USN China Fleet Asiatic Station & Yangtse Patrol photos from my archives

15,553 · April 24, 2022

Aloha Everyone,

Spurred on by some other posts on the forum, this will be a catch all topic of China Fleet photographs in my collection. Many of them have been posted on the forum over the years on different topics so they will be familiar. Others will be new to you. The common thread linking them all is Naval service with the China Fleet on the Asiatic Station. Note that many of these photos are old auction images and when I dig them out (eventually) I'll rescan them and post larger detailed images. I have other China Fleet collections in my files that I will post later after they are scanned.

To begin, the first USS PIGEON (AM-47) a Lapwing class WWI minesweeper converted to a gunboat for service on the Yangtze.

...and after her conversion to (ASR-6) a diving & submarine rescue 'blackfish' vessel serving the China Fleet

PIGEON as a seaplane tender in China

PIGEON during diving operations in China

PIGEON Bridge Wheelhouse and After Conn station

Salvage Pontoons for raising Submarines and other vessels from the deep (stored at Olongapo, PI)

Note the Diving Bell in the background

PIGEON aground after a typhoon in China

PIGEON refloated, repainted and back in Asiatic Service in China

15,553 · April 24, 2022

A sister ship, USS PENGUIN (AM-33) Lapwing minesweeper on the Yangtze Patrol operating out of Shanghai

15,553 · April 24, 2022

The Asiatic Station tender USS BLACKHAWK (AD-9)

USS Black Hawk (AD-9) moored in Chefoo harbor, circa 1930s, with destroyers (inboard to outboard); USS Edsall (DD-219), USS Bulmer (DD-222), USS Parrott (DD-218) and USS Stewart (DD-224), alongside. The US Navy small seaplane tender USS Heron (AM-10) is moored at the breakwater on the right. Note Heron still carries her old minesweeper number (10), but has the circled star painted on her bow denoting aviation service.

USS BLACKHAWK (AD-9) Diving operation