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USN Auxiliary Ships, Tenders, Replenishment, Repair etc


Bearmon
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Salvage Sailor

Brown Water Navy USS KRISHNA (ARL-38) In service 1945 to 1971

ARL 38 USS KRISHNA 003.jpg

ARL 38 USS KRISHNA 004.jpg

 

Brown Water Navy USS KRISHNA (ARL-38) In service 1945 to 1971

ARL 38 USS KRISHNA 001a.jpg

ARL 38 USS KRISHNA 002a.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

Three war Hyades class Stores Ship USS GRAFFIAS (AF-29) In continuous service 1944 to 1969.

 

Unlike her sisters, GRAFFIAS was kept in commission after WWII for occupation & China service and throughout the Korean and Vietnam wars earning 8 Korean battle stars and 7 Vietnam campaign stars.

AF 28 USS GRAFFIAS 001.jpg

AF 28 USS GRAFFIAS 002.jpg

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Icebreaker USS STATEN ISLAND (AGB-5) circa 1965 just before she was turned over to the USCG

 

Photo from Navsource

AGB 5 USS STATEN ISLAND 009.jpg

AGB 5 USS STATEN ISLAND 010.jpg

AGB 5 USS STATEN ISLAND 000.jpg

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Class leader USS CASTOR (AKS-1) Three war general stores issue ship in service 1941 to 1968

 

Strafed at Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 she was a major supply vessel throughout the war. In the post war and Korean war era she was homeported at Yokosuka and Sasebo supplying Inchon, Pusan and the 7th Fleet. In September 1954 she took part in the Vietnamese evacuation, Operation Passage to Freedom, from Indo-China

 

Korean War era patch

AKS 1 USS CASTOR 001.jpg

 

AKS 1 USS CASTOR 002.jpg

 

CASTOR was homeported in Sasebo, Japan during the mid sixties. She made runs to Vietnam, picking up stores in Sasebo, Subic Bay, Philippines and Kaoshung, Taiwan. She and USS MARS (AFS-1) and Castor's sister ship USS POLLUX (AKS-4) posted here http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/194762-usn-auxillary-ships-tenders-oilers-ammo-repair-etc/?p=2387769 which was homeported in Yokosuka, Japan were the only supply ships serving the Vietnam units until Castor's decommissioning. Pollux was also decommissioned during the Vietnam War (1968).

 

Vietnam era patch

AKS 1 USS CASTOR 003.jpg

 

AKS 1 USS CASTOR 004.jpg

 

copy of her WESTPAC Cannonball patch

AKS 1 USS CASTOR 005.jpg

 

AKS 1 USS CASTOR 006.jpg

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Combat stores ship and Class leader USS MARS (AFS-1) In service 1963 to 1993. MARS was the first of a new class that was intended to replace three types of supply ships: the AF (Store Ship), AKS (Stores Issue Ship), and AVS (Aviation Supply Ship). She was a major Vietnam supply ship of SERVRON 1 in San Diego earning a Navy Unit commendation and eleven campaign stars for Vietnam service.

AFS 1 USS MARS 001.jpg

 

001 SERVICE SQUADRON ONE 001.jpg

 

AFS 1 USS MARS 001.jpg

 

AFS 1 USS MARS 003.jpg

 

AFS 1 USS MARS 004.jpg

 

1990's Desert Storm

AFS 1 USS MARS 005.jpg

 

AFS 1 USS MARS 006.jpg

 

AFS 1 USS MARS 007.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

USS Pictor AF-54 Nice patch still on the card.

 

 

Nice Gemsco example Bearmon,

 

Here's a Japanese made version

 

USS PICTOR (AF-54) Alstede class stores ship in service 1950 to 1969

AF 54 USS PICTOR 001.jpg

AF 54 USS PICTOR 002.jpg

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...and her sister ship, probably a Gemsco patch

 

USS ALUDRA (AF-55) Alstede class stores ship in service 1952 to 1969

 

AF 55 USS ALUDRA 001.jpg

AF 55 USS ALUDRA 002.jpg

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USS OTUS (AS-20/ARG-20) Asiatic Fleet submarine tender, she survived the attack on the Philippines in 1941 and escaped to Australia where she tended subs during the war.

