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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AH-5 Solace

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 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, fate unknown
  • Solace received seven battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,660 t.(fl)
    Length 409'
    Beam 63'
    Draft 21'
    Speed 17.5 kts.
    Patient Capacity 418
    Propulsion geared turbines, twin propellers, 8,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Solace 39k Solace (AH-5) underway, date and place unknown
    US navy photo    		 .
    Solace 75k Solace (AH-5) at anchor, date and place unknown
    US Navy photo    		 Naval Hospital Corps School Web Site
    Solace 48k Solace (AH-5) at anchor, date and place unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII Web Site
    Solace 78k Solace (AH-5) at anchor, date and place unknown. Russ Padden
    Solace 35k Solace (AH-5) at anchor, date and place unknown.
    Photo from "Our Navy" magazine, 1 June 1943 issue.    		 Chester Morris
    Solace 92k Solace (AH-5) at anchor, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, March 1986.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Solace 45k Solace (AH-5) at anchor, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    View the Solace (AH-5)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Pearl Harbor Action Report
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Hospital Ship (AH) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 26 May 2006