USS Hamlin (AV-15)
| History | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Name: | USS Hamlin |
| Builder: | Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Tacoma, Washington |
| Launched: | 11 January 1944 |
| Commissioned: | 26 June 1944 |
| Decommissioned: | 15 January 1947 |
| Struck: | 1 July 1963 |
| Honors and awards: |
3 battle stars (World War II) |
| Fate: | Sold for scrapping, 8 March 1962 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Kenneth Whiting-class seaplane tender |
| Displacement: |
|
| Length: | 492 ft (150 m) |
| Beam: | 69 ft 6 in (21.18 m) |
| Draft: | 23 ft 9 in (7.24 m) |
| Propulsion: | Steam turbine, 2 boilers, 1 shaft, 8,500 hp (6,338 kW) |
| Speed: | 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) |
| Complement: | 1,077 |
| Armament: |
|
USS Hamlin (AV-15) was a Kenneth Whiting-class seaplane tender in the United States Navy.
Hamlin was launched by Todd-Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Tacoma, Washington on 11 January 1944; sponsored by Miss Constance Taffinder, daughter of Rear Admiral S. A. Taffinder; and commissioned on 26 June 1944, Captain G. A. McLean in command.
Hamlin conducted shakedown drills off California until 16 August 1944 when she departed San Pedro for the Pacific. Arrived Pearl Harbor 24 August, the ship loaded aviation gasoline and supplies and got underway on 29 August for Eniwetok. She unloaded cargo and passengers there and continued to recently won Saipan, arriving on 11 September to take up her plane-tending duties. During this period, seaplanes tended by Hamlin were making important contributions to the Pacific fighting by engaging in reconnaissance, hunter-killer operations against submarines, and air coverage of fleet cripples. She moved to Ulithi 11 October and back to Saipan anchorage on 29 December 1944, all the time continuing her vital support of seaplane operations. Hamlin's aircraft protected the cruisers Houston (CL-81) and Reno (CL-96), damaged on 14 October off Luzon, and flew photographic missions and rescue flights as the Navy pressed home the ever-mounting attack on Japanese-held territory.
The operation next on her schedule was Iwo Jima, necessary to safeguard lines of communication and provide a base from which fighter aircraft could protect B-29s in bombing missions over Japan. Hamlin proceeded 15 February to Guam for fuel oil and two days later departed for Iwo Jima. She arrived two days after this historic and bitterly contested landing had begun, and with two other tenders established a floating seaplane base from which search and rescue missions were performed.
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