 

Converted to a Repair ship Internal combustion engine tender (ARG) in 1945, she was decommissioned in 1946 and assigned to the National Defense Reserve Fleet in Washington state to maintain the mothballed ships (which is where this patch comes in) until 1970

ARG 20 USS OTUS 001.jpg

ARG 20 USS OTUS 002.jpg

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USS REGULUS (AF-57) Denebola class Stores Ship, served as SS ESCANABA VICTORY in WWII. Commissioned in 1954 but lost due to grounding while riding out typhoon Rose at Hong Kong. Regulus grounded on Kau I Chau Island on 17 August 1971, ripping open her hull. After three weeks of attempting to refloat Regulus, it was finally decided that the damage she had incurred was too severe to warrant salvage. The ship was cut up and removed in pieces. Regulus was decommissioned 10 September 1971 and subsequently struck from the Navy List.

 

Japanese made Vietnam era patch

AF 57 USS REGULUS 001.jpg

AF 57 USS REGULUS 002.jpg

AF 57 USS REGULUS 003.jpg

 

Attempted salvage of USS REGULUS (AF-57) in 1971 by my ship and her sister ship
 
USS Safeguard (ARS-25) (inboard) and USS Grasp (ARS-24) (outboard) conducting salvage operations of USS Regulus (AF-57) after she ran aground on a reef at Kau I Chau Island off the coast of Hong Kong following the passing of Typhoon Rose on 16-17 August 1971.
 
US Navy photo

 

AF 57 USS REGULUS 005.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

USS TUTUILA (ARG-4) Luzon class internal combustion engine repair ship in service 1944 to 1972. Mother ship to the USN and USCG vessels during Market Time, Seafloat and Sealord operations in Vietnam

ARG 4 USS TUTUILA 001.jpg

ARG 4 USS TUTUILA 002.jpg

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USS MAUNA LOA (AE-8) Lassen class ammunition ship in service 1943 to 1971

AE 8 USS MAUNA LOA Beta Royal 001.jpg

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USS SYLVANIA AFS-2

 

Different version, 1960's cut edge with more details

 

USS SYLVANIA (AFS-2) Mars class combat stores ship in service 1964 to 1994

 

Flagship of Service Force Sixth Fleet, Service Squadron Four and Service Group Two (Second Fleet)

AFS 2 USS SYLVANIA 001.jpg

AFS 2 USS SYLVANIA 002.jpg

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USS NIAGARA FALLS (AFS-3) Mars class combat stores ship in service 1967 to 1994. USNS NIAGARA FALLS (T-AFS-3) 1994 to 2008

 

10 Vietnam war campaign stars, Cold War, Desert Storm

AFS 3 USS NIAGARA FALLS 001.jpg

 

AFS 3 USS NIAGARA FALLS 002.jpg

 

AFS 3 USS NIAGARA FALLS 003.jpg

 

 

AFS 3 USS NIAGARA FALLS 004.jpg

 

USS NIAGARA FALLS (AFS-3) Mars class combat stores ship in service 1967 to 1994. USNS NIAGARA FALLS (T-AFS-3) 1994 to 2008
Combat Action Ribbon - First Gulf War (Desert Storm)
 
Niagara Falls participated in Operation Desert Storm, transiting the Straits of Hormuz at midnight on 16 January 1991 and assigned an operating area in the northern end of the Persian Gulf, known as the 'NAG' or North Arabian Gulf operational area, this was the sea opposite Kuwait which was heavily mined by Iraqi prior to the start of combat operations. Due to limited mine countermeasure assets in the Persian Gulf and Niagara Falls operating area, an EODMU detachment was assigned. During the course of the war Niagara Falls destroyed five naval mines herself while operating in the northern Persian Gulf.
 
One interesting incident on 23 January was the visible flash of an explosion reported by the aft lookout, possibly an errant Scud missile which had been reported heading out into the Persian Gulf.
 
On 29 March Niagara Falls assisted the M/V Mercs Horana which was undergoing a major shipboard fire while underway in the Salton Sea. Niagara Falls arrived at night and the crew was presented with the sobering image of the Horana's superstructure fully engulfed in flames, and four other coalition ships, including Shasta and Francis Hammond circling the burning vessel. Niagara Falls At-Sea Fire Party was told to stand ready to motorboat over, however the Commonwealth Coalition ship in charge at the scene declined the manpower and requested spare fire fighting foam be supplied.
 
