>Ajax
Barnegat II
(AVP-10: dp. 1766; 1. 311'8" b. 41'1"; dr. 13'6"; s. 20
k.; cpl. 215; a. 4 5'; cl. Barnegat)
The second Barnegat (AVP-10) was launched 23 May 1941 by Puget Sound Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. Lucien S. Kimball, wife of Captain Kimball; and commissioned 3 July 1941, Commander F. T. Baker in command.
After a fitting-out and shakedown period which lasted several months, Barnegat departed for Iceland 5 May 1942 carrying personnel and equipment of Patrol Squadron 73. She remained in Icelandic waters performing important supply, salvage, and patrol duties until 24 October.
On 25 October 1942 she departed Iceland for French Morocco, where she arrived 7 November. The following day she provided fire support during the landings at Me hedia. After the port of Mehedia was secured, Barnegat proceeded up the Wadi Sebu and spent 12 November-10 December establishing the Naval Air Station at Port Lyautey, French Morocco. She departed Port Lyautey 11 December and returned to the United States.
Between January and July 1943 she shuttled supplies between Boston and Iceland, conducting training exercises enroute. On 15 June 1943 she departed for Natal, Brazil, where she was assigned patrol and escort duties, as well as serving as tender for patrol planes in the area. During this tour of duty she rescued many allied and enemy seamen, victims of both submarine and anti submarine warfare.
She departed Natul 12 May 1944 for overhaul at Boston. Between 21 July 1944 and 5 February 1945 she carried troops and supplies from the United States to Europe. III February 1945 she sailed to the Panama Canal Zone and, until December 1945, served as a unit of Fleet Air Wing 3, acting as a tender and transport. Much Of her time was spent in the Galapagos Islands where she supplied the advanced air base and tended patrol bombers.
In December 1945 she departed the Canal Zone and proceeded to Orange, Tex., where she commenced pre~inactivation overhaul 15 January 1940 and went out of commission in reserve 17 May 1946.
Barnegat received one battle star for her participation in the North African landings.