USS Casco, a 1,766-ton Barnegat-class small seaplane tender, was built at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, and was commissioned in December 1941. She moved in May 1942 to the Aleutians, where her duties included surveying the islands and laying moorings for seaplanes as well as providing tender services. While at anchor in Nazan Bay in August 1942 Casco was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine RO-61. She was beached to prevent sinking and, after being refloated in September, underwent battle damage repairs and modifications at Puget Sound.
Casco returned to the Aleutians in March 1943 and in May particpated in the recapture of Attu. She left the Aleutian theater in November 1943 and, after repairs at Puget Sound, arrived in the Marshall Islands in February 1944. She tended seaplanes during the occupation of Majuro and Kwajalein, carried cargo during the buildup for the Philippine operations in late 1944, and supported not only seaplanes but also a squadron of motor torpedo boats during the Okinawa invasion in the spring of 1945. Casco returned to the West Coast in July 1945 for two months of upkeep. Her postwar activities included service in the Philippines between October 1945 and April 1946 and a brief period of training duty at Galveston, Texas. Casco was decommissioned in April 1947 and was loaned to the Coast Guard in April 1949. She served out of Boston, Massachusetts as the cutter Casco (WAVP-370, later WHEC-370) for the next twenty years. She was returned to the Navy in March 1969 and expended as a target in May 1969.
This page features all our views of USS Casco (AVP-12).
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: 19-N-41932 USS Casco (AVP-12) In Puget Sound, Washington, on 3 March 1943 upon completion of repairs. She had been torpedoed by the Japanese submarine RO-61 in the Aleutian Islands on 30 August 1942. Her main armament has been doubled to four 5"/38 guns. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 63KB; 740 x 560 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: 19-N-41933 USS Casco (AVP-12) In Puget Sound, Washington, on 3 March 1943 upon completion of repairs. She had been torpedoed by the Japanese submarine RO-61 in the Aleutian Islands on 30 August 1942. Her main armament has been doubled to four 5"/38 guns. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 580 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: 19-N-41934 USS Casco (AVP-12) In Puget Sound, Washington, on 3 March 1943 upon completion of repairs. She had been torpedoed by the Japanese submarine RO-61 in the Aleutian Islands on 30 August 1942. Her main armament has been doubled to four 5"/38 guns. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 595 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: 19-N-42039 USS Casco (AVP-12) Running trials off Vashon Island in Puget Sound, Washington, on 3 March 1943 upon completion of battle damage repairs. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 122KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: 19-N-42040 USS Casco (AVP-12) Running trials off Vashon Island in Puget Sound, Washington, on 3 March 1943 upon completion of battle damage repairs. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 128KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: 80-G-455262 USS Casco (AVP-12) Running trials off Vashon Island in Puget Sound, Washington, on 3 March 1943 upon completion of battle damage repairs. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 109KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: 80-G-65978 USS Casco (AVP-12) In Massacre Bay at Attu Island in the Aleutians in about May 1943 soon after the U.S. recaptured the island. A PBY-5A "Catalina" patrol bomber is taking off on a patrol. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
The following photographs show USS Casco (AVP-12) distantly, while she was under construction:
In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other views of USS Casco (AVP-12). The following list features some of these images:
The images listed below are NOT in
the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our
page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.".
USS Casco (AVP-12) aground in Nazan Bay, Alaska, after being torpedoed by the Japanese submarine RO-61 in August 1942. Distant port broadside aerial view with two ships including Avocet (AVP-4) assisting. USS Casco (AVP-12) running trials off Vashon Island, Washington, on 3 March 1943. A starboard quarter view in the same series as 80-G-455262, above. USS Casco (AVP-12) at Attu on 14 May 1943. Port broadside surface view with a Japanese landing barge alongside and a PBY seaplane astern. USS Casco (AVP-12) at anchor at Attu in July 1943. View of the forecastle and the two forward 5"/38 guns taken from the ship's bridge. USS Casco (AVP-12) at anchor in Massacre Bay, Attu, in July 1943. Photographer was Lieutenant Commander Horace Bristol, USNR. Port bow surface view, with an LCVP alongside.
Reproductions of these images should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center. The images listed in this box are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.". |
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 7 September 2000
New images added 11 October 2004