For spending 143 days in the combat zone, and operating North of 28.30 N and West of 49.30 E between 17 January–28 February 1991 the ship was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon. During the course of the war the Niagara Falls primary assignment was USS Missouri (BB-63) and her battlegroup, however she also serviced Ranger, the Amphibious Group, and the hospital ships. During this period Niagara Falls would mainly resupply from Jebel Ali near Dubai, however stops were also made at Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.

AFS 3 USS NIAGARA FALLS 005.jpg

 

AFS 3 USS NIAGARA FALLS 006.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

USS ALCOR (AK-259) Grenville Victory class cargo ship in USN service 1952 to 1968, Resupply & replenishment ship for the Atlantic and Sixth Fleets and ICBM missile support vessel to Holy Loch Submarine Base

 

 

AK 259 USS ALCOR 001.jpg

AK 259 USS ALCOR 002.jpg

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USS WHITE PLAINS (AFS-4) Mars class Combat Stores ship in service 1968 to 1995. "The Orient Express"

AFS 4 USS WHITE PLAINS 001.jpg

 

AFS 4 USS WHITE PLAINS 002.jpg

 

USS WHITE PLAINS (AFS-4) Mars class Combat Stores ship in service 1968 to 1995. "The Orient Express" - Vietnam Era

AFS 4 USS WHITE PLAINS 003.jpg

 

AFS 4 USS WHITE PLAINS 004.jpg

 

Vietnam Era - Slippin the Meat to the Fleet - (HC-3)

AFS 4 USS WHITE PLAINS HC 3 Snoopy 001.jpg

 

AFS 4 USS WHITE PLAINS HC 3 Snoopy 002.jpg

 

USS WHITE PLAINS (AFS-4) Mars class Combat Stores ship in service 1968 to 1995. "The Orient Express" - Desert Storm Era

AFS 4 USS WHITE PLAINS 005.jpg

 

AFS 4 USS WHITE PLAINS 006.jpg

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USS SANDOVAL (APA-194) Haskell class amphibious attack transport in service 1944 to 1970. Iwo Jima, struck by Kamikaze at Okinawa, Korea, Cuban Crisis, Apollo support, Cold War Sixth Fleet

APA 194 USS SANDOVAL 001.jpg

APA 194 USS SANDOVAL 002.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

USS MARK (AKL-12) light cargo ship attached to Service Force, 7th Fleet - Game Warden, Market Time, Brown Water Navy RVN

 

Mark served as a unit in the Subic–Sangley Ferry Service until reclassified AKL-12 on 13 March 1949. Then, as a light cargo ship attached to Service Force, 7th Fleet, she carried cargo and passengers to various units of that fleet operating in the Philippines area. The ship was placed 'Out of Service' in 1956, but continued operations out of Subic Bay.
With the escalation of U.S. Forces activities in Southeast Asia in 1963-64, the range of her resupply missions were extended to include frequent cruises to the Republic of Vietnam. As a result of these trips, she was placed in a commissioned status on 1 October 1965, Lt. F. R. Sanderlin in command. For the next eight months she continued to operate from Subic Bay; but with each passing month, the length of her visits was increased. In June 1966 she commenced full-time operations in the combat area. In addition to supply missions the ship surveyed waters critical to operations in the Dinh River, Dong Nia River and Bassac River of the Mekong Delta.[5] From 1966 to 1969 Mark, with only one interruption for overhaul, kept vital supplies moving from Saigon and Vung Tau to the riverine and coastal surveillance forces conducting operations "Game Warden" and "Market Time".
On 1 July 1971 Mark was transferred to Taiwan where she served in the Republic of China Navy as the intelligence gathering ship Yung Kang (AKL 514).

 

AKL 12 USS MARK 001.jpg

AKL 12 USS MARK 002.jpg

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Well, we do wish to keep you warm and fuzzy.....

 

Quite possible it's a later copy and it's quite similar to the one posted on navsource The primary difference I've seen on these is the center globe and some have a capital L and others a lower case l

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Salvage Sailor

Third version, Camo Gator, Brown Water Navy

 

USS KRISHNA (ARL-38) In service 1945 to 1971

 

ARL 38 USS KRISHNA 005.jpg

 

 

ARL 38 USS KRISHNA 006.jpg

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