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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 56365:  USS Beaver off the Mare Island Navy Yard, circa October 1918

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

USS Beaver (ID # 2302, later AS-5 and ARG-19), 1918-1950.
Originally the commercial passenger steamship Beaver (1910)

USS Beaver, a 5970-ton submarine tender, was built in 1910 at Newport News, Virginia, as the commercial steamship of the same name. She was purchased by the Navy in July 1918, given the registry ID number 2302, and converted to a submarine tender at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California. Commissioned at the beginning of October 1918, Beaver's initial service was spent at the Panama Canal Zone supporting local submarine operations. In mid-1919 she was transferred to Hawaii, and in February 1920 was shifted to the Atlantic.

Designated AS-5 when the Navy adopted its hull number system in July 1920, Beaver continued her submarine support work during the two decades of peacetime operations that followed. In addition to service along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and in the Caribbean and Panama areas, she deployed to the Far East in 1921-1922 and again 1925-1932, and was stationed in Hawaii for the remainder of the 1930s. In 1940 Beaver went to the Atlantic as the United States strengthened its forces there in response to the outbreak of World War II in Europe.

After the U.S. entered the conflict in December 1941, Beaver began supporting submarines at Bermuda. She was based in the United Kingdom from late 1942 to July 1943, then returned to the Pacific. Beaver tended submarines in Aleutian waters from September 1943 until February 1944, then supported training operations at San Diego, California, until June 1945. Redesignated ARG-19 in July, she was converted to an internal combustion engine repair ship and crossed the Pacific to Japan in late August, soon after the end of the fighting. Beaver remained in Japanese waters supporting occupation activities until May 1946, when she steamed back to the U.S. She was decommissioned in July 1946, turned over to the War Shipping Administration and laid up at Olympia, Washington. Beaver was sold for scrapping in August 1950.

This page features, and provides links to, all the pre-World War II views we have concerning USS Beaver (ID # 2302, later AS-5 and ARG-19) and the commercial passenger steamship Beaver, as well as providing a link to World War II photographs of her.

For other views related to USS Beaver, see:

  • USS Beaver (AS-5) -- Pre-World War II Views, Part II; and
  • USS Beaver (AS-5, later ARG-19) -- World War II Views.
  • USS Beaver (ID # 2302) -- On Board and Close Up Views, 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 105250

    Beaver
    (American Passenger Ship, 1910)

    In commercial service before World War I. Owned by the Union Pacific Railroad, she was operated by the San Francisco and Portland Steamship Co. on a route between those two West Coast ports. Purchased by the Navy in July 1918, she became USS Beaver (ID # 2302, later AS-5).
    A sister, Bear, was wrecked in 1911 while operating on the San Francisco-Portland route.

    Donation of Captain Stephen S. Roberts, USNR (Retired), 2007.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 50KB; 740 x 465 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 99154

    Beaver
    (American Passenger Ship, 1910)

    In port, prior to entering Naval service.
    The Navy purchased this ship on 1 July 1918, converted her to a submarine tender and placed her in commission as USS Beaver (ID # 2302) on 1 October 1918. She was redesignated AS-5 in 1920 and ARG-19 in 1945.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 575 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 56365

    USS Beaver
    (ID # 2302, later AS-5)

    Underway off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, when first converted to a submarine tender, circa October 1918.
    Note her pattern camouflage.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 545 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 102998

    USS Beaver
    (ID # 2302, later AS-5)

    Underway off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, when first converted to a submarine tender, circa October 1918.
    Note her pattern camouflage.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 99183

    USS Beaver
    (ID # 2302)

    At a tropical port, probably in the Panama Canal Zone, circa late 1918.
    Note her disruptive camouflage.

    Collection of Chief Electrician's Mate Virgil Breland. Donated by Mrs. E.H. Breland, 1979.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 470 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 56366

    USS Beaver
    (ID # 2302, later AS-5)

    At anchor off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, with six submarines alongside, circa late 1918.
    The submarines are (in no particular order): R-15 (Submarine # 92); R-16 (Submarine # 93); R-17 (Submarine # 94); R-18 (Submarine # 95); R-19 (Submarine # 96); and R-20 (Submarine # 97).
    Note Beaver's pattern camouflage.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 580 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 56364

    USS Beaver
    (ID # 2302, later AS-5)

    In port, circa 1919, with USS R-20 (Submarine # 97) and other "R-Boats" alongside.
    Note the identification symbols painted on the submarines' conning towers.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 395 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 95179

    USS Beaver
    (AS-5)

    At the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, in 1920.
    She was then commanded by Captain Thomas C. Hart.

    Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Hart, USN.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 57KB; 740 x 395 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 69314

    USS Beaver
    (AS-5)

    At anchor during the early 1920s, with six "S-Type" submarines alongside.

    Courtesy of ESKC Joseph L. Aguillard, USNR, 1969.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 1927

    USS Beaver
    (AS-5)

    Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 14 March 1925.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 56688

    USS Beaver
    (AS-5)

    Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 14 March 1925.
    This print has been autographed by Admiral Thomas C. Hart, USN (Retired), who commanded Beaver from 31 July 1920 to 24 February 1922, while he was a Captain.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 580 pixels

    For an unautographed version of this photo, see:
    Photo # NH 1927

     
    Photo #: NH 70944

    USS Beaver
    (AS-5)

    At Pearl Harbor in 1925, with five "S-Type" submarines alongside.
    The old protected cruiser Chicago is in the right background, serving as a barracks ship.
    Photographed by Peck.

    Donation of Lieutenant Gustave Freret, USN (Retired), 1970.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     


    In addition to the images presented on these pages, the National Archives appears to hold other views of USS Beaver (AS-5). 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-1010813
    USS Beaver (AS-5) at Guam, June 1922.
    Starboard quarter surface view.

  • Photo #: 80-G-456523
    USS Beaver (AS-5) at anchor during the 1920s
    Starboard bow (rather toward the broadside) surface view.

  • Photo #: 80-G-466181
    USS Beaver (AS-5) underway at sea, 25 October 1927.
    Port broadside (somewhat toward the bow) high aerial view.

  • Photo #: 80-G-451188
    USS Beaver (AS-5) at anchor at Midway Island, 23 May 1935.
    Port bow surface view.


    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".


  • For other views related to USS Beaver, see:

  • USS Beaver (AS-5) -- Pre-World War II Views, Part II; and
  • USS Beaver (AS-5, later ARG-19) -- World War II Views.
  • USS Beaver (ID # 2302) -- On Board and Close Up Views, 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 March 2004
    New image added 1 October 2007