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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 52037:  Crane ship Kearsarge transits the Panama Canal, during the 1920s or 1930s

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

USS Kearsarge (Crane Ship # 1, later AB-1, formerly Battleship # 5), renamed Crane Ship # 1 in 1941 --
As a Crane Ship, 1922-1955

In 1920 the now-obsolete battleship Kearsarge was converted to a heavy-lift crane ship, intended to provide a mobile capability to handle large guns and other massive objects. This work, carried out at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, involved stripping away the ship's superstructure and replacing it with a huge crane rated at 250-tons lifting capacity. To ensure stability, Kearsarge's hull was fitted with side blisters that increased her beam by some twenty feet. She also retained her engines and some boilers. Carried on the Navy's register of ships as "unclassified", with the designation "Crane Ship # 1", she retained her original name until November 1941, when she was formally renamed Crane Ship No. 1. She had already (in April 1939) been redesignated AB-1.

Beginning active service in her new role in the mid-1920s, Kearsarge spent much of the inter-war era on the West Coast, at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, where her work included regunning battleships. During World War II she was employed at East Coast shipyards, where she assisted in the construction of the battleships Indiana (BB-58) and Alabama (BB-60), among other chores. She was towed back to the Pacific in 1945 but came back east in 1948 to serve at the Boston Naval Shipyard. After more than three decades of unique non-combatant service, Crane Ship No. 1 was sold for scrapping in August 1955.

This page features selected views of USS Kearsarge, later renamed Crane Ship # 1 as a crane ship.

For other images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Kearsarge (Battleship # 5), 1900-1955.


    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 52038

    U.S. Crane Ship Kearsarge


    Test of the ship's 250-ton revolving crane, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 27 October 1922. Kearsarge, which was still undergoing conversion at the time (note the incomplete superstructure ahead of the crane) is seen here lifting a 250-ton load on the right and left main hoists with equalizer at 72-foot reach on an even keel. Jib fore and aft at an angle of 53 degrees 42 minutes.

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

    Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 60251

    U.S. Crane Ship Kearsarge


    Test of the ship's 250-ton revolving crane, while she was undergoing conversion at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 30 October 1922. Kearsarge is seen here lifting a 312-ton load on the right and left main hoist with equalizer at 101-foot reach on an even keel. Jib fore and aft at an angle of 38 degrees 46 minutes.

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

    Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 102939

    USS Kearsarge
    (Crane Ship # 1)

    At the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, circa 1922-1923.
    An unidentified destroyer is at left, with USS Dobbin (AD-3) fitting out beyond her.
    The original photograph is printed on postal card ("AZO") stock.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 450 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 69051

    U.S. Crane Ship Kearsarge


    In dry dock at South Boston, Massachusetts, while undergoing repairs on 3 October 1925.
    Note that her propellers were still fitted at this time.

    Courtesy of the San Francisco Maritime Museum, San Francisco, California, 1969.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 107KB; 595 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 61958

    U.S. Crane Ship Kearsarge


    Alongside the North Approach Wall of the Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal, in 1926.

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

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 480 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 52037

    U.S. Crane Ship Kearsarge


    Passing through the Gaillard Cut, while transiting the Panama Canal during the 1920s or 1930s.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 141KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 43459

    USS Idaho (BB-42)


    Crane ship Kearsarge working alongside, as the battleship is regunned at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, circa the later 1920s.
    Barge YC-279 is in the left background.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 43457

    USS Idaho (BB-42)


    Is regunned at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, circa the later 1920s.
    This view shows the crane ship Kearsarge lowering a 14"/50 gun into Idaho's second turret.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 137KB; 610 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 43458

    USS Idaho (BB-42)


    14"/50 gun is lowered in to her second turret, during regunning at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, circa the later 1920s.
    The work is being performed by the crane ship Kearsarge.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 93KB; 610 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 43456

    USS Kearsarge
    (Crane Ship No. 1)

    At the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, circa 1936.
    Note that her stern bears both the names Kearsarge and "U.S. Crane Ship No. 1".

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 540 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 83761

    U.S. Crane Ship Kearsarge


    In the Panama Canal, circa the later 1930s.
    Note that she bears the name "U.S. Crane Ship No. 1" on both quarters, as well as Kearsarge across the stern.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. Collection of Admiral Robert B. Carney, USN.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 4705 pixels

     


    The following photographs show the crane ship Kearsarge distantly or in the background of views of other subjects:

    Photo #: NH 43453

    Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania


    View of the Yard's Delaware River waterfront, with the hammerhead crane in center, 31 May 1923. Among the ships visible are:
    USS Lamson (DD-328), in left center;
    USS Sandpiper (AM-51) and USS Teal (AM-23), at right, with the crane ship Kearsarge beyond;
    Destroyers Preston (DD-327), Coghlan (DD-326) and Sharkey (DD-281), partially visible at left.
    USS Dobbin (AD-3) is fitting out on the opposite side of the pier, at left.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 45236

    Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington


    Aerial photograph taken in the mid-1930s.
    Alongside the pier in center are the aircraft tender (ex-collier) Jason (AV-2), laid up in 1932 and sold in 1936, and the crane ship Kearsarge.
    Also present are the aircraft carriers Lexington (CV-2) and Saratoga (CV-3).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 112KB; 740 x 570 pixels

     

    For other images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Kearsarge (Battleship # 5), 1900-1955.


    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 9 March 2003
    New image added 27 April 2005