USS Tangier (AV-8)

The USS Tangier (AV-8) was a Currituck-class seaplane tender built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was named after Tangier Sound, a bay located between the eastern shore of Maryland and Virginia. As a Currituck-class vessel, her primary mission was to provide mobile support for seaplanes, including refueling, rearming, and maintenance.

Launched in 1940 and commissioned in 1941, the USS Tangier played a significant role in the Pacific Theater of the war. She operated extensively throughout the Pacific, providing vital support to patrol and reconnaissance seaplanes, facilitating their operations across vast distances. Her duties included transporting aviation personnel, providing repair facilities, and supplying spare parts to seaplane squadrons.

The Tangier saw action in several major campaigns, including the Battle of Midway, where her seaplane support capabilities proved crucial for scouting enemy movements. Throughout the war, she earned several battle stars for her service.

Following World War II, the USS Tangier continued to serve in various capacities. In the 1950s and 1960s, she was utilized for transport and logistics duties, sometimes deploying to the Arctic to support operations there. She was eventually decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register.