Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

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

Photo # NH 98785:  USS Consolation anchored in Sok Cho-Ri, Korea, 15 December 1951

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

USS Consolation (AH-15), 1945-1975.
Operated as S.S. Hope, 1960-1973

USS Consolation, a 11,141-ton Haven class hospital ship, was built for the Maritime Commission at Chester, Pa. as Marine Walrus, acquired by the Navy in August 1944 soon after launch, and commissioned in May 1945 after conversion. Consolation departed the East Coast in July 1945 and arrived in September at Wakayama, Honshu, where she embarked 1,062 Allied personnel who had been prisoners of war in Japan. After delivering these to Okinawa she served as a station hospital ship in Japan and, in October, treated casualties of a major typhoon in Okinawa. Consolation returned to San Francisco in November 1945 and, after transporting sailors and patients from Pearl Harbor, sailed for the East Coast in February 1946. Between March and October 1946 she performed temporary duty as a transport, carrying dependents from the Canal Zone to New York. During most of the next four years she was at anchor in Hampton Roads, in commission but inactive except for trips to the Arctic and the Caribbean during annual fleet exercises.

Consolation's crew was immediately brought up to full strength upon the outbreak of the Korean War, and in mid-July departed Norfolk for the Pacific. When she arrived at Pusan, Korea, in mid-August, she became the first hospital ship to serve the United Nations forces in Korea. Between June and September 1951 she was overhauled at San Diego and fitted with a helicopter deck aft. On 18 December, while operating 15 miles north of the 38th parallel, she became the first hospital ship to receive a battle casualty directly from the battlefield when a Marine Corps helicopter touched down on her helo deck. She continued to support forces in Korea until April 1954, with the exception of two repair periods at San Diego. In August 1954 Consolation sailed from San Francisco for French Indochina to support the evacuation of North Vietnamese to South Vietnam, following which she returned to Korea. Returning to San Francisco in March 1955, she was decommissioned in December 1955 and placed in reserve.

Between March 1960 and September 1974 Consolation operated under charter as the civilian hospital ship Hope. She completed 11 voyages between 1960 and 1973, traveling to Indonesia, South Vietnam, Peru, Ecuador, Guinea, Nicaragua, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Jamaica, and Brazil. Consolation was stricken from the Navy Register in September 1974 and sold by the Maritime Administration in January 1975 for scrapping.

This page features all the views we have related to USS Consolation (AH-15), and provides information on views of the S.S. Hope which may be available from the National Archives.


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 98755

USS Consolation
(AH-15)

In San Francisco Bay, California, between November 1945 and February 1946.
Note the hospital ship markings with a single red cross and a horizontal bar the length of the ship.

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

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 550 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 98785

USS Consolation
(AH-15)

At anchor in Sok Cho-Ri, Korea, on 15 December 1951.
Sok Cho-Ri was on the east coast of Korea 50 miles below the North Korean border. The hospital ship markings consist of three red crosses connected with a stripe.

Photographed by Lieutenant B. A. McLawhorn.

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

Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 625 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 98786

USS Consolation
(AH-15)

A Sikorski H-5 helicopter of the 3rd Air Rescue Squadron approaching the ship's newly-installed helicopter deck, circa December 1951.
The helo was carrying litter patients on the last leg of an operation in which 37 wounded American and South Korean Marines were evacuated from an airstrip in north central Korea.

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

Online Image: 114KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 85669

USS Consolation (AH-15)


Off the Korean Coast, circa 21 December 1951, during the first air evacuation of casualties directly from the battlefield to a hospital ship. A U.S. Air Force Sikorski H-5 helicopter is landing on board.

Courtesy of Mrs. Joel T. Boone, 1977.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 109KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-12234 (Color)

USS Consolation (AH-15)

In the channel, bound for Inchon, Korea, 8 May 1952.

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

Online Image: 118KB; 740 x 610 pixels

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

 
Photo #: NH 98787

USS Consolation
(AH-15)

Photographed from the Golden Gate Bridge on 30 March 1955 as she returned to San Francisco from her last deployment to the Western Pacific.
The hospital ship markings consist of three red crosses without a connecting stripe.

Photographed by Timothy J. Leary, Photographer's Mate First Class, USN

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

Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 


The following photographs show USS Consolation (AH-15) distantly, or represent miscellaneous views related to the ship:

Photo #: NH 77438

Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia


Aerial photograph of the Naval Base pier area, taken from an altitude of 2500 feet on 29 October 1948.
Fifty-two ships and harbor craft are present, with some of the identified in Photo # NH 77438 (complete caption).

Donation of Rear Admiral Kemp Tolley, USN (Retired).

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

Online Image: 283KB; 1200 x 915 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 99085

HMS Belfast
(British Light Cruiser, 1939)

In the channel at Pusan, Korea, 2 April 1952.
USS Consolation (AH-15) is also present, beyond Belfast's bow.

