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Photo # 19-N-64506:  USS San Carlos on 30 March 1944.

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

USS San Carlos (AVP-51), 1944-1971.
Later USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1)

USS San Carlos, a 1,766-ton Barnegat class small seaplane tender, was built at Houghton, Washington, and was commissioned in March 1944. After shakedown training in southern California she sailed for the Solomon Islands, where she carried out air-sea rescue operations between June and September 1944. She arrived off Leyte in October at the beginning of operations there and supported battleship and cruiser observation planes in addition to patrol planes. Except for a cargo trip to New Guinea in November 1944, she remained in the Philippines through the end of the war.

San Carlos arrived at Bremerton, Washington, for overhaul in September 1945. After a brief period of postwar operations in the Canal Zone and Caribbean, she was decommissioned in June 1947 and laid up at Philadelphia. In December 1958 San Carlos was reactivated, redesignated T-AGOR-1, and renamed Josiah Willard Gibbs. She was transferred to Greece in December 1971.

This page features all of our views of USS San Carlos (AVP-51), and provides a link to views of her after she became USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1).

For images of this ship after she was converted to an oceanographic research ship and renamed, see:

  • USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1).


    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 #: 19-N-64504

    USS San Carlos (AVP-51)


    Off Houghton, Washington, on 30 March 1944, about a week after commissioning.
    She was completed with three 5"/38 guns, including an open mount on her fantail. Her camouflage scheme is Measure 32 Design 2Ax.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 625 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 19-N-64506

    USS San Carlos (AVP-51)


    Off Houghton, Washington, on 30 March 1944, about a week after commissioning.
    Her camouflage scheme is Measure 32 Design 2Ax.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 615 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: NH 97845

    USS San Carlos (AVP-51)


    Off the Cuban coast on 7 August 1946.
    She was delivering supplies to Cuba after an earthquake and tidal wave occurred there.

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

    Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 620 pixels

     
    Photo #: 19-N-47210

    USS San Carlos (AVP-51)


    Ready for launching on 20 December 1942.
    The ship was built by the Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, Washington. Her propellers and rudder are clearly visible.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 620 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 19-N-47211

    USS San Carlos (AVP-51)


    Being launched on 20 December 1942.
    The ship was built by the Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, Washington. Note the emplacements for two open 5"/38 gun mounts aft; one was replaced by a 40mm quadruple mount before completion.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 620 pixels

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

     

    For images of this ship after she was converted to an oceanographic research ship and renamed, see:

  • USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1).


    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 24 February 2002