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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Photo # NH 98758:  USAHS Shamrock in San Francisco Bay in late 1945 or early 1946

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- SHIPS of the UNITED STATES ARMY --

USAT Agwileon (Transport, 1942-1943).
Later the Army Hospital Ship Shamrock (1943-1946)

The U.S. Army Transport Agwileon (of 6678 gross tons) was originally the passenger steamer Havana, built at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1906. She subsequently served between 1917 and 1925 as the U.S. Navy hospital ship Comfort (AH-3). Reconstructed in 1927-1928, she then resumed commercial service as SS Havana. Following a grounding in 1935 the ship was renamed Yucatan, and after capsizing at her New York pier in 1941 she was renamed Agwileon and returned to service as a freighter. She was chartered by the Army in November 1942 and converted into a troopship. After one voyage to Oran and Gibraltar in April-June 1943 she was modified for hospital ship employment, being redesignated and renamed Shamrock in August 1943.

Shamrock operated in the Mediterranean between September 1943 and February 1944, May and September 1944, and late 1944 and early 1945. Between April and September 1945 she underwent major repairs and ventilation alterations for service in the Southwest Pacific. No longer needed in the Pacific by the time she arrived at Los Angeles in October 1945, she was decommissioned the following month. After abortive consideration of a return to troopship duties, in February 1946 the ship was returned to the War Shipping Administration and placed in reserve at Suisun Bay, California. Shamrock was sold for scrapping in February 1948.

This page features all the views we have concerning the U.S. Army Transport Agwileon and the Army Hospital Ship Shamrock.

For additional views related to this ship, taken prior to her U.S. Army service, see:

  • S.S. Havana (American Passenger Ship, 1906); and
  • USS Comfort (1918-1925, later AH-3).


    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 103120

    USAT Agwileon
    (U.S. Army Transport)

    Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken circa April-June 1943, while the ship was in service as a U.S. Army Transport. She became the Army Hospital Ship Shamrock in mid-1943.
    Built in 1906 as the passenger liner Havana, in 1918-1924 this ship was USS Comfort.

    Copied from the book "Troopships of World War II", by Roland W. Charles.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 430 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103122

    USAHS Shamrock
    (U.S. Army Hospital Ship)

    Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken circa 1943-1945, while the ship was in service as a U.S. Army Hospital Ship. She had previously been the Army Transport Agwileon.
    Built in 1906 as the passenger liner Havana, in 1918-1924 this ship was USS Comfort.

    Copied from the book "Troopships of World War II", by Roland W. Charles.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 405 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103128

    USAHS Shamrock
    (U.S. Army Hospital Ship)

    In port, circa 1943-1946.
    This ship was the Army Transport Agwileon in 1942-1943 and, in 1918-1925, served as USS Comfort.

    U.S. Maritime Commission Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98758

    USAHS Shamrock


    In San Francisco Bay, California, in late 1945 or early 1946.

    Donation of Boatswain's Mate First Class Robert G. Tippins, USN (Retired), 2003.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 550 pixels

     


    For additional views related to this ship, taken prior to her U.S. Army service, see:

  • S.S. Havana (American Passenger Ship, 1906); and
  • USS Comfort (1918-1925, later AH-3).


    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 27 June 2005
    New images added 7 October 2005