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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 98707:  USS Belle Isle in San Francisco Bay circa April 1946

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

USS Belle Isle (AG-73, later AKS-21), 1944-1960

USS Belle Isle, the first of a class of six Liberty ships converted to electronics repair ships, was built at South Portland, Maine, commissioned for the voyage to a conversion yard at Hoboken, N. J. in November 1944, and placed in full commission after conversion in July 1945. The ships of this class were also fitted to serve as distilling and barracks ships. By October 1945 Belle Isle was at Okinawa making repairs for ships of the Pacific Fleet. She moved to Japan in December 1945 where she performed repair duties for the occupation forces.

At the end of March 1946 Belle Isle departed Japan for the West Coast. After a call at San Francisco she moved to San Diego, where she was decommissioned in August 1946 and placed in reserve. In August 1951, while in reserve, she was redesignated a stores issue ship (AKS-21). Belle Isle was stricken from the Navy list in April 1960 and was apparently sunk as a target later that year.

This page features all our views of USS Belle Isle (AG-73, later AKS-21).


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 98707

USS Belle Isle
(AG-73)

In San Francisco Bay, California, circa April 1946.
Note the electronics antennas on the forecastle, used for repairing electronics equipment. The stern of USS Saratoga (CV-3) is in the background at left.

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

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 550 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 82191

USS Belle Isle
(AG-73)

Photographed off San Diego, California, in 1946.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1975.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 580 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 30 August 2003