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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USNS Thor (T-ARC-4)
ex
 USS Thor (ARC-4) (1956 - 1973)
 USS Vanadis (AKA-49) (1945 - 1956)

Thor International Radio Call Sign:
November - Lima - Kilo - Tango
 NLKT
Vanadis International Radio Call Sign:
November - Tango - Oscar - Whiskey
 NTOW
Thor Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Vanadis Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Artemis Class Attack Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 18 April 1945, as a Maritime Commission type (S4-SE2-BE1), hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1910) at Welsh-Kaiser Co. Providence, R.I.
  • Launched, 8 June 1945
  • Commissioned USS Vanadis (AKA-49), 9 July 1945, LCDR. E. B. Williams in command
  • Decommissioned, 27 March 1946, at Boston MA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 5 June 1946
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Reacquired, 14 April 1955, by the US Navy for conversion to a Cable Repair Ship
  • Recommissioned USS Thor (ARC-4), 3 January 1956, CDR. R. H. Thomas in command
  • Decommissioned, 2 July 1973, at Portsmouth, VA. and simultaneously placed in service with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as USNS Thor (T-ARC-4)
  • Placed out of service and returned to the Maritime Administration in April 1974, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 22 September 1977
    AKA Specifications:
    Displacement 4,087 t.(lt) 7,080 t(fl)
    Length 426'
    Beam 58'
    Draft 16' 5"
    Speed 16.9 kts.
    Complement 303
    Armament
    one 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four dual 40mm AA gun mounts
    ten single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity 4,450 DWT
    Boats
    one LCP(L)
    twelve LCVP
    eight LCM(3)
    Troop Accommodations 264
    Propulsion two turbo-electric engines, twin shafts, 6,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Thor (ARC-4)
    Thor 79k USS Thor (ARC-4), date and location unknown. Ramon Jackson
    Thor 133k USS Thor (ARC-4), date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    Thor 68k USS Thor (ARC-4) and USS Opportune (ARS-41) working together, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine February 1954.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    Thor 35k USS Thor (ARC-4) anchored off the northern tip of Grand Turk Island in November 1959 Photo by William Maki ETR2
    Thor 67k USS Thor (ARC-4) anchored off the northern tip of Grand Turk Island in November 1959 Photo by William Maki ETR2
    Thor 31k USS Thor (ARC-4) port side boat deck looking forward. Portsmouth, N.H., fall 1959 Photo by William Maki ETR2
    Thor 101k Starboard bow view of USS Thor (ARC-4) underway in Hampton Roads, VA., 31 May 1964.
    US Navy photo # USN-1107777 by G.J. Clark PH2 USN from the archives of the from the US Naval Photographic Center, Naval Station, Washington, D.C.    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Thor 80k USS Thor (ARC-4) underway, circa 1964, location unknown. US Navy photo. Robert Hurst
    Thor 84k USS Thor (ARC-4) moored pierside at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Cuba, circa April 1971. Photo by Steve Bolgar USS Thor 1971-73.
    View the USS Vanadis (AKA-49) / USS Thor (ARC-4) / USNS Thor (T-ARC-4)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Amphibious Cargo Ship (AKA) Photo Index Back To The Cable Repair Ship (ARC) 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 25 April 2008