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Photo # NH 85837:  Officers & Crew of USS Vireo, 1934

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

USS Vireo (Minesweeper # 52, later AM-52, AT-144 & ATO-144), 1919-1947

USS Vireo, a 950-ton Lapwing class minesweeper built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, was commissioned in October 1919. She served along the Atlantic coast and in Cuban waters during her first year of service, and received the hull number AM-52 in July 1920. Vireo remained in the Atlantic area until early 1932, when she went to the Pacific. In both oceans, she provided towing, transport and general fleet support services.

In late 1940, Vireo's base was changed from the west Coast to Hawaii, where she actively participated in defense build-up efforts as tensions with Japan increased. She was present when Japan attacked the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, and claimed to have shot down one of the raiding enemy planes. During the next several months, she supported the Pearl Harbor salvage effort as well as conducting minesweeping and patrol operations in the Hawaii area. In late May 1942, she was sent to the Midway Islands. In early June, she participated in efforts to save USS Yorktown after that ship was torpedoed and abandoned during the Battle of Midway, and was trying to tow the disabled carrier when it was hit by a fatal submarine attack on 6 June. Vireo, which only a few days previously had been reclassified as an ocean-going tug with the new hull number AT-144, was damaged during the Yorktown salvage and rescue operation and in a subsequent grounding.

Towed to Pearl Harbor for repairs and overhaul, Vireo was ready for more active service in late August 1942. She was then sent to the south Pacific to support the Guadalcanal Campaign. On 15 October, while Vireo was in a convoy taking vital supplies to the embattled Marines on Guadalcanal, approaching Japanese forces were detected. The rest of the convoy hastily left the area, and the destroyer Meredith removed the old tug's crew and prepared to sink her to prevent capture by the enemy. However, Japanese planes arrived before this could be done and quickly sank the destroyer, leaving Vireo abandoned but undamaged. Though most of her crew had been lost with Meredith, the tug was salvaged and served actively for the rest of the Pacific War.

During the last months of 1942, all of 1943 and well into 1944, Vireo participated actively in the later stages of the Guadalcanal fight, the Central Solomons campaign, and the advance along the northern coast of New Guinea. She was reclassified ATO-144 in May 1944 and subsequently supported the campaigns to capture the Philippines and Okinawa. In December 1945, some four months after Japan had capitulated, Vireo began the long voyage back to the United States from the western Pacific. Arriving in early February 1946, she was decommissioned in April and prepared for disposal. USS Vireo was transferred to the U.S. Maritime Commission in February 1947 and presumably sold for scrapping sometime thereafter.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS Vireo (AM-52, later AT-144 & ATO-144).


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 43603

USS Vireo (AM-52)


Anchored in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, January 1920.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 590 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 50207

USS Vireo (AM-52)


In harbor, March 1922.
USS Rail (AM-26) is in the left background.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 103KB; 740 x 595 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 50320

USS Vireo (AM-52)


In port, 1932.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 99KB; 585 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: 19-N-34748

USS Vireo (AT-144)


At Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, following repairs and overhaul, 20 August 1942.

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

Online Image: 54KB; 740 x 555 pixels

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

 
Photo #: NH 85837

USS Vireo (AM-52)


Ship's Officers and Crew, 1934.
Photographed by Vernon M. Haden, San Pedro California.
Note stockless anchor in the port bow hausepipe, fancy hull number, and ship's dog held by the Sailor at left.

Donation of Ted Stone, 1977.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 585 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 95569

Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


View of USS California (BB-44), taken a day or two after the Japanese raid. USS Bobolink (AM-20), at left, USS Vireo (AM-52) and YW-10 are off the battleship's stern, assisting with efforts to keep her afloat.

Collection of Vice Admiral Homer N. Wallin, USN(Retired), 1975.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-701902

Battle of Midway, June 1942


Diorama by Norman Bel Geddes, depicting the explosion of depth charges from USS Hammann (DD-412) as she sank alongside USS Yorktown (CV-5) during the afternoon of 6 June 1942. Both ships were torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-168 while Hammann was assisting with the salvage of Yorktown.
USS Vireo (AT-144) is shown at left, coming back to pick up survivors, as destroyers head off to search for the submarine.

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

Online Image: 160KB; 740 x 555 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-259446

Battle of Kolombangara, 13 July 1943


USS Honolulu (CL-48) in Tulagi Harbor, Solomon Islands, for temporary repair of damage received when she was torpedoed in the bow during the Battle of Kolombangara. USS Vireo (AT-144) is assisting the damaged cruiser.
Note billboard on the hillside beyond Honolulu's collapsed bow. See Photo # 80-G-259446 (cropped) for a close-up view of this sign.

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

Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 615 pixels

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

 


NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    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 December 2001
    Coding updated 5 May 2009