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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USAT Argosy Lemal (S-6)

International Radio Call Sign:
Victor - Juliet - Delta - Foxtrot
VJDF

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal

Radio Communications Ship

Built in 1917 as the three-masted steel-hulled auxiliary schooner De Lauwers by Gebroeders van Diepen in Waterhuizen, the Netherlands

Sold in 1920 to Argosy Shipping and Coal Co., Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, renamed Argosy Lemal

Sold in 1923 to Yorke Shipping Pty Ltd of Australia for the coastal shipping trade, Yorke Shipping later became a subsidiary of the Adelaide Steamship Co.

Requestioned in November 1942 by the Commonwealth Government of Australia

Assigned to the US Army Small Ships Section, as a Radio Communication Ship in the Arafura and Timor Seas

Following World War II Argosy Lemal (S-6) was sold to the Middle East Trading Co. in 1949 and renamed Ametco

Resold in 1952 to MB Crouch & Co Limited, renamed Claire Crouch

Converted to carry sulphuric acid in 1958 between Port Pirie and Port Lincoln in South Australia

Resold in 1964 Mornington Island Fishing Co., renamed Booya used as a mother ship and fuel supply vessel for the Northern prawn fleets

Laid up in 1965-66

Resold in 1968 to the Denham Island Transport Co. trading cargo mainly between Dili and Darwin

Resold in 1971 taken to Townsville

Final Disposition, foundered, 25 December 1974, during Cyclone Tracy after leaving her berth at Darwin. Her wreck was discovered, 22 October 2003, in Darwin Harbor, lying on her starboard side in about 20 meters of water, five nautical miles (9 km) from shore

Specifications:
Displacement 254 t. gross
Length 117'5"
Beam 24'5"
Draft 10'4"
Speed unknown

Complement 12, made up of Australians, Americans, Norwegians, Scandinavians, Scots and British personnel

Armament unknown

Propulsion

Primary, Sails

As Built - Auxiliary, one 79 hp 2SCSA oil engine

Reengined in 1950, 280 hp diesel

single screw

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
30050203	27k	Water color painting by Arthur V Gregory (1867-1957), of *Argosy Lemal* under full sail off Cape Otway, Victoria, Australia, circa 1930s. Queenscliffe Maritime Museum Queenscliffe, Victoria, Australia	Tommy Trampp
30050204	137k	*Argosy Lemal* tied up with schooner Gerald, date and location unknown South Australian Maritime Museum	Tommy Trampp
30050205	138k	*Argosy Lemal* loaded with wheat at Port Lincoln, South Australia, date unknown. South Australian Maritime Museum	Tommy Trampp
30050207	37k	*Argosy Lemal* passes Ocean Steamers Wharf, Port Adelaide in 1937. Owned by Adelaide S.S. Coy subsidiary Yorke Shipping Pty Ltd, she traded between Port Adelaide, Melbourne and Tasmania. Requestioned in November 1942 by the Commonwealth Government of Australia and assigned to the US Army Small Ships Section for service in the creeks and harbors of Papua New Guinea. SS Australia Star is alongside at Ocean Steamers Wharf in the background. Photo by Frank Finney, courtesy shipspotting.com.	Tommy Trampp
	29k	US Army Radio Communications Ship Argosy Lemal (S-6) underway, date and location unknown.	Commons Wikimedia
	362k	Ex- US Army Radio Communications Ship Argosy Lemal (S-6) in commercial service as the M B Crouch & Co Ltd. schooner *Clair Crouch*, circa 1952–64).	© John Wilson, Shipspotting
30050206	85k	MB Crouch & Co Limited schooner *Claire Crouch, circa 1953-1958, location unknown. South Australian Maritime Museum*	Tommy Trampp
30050208	92k	MB Crouch & Co Limited schooner *Claire Crouch* underway, date and location unknown. Photo from www.flickriver.com by gorgs8	John Spivey
30050209	113k	*Booya* at anchor, 1972 location unknown. Marine Life Society of South Australia Inc., Article - "Artifacts from Argosy Lemal at Port River Sailing Club" September 3, 2017. by Steve Reynolds, Photo by C.Begg	Tommy Trampp

There is no history record available for Argosy Lemal (S-6) at NavSource

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
US Army Small Ships Association Inc.
Marine Life Society of South Australia Inc., Article - "Artifacts from Argosy Lemal at Port River Sailing Club" September 3, 2017

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 29 September 2023