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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Conestoga (AT-54)
ex
 USS Conestoga (SP-1128) (1917 - 1920)

1919 International Radio Call Sign:
Nan - Able - George - Pup
 NAGP
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
World War I Victory Medal
Conestoga Class Fleet Tug:
  • Built in 1904 at Maryland Steel Co., Sparrows Point, MD.
  • Purchased by the Navy, 14 September 1917
  • Fitted out for Naval service and commissioned USS Conestoga (SP-1128), 10 November 1917, LTjg Carl Olsen, USNRF, in command
  • Redesignated AT-54, 17 July 1920
  • Final Disposition, declared lost with all her crew, 30 June 1921 (see attached article)
    Specifications:
    Displacement 420
    Length 170'
    Beam 29'
    Draft 16'
    Speed 13 kts.
    Complement 56
    Armament
    as built, one single 3" gun mount
    two additional guns added for WWI service
    Propulsion system unknown
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Merchant Service
    Conestoga 61k SS Conestoga in commercial service. Photographed before being acquired by the U.S. Navy
    US Navy photo # NH 89793 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Conestoga 79k SS Conestoga was one of a pair of large seagoing tugs built to the same design by the Maryland Steel Co. for the Philadelphia and Reading Transportation Line of Philadelphia in 1904-1905, the other being SS Monocacy [later USS Genesee (AT-55)]. Designed to tow coal barges along the U.S. East Coast, they were among the largest tugs in the U.S. merchant marine. This drawing was published in the August 1904 issue of the journal Marine Engineering..
    Courtesy Shipscribe.com    		 Mike Green
    USS Conestoga (SP-1128)
    Conestoga 54k USS Conestoga (SP-1128) in port, prior to World War I.
    US Navy photo # NH 89794, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    USS Conestoga (AT-54)
    Conestoga
    094705424    		 317k Photo looking south of USS Conestoga (AT-54) moored at "B" Wharf, US Navy Yard, Norfolk, VA., 6 August 1920. Note painted on the side of the pier "USS Despatch, South Carolina."
    National Archives Identifier 52559545. Local Identifier 181-V-2670. Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, Fifth Naval District. Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Agency Identifier DD-SD-15-36363.    		 David Upton
    Conestoga 66k USS Conestoga at San Diego, CA., circa early 1921, shortly before she disappeared while en route from Mare Island Navy Yard to Samoa, by way of Pearl Harbor.
    US Navy photo # NH 71299, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Conestoga 64k USS Conestoga at San Diego, CA., February 1921. She was lost without a trace after leaving Mare Island Navy Yard on 25 March 1921, en route to Samoa.
    US Navy photo # NH 102094, Courtesy of H.E. ("Ed") Coffer, 1988, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Conestoga 107k Artist conception (made from contemporary tugs) shows how USS Conestoga (AT-54) might have appeared before she disappeared in 1921.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, March 1958.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    USS Conestoga (AT-54) Crew Photos
    Conestoga 113k USS Conestoga (AT-54) Ship's Company beside and on Conestoga, at San Diego, CA., circa early 1921.
    Officers and Chief Petty Officers in front row are (from left to right):
    Chief Boatswain's Mate Elias Melvin Zimmerman;
    Chief Carpenter's Mate John Wesley Powell;
    Machinist Louis A. Liscomb, Engineering Officer;
    Lieutenant Ernest L. Jones, Commanding Officer;
    Boatswain Roy E. Hoffses, Ordnance Officer;
    Boatswain Harvey H. Reinbold, Executive Officer;
    Chief Water Tender Charles Ingerson Westover; and
    Chief Machinist's Mate George F. Kaler.
    The Sailor marked by an arrow (top row, 6th from left) may be Seaman 1st Class W.P. Burbage.
    US Navy photo # NH 71503, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Conestoga 89k USS Conestoga (AT-54) Ship's Company beside and on Conestoga, at San Diego, CA., circa early 1921.
    Officers, seated in front row, are (from left to right):
    Machinist Louis A. Liscomb, Engineering Officer;
    Lieutenant Ernest L. Jones, Commanding Officer;
    Boatswain Harvey H. Reinbold, Executive Officer; and
    Boatswain Roy E. Hoffses, Ordnance Officer.
    Chief Petty Officers, in 2nd row center, are (from left to right):
    Chief Boatswain's Mate Elias Melvin Zimmerman;
    Chief Water Tender Charles Ingerson Westover;
    Chief Machinist's Mate George F. Kaler; and
    Chief Carpenter's Mate John Wesley Powell.
    The Sailor marked by an arrow (top row) may be Seaman 1st Class W.P. Burbage.
    US Navy photo # NH 71506, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Conestoga 97k LT. Ernest L. Jones, USN, Commanding Officer, USS Conestoga (AT-54), standing alongside his ship, at San Diego, circa early 1921. He was among those lost when Conestoga disappeared after leaving Mare Island in March 1921.
    US Navy photo # NH 71504, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Conestoga 94k USS Conestoga (AT-54) Ship's Officers at San Diego, California, circa early 1921.
