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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo #  NH 99212:  SS Ancon underway, circa 1939-1941


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.


    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 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.


    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 31 March 2004