academy for use as quarters for the aviation instruction staff. Biscayne was decommissioned on 29 June 1946 and transferred to the Coast Guard at Curtis Bay, Md., on 19 July 1946.

Biscayne received six battle stars during World War II.

6 February 2006

Published: Fri Mar 27 15:28:52 EDT 2020