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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive


Patch at right contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

IX-518
ex
USS Proteus (AS-19) (1944 - 1992)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Juliet - Romeo
NUJR
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation
Second Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (3) - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (4) - American Campaign Medal
Third Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Fourth Row - National Defense Service Medal (3) - Humanitarian Service Medal (2) - Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon


Fulton Class Submarine Tender:
  • Laid down, 15 September 1941, at Moore Dry Dock Co., Oakland, CA.
  • Launched, 12 November 1942
  • Commissioned USS Proteus (AS-19), 31 January 1944, CAPT. Robert W. Berry in command
  • Decommissioned in 1959 at Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, SC., for conversion to a Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine Tender
  • Recommissioned, 8 July 1960
  • Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 30 September 1992
  • Reinstated in the Naval Register, and converted to a Berthing Auxiliary by George G. Sharp Inc., New York City, N.Y.
  • Placed in service at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. in 1994 as Miscellaneous Unclassified IX-518
  • Placed out of service, 30 September 1999
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Sold for scrapping to ESCO Marine, Brownsville, TX.
  • Withdrawn from reserve, 7 June 2007, for tow to ESCO Marine, Brownsville, TX.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 13 March 2001
  • Final Disposition, sold to ESCO Marine for scrapping ($1,431,500.00), arrived at Brownsville 1 July 2007, scrapping completed 6 March 2008
    Original Specifications:
    Displacement 9,734 t.(lt) 15,034 t. (fl)
    Length 529' 6"
    Beam 73' 4"
    Draft 23' 6"
    Speed 15.4 kts.
    Complement
    Officers - 72
    Enlisted - 1470
    Largest Boom Capacity 20 t.
    Armament
    four single 5"/38 gun mounts
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel 26,560 Bbls
    Propulsion
    General Motors 16-248 Diesel-electric engines
    single Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
    three Diesel-drive 500Kw 450V A.C.
    one Diesel-drive 250Kw 459V A.C.
    twin propellers, 11,200shp

    IX-518 Specifications:
    Displacement 15,000 t.
    Length 574' 6"
    Beam 73'
    Draft 23' 6"

