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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:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --
Ancon (American Passenger Liner, 1939).
Served as U.S. Army Transport Ancon in 1942, USS Ancon
(AP-66, later AGC-4) in 1942-1946, and became the training ship
State of Maine in 1962
S.S. Ancon, a 9978 gross ton passenger-cargo ship, was
laid down by Bethlehem Steel Co., Fore River, Massachusetts, as
the second of three new combination passenger and cargo liners
for the Panama Railroad Co. Launched in September 1938, she was
delivered to her owner in June 1939. Until the United States entered
World War II she performed her intended civilian service, linking
New York and Cristobal, Panama Canal Zone. In January 1942 Ancon
was taken over by the Army Transport Service and for the next
four months carried American troops to reinforce Australia. In
August 1942, as part of the buildup for the invasion of North
Africa, she was transferred to the Navy and commissioned as USS Ancon (AP-66,
later AGC-4). Ancon was returned to the Panama Railroad
Co. in February 1946 and returned to commercial employment. Her
service to Panama was discontinued in April 1961, and in June
1962 she became the training ship of the Maine Maritime Academy
under the name State of Maine. She was turned back to the
U.S. Maritime Administration and sold for scrapping in May 1973.
This page features our only view of the passenger liner
Ancon, which was the U.S. Army Transport Ancon in
1942, USS Ancon (AP-66, later AGC-4) in 1942-1946, and
the training ship State of Maine in 1962-1973.
For more images concerning this ship, see:
USS Ancon
(AP-66, later AGC-4), 1942-1946.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 99212
S.S. Ancon (American Passenger Liner, 1939)
Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken while the ship was
underway in about 1939-1941. This ship served as the U.S. Army
Transport Ancon in 1942 and as USS Ancon (AP-66,
later AGC-4) in 1942-1946.
Copied from the book "Troopships of World War II",
by Roland W. Charles.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 395 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 99237
T.S. State of Maine (American Training Ship, 1939)
In port, probably at Castine, Maine, while serving as the Maine
Maritime Academy's training ship , circa 1962-1973.
Previously the passenger liner Ancon, this ship served
as USS Ancon (AP-66, later AGC-4) during 1942-1946.
The original caption reads: " The 10,000-ton State of
Maine, provided by the U.S. Maritime Administration, not
only takes the Academy student body on annual training cruises,
but also serves as an excellent laboratory while moored in Castine."
Photograph by the Maine Maritime Academy.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph, from the Military
Sealift Command Collection.
Online Image: 90KB; 650 x 675 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 99238
T.S. State of Maine (American Training Ship, 1939)
Seen from atop the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad building while
visiting Jacksonville, Florida, during her 1964 winter training
cruise. "Over 4,000 persons visited the ship during her
week-end stay at Jacksonville." (quoted from the original
caption)
Previously the passenger liner Ancon, State of Maine
was the Maine Maritime Academy's training ship from 1962 to 1973.
She served as USS Ancon (AP-66, later AGC-4) in 1942-1946.
Photograph by the Maine Maritime Academy.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 118KB; 740 x 555 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 99236
Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt, USN (3rd from left, speaking)
Presenting a Naval Reserve warrant to the S.S. Ancon,
of the Panama Line, in ceremonies at New York City, 29 October
1947.
This ship served as USS Ancon (AP-66, later AGC-4) in
1942-1946, and was Adm. Hewitt's flagship during operations in
the Mediterranean Sea in mid-1943.
Photograph from the Public Information Office, Third Naval District,
90 Church Street, New York City.
Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral
H.K. Hewitt, USN.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 575 pixels |
 |
For more images concerning this ship, see:
USS Ancon
(AP-66, later AGC-4), 1942-1946.
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Page made 31 March 2004