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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN Ret.

USS Solace (AH-5)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Foxtrot - Papa
 NCFP
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation - American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (7) - World War II Victory Medal
Solace Class Hospital Ship:
  • Built in 1927 as SS Iroquois at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, VA.
  • Acquired by the Navy from her owners, Clyde Mallory Steamship Lines, 22 July 1940
  • Converted to a Hospital Ship at Atlantic Basin Iron Works, Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Commissioned USS Solace (AH-5), 9 August 1941, CAPT. Benjamin Perlman in command
  • During World War II USS Solace was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following actions/campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941 Western Caroline Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands, Peleliu, 22 to 25 September and 16 to 17 October 1944
    Gilbert Islands operation
    Abemama Island, 24 November 1943     		Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 23 to 24 February and March 1945
    Marshall Islands operation Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 27 March 1945
    Marianas operation,
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 18 to 20 June and 2 to 5 August 1944
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 24 to 26 July and 5 to 15 August 1944     		.

  • Decommissioned, 27 March 1946, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 21 May 1946
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal, 18 July 1946
  • Sold to Turkish Maritime Lines, 16 April 1948, renamed SS Ankara, rebuilt as a passenger liner
  • Final Disposition, SS Ankara was laid up in 1977 and scrapped at Aliaga, Turkey, in 1981
  • USS Solace received seven battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,900 t.(fl)
    Length 409' 4"
    Beam 62'
    Draft 20' 7" (limiting)
    Speed 18 kts. (trial)
    Patient Capacity
    Officers 55
    Enlisted 411
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 9,985 bbls
    Diesel 102 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two Newport News geared turbines
    three Foster and Wheeler header-type boilers 275psi 575°
    single Newport News Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
    two 500Kw 240V D.C.
    two 150Kw 240V D.C.
    one 75Kw 240V A.C.
    twin propellers, 8,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Solace 39k USS Solace (AH-5) underway, date and location unknown
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Solace 75k USS Solace (AH-5) at anchor, date and location unknown
    US Navy photo    		 Naval Hospital Corps School Web Site
    Solace 48k USS Solace (AH-5) at anchor, date and location unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII Web Site
    Solace 78k USS Solace (AH-5) at anchor, date and location unknown. Russ Padden
    Solace 95k USS Solace (AH-5) at anchor in Pearl Harbor, 6 December 1941
    Photo and text from "Hospital Ships of World War II: An Illustrated Reference" by Emory A. Massman. Photo first appeared in "Our Navy" magazine, 1 June 1943 issue.    		 Chester Morris and Robert Hurst
    Solace 102k USS Solace (AH-5) dockside at Auckland, New Zealand, circa August 1942, carrying wounded troops from the Soloman Islands. They were transferred from the ship to the waiting ambulances.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-10639, and text from "Hospital Ships of World War 11: An Illustrated Reference" by Emory A. Massman..    		 Robert Hurst
    Solace 322k USS Solace (AH-5) debarks wounded from Iwo Jima to waiting army ambulances at Saipan, 16 April 1945.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-311473, and text from "Hospital Ships of World War 11: An Illustrated Reference" by Emory A. Massman..    		 Robert Hurst
    Solace 106k Undated wartime photo of USS Solace (AH-5) showing her funnel well lit at night.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-47216, a US Navy photo from the collections of the US National Archives. Photo and text from "Hospital Ships of World War II: An Illustrated Reference" by Emory A. Massman.    		 Robert Hurst
    Solace 162k an undated wartime photo of USS Solace (AH-5)'s bow showing the red cross on the forward deck which was painted on an awning that provided one of the few shady spots on the ship.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-472124, a US Navy photo from the collections of the US National Archives. Photo and text from "Hospital Ships of World War II: An Illustrated Reference" by Emory A. Massman.    		 Robert Hurst
    Solace 92k USS Solace (AH-5) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, March 1986.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Solace 45k USS Solace (AH-5) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    View the USS Solace (AH-5)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Pearl Harbor Action Report
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 29 January 2010