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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

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

USS Mindanao (ARG-3), 1943-1962

USS Mindanao, an internal combustion engine repair ship, was converted from the "Liberty" ship Elbert Hubbard while under construction at Baltimore, Maryland. Commissioned in November 1943, she was soon assigned to the South Pacific to support the Navy's wartime operating forces. On 10 November 1944, while at Manus Naval Base, Admiralty Islands, Mindanao was seriously damaged by the explosion of the nearby ammunition ship USS Mount Hood. Following repairs, she continued her support functions in the South and Western Pacific until March 1946, when she sailed for the U.S. USS Mindanao was decommissioned on 17 May 1946, and remained in "mothballs" until she was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in 1962.

This page features views of damage to USS Mindanao from the explosion of USS Mount Hood, plus information on other views of USS Mindanao.

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 95405

Explosion of USS Mount Hood (AE-11) in Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands, 10 November 1944


Small craft gathered around USS Mindanao (ARG-3) during salvage and rescue efforts shortly after Mount Hood blew up about 350 yards away from Mindanao's port side. Mindanao, and seven motor minesweepers (YMS) moored to her starboard side, were damaged by the blast, as were USS Alhena (AKA-9), in the photo's top left center, and USS Oberrender (DE-344), in top right.
Note the extensive oil slick, with tracks through it made by small craft.

Copied from the War Diary, Manus Naval Base, for November 1944

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 140KB; 635 x 675 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 96174

Explosion of USS Mount Hood (AE-11) in Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands, 10 November 1944


Salvage and rescue work underway on USS Mindanao (ARG-3) shortly after Mount Hood blew up about 350 yards away. Note heavy damage to Mindanao's hull and superstructure, including large holes from fragment impacts. View looks forward from alongside her port quarter.
USS Mindanao had 180 crewmen killed and injured by this explosion. She was under repair until 21 December 1944.
Small craft alongside or nearby include (from left) YPB-6 (probable identification), two LCVPs and YPB-7.

Copied from the War Diary, Manus Naval Base, for November 1944

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 118KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 96175

Explosion of USS Mount Hood (AE-11) in Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands, 10 November 1944


Four motor minesweepers (YMS) alongside the starboard side of USS Mindanao (ARG-3) shortly after Mount Hood blew up about 350 yards away from Mindanao's port side. These wooden minesweepers were protected from most of the direct force of the blast by Mindanao's hull, but received some damage.
USS YMS-340 is second from the left. Note that her open bridge bulwarks have been blown down.
Also note differing types of retracting accoustic "hammer box" mountings on the bows of these ships.

Copied from the War Diary, Manus Naval Base, for November 1944

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other views of USS Mindanao. The following list features some of these images:

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


  • Photo #: 80-G-89073
    USS Mindanao (ARG-3) in Hampton Roads, Virginia, 23 November 1943.
    Port bow masthead-height view taken by Naval Air Station Norfolk, VA.

  • Photo #: 80-G-89074
    USS Mindanao (ARG-3) in Hampton Roads, Virginia, 23 November 1943.
    Port broadside masthead-height view taken by Naval Air Station Norfolk, VA.

  • Photo #: 80-G-89075
    USS Mindanao (ARG-3) in Hampton Roads, Virginia, 23 November 1943.
    Port stern masthead-height view taken by Naval Air Station Norfolk, VA.

  • Photo #: 80-G-89071
    USS Mindanao (ARG-3) in Hampton Roads, Virginia, 23 November 1943.
    Starboard broadside surface view taken by Naval Air Station Norfolk, VA. This photo looks into the sun, with Mindanao seen in silhouette.



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

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


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


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    30 September 1999