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed By
    /Source By
    USS Proteus (AS-19)
    Proteus 28k
    Namesake
    In Greek mythology, Proteus is an early prophetic sea-god or god of rivers and oceanic bodies of water, one of several deities whom Homer calls the "Old Man of the Sea."
    Illustration of Proteus by Andrea Alciato from The Book of Emblems (1531)
    Tommy Trampp
    Proteus 256k Midships looking aft view of USS Proteus (AS-19) at Mare Island Navy Yard, 15 March 1944. Proteus was under going repairs at the yard from March 2 to March 19, 1944.
    File name: AS 19 1752-44, Navy Photo, 3/15/44
    Darryl Baker
    Proteus 430k Plan view of the bow of USS Proteus (AS-19) at Mare Island Navy Yard, 15 March 1944.
    File name: AS 19 1755-44, Navy Photo, 3/15/44
    Darryl Baker
    Proteus 233k Bow view of USS Proteus (AS-19) underway off Mare Island Navy Yard, 15 March 1944.
    File name: AS 19 1811-44, Navy Photo, 3/15/44
    Darryl Baker
    Proteus 80k USS Proteus (AS-19) moored at Midway, 15 May 1944. Submarines receiving maintenance and service are USS Bang (SS-385), USS Pintado (SS-387) and USS Pilotfish (SS-375).
    US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NH 93498, courtesy Shipscribe.com.
    Mike Green
    Proteus 291k USS Proteus (AS-19) moored to a buoy, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Scott Koen
    Proteus 161k Sketch of USS Proteus (AS-19) underway. Scott Koen
    Proteus 44k USS Proteus (AS 19) with the Japanese submarine cruiser I.14 and the aircraft carrying submarine I.401 (center left), 29 August 1945. U.S. Navy photo from "The Maru Special No.13 Japanese submarines I.13 class and I.400 class" Robert Hurst
    Proteus
    09361958
    570k Two Japanese Submarines Surrender. (See above photo) Flying flags of surrender, two Japanese submarines which bowed to American forces 200 miles off the Japanese mainland rest at anchor alongside USS Proteus (AS-19) This photo, showing the sterns of the underseas raiders, was taken by a Coast Guard combat photographer from an LST alongside Proteus, 30 August 30, 1945.
    U.S. Coast Guard photo # 4782, US National Archives Identifier 205585303, Local Identifier 26-G-4782
    David Upton
    Proteus 543k USS Proteus (AS 19) with two fleet submarines alongside, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "United States Submarine Operations in World War Two" by Theodore Roscoe.
    Robert Hurst
    Proteus 99k USS Proteus (AS-19) with submarines of Submarine Squadron 20 alongside in Tokyo Bay, on VJ-Day, 2 September 1945.
    Names of the submarines present, their commanding officers and the commanding officers of SubRon20 and USS Proteus are printed at the bottom of the image.
    US Navy photo # NH 90519 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , Courtesy Capt. Joseph F. Enright USN Ret.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Proteus 37k USS Proteus (AS-19) in original configuration
    US Navy photo
    Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Proteus 70k USS Proteus (AS-19) in original configuration
    US Navy photo
    Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Proteus 305k USS Proteus (AS-19) underway in the harbor at Charleston, SC., date unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Courtesy Randy Guttery
    Tendertales Web Site
    Proteus 32k USS Proteus (AS-19) lies in drydock at Charleston cut in half to add a new mid-section that will equip her with special shops and gear to serve as a Fleet tender to the Navy's first squadron of nuclear submarines.
    US Navy photo
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret. and Robert Hall
    Proteus 132k
    Proteus 108k Port broadside view of USS Proteus (AS-19) near the Charleston (S.C.) Naval Shipyard, 8 August 1960, after completing conversion to a tender to support the new Polaris SSBNs. The hull was cut in half just forward of the engine rooms and a section with a ballistic missile magazine and handling crane was inserted amidships.
    Charleston Naval Shipyard photo # NSY-EST-L-1718-8/8/60 now in the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command.
    Robert Hurst
    Proteus
    09361928
    105k USS Proteus (AS-19) after completion of her conversion to a FBM submarine tender enroute to her new assignment at Holy Loch, Scotland, 4 February 1960 as the Navy's first overseas based Polaris Missile Submarine Tender.
    09361928 - "Warship Boneyards" by Kit and Carolyn Bonner, Treasure Island Museum
    09361964 - U.S. Navy Photo via AP wire photo
    09361928 Robert Hurst
    09361964 Darryl Baker
    Proteus
    09361964
    155k
    Proteus 112k Transfer of a Polaris Missile between USS Proteus (AS-19) and USS Patrick Henry (SSBN-599) at Holy Loch, Dunoon, Scotland, 1961
    US Navy photo
    Joe Radigan
    Proteus 287k
    Proteus 190k USS Proteus (AS-19) moored in Holy Loch, Dunoon, Scotland, date unknown. Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Proteus 73k USS Proteus (AS-19) tends to two of her brood at Holy Loch Scotland. USS Betelgeuse (AK-260) (moored to her port side) shuttled between Charleston and Holy Loch bringing everything needed to operate the tender, maintain the subs and provide for the well being of crew and dependents.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine October 1962
