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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Repose (AH-16)
ex
 USNS Repose (AH-16) (1950)
 USS Repose (AH-16) (1945 - 1950)

/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Golf - Echo
 NAGE
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation (2) - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (9)
Fourth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (10) - Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (20)
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Haven Class Hospital Ship:
  • Laid down, 22 October 1943, as SS Marine Beaver a Maritime Commission type (C4-S-B2) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 747) at Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Chester, PA.
  • Launched, 8 August 1944
  • Acquired by the US Navy from the Maritime Commission, 14 September 1944
  • Fitted out as a Hospital Ship at Bethlehem Steel Co., Shipbuilding Division, 56th Street Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Commissioned USS Repose (AH-16), 26 May 1945, CAPT. William O. Britton USNR in command
  • Following World War II USS Repose was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East for the following periods;

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    7 to 25 September 194526 September 1945 to 15 October 1946
    23 to 27 February 194728 February 1947 to 9 September 1948
    12 to 27 September 194828 September 1948 to 5 May 1949
    11 to 14 May 194917 to 22 May 1949
    24 to 30 May 19492 to 25 June 1949

  • Decommissioned, 19 January 1950, at San Francisco, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Francisco Group
  • Withdrawn from reserve and re-activated with a civilian crew and placed in service as USNS Repose (AH-16), 26 August 1950
  • Recommissioned, 28 October 1950, CAPT. C. H. Perdue in command
  • During the Korean War USS Repose participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    North Korean Aggression
    20 September to 24 October 1950     		Second Korean Winter
    28 November 1951 to 16 January 1952
    China Aggression
    13 November 1950 to 24 January 1951     		Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    24 June to 1 July 1952
    20 August to 10 October 1952
    First UN Counter Offensive
    25 January to 21 April 1951     		Third Korean Winter
    1 to 13 December 1952
    30 December 1952 to 9 February 1953
    Communist China Spring Offensive
    22 to 27 April 1951
    8 to 14 May 1951
    8 June to 8 July 1951     		Korean Summer-Fall 1953
    14 June 27 July 1953
    UN Summer-Fall Offensive
    9 July to 4 August 1951
    22 August to 7 October 1951
    22 October to 19 November 1951     		 

  • Decommissioned, 21 December 1954, at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, San Francisco, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Francisco Group, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Recommissioned, 16 October 1965, CAPT. Eugene H. Maher in command
  • During the Vietnam War USS Repose participated in the following campaigns:

    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive
    16 February to 10 March 1966
    12 April to 18 May 1966
    29 May to 7 June 1966     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    9 July to 29 August 1968
    8 October to 1 November 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    17 July to 27 August 1966
    11 September to 8 November 1966
    23 November to 25 December 1966
    4 January to 8 February 1967
    22 February to 11 April 1967
    29 April to 31 May 1967     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI
    2 November to 28 December 1968
    6 January to 22 February 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    1 June to 17 June 1967
    11 July to 5 August 1967
    15 August to 16 September 1967
    6 to 30 October 1967
    6 November to 9 December 1967
    20 December 1967 to 29 January 1968     		Tet 69/ Counteroffensive
    23 February to 2 April 1969
    12 April to 8 June 1969
    Tet Counteroffensive
    30 January to 3 February 1968
    13 February to 1 April 1968     		Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    9 June to 1 July 1969
    13 July to 2 October 1969
    5 to 31 October 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    2 to 11 April 1968
    26 April to 29 June 1968     		Vietnam Winter-Spring 1979
    1 November to 30 December 1969
    12 to 31 January 1970

