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Photo # 80-G-258905:  USS St. Louis comes alongside USS Vestal for repairs, after the 13 July 1943 Battle of Kolombangara

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

USS Vestal (Collier # 1, later Repair Ship # 4, AR-4), 1909-1950

USS Vestal, first of a class of two 12,585-ton colliers, was built at the New York Navy Yard. Placed in service with a civilian crew in October 1909, she spent the next three years in the Atlantic providing coal to the ships of the fleet, including one voyage to Europe for that purpose.

Taken out of service in October 1912, Vestal was converted by the Boston Navy Yard into a repair ship (later receiving the hull number AR-4) and placed in commission in that role in September 1913. Into 1917, she served mainly in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico area. Shortly after the United States entered the First World War, Vestal's area of operation was moved to Queenstown, Ireland, where she maintained U.S. ships engaged in anti-submarine escort and other wartime duties. Returning to the U.S. at the end of the conflict, Vestal continued her repair mission over the next two decades. She was modernized in 1925, supported the salvage of the sunken submarine S-51 in 1925-26, and shifted her base from the Atlantic to the Pacific in 1927.

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, Vestal was moored outboard of the battleship Arizona. She was hit by two bombs and further damaged when Arizona's forward magazines exploded. Repaired over the next few months, she was transferred to the South Pacific in August 1942, where she mended many combat-damaged ships during the difficult times of the Guadalcanal and Central Solomons campaigns. Shifting to Central Pacific early in 1944 and to the Okinawa area in May 1945, Vestal continued to support the combat fleet to the end of World War II, and beyond. After assisting with the occupation of Japan and China, she steamed home to the U.S. and helped with the work of decommissioning ships that were not needed for the post-war fleet. She was herself placed out of commission in August 1946. Vestal was sold for scrapping in July 1950.

This page features selected views concerning USS Vestal (Collier # 1, later AR-4).

For comprehensive pictorial coverage of USS Vestal during the 7 December 1941 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, see:

  • Overall Views of the Pearl Harbor Attack;
  • "Battleship Row" during the Pearl Harbor Attack; and
  • USS Vestal during the Pearl Harbor Attack.


    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 43620

    USS Vestal (Collier # 1)


    Photographed circa 1909-1912, while serving as a fleet collier prior to her conversion to a repair ship.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 560 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 43622

    USS Vestal (AR-4)


    Anchored off New York City, circa 17-20 December 1918, while still painted in World War I disruptive camouflage.
    Ship in the distance, beyond Vestal's stern, is USS Iowa (BB-4)
    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 43621

    USS Vestal (AR-4)


    Photographed circa the early 1920s.

    Collection of the New York Naval Shipyard.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 550 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105413

    USS Vestal
    (AR-4)

    At anchor, circa the mid-1920s.
    An Omaha class light cruiser is in the left background.
    The original image is printed on postcard stock.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 47KB; 740 x 465 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 100533

    USS Vestal (AR-4)


    With six destroyers alongside, during the later 1920s.
    Outboard destroyer is USS Sands (DD-231). Next inboard is USS Hatfield (DD-231). Two of the other destroyers present are also of the group (DD-231--235) armed with 5"/51 guns, which can be seen on the ships' fantails.

    Collection of Vice Admiral Dixwell Ketcham.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 131KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 50272

    USS Vestal (AR-4)


    View taken from USS Houston (CA-30) in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on 20 February 1939, with her crew manning the rail in honor of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was then embarked in Houston.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 117KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-19933

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    USS Vestal (AR-4) beached on Aiea shoal, Pearl Harbor, after the Japanese raid. She is listing from damage caused by two bombs that hit her during the attack.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 97405

    USS Vestal (AR-4)


    Moored in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, circa early 1942, following repair of damage she received in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

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

    Online Image: 55KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-258905

    Battle of Kolombangara, 13 July 1943


    USS Saint Louis (CL-49) comes alongside USS Vestal (AR-4) for initial repair of torpedo damage received in the action. Photographed at Tulagi, Solomon Islands, about 20 July 1943.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 93646

    USS Vestal (AR-4)


    Vistors on board the ship, at Ponce, Puerto Rico, circa 1923-24.

    Courtesy of the Estate of Virginia Cornwell, 1982.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 455 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 93648

    USS Vestal (AR-4)


    Crewmen coaling the ship from a coal barge tied alongside, circa 1923-24.
    Note barges and steamers in the distance.

    Courtesy of the Estate of Virginia Cornwell, 1982.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 455 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 93656

    USS Vestal (AR-4)


    Crewmen pose for the camera after coaling ship, 27 August 1923.

    Courtesy of the Estate of Virginia Cornwell, 1982.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 450 pixels

     


    For comprehensive pictorial coverage of USS Vestal during the 7 December 1941 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, see:

  • Overall Views of the Pearl Harbor Attack;
  • "Battleship Row" during the Pearl Harbor Attack; and
  • USS Vestal during the Pearl Harbor Attack.


    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 23 October 2000
    New image added 24 March 2008