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

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

USS Laertes (AR-20), 1945-1972

USS Laertes, an 5801-ton Xanthus class repair ship, was built at Baltimore, Maryland. Converted from a "Liberty" ship while still under construction, she was commissioned in March 1945. Laertes spent the final months of World War II repairing ships in the Pacific and returned to the United States in December 1945. After a year of service as a pre-inactivation repair ship, she was herself decommissioned in January 1947.

Laertes recommissioned in December 1951, during the Korean War military buildup. She arrived in Japan in July 1952 and provided repair services in support of naval operations off Korea. Returned to the U.S. in January 1953, her final year of active duty was spent in West Coast and Hawaiian waters. Laertes was decommissioned in February 1954 and remained laid up until sold for scrapping in about 1972.

This page features views of USS Laertes (AR-20).

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 96913

USS Laertes (AR-20)


Photographed 1 April 1945 from a Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia, aircraft flying at a 300-foot altitude.

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

NOTE: This image is somewhat disfigured by holes punched along the top of the original print.

Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-632291

USS Laertes (AR-20)


At Sasebo, Japan, with nine minesweepers and a harbor tug alongside. Original photo is dated 8 October 1952.
Ships nested to left of Laertes are (from left):
USS Impeccable (AM-320);
USS Gladiator (AM-319);
USS Shoveler (AM-382);
USS Defense (AM-317) and
USS Devastator (AM-318).
Those nested to right are (from left):
USS Condor (AMS-5);
USS Kite (AMS-22);
USS Curlew (AMS-8);
USS Chatterer (AMS-40) and
Wallacut (YTB-420).

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

Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other views of USS Laertes (AR-20). 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-323270
    USS Laertes (AR-20) off Norfolk, Virginia, 1 April 1945.
    Port broadside low aerial view, taken from an aircraft from Naval Air Station, Norfolk.

  • Photo #: USN 1045726
    USS Laertes (AR-20) underway during the 1950s.
    Port side aerial view from somewhat toward the bow. This photograph was received in December 1959.

  • Photo #: USN 1045752
    USS Laertes (AR-20) underway during the 1950s.
    Port bow surface view. This photograph was received in December 1959.

  • Photo #: 80-G-446560
    USS Laertes (AR-20) moored at Sasebo, Japan, with several minesweepers and other ships alongside, 24 July 1952.
    Port side surface view from somewhat toward the bow. Ships alongside to starboard, and not visible in this view, are (from inboard): USS LST-822; Korean frigate Duman; USS LSM-161; USS Gull (AMS-16) and USS Mockingbird (AMS-27).
    Those alongside to port, and at least partially visible in this photo, are (from inboard): USS Redhead (AMS-34); USS Swallow (AMS-36) and USS Pelican (AMS-32).


    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.

    5 September 1999