USS Rehoboth (AVP-50)
The second USS Rehoboth (AVP-50/AGS-50) was in commission in the United States Navy as a seaplane tender from 1944 to 1947 and as an oceanographic survey ship from 1948 to 1970.
Construction, commissioning, and shakedown
Rehoboth was laid down on 3 August 1942 at Houghton, Washington, by the Lake Washington Shipyard. She was launched on 8 November 1942, sponsored by Mrs. R. P. McConnell, and commissioned on 23 February 1944, with Commander Robert Crawford Warrack, Jr., in command.
World War II service
Rehoboth was originally operated as a Barnegat-class seaplane tender. Following shakedown off San Diego, California, Rehoboth transited the Panama Canal on 25 April 1944 and reached Norfolk, Virginia, on 14 May 1944. On 17 May 1944 she sailed for Casablanca carrying men and cargo of Blimp Squadron 14. Returning to Norfolk on 9 June 1944, she carried cargo and personnel for Fleet Air Wing 7 in the United Kingdom from 8 July 1944 to 9 August 1944, then sailed south to Recife, Brazil, reporting to Commander, Fleet Air Wing 16, for duty on 31 August 1944. She transported passengers and cargo between various Brazilian ports until 15 January 1945, when she departed Natal, Brazil, for Bristol, England, carrying personnel and cargo for Commander, Fleet Air Wing 7. On 14 February 1945 she returned to Norfolk, whence, until mid-June 1945, she carried men and equipment to Bristol and Avonmouth in England.
USS Rehoboth
USS Rehoboth has been the name of more than one United States Navy ship, and may refer to:
USS Rehoboth (SP-384)
The first USS Rehoboth (SP-384) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission in 1917.
Rehoboth was built in 1912 as a fishing vessel by W. G. Abbott, Milford, Delaware. The U.S. Navy acquired her from W. C. Lofland of Lewes, Delaware, for service during World War I, armed her, designated her SP-384, and commissioned her at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 12 May 1917, with Lieutenant, junior grade W. M. Bertrand, USNRF, in command.
Acquired originally for section patrol duty, Rehoboth was designated for distant service in June 1917, and on 14 August 1917 headed for Boston, Massachusetts. At the end of August 1917, she continued on across the Atlantic Ocean. Steaming via the Azores, she reached Brest, France on 18 September and began operations as a unit of Division 12, Patrol Force.
On 4 October, while Rehoboth was on escort duty, her hull began to leak. Her crew — unable to control the flooding — was taken off, and she was sunk by the British light cruiser HMS Castor.
