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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Submitted by Jack Treutle

USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1)
ex
 USS San Carlos (AVP-51) (1944 - 1947)

USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1) International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Victor - Yankee
 NKVY
USS San Carlos (AVP-51) International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Mike - Lima
 NCML
USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1)
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

National Defense Service Medal
USS San Carlos (AVP-51)
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal<, Philippines Liberation Medal - Philippines Independence Medal

USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1) was sold to Greece and renamed HS Hephaistas (A413)
Barnegat Class Small Seaplane Tender:
  • Laid down, 17 September 1942, at Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA.
  • Launched, 20 December 1942
  • Commissioned, USS San Carlos (AVP-51), 21 March 1944, LCDR. De Long Mills in command
  • During World War II San Carlos was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Consolidation of Solomon Islands
    Consolidation of northern Solomons, 26 July to 3 September 1944     		Western New Guinea operation, 18 to 30 September 1944
    Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, 18 October to 4 November 1944     		.

  • Decommissioned, 30 June 1947, at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet
  • Converted to an Oceanographic Research Ship, at Mobile Ship Repair Co., Mobile, AL.
  • Renamed and redesignated USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1), 15 December 1958
  • Placed in service with Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 18 December 1951
  • Placed out of service and Struck from the Naval Register, 7 December 1971
  • Transferred to Greece, renamed HS Hephaistas (A413)
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • USS San Carlos received three battle stars for World War II service
    (AVP) Specifications:
    Displacement 1,766 t.(lt) 2,750 t.(fl)
    Length 311' 8"
    Beam 41' 1"
    Draft 13' 6"
    Speed 18.6 kts.
    Complement 215
    Armament
    two single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts
    two dual 40mm AA gun mounts
    four dual 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion diesel, two propellers, 6,000hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed By / Source
    USS San Carlos (AVP-51)
    San Carlos 107k San Carlos (AVP-51) ready for launching, 20 December 1942. at Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA. Her propellers and rudder are clearly visible.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-47210 a US Navy Bureau of Ships Collection photo now in the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    San Carlos 107k San Carlos (AVP-51) being launched, 20 December 1942, at Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA. Note the emplacements for two open 5"/38 gun mounts aft; one was replaced by a 40mm quadruple mount before completion.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-47211 a US Navy Bureau of Ships Collection photo now in the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    San Carlos 87k USS San Carlos (AVP-51) off Houghton, WA., 30 March 1944, about a week after commissioning. She was completed with three 5"/38 guns, including an open mount on her fantail.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-64504 a US Navy Bureau of Ships Collection photo now in the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    San Carlos 81k USS San Carlos (AVP-51) off Houghton, WA., 30 March 1944. Her camouflage scheme is Measure 32 Design 2Ax.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-64506 a US Navy Bureau of Ships Collection photo now in the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    San Carlos 77k USS San Carlos (AVP-51) off the Cuban coast, 7 August 1946. She was delivering supplies to Cuba after an earthquake and tidal wave occurred there.
    US Navy photo # NH 97845 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1)
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed By / Source
    San Carlos 63k USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1), date and location unknown. Hazegray & Underway
    San Carlos 126k USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1) off Fort Richmond, Staten Island circa early 1960s. The ship was operated by MSTS for the Hudson Laboratories of Columbia University, located at Dobbs Ferry on the Hudson River in New York.
    US Navy photo # NH 79123 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    San Carlos 116k USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1) underway in coastal waters, circa early 1960s while being operated by MSTS for the Hudson Laboratories of Columbia University.
    US Navy photo # NH 97860 from the Military Sealift Command Collection at the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    San Carlos 92k USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1) passing commercial piers during the 1960s while being operated by MSTS for the Hudson Laboratories of Columbia University.
    US Navy photo # NH 97873-KN from the Military Sealift Command Collection at the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    San Carlos 94k USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1) underway during the 1960s. The A-frame on the starboard side just aft of the superstructure is for her auxiliary research winch, which had 5,000 feet of cable and a 10,000 pound maximum load.
    US Navy photo # NH 97861 from the Military Sealift Command Collection at the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    San Carlos 86k USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1) underway during the 1960s, viewed from directly overhead.
    US Navy photo # NH 97862 from the Military Sealift Command Collection at the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    San Carlos 64k USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1) pierside during the 1960s.
    US Navy photo # NH 97871 from the Military Sealift Command Collection at the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    San Carlos 55k USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1) viewed from directly astern during the 1960s. The "O" frame on her stern is for her 40,000-pound capacity deep-sea winch.
    US Navy photo # NH 97872 from the Military Sealift Command Collection at the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    San Carlos 81k USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1) underway, date and location unknown. Carl R. Friberg Jr.
    San Carlos 77k USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    San Carlos 41k USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1) underway in July 1971, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    View the USS San Carlos (AVP-51) / USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Navy Oceanographic Research Ship (AGOR) Designator Listing

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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 2 May 2008