The USS Half Moon (AVP-26) was a Barnegat-class seaplane tender constructed by Lake Washington Shipyards in Houghton, Washington. Laid down on 10 March 1942 and launched on 12 July 1942, the vessel was initially designed as a small seaplane tender. She was officially commissioned on 15 June 1943 after a shakedown off California. The ship measured approximately 213 feet in length, with a beam of around 34 feet, and was built for versatility and seaworthiness, typical of Barnegat-class vessels. During World War II, USS Half Moon primarily operated in the Pacific Theater, supporting seaplane operations for the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Her duties included tending to PBY Catalina flying boats, conducting night anti-shipping strikes, and supporting air-sea rescue missions from bases in New Guinea, Leyte Gulf, and other locations. Notably, she participated in the Battle of Surigao Strait during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, witnessing the last engagement between surface battleships. Her service included convoy escort duties, participation in the Mindoro landing, and supporting the Philippine invasion. Throughout her wartime service, she endured severe weather and air attacks, including kamikaze strikes, and received two battle stars for her contributions. Post-war, the USS Half Moon was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard in 1948, where she was reconfigured for ocean station duty, including weather reporting, search and rescue, and law enforcement. Renamed USCGC Half Moon (WAVP-378, later WHEC-378), she was stationed in New York City and operated mainly in the Atlantic. Her Coast Guard duties involved patrolling ocean stations, assisting ships, and supporting USN operations during the Vietnam War. From 1967, she participated in Operation Market Time along the Vietnamese coast, conducting naval gunfire support and rescue missions, and sinking enemy vessels. She served actively in this capacity until her decommissioning on 15 July 1969. Sold for scrapping in 1970, the vessel exemplified the durability and versatility of her class, contributing significantly to both wartime and peacetime maritime operations.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.