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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 Conestoga (SP-1128, later AT-54), 1917-1921.
Originally the Civilian Tug Conestoga (1904)
Conestoga, a 617 gross ton tug, was built in 1904 at
Sparrows Point, Maryland. Purchased by the Navy in September 1917
for World War I service, she was placed in commission two months
later as USS Conestoga (SP-1128) and operated during the
rest of the conflict along the East Coast and in the waters around
the Azores. Her duty in the latter location extended well into
the post-war era, and she did not return to the United States
until September 1919. Following service at Norfolk, Virginia,
Conestoga (which had received the hull number AT-54 in
July 1920) went to the Pacific in late 1920. She was at San Diego
and Mare Island, California, during the first three months of
1921. On 25 March of that year the tug steamed out of San Diego
Bay, en route to take up an assignment as station ship at Tutuila,
American Samoa. USS Conestoga was never heard from again
and, despite an extensive search, the only trace found of her
was a lifeboat bearing the initial letter of her name.
This page features, and provides links to, all the views
we have concerning USS Conestoga (SP-1128, later AT-54)
and the civilian tug Conestoga of 1904.
For more images related to this ship, see:
USS Conestoga (SP-1128, later
AT-54) -- Officers and Crew.
For information on the ship's last Commanding Officer (as
well as relevant images, all of which are also included in these
USS Conestoga pages), see:
Lieutenant
Ernest L. Jones, USN, (1880-1921).
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 89794
Conestoga (American Tug, 1904)
In port, prior to World War I.
She served as USS Conestoga (SP-1128, later AT-54) in
1917-1921.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 50KB; 740 x 520 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 89793
Conestoga (American Tug, 1904)
Photographed before being acquired by the U.S. Navy.
This tug was USS Conestoga (SP-1128, later AT-54) from
1917 until she was lost in 1921.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 62KB; 630 x 765 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 71299
USS Conestoga (AT-54)
At San Diego, California, circa early 1921, shortly before she
disappeared while en route from San Diego to Samoa, by way of
Pearl Harbor.
Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 455 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 102094
USS Conestoga (AT-54)
At San Diego, California, February 1921. She was lost without
a trace after leaving San Diego on 25 March 1921, en route to
Samoa.
Courtesy of H.E. ("Ed") Coffer, 1988.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 61KB; 515 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 71508
USS Conestoga (AT-54)
Memorial crew list of the officers and men serving in Conestoga
when she disappeared while en route from San Diego, California,
to Samoa by way of Pearl Harbor. She had departed San Diego on
25 March 1921.
Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 141KB; 345 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 52858
USS R-14 (SS-91)
Under "full sail" in May 1921.
While searching for the missing USS Conestoga (AT-54)
southeast of Hawaii, the R-14 lost her powerplant. As
repairs were unsuccessful, her crew rigged a jury sail, made
of canvas battery deck covers, to the periscope and sailed her
to Hilo. She arrived there on 15 May 1921, after five days under
sail.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 57KB; 425 x 765 pixels |
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For more images related to this ship, see:
USS Conestoga (SP-1128, later
AT-54) -- Officers and Crew.
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.
Page made 15 March 2005
Link added 24 March 2005