  • Decommissioned in May 1970
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Francisco Group
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 March 1974
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD). 3 June 1974, for disposal
  • USS Repose earned nine battle stars for Korean War service and ten campaign stars for Vietnam service
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 18 April 1975, to Nicolai Joffe Corp. for $344,889.78 (PD-X-995 dated 11 March 1974) delivered, 27 May 1975
    Specifications:
    Displacement 11,141 t., 15,400 t.(lim)
    Length 520'
    Beam 71' 6"
    Draft 24' (lim)
    Speed 18.7 kts. (trial speed)
    Complement
    Officers 70
    Enlisted 498
    Patient Capacity 800
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Propulsion
    one GE geared turbine
    two Babcock & Wilcox header-type boilers 450psi 745°
    double Falk Main Reduction Gear
    Ship's Service Generators
     three turbo-drive 500Kw 450V A.C.
     three turbo-drive 300Kw 120V/240 D.C.
    single propeller 9,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Tranquility 590k Exploded view of USS Repose (Haven Class AH-12 to 17) - Compartment & Access Diagram by J.M. Hobson, PHM/3c. (USS Tranquility. Repose was one of six 15,0000 ton US Navy hospital ships to be converted from Maritime Commission C-4 hulls at shipyards in the New York Area. Known as the HAVEN class, these vessels are completely air conditioned and provide medical facilities equal to those of a modern shore hospital.
    BUMED 16-0020-004    		 Michael Rhode Archivist / Curator US Navy BUMED Communications Directorate (M09B7) Office of Medical History
    Repose 414k Repose (AH-16) fitting out as a Hospital Ship at Bethlehem Steel Co., Shipbuilding Division, 56th Street Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., circa 14 September 1944 to 26 May 1945.
    US Navy photos.    		 David Buell
    Repose 418k
    Repose 376k
    Repose 265k USS Repose (AH-16) commissioning day, 26 May 1945, at Bethlehem Steel Co., Shipbuilding Division, 56th Street Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y.
    US Navy BUMED photo    		 Michael Rhode, Archivist / Curator, US Navy BUMED Communications Directorate (M09B7) Office of Medical History
    Repose 220k USS Repose (AH-16) commissioning day, 26 May 1945, at Bethlehem Steel Co., Shipbuilding Division, 56th Street Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., Navigation Deck. Movies were shown here.
    US Navy BUMED photo    		 Michael Rhode, Archivist / Curator, US Navy BUMED Communications Directorate (M09B7) Office of Medical History
    Repose 311k USS Repose (AH-16) taken on commissioning day, 26 May 1945, at Bethlehem Steel Co., Shipbuilding Division, 56th Street Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., Upper Deck
    US Navy photos.    		 David Buell
    Repose 254k USS Repose (AH-16) commissioning day, 26 May 1945, at Bethlehem Steel Co., Shipbuilding Division, 56th Street Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., Boat Deck.
    US Navy BUMED photo    		 Michael Rhode, Archivist / Curator, US Navy BUMED Communications Directorate (M09B7) Office of Medical History
    Repose 220k USS Repose (AH-16) commissioning day, 26 May 1945, at Bethlehem Steel Co., Shipbuilding Division, 56th Street Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., Main Deck.
    US Navy BUMED photo    		 Michael Rhode, Archivist / Curator, US Navy BUMED Communications Directorate (M09B7) Office of Medical History
    Repose 195k USS Repose (AH-16) underway in New York Harbor shortly after commissioning on 26 May 1945, at Bethlehem Steel Co., Shipbuilding Division, 56th Street Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y.
    US Navy BUMED photo    		 Michael Rhode, Archivist / Curator, US Navy BUMED Communications Directorate (M09B7) Office of Medical History
    Repose 86k USS Repose (AH-16) underway off Okinawa, during typhoon Ida, 16-17 September 1945.
    US BUMED photos    		 Michael Rhode, Archivist / Curator, US Navy BUMED Communications Directorate (M09B7) Office of Medical History
    Repose 90k
    Repose 105k
    Repose 90k
    Repose 105k
    Repose 68k USS Repose (AH-16) and USS Sierra (AD-18) moored pierside at either Shanghai or Tsingtao, China in 1946. Paul Webb for his father ENS. Ronald H. Webb, USNR USS LST-1102
    Repose 97k USS Repose (AH-16) moored pierside at either Shanghai or Tsingtao, China in October 1946. Paul Webb for his father ENS. Ronald H. Webb, USNR USS LST-1102
    Chimon 73k USS Repose (AH-16) and USS LST-1102 moored pierside at either Shanghai or Tsingtao, China in 1946 Paul Webb for his father ENS. Ronald H. Webb, USNR USS LST-1102
    Repose
    091216144    		 349k USNS Repose (AH-16) loading out prior to deployment to Korea at Naval Supply Center Oakland circa 1950.
    Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum File: AH 16 NSC Oakland Ca 1950 TH, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum.    		 Darryl Baker
    Repose 80k USNS Repose (AH-16) arriving at Yokosuka, Japan, either, 16 September 1950 from the United States, or circa 27 October 1950, from Pusan, South Korea with wounded aboard. Repose was hurriedly placed in service at the out break of the Korean War in September and later commissioned and manned by US Navy in October of 1950.
    US National Archives photo # 111-SC-282601 from "Hospital Ships of World II: An Illustrated Reference" by Emory A. Massman.    		 Robert Hurst
    Repose 59k USS Repose (AH-16) at anchor, circa 1950, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Repose 123k USS Repose (AH-16) moored dockside, Yokosuka, Japan in 1950. Derick Hartshorn
    Repose 967k USS Repose (AH-16) moored pierside at Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan, 19 January 1952.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-437942, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Robert Hurst
    Repose 87k USS Repose (AH-16) backing out of the slip at Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan, January 1952. In the background is USS Valley Forge (CV-45) .
    Repose 102k USS Repose (AH-16) mooring at Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan, January 1952. Don Garner
