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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive


Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Arcturus (AF-52)
ex
USNS Golden Eagle (T-AF-52) (1950 - 1961)
USAT Golden Eagle (1948 - 1950)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - November - Sierra - Lima
NNSL
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Lilac (S)ierra - Section 6A of JANAP 119(F) 1968
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

National Defense Service Medal

Alstede Class Stores Ship:
  • Laid down, 8 December 1941, as SS Golden Eagle, a Maritime Commission type (R2-S-BV1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC Hull 184) at Moore Dry Dock Co., Oakland, CA.
  • Launched, 12 June 1943
  • Delivered to the War Shipping Administration (WSA), 23 April 1943
  • Operated under contract to the WSA from 1944 to 1946 by United Fruit Co. and thereafter from 1947 to 1948 by Sword Line and United States Line
  • Acquired by the US Army Transportation Corps in 1948 and placed in commissioned as USAT Golden Eagle
  • Acquired by the Navy, 1 March 1950 and placed in service by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS Golden Eagle (T-AF-52)
  • Commissioned USS Arcturus (AF-52), 18 November 1961, CAPT. Maxy B. Davis in command
  • Decommissioned, 16 May 1973, at NAB Little Creek, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 9 December 1985
  • Final Disposition, sunk as a target, 24 July 1997
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,319 t.(lt)
    Length 469'
    Beam 63'
    Draft 26'
    Speed 15 kts.
    Complement (T-AF-52) 64
    Armament unknown
    Propulsion
    cross-compound turbine
    single propeller

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USNS Golden Eagle (T-AF-52)
    Golden Eagle 117k USNS Golden Eagle (T-AF-52) under way, date and location unknown. William Zarkas, Retired MSC Boatswain
    President, MSC Retiree Association
    Golden Eagle 42k USNS Golden Eagle (T-AF-52) under way, circa 1953, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Golden Eagle 103k USNS Golden Eagle (T-AF-52) moored pierside, Bremerhaven, Germany, April 1961. Photo by Gerhard L. Mueller-Debus
    USS Arcturus (AF-52)
    Arcturus 125k USS Arcturus (AF-52) under way, date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Arcturus 263k USS Arcturus (AF-52) under way off the coast of Virginia, circa 1964 John T. Kulp USS Arcturus1964-65
    Arcturus 60k USS Arcturus (AF-52) comes alongside USS Forrestal (CVA-59) for highline transfer of stores, a helicopter from USS Sylvania (AFS-2) carries out a vertical replenishment mission during Sixth Fleet operations.
    US Navy photo "All Hands" magazine, August 1969.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Arcturus 32k USS Arcturus (AF-52) replenishes USS Noa (DD-841) at sea, 8 November 1962. Photo by PH3 Cornell Boston (CAG-1).
    US Navy photo # USN 1066671.
    US Naval Historical Center
    Arcturus 730k USS Arcturus (AF-52) during underway replenishment with USS WASP (CVS-18), North Atlantic, Summer 1970 Photo by Steve Singlar USS Garcia
    Arcturus 90k USS Arcturus (AF-52) moored in port, date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Arcturus 102k USS Arcturus (AF-52) under way in 1967, location unknown.
    US Navy photo from 1967-68 edition of "Jane's Fighting Ships."
    Robert Hurst
    Arcturus 129k USS Arcturus (AF-52) under way in the harbor at Valletta, Malta, date unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.

    USNS Golden Eagle / USS Arcturus (AF-52)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Davis, Maxy Bryant (NG)18 November 1961 - 6 November 1962
    02CAPT. Brassfield, Arthur James 6 November 1962 - 1964
    03CAPT. Shonerd, David Austin, USN (USNA 1943) 1964 - 26 October 1964
    04CAPT. Fair, John Warren, USN Also CO Hyades (AF-28)26 October 1964 - 20 August 1965
    05CAPT. Delany Jr., Walter Stanley, USN (USNA 1945)20 August 1965 - 28 August 1966
    06CAPT. Chaires, William Francis, USN (USNA 1945)28 August 1966 - 24 July 1967
    07CAPT. Dressel, Robert Charles24 July 1967 - 10 December 1968
    08CAPT. Ellis, George William, USN (USNA 1946)10 December 1968 - 21 January 1970 - injured in accident
    09CAPT. Irwin Jr., Charles MortonJanuary 1970 - 19 November 1970 - emergency relief
    10CAPT. Shelton, John Presley, USN (USNA 1947)19 November 1970 - 12 January 1971
    11CAPT. Larsen, Norman Earl, USN (USNA 1949)12 January 1971 - 30 December 1971
    12CDR. Kearns Jr., William Anselm USN :RADM (USMMA 1954)30 December 1971 -16 March 1973
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 17 April 2020