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

Online Image: 103KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 97085

"Japanese Fishhawk Sailor's Pet"


"Navy men around the world are famed for their selection of odd and assorted pets and mascots. Jimmy D. Clark, fireman, USN, ... acquired a Japanese fishhawk as a pet when the fierce looking little bird, apparently driven offshore by a heavy storm, landed aboard the hospital ship USS Consolation (AH-15) four days before reaching Japan ... Today, as the Consolation carries on its grimmer task of caring for UN wounded in Korea, the misplaced and much wounded fishhawk flops to and fro about the ship with one of its legs in a splint. Says Clark, 'We haven't decided on a name for him yet. No one knows how to say Little Pest in Japanese.'"
Photograph and caption released by Commander Naval Forces Far East, under date of 17 October 1951.
Note markings on metal lifeboats behind Fireman Clark.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 121KB; 600 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 97188

USS Consolation (AH-15)


"Marine Hero Recovers aboard Hospital Ship Consolation -- Francisco Gonzales, PFC, USMC, ... finds medical aid and good treatment aboard the hospital ship USS Consolation. Gonzales was returned from the Communist Forces on April 7, 1953 and was received by Marine "E" Company Medical aid station. He was given first aid and flown by helicopter to the Consolation where he is being given the best of medical treatment from Hospitalman third class William H. Phillips ...."
Photograph and caption were released by Commander Naval Forces, Far East, under date of 17 April 1953.

Official U.S. Marine Corps Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 99KB; 590 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 85670

Vice Admiral and Mrs. Joel T. Boone, USN (MC)


Receiving a framed photograph in early 1952, commemorating the first helicopter landing on USS Consolation (AH-15) on or about 21 December 1951.
Presenting the photograph is Rear Admiral H. Lamont Pugh, the Surgeon General of the Navy.
The photograph alone is Photo # NH 85669.

Courtesy of Mrs. Joel T. Boone.

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

Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other views of USS Consolation (AH-15), plus photographs of her as the civilian hospital ship Hope. 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-434713
    USS Consolation (AH-15) moored to a pier at Pusan, Korea. Photographed by AFAN M.F. Jones, USN. It is dated 10 October 1951.
    Port quarter surface view, photographed from about the level of the top of the ship's superstructure. Pier dominates the lower left foreground.

  • Photo #: 80-G-436903
    USS Consolation (AH-15) at anchor at Sok Cho-Ri, Korea, on 15 December 1951. Photographed by Lieutenant B.A. McLawhorn.
    Starboard quarter surface view, apparently taken from a small boat.

  • Photo #: USN 1046162
    USS Consolation (AH-15) during the early 1950s.
    Port broadside surface view.

  • Photo #: USN 1046143
    USS Consolation (AH-15) during the middle or later 1950s.
    Starboard broadside surface view. The ship is marked with three red crosses on her hull side, but does not have the long green stripe previously used between the crosses.


    The following photographs show Consolation during the time she was being prepared for employment as the civilian hospital ship Hope, and after entering service as such:

  • Photo #: USN 1047330
    USS Consolation (AH-15) underway (under tow) in San Francisco Bay, California, en route to be refitted for employment as S.S. Hope. Image is dated 9 April 1960.
    Starboard bow (rather toward the broadside) aerial view, with the city of San Francisco in the background.

  • Photo #: USN 1047541
    USS Consolation (AH-15) being towed out of San Francisco Bay en route to Seattle, Washington, for conversion to the civilian hospital ship Hope, 8 April 1960.
    Port broadside aerial view (somewhat toward the bow), with land in the background.

  • Photo #: USN 1047709
    As USN 1047541, but port quarter aerial view. Ship is rather distant.

  • Photo #: USN 1047710
    As USN 1047541, but port bow aerial view. The Golden Gate Bridge is in the background

  • Photo #: USN 1047711
    As USN 1047541, but port broadside aerial view.

  • Photo #: USN 1047623
    USS Consolation (AH-15) at Seattle, Washington, commencing conversion to a civilian hospital ship, 18 April 1960.
    Nearly bow-on (slightly to port) surface view, showing the ship pierside, with a large shipyard crane working alongside her.


  • Photo #: USN 1050252
    S.S. Hope, ex-USS Consolation (AH-15) upon arrival at San Francisco on 26 August 1960. Taken by Chief Photographer's Mate B.A. Salter, USN.
    Port bow high aerial view, showing the ship directly under the Bay Bridge, with the city of San Francisco in the background. The name "HOPE" is displayed on her hull side in large block letters.

  • Photo #: USN 1050253
    As USN 1057252, but taken somewhat earlier while the ship was approaching the Bay Bridge.

  • Photo #: USN 1050254
    As USN 1057252, but port broadside high aerial view, taken as the ship was passing under the Golden Gate Bridge.


  • Photo #: USN 1057270
    S.S. Hope, ex-USS Consolation (AH-15) returning to San Francisco on 14 September 1961. Taken by Gerber.
    Port bow low aerial view (from about the height of the top of the ship's superstructure), taken after the ship had passed under the Golden Gate Bridge. That bridge is in the background and fireboats are spraying water as they escort Hope into port. The name "HOPE" is displayed on her hull side in large block letters.

  • Photo #: USN 1057271
    As USN 1057270, but taken somewhat later and from a higher altitude. The Golden Gate Bridge is in the distance.

  • Photo #: USN 1057273
    As USN 1057270, but port broadside low aerial view. The city of San Francisco is in the background. A fireboat is spraying water in the left side of the photo.

  • Photo #: USN 1057272
    As USN 1057273, but slightly more toward the port quarter.

  • Photo #: USN 1057274
    As USN 1057273, but closer to the ship and more on her port quarter (though still mainly on the broadside).


    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".


  • 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 26 June 2005
    New images added 22 September 2005