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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Chiron (AGP-18)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Zulu - Foxtrot
 NJZF
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Portunus Class Motor Torpedo Boat Tender:
  • Authorized as Tank Landing Ship LST-1133
  • Reclassified Motor Torpedo Boat Tender (AGP-18), 14 August 1944
  • Laid down, 16 December 1944, at Chicago Bridge & Iron Co., Seneca, IL.
  • Launched, 10 March 1945
  • Commissioned in reduced status, 23 March 1945, for transit to her completion yard at Baltimore MD., ENS. Justin A. Van Lopik, USNR in command
  • Decommissioned, 17 April 1945, for conversion to a Motor Torpedo Boat Tender at Maryland Drydock Co., Baltimore, MD.
  • Recommissioned, USS Chiron (AGP-18), 18 September 1945, LCDR. Paul L. Mangold, USNR, in command
  • Decommissioned, 20 February 1946, at New York, N.Y.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 28 March 1946
  • Sold, 19 May 1947, and placed in merchant service in 1948, renamed MV Altamar
  • Final Disposition, lost 27 March 1960, cause unknown

    Displacement 4,100 t.
    Length 328'
    Beam 50'
    Draft 11' 2"
    Speed 11.6 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 41
    Enlisted 245
    Largest Boom Capacity 60 t.
    Boats 2 LCVP
    Armament
    two quad 40mm AA gun mounts
    eight single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    Diesel 4,480 Bbls
    Gasoline 62,000 Gals
    Propulsion
    two General Motors 12-568A Diesel engines
    single Falk Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
     three Diesel-drive 100Kw 120V.240V D.C.
     two Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
    two propellers, 1,800shp
    twin rudders
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Chiron 60k USS Chiron (AGP-18) Commissioning Ceremony Invitation. Christina Braddock for her grandfather Francis M. McQuade ME2/c USS Chiron
    Chiron 156k USS Chiron (AGP-18) Commissioning Ceremony Pamphlet. Christina Braddock for her grandfather Francis M. McQuade ME2/c USS Chiron
    Chiron 87k USS Chiron (AGP-18) underway in Chesapeake Bay between her conversion yard and Port Covington, Baltimore, MD., just after completion of conversion. This ship had two "A" frame hoists.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 82218     		Robert Hurst
    Chiron 23k USS Chiron (AGP-18) underway, date and location unknown. Christina Braddock for her grandfather Francis M. McQuade ME2/c USS Chiron
    Chiron 146k USS Chiron (AGP-18) underway, date and location unknown. Russ Padden and Tim Rizzuto
    USS Chiron (AGP-18)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01ENS. Van Lopik, Justin A., USNR23 March 1945 - 7 April 1945
     Decommissioned7 April 1945 - 18 September 1945
    02LCDR. Mangold, Paul Lester, USNR18 September 1945 - 20 February 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service force Ship Type Index Back To The Motor Torpedo Boat Tender (AGP) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 11 April 2019