USS Norton Sound (AV-11/AVM-1) was originally built as a Currituck-class seaplane tender by Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, San Pedro, California. She was named for Norton Sound, a large inlet in West Alaska, between the Seward Peninsula and the mouths of the Yukon, north-east of the Bering Sea. [1]

On 1 July 1949 Norton Sound headed for the geomagnetic equator some 1500 miles south of Hawaii and conducted extensive tests with seventeen huge Skyhook balloons and nine smaller balloon clusters all of which carried aloft scientific instrumentation packages.

USS Norton Sound (AVM-1) operating as a test platform for the Terrier and Tartar anti-aircraft missile systems after removal of the helicopter deck forward in 1957. Note the Terrier Twin-arm launcher on deck aft and the Terrier fire control system over the bridge.

The USS Norton Sound (AVM-1, ex- AV-11) is currently serving as test ship for the Aegis combat system and Mark 26/Standard missile sys­tem. Since World War II, the Norton Sound has tested several advanced weapon and sensor “systems” for the Navy and has been involved in scientific ac­tivities as well.

2016年10月15日 · This presentation on the History of USS Norton Sound, US Navy's first guided missile ship, was made by Dr. Bernard Luskin, Chancellor of the Ventura County Community College District, at the...

During this time USS Norton Sound (AV-11) and her sister ships fought off attacking enemy aircraft (Including Kamikaze suicide planes) during 150 air raids.

USS Norton Sound (AVM 1) on 14 September 1956. Click on this photograph for links to larger images of this class. Class: NORTON SOUND (AVM 1) Design: Navy AV-7 Displacement (tons): 9,106 light, 15,092 max Dimensions (feet): 540.4' oa x 69.25' e x 22.25' max

Converted to a test and evaluation ship for advanced weapon and electronic systems in 1949, she was redesigned AVM-1 on 8 Aug 1951. Among the systems tested on board were the Loon (American version of the German V-1), Aerobee, Viking, Lark, Regulus I, Terrier, Sea Sparrow, Standard SAM, and Tomahawk TASM.

USS Norton Sound (AVM 1) Photographed in November 1966 by the U.S. Naval Missile Center, Point Mugu, after removal of the TYPHON system. The spacious 05 level over the bridge was retained along with the old TERRIER twin arm launcher.

USS Norton Sound (AV-11/AVM-1) was originally built as a Currituck-class seaplane tender by Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in San Pedro, California. She was named for Norton Sound, a large inlet in West Alaska, between the Seward Peninsula and the mouths of the Yukon, north-east of...