USS Wright (AV-1)

USS Wright (AZ-1) at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, April 1927
History
United States
NameWright
NamesakeOrville Wright
BuilderAmerican International Shipbuilding Corporation, Hog Island, Pennsylvania
Yard number680
Laid down5 February 1919 as Skaneateles
Launched28 April 1920
Completed16 December 1921
Commissioned16 December 1921, as AZ-1
Decommissioned21 June 1946
RenamedSan Clemente (AG-79), 1 February 1945
Reclassified
  • AV-1 (Aircraft Tender), 2 December 1926
  • AG-79 (Miscellaneous Auxiliary), 1 October 1944
Stricken1 July 1946
Honours and
awards
2 battle stars (World War II)
Fate
General characteristics
TypeSeaplane tender
Displacement11,500 long tons (11,685 t) full load
Length448 ft (137 m)
Beam58 ft (18 m)
Draft23 ft (7.0 m)
Propulsion
Speed15.3 knots (28.3 km/h; 17.6 mph)
Complement228 officers and men
Armament
Aircraft carriedF5L and Curtiss NC-10 seaplanes

USS Wright (AZ-1/AV-1) was a one-of-a-kind auxiliary ship in the United States Navy, named for aviation pioneer Orville Wright. Originally built as a kite balloon tender, she was converted into a seaplane tender after kite balloons were no longer used.