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Proteus 97k USS Proteus (AS-19) tending an FBM submarine at Holy Loch, Scotland, date unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine January 1963
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Proteus 417k USS Proteus (AS-19) underway in 1963, location unknown.
    US Navy photo NPC 1090461.
    Scott Koen
    Proteus 119k USS Proteus (AS-19) in FBM Tender configuration
    US Navy photo
    Larry Bohn
    Proteus 241k USS Proteus (AS-19) with USS Patrick Henry (SSBN-599), probably at Holy Loch, Dunoon, Scotland, 1961.
    US Navy photo
    Scott Koen
    Proteus 406k Overhead view of USS Proteus (AS-19) with a submarine alongside, date and location unknown.
    Department of Defense photo # DN-SC-90-0770
    Scott Koen
    Proteus
    09361957
    14k Guard Mail postage stamp featuring USS Proteus (AS-36) Guard Mail was local mail on Guam instituted in the 1930s. Guard Mail was necessary since the US Post Office at Guam did not deliver to individual addresses. Tommy Trampp
    George Washington
    0858820
    610k Overhead view of USS Proteus (AS-19) in her mooring at NavSta Guam, circa, 1981/82. Proteus has three unidentified submarines alongside. On the quay wall is a Skate Class attack submarine and the fleet ballistic missile submarine USS George Washington (SSBN-598). Photo i.d. courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired). & David Laney MMCM/SS, USN (Retired)
    US Navy photo # DNSC8808186 courtesy of Stephen Gower.
    Hunley 133k Left to right; USS Kamehameha (SSBN-642), USS Hunley (AS-31), USNS Furman (T-AK-280) USS Proteus (AS-19) and USS Stonewall Jackson (SSBN-634) The two submarines are receiving regular routine maintenance and upkeep. Hunley is in the process of relieving Proteus, and Furman is providing both tenders with spare parts and groceries on her regular monthly trip Guam. Hunley will be in Guam for about five months while Proteus is in overhaul at the Ship Repair Facility, Guam. The background shows the peninsula of Polaris Point.
    Photo from "All Hands" magazine, July 1968.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Proteus 319k USS Proteus (AS-19) tending submarines at Polaris Point, Apra Harbor, Guam, circa early 1970s.
    US Navy photo.
    Ben Brooks
    Proteus 251k USS Proteus (AS-19) tending submarines at Polaris Point, Apra Harbor, Guam, circa early 1970s.
    US Navy photo.
    Scott Koen
    Proteus 1523k USS Proteus (AS-19) wardroom in November 1972 after her overhaul at Mare Island.Mare Island Naval Shipyard photos 113281-11-72 and 113282-11-72 Darryl Baker
    Proteus 1566k
    Proteus 3314k View of the USS Proteus (AS-19) galley area, November 1972, after overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.
    File Name: AS 19 113262-11-72, Navy Photo, November 1972.
    Darryl Baker
    Proteus 3555k A warrant officer inspects the food service line aboard USS Proteus (AS-19), November 1972, after overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.
    File Name: AS 19 113263-11-72, Navy Photo, November 1972.
    Darryl Baker
    Proteus 3589k USS Proteus (AS-19), crews mess, November 1972, after overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.
    File Name: AS 19 113265-11-72, Navy Photo, November 1972.
    Darryl Baker
    Proteus 3148k USS Proteus (AS-19), CPO mess, November 1972, after overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.
    File Name: AS 19 113267-11-72, Navy Photo, November 1972.
    Darryl Baker
    Sperry 727k Submarine tenders moored pierside at Ballast Point, Naval Station Point Loma, San Diego, CA., circa 1980s. From right to left USS Sperry (AS-12), USS Proteus (AS-19) and USS Dixon (AS-37).
    Defense Imagery Photo # VIRIN: DN-SC-85-09594
    Robert Hurst
    Proteus 884k USS Proteus (AS-19) moored at Naval Station Guam, date unknown. Photo by Norman K. Palosky PH1, USN Ret.
    Proteus
    09361961
    588k USS Proteus (AS-19) underway, date and location unknown. Nicholas Tiberio
    Proteus
    09361962
    777k USS Proteus (AS-19) underway, date and location unknown. Nicholas Tiberio
    Proteus
    09361963
    566k USS Proteus (AS-19) moored with submarines alongside, probably at Naval Station Guam, date unknown. Nicholas Tiberio
    Proteus 338k USS Proteus (AS-19) being assisted by Saco (YTB-796) into her berth at Naval Base Guam, 24 May 1980.
    DVIC photo # DN-SC-88-08187 from the collections of the Defense Visual Information Center.
    Bill Gonyo
    Proteus 114k USS Proteus (AS-19) moored pierside at Victoria Quay, Naval Base Fremantle, Australia in 1984. Jack Treutle
    Proteus 106k USS Proteus (AS-19) in dry dock at Guam, 1985. Photo by Larry Lee
    Artisan 115k USNS Spica (T-AFS-9) drydocked at Ship Repair Facility Subic Bay, Philippines in Artisan (AFDB-1), 1 January 1987. Moored to the right of Artisan is USS Proteus (AS-19) with two Sturgeon class nuclear-powered attack submarines nested alongside. The Naval Supply Depot is in the background.
    Defense Imagery photo # DNST9301078, a US Navy photo by PH2 Ellenwood
    Tommy Trampp
    Proteus 94k USS Proteus (AS-19) moored pierside, date and location unknown. Yucel M. Umar GMC Turkish Navy (Ret)
    Proteus 86k USS Proteus (AS-19) displaying a WWII camouflage scheme during two month deployment to Australia to 'commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea fought in May 1942.
    US Navy photo
     
