About this Unit
**Absecon** refers to USS Absecon (AVP-23), a United States Navy Barnegat-class seaplane tender commissioned during World War II. Launched in 1942, Absecon primarily served as a training ship for seaplane pilots and crews at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. She helped train thousands of aviators and supported various fleet exercises throughout the war. After the war, Absecon was decommissioned in 1947 and later transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard, where she continued service as USCGC Absecon (WAVP-374/WHEC-374).
Historical Facts
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Namesake Origin: The military unit "Absecon" is named after the city of Absecon, New Jersey, which itself derives its name from a Native American word believed to mean "little water."
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USCGC Absecon (WAVP-374): The most notable military vessel with the Absecon name is the USCGC Absecon, a Casco-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard, commissioned in 1949.
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World War II Service: A previous vessel, USS Absecon (AVP-23), served as a seaplane tender and training ship during World War II, playing a key role in pilot and crew readiness.
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Training Innovations: USS Absecon was unique in being fitted with a catapult and arresting gear, making her the only small seaplane tender in the US Navy to launch and recover carrier planes.
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Atlantic Patrol Duties: The USCGC Absecon was part of the Atlantic Weather Patrol, gathering meteorological data essential for transatlantic flights and naval operations during the Cold War.
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Vietnam War Service: The USCGC Absecon was transferred to the South Vietnamese Navy in 1972, where she served as RVNS Pham Ngu Lao (HQ-15) until the fall of Saigon in 1975.
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Rescue Operations: During its service, the Absecon participated in numerous search and rescue operations, saving the lives of aviators, fishermen, and mariners in distress.
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International Collaboration: The Absecon's crew often worked with allied navies and meteorological agencies, enhancing international cooperation during tense periods of the Cold War.
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Decommissioning and Fate: After South Vietnam's collapse in 1975, the fate of the ex-Absecon/Pham Ngu Lao is uncertain; some reports suggest she was captured by North Vietnamese forces.
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Legacy: The Absecon name lives on in Coast Guard and Navy history as a symbol of adaptability, innovation, and international service across multiple decades and conflicts.
