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NavSource Online: Army Ship Photo Archive

USAMRS James B. Houston
ex
 USAT Kvichak (1940 - 1942)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Marine Repair Ship:
  • Built in 1900 as the cargo ship Kvichak by Wolf & Zwicker Iron Works, Portland, OR.
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Completed and delivered in October 1900 to Alaska Packers Association
  • Acquired by the US Army Quartermasters Corps, circa 1940
  • Allocated to the US Army Transportation Corps, commissioned in 1940 as USAT Kvichak
  • USAT Kvichak worked in Alaskan wars reinforcing the territory
  • Grounded on Millbanke Sound reefs, British Columbia, 150 miles South of Prince Rupert Island, 17 January 1941. 23 passengers and 37 crew rescued by American Can Co. vessel SS Cancolim and transferred to USS Charleston (PG-51). 3 crewmembers were lost. Superstructure later torn off by waves.
  • On, 5 Mar 1941, Kvichak slipped off the ledge and sank in 90 feet of water.
  • Raised, salvaged and rebuilt at Winslow WA., for service as a Marine Repair Ship, completed in March 1942
  • Re-christened and placed in commission as USAMRS James B. Houston in March 1942
  • James B. Houston was operated by a Coast Guard crew with administrative control retained by the Army
  • James B. Houston was assigned to the Southwest Pacific Area during World War II
  • Following the end of World War II James B. Houston was decommissioned and turned over to the War Shipping Administration for disposal
  • Purchased in 1947 by Manila Steamship Co., renamed SS Bisayas, reflagged Philippines
  • Sold in 1954 to Royal Lines Inc., Cebu, renamed SS Melleza, and again renamed in 1954 as SS Regina
  • Final Disposition, broken up at Hong Kong in 1956
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,063 t. gross
    Length 202'
    Beam 35'
    Draft 18'
    Speed unknown
    Armament unknown
    Complement unknown
    Cruise Radius unknown
    Fuel Capacities unknown
    Propulsion
    As Built - two reciprocating steam engines
    1930 - two Atlas-Imperial diesels, 500hp each
    two shafts, 1,000 shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Merchant Service
    Kvichak
    30210401    		 82k SS Kvichak in ice at Bristol Bay, Territory of Alaska, 1918.
    John N. Cobb Photo Collection, University of Washington    		 David Wright
    Kvichak
    30210402    		 46k
    USAT Kvichak
    Kvichak
    30210404    		 215k
    Namesake
    Kvichak - The Kvichak River is a river, about 50 miles long, in southwestern Alaska. It flows southwest from Lake Iliamna to Kvichak Bay, an arm of Bristol Bay, on the Alaska Peninsula.
    Photo and Map - Naknek Blogspot - Seafood Gone Fishing    		 Tommy Trampp
    Kvichak
    30210405    		 690k USAT Kvichak aground in Finleyson Channel, the northern extension of Millbanke Sound, 17 January 1941.
    Photos by Arthur Solverson (1900-1985) USCG while assisting in the rescue operation    		 George Solverson - USFS Wildland Firefighter/Safety Officer Ret. grandson of Arthur Solverson.
    Kvichak
    30210406    		 630k
    Kvichak
    30210407    		 651k
    Kvichak
    30210403    		 63k USAT Kvichak sunk in Finleyson Channel, the northern extension of Millbanke Sound, 27 January 1941. David Wright
    There is no history record available for USAT Kvichak / USAMRS James B. Houston at NavSource
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 8 December 2023