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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 97586:  USS Jupiter in the Sea of Japan, August 1953

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

USS Jupiter (AK-43, later AVS-8), 1941-1965

USS Jupiter, a 5,994-ton Maritime Commission C2-Cargo type freigher, was built in Kearny, New Jersey, as the merchant ship Santa Catalina and acquired by the Navy in June 1941. She served as the U. S. Naval Cargo Ship Jupiter with a civilian crew until August 1942, when she was manned by a navy crew and commissioned as USS Jupiter. Between September 1942 and January 1943 she carried supplies and troops in support of the U. S. offensive in the Solomon Islands. During much of 1943 Jupiter carried supplies and personnel between the West Coast and bases in the the South Pacific. In November 1943 she landed equipment in support of the landing at Tarawa.

In April 1944 Jupiter was assigned to duty with the amphibious forces. She discharged cargo at Saipan during the landings there in June and provided similar support during the landings in the Palau Islands in September, at Leyte in October 1944, and at Iwo Jima in February 1945. She carried supplies to Okinawa in May, and then returned to San Francisco for conversion to an Aviation Supply Ship. She was reclassified AVS-8 on 31 July 1945 but completed conversion only after the end of the war. Following replenishment at sea exercises in 1946, she supported outlying bases and ships until she was decommissioned in May 1947 and placed in reserve.

Jupiter was recommissioned in October 1950 as part of the naval buildup for the Korean War. She operated out of Japan in support of forces in Korea between January 1951 and August 1952 and again between March and October 1953. In 1954 she replenished ships operating in the Formosa area. In March 1955 she sailed for Yokosuka, which became her home port for the next nine years as she supported 7th Fleet units during a series of Cold War crises. She was decommissioned and placed in the Maritime Administration reserve fleet in June 1964, transferred to the Maritime Administration in August 1965, and sold for scrapping in March 1971.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS Jupiter.


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 #: 80-G-427413

USS Jupiter (AVS-8)


Comes alongside USS Valley Forge (CV-45) to transfer supplies, during operations off the Korean Coast.
Photo is dated 21 February 1951.
Note Jupiter's name painted above her bow hull number, a rather unusual practice.

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

Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-427412

USS Jupiter (AVS-8)


Comes alongside USS Valley Forge (CV-45) to transfer supplies, during operations off the Korean Coast.
Photo is dated 21 February 1951.

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

Online Image: 119KB; 740 x 615 pixels

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

 
Photo #: NH 97586

USS Jupiter (AVS-8)


Underway in the Sea of Japan, 1 August 1953.
Photographed from USS Boxer (CVA-21).

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

Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 84238-KN (Color)

USS Jupiter (AVS-8)

Plaque of the ship's insignia, received in 1972.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 87KB; 495 x 765 pixels

 


USS Jupiter (AVS-8) is seen in the background of the following view of another ship:

Photo #: NH 104026

USS Aludra
(AF-55), at left,

Steams away from USS Ponchatoula (AO-148) after transferring stores. In the right distance USS Jupiter (AVS-8) makes her approach to take on fuel.
Taken from on board Ponchatoula. The original photo bears a stamped date of 23 August 1963 and was released with Commander Service Squadron THREE press release # 3-154.

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

Online Image: 118KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other views of USS Jupiter (AK-43 and AVS-8), taken during World War II and into the 1960s. 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-31873
    USS Jupiter (AK-43) underway on 1 September 1943 (or possibly 1942, see below).
    Port Broadside aerial view, with plenty of dark smoke coming from the funnel.

  • Photo #: 80-G-31874
    USS Jupiter (AK-43) underway on 1 September 1942 (but clearly taken at the same time as 80-G-31873).
    Starboard bow aerial view, with plenty of dark smoke coming from the funnel.

  • Photo #: 80-G-31879
    USS Jupiter (AK-43) in harbor, 1942-43.
    Starboard bow surface view. Photo appears to have been taken at about the same time as the two photos cited immediately above.


  • Photo #: 80-G-446995
    USS Jupiter (AVS-8) returns to Naval Air Station Alameda, California, on 11 August 1952, after more than 18 months in the Far East.
    Port bow view, with a tug alongside. Smoke is rising from the funnel and there is a long "homeward bound" pennant (supported by many balloons) flying from the after kingposts. Photographer: AF2 J.E. Hilty.

  • Photo #: 80-G-446996
    USS Jupiter (AVS-8) returns to Naval Air Station Alameda, California, on 11 August 1952, after more than 18 months in the Far East.
    Starboard bow view, taken from a pier, with several people (five women, a few children and one civilian man) watching as the ship approaches. There is a long "homeward bound" pennant (supported by many balloons) flying from the after kingposts. Photographer: AF2 J.E. Hilty.


  • Photo #: USN 1087318
    USS Jupiter (AVS-8) underway at sea, 11 May 1963, seen from USS Ranger (CVA-61).
    Port bow view, shot from just above bridge level.

  • Photo #: USN 1100557
    USS Jupiter (AVS-8) underway at sea, 28 July 1963. There is a UH-19 (HRS) helicopter on the ship's helicopter platform, aft.
    Port bow view, taken from masthead height (probably from an aircraft) by PH1 E.D. DeGarmo of USS Constellation (CVA-64).

  • Photo #: KN-9837 (color)
    USS Jupiter (AVS-8) underway at sea, 28 July 1963, with a UH-19 (HRS) helicopter on the ship's helicopter platform.
    Starboard stern view, taken from masthead height (probably from an aircraft) by PH1 E.D. DeGarmo of USS Constellation (CVA-64).

  • Photo #: KN-9838 (color)
    USS Jupiter (AVS-8) underway at sea, 28 July 1963, with a UH-19 (HRS) helicopter on the ship's helicopter platform.
    Starboard side view, somewhat toward the bow, taken from masthead height (probably from an aircraft) by PH1 E.D. DeGarmo of USS Constellation (CVA-64). Constellation and other ships are visible in the distance.


    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."


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    Page made 20 April 2001
    New image added 12 August 2006