    Proteus 74k USS Proteus (AS-19) moored pierside at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in August 1992 after returning from a two month deployment to Australia to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea, fought in May 1942. Note in the background the cruiser superstructure which is probably USS Long Beach (CGN-9) Photo by John MacKay
    Proteus 91k USS Proteus (AS-19) moored pierside, date and location unknown. Joe Radigan
    IX-518
    Proteus 24k Ex-USS Proteus (AS-19) reclassified as berthing and messing barge IX-518 moored at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, circa 1994.
    US Navy photo
    .
    Proteus 85k IX-518 moored at Suisun Bay National Defense Fleet, Benecia, CA., in October 1999. Photo from "Warship Boneyards" by Kit and Carolyn Bonner, authors collection. Robert Hurst
    Proteus 24k Ex-IX-518 moored at a scrapping pier at ESCO Marine, Brownsville, TX., 1 August 2007 ©Michael Martin, Brownsville, TX.
    Proteus 46k Ex-IX-518 being dismantled at ESCO Marine, Brownsville, TX., circa September 2007 Ron Reeves


    For more photos and information about USS Proteus, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • Submarine Tenders of the United States Navy
  • Conversion to a Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine Tender

  • Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Berry, Robert Wallace31 January 1944 - 12 September 1944
    02CAPT. Day, Charles Newton12 September 1944 - 4 September 1945
    03CAPT. Jordan, James Adam4 September 1945 - 27 April 1947
    04CAPT. Lake, Richard Cross27 April 1947 - 26 September 1947
     Decommissioned26 September 1947 - 8 July 1960
    05CAPT. Laning, Richard Boyer, USN8 July 1960 - 25 August 1962
    06CAPT. DuBois, Raymond Francis, USN :RADM25 August 1962 - September 1963
    07CAPT. McCarty, Lindsay Crabbe, USN (USNA 1942)7 September 1963 - 16 January 1965
    08CAPT. Gulmon, Robert Harry16 January 1965 - 17 May 1966
    09CAPT. Clements, Daniel Cooper17 May 1966 - 6 September 1967
    10CAPT. Berry Jr., Fred Thomas6 September 1967 - 6 August 1968
    11CAPT. Weidman Jr., Robert Mitchell, USN (USNA 1948-A)6 August 1968 - 10 April 1970
    12CAPT. Thurtell, Frank Allen, USN (USNA 1947)10 April 1970 - 21 September 1971
    13CAPT. Rigsbee, John Taylor, USN (USNA 1959)21 September 1971 - 6 March 1974
    14CAPT. Greer Jr., Marvin Sigsbee6 March 1974 - 8 June 1976
    15CAPT. Foster Jr., Clifton Gideon, USN8 June 1976 - 6 June 1978
    16CAPT. Fox, Thomas Robert, USN (USNA 1957) :RADM6 June 1978 - 7 August 1980
    17CAPT. Colley, Michael Christian, USN (USNA 1960) :VADM7 August 1980 - 18 June 1982
    18CAPT. Perry, John Stephen (Steve) 18 June 1982 - 17 July 1984
    19CAPT. Oliver III, Herndon Albert17 July 1984 - 10 November 1986
    20CAPT. Middents, Paul Willby 10 November 1986 - 1 September 1988
    21CAPT. Losure Jr., Edward Ronald 1 September 1988 - 16 August 1990
    22CAPT. Evans IV, William Ashley, USN (USNA 1967)16 August 1990 - 26 June 1992
    23CAPT. Crisp, Dale William, USN (USNA 1969) 26 June 1992- 30 September 1992
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

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    Last Updated 5 April 2024