What was a "Receiving Ship"?

[Brig]

Researching a Marine, it just has him listed at "Receiving Ship, Puget Sound" for 6 months in 1915. No ship name, but the detachment was a complete detachment. Doesn't look like the ship actually sailed. So what exactly was a "receiving ship"?

[tdogchristy90]

 

[doyler]

This site shows pictures of how older ships were converted into housing. Scroll down to the USS Constitution and it mentions recieving ships

 

https://www.shorpy.com/node/5843#comment-60318

 

[Brig]

Interesting. Especially since the USS Constitution was used that way, it's down the street and we regularly conduct events like promotions/reenlistments/retirements on it. Certainly isn't a receiving ship today

[tdogchristy90]

On 1/7/2025 at 7:59 PM, Brig said:

Interesting. Especially since the USS Constitution was used that way, it's down the street and we regularly conduct events like promotions/reenlistments/retirements on it. Certainly isn't a receiving ship today

Brig, did you find your answer to this question? I am curious if you’ve finished the research on this Marine.

[Brig]

1 hour ago, tdogchristy90 said:

Brig, did you find your answer to this question? I am curious if you’ve finished the research on this Marine.

I did. I was just trying up loose ends on his story.

[River Rat 1]

The Navy now uses a Berthing barge lived on one in 1983 next to our ship when it was in the yards since the ship was redoing the berthing spaces on ship. Think the one we were on was built in WW2 a very old berthing barge.

 

https://news.usni.org/2023/09/19/new-barges-budgeting-tweaks-set-to-ease-crews-life-during-ship-repair-maintenance

Home sweet home they sucked.

[j. t. thompson]

Hello Brig,

 

Charleston (Cruiser No. 22) was the receiving ship at Puget Sound from 4 November 1912 until 10 January 1916.

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/charleston-iii.html

 

Not sure if this is of any help (eight months out,) but thought you might be interested.

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

 

USN Receiving Ship

 

A receiving ship is a naval version of the replacement depot or transit barracks. Sailors on orders to a new vessel or station would report to a receiving ship at a Naval Station (usually a recommissioned obsolete ship or hulk pulled from the reserve fleet) and await transportation to their command or disposition of their orders (hospital, transfer, discharge, etc.) They were often turned into 'floating buildings' and had a very unique appearance.

 

 

 

 

[sigsaye]

On 10/24/2025 at 11:03 AM, Salvage Sailor said:

 

USN Receiving Ship

 

A receiving ship is a naval version of the replacement depot or transit barracks. Sailors on orders to a new vessel or station would report to a receiving ship at a Naval Station (usually a recommissioned obsolete ship or hulk pulled from the reserve fleet) and await transportation to their command or disposition of their orders (hospital, transfer, discharge, etc.) They were often turned into 'floating buildings' and had a very unique appearance.

 

 

 

 

Additionally, prior to 1911, ( when the Navy’s first “Boot Camp” opened in Great Lakes Illinois), it was where newly recruited Sailors received “Basic Training” for the Navy, while waiting for their ships draft to fill. They would be taught basics, terminology, ships nomenclature, sweep, swab, polish brightwork, how to tie basic knots, rig hammocks, care for the clothes they were issued on the receiving ship