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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 753:  USS Arctic at anchor, March 1922

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Arctic (AF-7), 1921-1947

USS Arctic, a 12,600-ton (displacement) store ship, was built at Oakland, California, in 1918 as the civilian refrigerated cargo ship Yamhill. She was acquired by the Navy, renamed and placed in commission in November 1921. During the 1920s and 1930s Arctic operated in the Pacific as a unit of the U.S. Fleet Train, providing provisions and other supplies to operating units and bases. In the summer of 1925 she accompanied the Fleet on its trans-Pacific voyage. As tensions rose with Japan in 1940 and 1941 the store ship made regular trips from the West Coast to Pearl Harbor in support of greatly increased Navy activity in Hawaiian waters.

Arctic's voyages to Hawaii continued after the beginning of the Pacific War in December 1941. She shifted her destination to Alaska in mid-1942, then began carrying supplies to the south Pacific, work that occupied her for the rest of 1942 and nearly all of 1943. In 1944 and 1945 Arctic supported the Navy's advance across the central Pacific and into islands on the approaches to Japan. After the fighting ended in August 1945 she provided provisions to assist the occupation of the former enemy nation. Returning to the West Coast in January 1946, in March she was sent via the Panama Canal to New Orleans, Louisiana. USS Arctic was decommissioned there in early April 1946 and transferred to the U.S. Maritime Commission in July of that year. She was sold for scrapping in August 1947.

This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have related to USS Arctic (AF-7).

For pictorial coverage of this ship prior to her acquisition by the Navy, see:

  • S.S. Yamhill (American Freighter, 1918).


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 753

    USS Arctic
    (AF-7)

    At anchor, March 1922.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 1223

    USS Arctic
    (AF-7)

    In harbor, circa the 1920s.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 98KB; 740 x 565 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 75664

    USS Arctic
    (AF-7)

    In port, during the 1920s.

    Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1972.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 480 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 67560

    USS Arctic
    (AF-7)

    In harbor, during the 1920s or 1930s.

    Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 53KB; 740 x 440 pixels

     
    Photo #: 19-N-25858

    USS Arctic
    (AF-7)

    Underway off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, on 29 October 1941.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 590 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-64746

    USS Arctic
    (AF-7)

    Arriving deeply laden at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in April 1942.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 19-N-25853

    USS Arctic
    (AF-7)

    At the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 27 October 1941, showing splinter protection recently installed around her forward gun positions.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 95KB; 595 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 19-N-25857

    USS Arctic
    (AF-7)

    At the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 25 October 1941, showing splinter protection recently installed around her after 5"/51 and .50 caliber gun positions.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 135KB; 595 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 19-N-25856

    USS Arctic
    (AF-7)

    View on board, looking forward from the bridge, showing splinter protection recently installed around the ship's forward 3"/50 guns.
    Taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 25 October 1941.
    Note cargo handling booms, bell mounted on the foremast, and paravanes on deck.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 144KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 19-N-25855

    USS Arctic
    (AF-7)

    View on board, showing the ship's new bridge structure.
    Taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 25 October 1941.
    Note voice tubes and life ring.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 19-N-25854

    USS Arctic
    (AF-7)

    View on board, looking aft from the midships superstructure, showing splinter protection recently installed around her after 3"/50 guns.
    Taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 25 October 1941.
    Note ventilation cowls.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 123KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     


    In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold at least one other view of USS Arctic (AF-7). The following list features this image:

    The image listed below is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
    DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • Photo #: 80-G-456563
    USS Arctic (AF-7), probably photographed off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, on 29 October 1941.
    Starboard bow surface view. The ship is at rest, or underway at very low speed on what appears to be a rather grey day.


    Reproductions of this image should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The image listed in this box is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • For pictorial coverage of this ship prior to her acquisition by the Navy, see:

  • S.S. Yamhill (American Freighter, 1918).


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 21 May 2004
    Text corrected 28 July 2004