    Repose 109k USS Repose (AH-16) approaching San Diego as she returns to the US from her first Korean War deployment, 11 February 1952. Note her long "Homeward Bound" pennant, kept aloft by balloons.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-439771, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Repose 134k USS Repose (AH-16) approaching San Diego as she returns to the US from her first Korean War deployment, 11 February 1952.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-439770, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Repose 108k USS Repose (AH-16) in San Diego Bay, as she returns to the US from her first Korean War deployment, 11 February 1952. The harbor tug Cusseta (YTB-405) is standing by at the right.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-439772, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Repose 252k USS Repose (AH-16) "Queen of the Orient" underway at Pearl Harbor, circa 1952.
    Courtesy of the National Museum of Health and Medicine    		 Michael Rhode, Archivist / Curator, US Navy BUMED Communications Directorate (M09B7) Office of Medical History
    Repose 310k USS Repose (AH-16) moored near Long Beach Naval Shipyard, 8 April 1952.
    US National Archives at Riverside Photo #LB040852-16472.    		 Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
    Repose 233k A helicopter approaches the USS Repose (AH-16) landing platform, 23 November 1952 off the coast of Korea.
    Courtesy of the National Museum of Health and Medicine    		 Michael Rhode, Archivist / Curator, US Navy BUMED Communications Directorate (M09B7) Office of Medical History
    Repose 802k USS Repose (AH-16) at anchor, Inchon, Korea, circa 1953. Willard Adams
    Repose 847k USS Repose (AH-16) at anchor in San Francisco Bay, 3 March 1953.
    12th Naval District photo # 483-494    		 David Buell
    Repose 65k USS Repose (AH-16) underway in San Francisco Bay, 2 September 1954. Willard Adams
    Repose 58k USS Repose (AH-16) underway, date and location unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Repose 635k USS Repose (AH-16) moored pierside date and location unknown.
    Photo by Ronald Roy CPO USN.    		 Scott Nelson for his grandfather Ronald Roy SMC USN Ret.
    Repose
    091216145    		 299k The decommissioned USS Repose (AH-16) outboard of decommissioned USS Miami (CL-89) at Mare Island Reserve Fleet, 12 December 1961.
    Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum File: AH 16 121261 TH, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum.    		 Darryl Baker
    Repose 80k USS Repose (AH-16) recommissioning day, 16 October 1965, Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, San Francisco, CA.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, April 1966    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Repose 169k USS Repose (AH-16) more pierside at San Francisco after being withdrawn from reserve, modernized an recommissioned for Vietnam service, 12 December 1965.UPI photos. Tommy Trampp
    Repose 174k USS Repose (AH-16) getting underway at San Francisco for service off the coast Vietnam, 3 January 1966. Repose commenced medial support off Chu Lai, 16 February 1966. Yu Chu
    Repose
    091216147    		 27k A U.S.Marine Corps Sikorsky UH-34D Seahorse hovering over the stern of USS Repose (AH-16) in 1966.
    Photo from the John T. Dyer Collection (COLL/3503) at the Archives Branch, Marine Corps History Division. OFFICIAL USMC PHOTOGRAPH. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. This image was originally posted to Flickr by Archives Branch, USMC History Division at https://flickr.com/photos/60868061@N04/49716196556    		 Robert Hurst
    Repose 181k Medical personnel remove wounded from a rescue helicopter aboard USS Repose (AH-16) off the coast of Vietnam in February 1966.
    US Navy photo UNIT: VMT-12695-2-66; Number 1115154; BUMED Photo # 09-5064 by PH1 J. C. Cote-    		 Robert Hurst
    Repose 187k USS Repose (AH-16) underway in July 1966, location unknown.
    Photos by John Rouse BM3 USN.    		 Bob Canchola courtesy John Rouse
    Repose 257k USS Repose (AH-16) conducting an underway replenishment with USS Sacramento (AOE-1) off the coast of Vietnam, circa 1964-68.
    Photos by John Rouse BM3 USN.    		 Bob Canchola courtesy John Rouse
    Repose 272k
    Repose 259k
    Repose 272k
    Repose 74k USS Repose (AH-16) underway off the coast of Vietnam, July 1966.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, July 1966    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Repose
    091216148    		 150k A Sikorsky UH-34D Seahorse of Marine Medium Helicopter Transport Squadron 263 (HMM-263) prepares to land wounded aboard USS Repose (AH-16) off the coast of Vietnam, circa July 1966.
    U.S. Navy photo from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command    		 Robert Hurst
    Repose 65k USS Repose (AH-16) leaving San Francisco Bay as she passes under the Golden Gate Bay Bridge, circa 1965-66.
    US Navy photo    		 Naval Hospital Corps School
    Repose 48k US Navy sailors watch USS Repose (AH-16) off the coast of Vietnam, 29 July 1967. USS Repose received many wounded from the fire aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal (CVA-59) on that day.
    US Navy photo from the USS Forrestal 1967 Cruise Book.    		 Robert Hurst
    Repose 84k USS Repose (AH-16) under way in 1967, location unknown. Note the Sikorsky UH-34 on helipad aft.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    Repose 221k USS Repose (AH-16) receives vital supplies in Da Nang Harbor by vertical replenishment from a Navy CH-46A. Sea Knight helicopter attached to USS Mars (AFS-1) circa 1967.
    US Navy photo.    		 Tommy Trampp
    Repose 48k USS Repose (AH-16) under way in WestPac, circa 1968.
    US Navy photo.    		 Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Repose 440k USS Repose (AH-16) and USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3) underway near the DMZ, Vietnam in 1969 while conducting an underway replenishment (UNREP) Photos by William P. Jones, MD
    Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
    Repose 346k
    Repose 715k
    Repose 915k
    Niagara Falls 300k
    Sanctuary 91k USS Repose (AH-16) and USS Sanctuary (AH-17) at anchor off Da Nang, Vietnam, date unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, March 1969.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Repose 110k USS Repose underway, date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Repose
    091216146    		 186k USS Repose underway off San Diego, CA., date unknown.
    © George Barber    		 Nicholas Tiberio
    USS Repose Memorabilia
    Contributed by Michael Kleaveland
    Repose
    		 Repose
    		 Repose
    Repose
    		 Repose
    		 Repose

