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USS Hempstead (AVP-43)

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History
United States
NameUSS Hempstead (AVP-43)
NamesakeHempstead Bay on the coast of New York
BuilderLake Washington Shipyard, Houghton, Washington (proposed)
Laid downNever
FateConstruction contract cancelled 22 April 1943
General characteristics
Class and typeBarnegat-class small seaplane tender
Displacement
  • 1,766 tons (light)
  • 2,750 tons (full load)
Length311 ft 8 in (95.00 m)
Beam41 ft 1 in (12.52 m)
Draught13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
Installed power6,000 horsepower (4.48 megawatts)
PropulsionDiesel engines, two shafts
Speed18.6 knots (34.4 km/h)
Complement
  • 215 (ship's company)
  • 367 (including aviation unit)
Sensors and
processing systems
Radar; sonar
ArmamentProbably either 2 x 5-inch (127 mm) 38-caliber guns, 4 x 20 mm antiaircraft guns, and 2 x depth charge tracks, or 1 x 5-inch (127 mm) 38-caliber gun, 1 x quadruple 40 mm antiaircraft gun mount, 2 x twin 40 mm gun mounts, 6 x 20 mm antiaircraft guns, and 2 x depth charge tracks
Aviation facilitiesSupplies, spare parts, fuel, repairs, and berthing for one seaplane squadron; 80,000 US gallons (300,000 L) aviation fuel

What would have been the first USS Hempstead (AVP-43) was a proposed United States Navy seaplane tender that was never laid down.

Construction and commissioning

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Hempstead was to have been one of 41 Barnegat-class small seaplane tenders the U.S. Navy planned to commission during the early 1940s, and was to have been built at Houghton, Washington, by the Lake Washington Shipyard. However, by the spring of 1943 the Navy deemed that number of seaplane tenders excess to requirements, and decided to complete four of them as motor torpedo boat tenders and one as a catapult training ship. In addition, the Navy also decided to cancel six of the Barnegat-class ships prior to their construction, freeing up the diesel engines that would have powered them for use in escort vessels and amphibious landing craft.

Hempstead became one of the first four ships to be cancelled when the Navy cancelled its contract with Lake Washington Shipyard for her construction on 22 April 1943.

References

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