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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 103783:  USNS David C. Shanks alongside a pier during the 1950s.

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

USNS David C. Shanks (T-AP-180), 1943-1973.
Originally U.S. Army Transport David C. Shanks

USNS David C. Shanks, a 10,556-ton George W. Goethals-class transport, was ordered in 1940 by the Maritime Commission to its C3-IN P&C design as American Farmer, a combination passenger cargo liner for the United States Lines. She was requisitioned as a troopship in 1941 by the Maritime Commission, purchased by the Army, launched in 1942 at Pascagoula, Mississippi as Gulfport, and delivered to the Army in April 1943 as David C. Shanks. To offset the weight added during the troopship conversion, the outer casing of her funnel was not fitted, leaving only an ugly eight-foot diameter "smokestalk"or "midgetstack".

USAT David C. Shanks arrived at San Francisco, California in June 1943 and during the rest of the war supported Army forces in the Southwest Pacific and in the Pacific islands. In July 1945 she departed San Francisco for a brief tour in the Atlantic. Leaving Norfolk, Virginia in December 1945, she returned to San Francisco in February 1946 carrying troops from the Philippines. David C. Shanks then underwent a one-month conversion to a combination troop and dependent carrier. Between August 1947 and May 1948 she underwent a much more extensive refurbishment for peacetime service, which included restoration of her funnel casing and the cutting of over 200 portholes.

Along with most other large Army transports, the ship was transferred to the Navy's Military Sea Transportation Service in March 1950, becoming USNS David C. Shanks (T-AP-180). In 1951 she shifted her homeport from Seattle, Washington to San Francisco and for the remainder of her career transported personnel between that city's Fort Mason and locations throughout the Pacific basin. Her most frequent ports of call were Honolulu, Manila, Guam, and Kwajalein; she also made voyages to Alaska, Japan, and Taiwan. David C. Shanks completed her last voyage in Los Angeles in September 1959, moved to San Francisco in October 1959, and was deactivated and laid up in the reserve fleet at Suisun Bay, Calif. The ship was permanently transferred to the Maritime Administration in November 1960 and was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in July 1961. She was sold in June 1973 for scrapping in Taiwan.

This page features all the views we have concerning USAT David C. Shanks and USNS David C. Shanks (T-AP-180).

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 98762

USAT David C. Shanks


In San Francisco Bay, California, probably circa early 1946.

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

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 550 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 103782

USNS David C. Shanks
(T-AP-180)

Photographed circa 1956-58.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Military Sealift Command Collection at the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 103783

USNS David C. Shanks
(T-AP-180)

Alongside a pier during the 1950s being assisted by the Navy harbor tug Red Cloud (YTB-268).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Military Sealift Command Collection at the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 103784

USNS David C. Shanks
(T-AP-180)

Maneuvering in port during the 1950s with the assistance of Navy harbor tugs.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Military Sealift Command Collection at the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 41KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 103785

USNS David C. Shanks
(T-AP-180)

Entering or leaving port with passengers on deck, probably in April 1951.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Military Sealift Command Collection at the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 53KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 103786

USNS David C. Shanks
(T-AP-180)

In Hawaii with personnel of Marine Transport Squadron 152 (VMR-152) on board, during the 1950s.
The squadron flew Douglas R4D aircraft from bases in Japan during the Korean War.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Military Sealift Command Collection at the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 103787

USNS David C. Shanks
(T-AP-180)

Preparing to depart North Pier, Yokohama, Japan, for the United States on 14 August 1958 with troops and cabin passengers lining the rails.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Military Sealift Command Collection at the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 59KB; 590 x 765 pixels

 


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


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Page made 24 May 2006