    For more photos and information about USS Repose, see:
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
  • Commissioning Program, 25 May 1945
  • Commissioning Ceremony, Interior, Crew and Patient Photos
  • Willard Adams Photo Collection - USS Repose 1953-1954
  • Log Book and Officer Roster, 1 to 11 December 1953 Contributed be Willard Adams
  • USS Repose 1965-1967 Cruisebook
  • USS Repose 1969-1970 Cruisebook
  • Scalpel & Line Vol. 1 No. 6 - USS Repose Newspaper
    • Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Britton, William Omerod26 May 1945 - 10 January 1946
    02CAPT. Labarge, Charles Louis :RADM10 January 1946 - 15 June 1946
    03CAPT. Thayer, William Rudolph15 June 1946 - ?
    04CAPT. Gordon1946
     Decommissioned19 January 1950 - 28 October 1950
    05CAPT. Perdue, Charles Hiram28 October 1950 - 1952
    06CAPT. Williams, P. J.1952 - January 1953
    07CAPT. Wyckoff, John McKayJanuary 1953 - May 1954
    08CAPT. Over, George R.May 1954 - 21 December 1954
     Decommissioned24 December 1954 - 16 October 1965
    09CAPT. Maher, Eugene Hugh16 October 1965 - 10 November1966
    10CAPT. Gossom, Raymond Charles10 November1966 - 4 May 1967
    11CAPT. Campbell James Meehan, USN4 May 1967 - 19 August 1967
    12CAPT. Drew, John Graham1967 - 6 May 1969
    13CAPT. Menge, Robert F.6 May 1969 - 10 May 1970
    14CDR. May, Porter Eugene USN (XOIC)10 May 1970 - May 1970-Decomm
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    Last Updated 29 March 2024