To accomplish this, they were heavily armed with four 5-inch (130 mm)/38 caliber dual-purpose guns, and contained repair and maintenance facilities, along with supplies for operating in forward areas for many months.

Two of the 5-in guns were staggered on opposite sides of the rear superstructure, with the remaining two in a superfiring configuration at the bow of the ships.

They produced 12,000 shp (8,900 kW) from four Babcock & Wilcox boilers turning a pair of geared turbines and shafts, and were capable of a speed of 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph).

[7] On 28 December, she was underway for San Diego, California, for more permanent repairs and replacement of the damaged crane with a 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannon.

Her repairs were completed in just four days and she was back in Pearl Harbor on 13 January 1942, to begin ferrying men and supplies to bases at Samoa, Suva, and Nouméa, until June.

[4] Departing Pearl Harbor, on 2 June 1942, Curtiss served as flagship for Commander, Naval Air, South Pacific, at Naval Base Noumea, from 16 June-4 August, then served as seaplane tender, flagship, repair and supply ship for destroyers and small craft engaged in the Solomon operations from Espiritu Santo, until 9 July 1943.

[4] After repairs at San Francisco, Curtiss sailed to Okinawa, arriving on 22 May 1945, to serve as flagship for Commander, Fleet Air Wing 1.

Curtiss joined in fleet exercises, operated with patrol squadrons in the Formosa Strait, ferried men and supplies to outlying bases and made several visits to Tsingtao, China, until 8 March 1947, when she sailed for the west coast for overhaul and alterations recommended by the Atomic Energy Commission for the storage of scientific equipment.

Shortly after the outbreak of the Korean War, Curtiss sailed from San Diego, to join the 7th Fleet, in July 1950, on patrol in the Korea Strait.

[4] From 23 February to 13 June 1951, Curtiss served as flagship for "Operation Greenhouse" and was the base for civilian and military technicians during the atomic tests at Eniwetok.

From 21 March to 8 August 1956, she took part in "Operation Redwing", the atomic tests at Eniwetok, during which she was visited by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

[4] Curtiss departed San Diego, on 27 December 1956, for "Operation Deep Freeze II", carrying sailors of the wintering-over party, and scientists to take part in the International Geophysical Year program.

She called at Port Lyttelton, Auckland, New Zealand, and Sydney, Australia, before returning to San Diego, on 25 March, to undergo repairs for ice damage.