Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

Vireo (AT[O[ 144)



Call sign:
Nan - Fox - Tare - Nan

ex-AT-144
ex-AM-52
ex-Minesweeper No. 52

Lapwing Class Minesweeper: Laid down, 20 November 1918 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA; Launched, 26 May 1919; Commissioned USS Vireo, Minesweeper No. 52, 16 October 1919; Designated AM-52, 17 July 1920; Reclassified as a Fleet Tug, AT-144, 1 June 1942; Reclassified as a Fleet Tug, (Old), AT(O)-144, 15 May 1944; Decommissioned, 18 April 1946; Struck from the Navy Register 8 May 1946; Transferred, 4 February 1947 to the Maritime Commission for disposal. Fate unknown.

Specifications: Displacement 840 t.; Length 187' 10"; Beam 35' 5"; Draft 8' 10"; Speed 14 kts; Complement 186; Armament two 3"/50s; Propulsion two Babcock and Wilcox boilers, triple expansion reciprocating steam engine, one shaft.

Click on thumbnail
for full size image		 Size Image Description Source
USS Vireo (AM 52)
Vireo 54k U. S. Navy photo from the Navy Recruitment Bureau, New York Jon Burdett
Vireo 88k Anchored in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, January 1920.
U.S. Navy photo NH 43603. 		Naval Historical Center
Vireo/Rail 112k In harbor, March 1922. USS Rail (AM-26) is in the left background.
U.S. Navy photo NH 50207. 		Naval Historical Center
Vireo 161k In port, 1932.
U.S. Navy photo NH 50320. 		Naval Historical Center
Vireo 119k Ship's Officers and Crew, 1934. Note stockless anchor in the port bow hausepipe, fancy hull number, and ship's dog held by the Sailor at left.
Photographed by Vernon M. Haden, San Pedro California.
Donation of Ted Stone, 1977.
U.S. Navy photo NH 85837. 		Naval Historical Center
Crew Photo 109k Signalman August Billig, fourth from left, second row, c. 1936. Bruce Billig
Bobolink 131k Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941. View of USS California (BB 44), taken a day or two after the Japanese raid. Bobolink (AM 20), at left, Vireo and YW-10 are off the battleship's stern, assisting with efforts to keep her afloat.
From the collection of Vice Admiral Homer N. Wallin, USN, Ret.
U.S. Navy photo NH 95569 		Naval Historical Center
USS Vireo (AT 144)
Vireo 175k Battle of Midway, June 1942. Diorama by Norman Bel Geddes, depicting the explosion of depth charges from USS Hammann (DD-412) as she sank alongside USS Yorktown (CV-5) during the afternoon of 6 June 1942. Both ships were torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-168 while Hammann was assisting with the salvage of Yorktown. Vireo is shown at left, coming back to pick up survivors, as destroyers head off to search for the submarine.
National Archives photo 80-G-701902. 		Naval Historical Center
Vireo 60k Vireo at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, following repairs and overhaul, 20 August 1942.
National Archives photo 19-N-34748. 		Naval Historical Center
Vireo 105k Battle of Kolombangara, 13 July 1943. USS Honolulu (CL-48) in Tulagi Harbor, Solomon Islands, for temporary repair of damage received when she was torpedoed in the bow during the Battle of Kolombangara. Vireo is assisting the
damaged cruiser.
National Archives photo 80-G-259446. 		Naval Historical Center
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
Naval Minewarfare Association
Association of Minemen
Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Mine Warfare Ship Photo Type Index Back to the Minesweeper (AM) Photo Index Back to the Auxiliary Ship Index Back to the Fleet Ocean Tug (AT) Photo IndexBack to the Fleet Ocean Tug (Old) (AT[O]) Photo Index
Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster Webmaster
This page created and maintained by Joseph M. Radigan
© 2007 Joseph M. Radigan © 1996 - 2007 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.