    They are (from left to right):
    Machinist Louis A. Liscomb, Engineering Officer;
    Lieutenant Ernest L. Jones, Commanding Officer;
    Boatswain Harvey H. Reinbold, Executive Officer; and
    Boatswain Roy E. Hoffses, Ordnance Officer.
    All were lost when Conestoga disappeared after leaving Mare Island in March 1921.
    US Navy photo # NH 71501, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Conestoga 89k USS Conestoga (AT-54) Ship's Chief Petty Officers, at San Diego, circa early 1921.
    They are (from left to right):
    Chief Machinist's Mate George F. Kaler;
    Chief Carpenter's Mate John Wesley Powell;
    Chief Water Tender Charles Ingerson Westover; and
    Chief Boatswain's Mate Elias Melvin Zimmerman.
    All were lost when Conestoga disappeared after leaving Mare Island in March 1921.
    US Navy photo # NH 71502, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Conestoga 74k LT. Ernest L. Jones, USN, Commanding Officer, USS Conestoga (AT-54), with the ship's Quartermasters (one of whom has been cut out of the image), at San Diego, circa early 1921. The Quartermaster on the left (to the right of LT. Jones) is believed to be QM1/c Martin Philip McKeigh.
    US Navy photo # NH 71505, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Conestoga 90k USS Conestoga (AT-54) Deck Division posed beside the ship, at San Diego, circa early 1921.
    Seated in chairs are (from left to right):
    Chief Carpenter's Mate John Wesley Powell;
    Boatswain Harvey H. Reinbold, Executive Officer;
    Boatswain Roy E. Hoffses, Ordnance Officer; and
    Chief Boatswain's Mate Elias Melvin Zimmerman.
    The Sailor marked by an arrow (top row) may be Seaman 1st Class W.P. Burbage.
    US Navy photo # NH 71507, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Conestoga 99k USS Conestoga (AT-54) Engineering Division posed beside the ship, at San Diego, California, circa early 1921.
    Seated in chairs are (from left to right):
    Chief Water Tender Charles Ingerson Westover;
    Machinist Louis A. Liscomb, Engineering Officer; and
    Chief Machinist's Mate George F. Kaler.
    US Navy photo # NH 71500, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Conestoga 84k USS Conestoga (AT-54) Gunnery Department posing with her 3"/50 gun, 1921. The Sailor at left, marked "me", may be Seaman 1st Class W.P. Burbage.
    US Navy photo # NH 71510, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Conestoga 138k Memorial crew list of the officers and men serving in USS Conestoga (AT-54) when she disappeared while en route from Mare Island to Samoa.
    US Navy photo # NH 71508, Courtesy of Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Conestoga 315k The 1,000 horse power triple-expansion steam engine inside the hull of the wreck of USS Conestoga (AT-54) in the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. This diagnostic artifact helped date the shipwreck along with its coal fired twin Scotch boilers.
    US Navy photo # 151001-N-ZZ999-305 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 1, 2016), courtesy of NOAA    		 USNH&HC
    Conestoga 258k The steam steering gear of USS Conestoga (AT-54) lies inside the shipwreck after falling through the main deck from its original position located below the pilot house. The steering gear served as "power steering" to assist the rotation of the large steering quadrant and rudder in the stern of the tugboat.
    US Navy photo # 151001-N-ZZ999-303 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 1, 2016), courtesy of NOAA    		 USNH&HC
    Conestoga 266k The 3-inch/50-caliber main battery of USS Conestoga (AT-54) is seen inside the shipwreck near the forecastle after the gun's support platform has fallen from its original position in front of the pilot house through the main deck. The gun was a key diagnostic artifact that served to identify the wreck as Conestoga
    US Navy photo # 151001-N-ZZ999-302 PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb.10, 2016), courtesy of NOAA    		 USNH&HC
    Conestoga 369k An underwater photo taken by an unmanned underwater vehicle shows the boiler compartment at the shipwreck site of USS Conestoga (AT-54) in the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.
    US Navy photo # 151001-N-ZZ999-301 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 7, 2016), courtesy of NOAA    		 USNH&HC
    Conestoga 202k Stern view of the shipwreck of USS Conestoga (AT-54) in the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. The wreck is colonized with white plumose sea anemones contrasting the water column.
    US Navy photo # 151001-N-ZZ999-304 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 1, 2016), courtesy of NOAA    		 Robert Hurst
    Conestoga 268k The wreck of USS Conestoga (AT-54) as seen on sonar in at a depth of 185 feet in the waters of the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary in California.
    US Navy photo # 160323-N-ZZ999-301 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 23, 2016) , courtesy of NOAA    		 Robert Hurst

    For more photos and information about USS Conestoga see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
  • National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
  • "Sea Classics" magazine July 2016, Vol. 49/ No. 7 - Return of the Conestoga by Susan Duprey
  • Smithsonian.com "With the Discovery of the USS Conestoga, Researchers Have Solved a Mystery That Was Nearly 100 Years Old
  • "Earth Is Blue: Three Miles from Safety: The Story of the USS Conestoga" NOAA Sanctuaries
    • Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. Olsen, Carl, USNRF19 November 1917 - 20 September 1919
    02LT. Heinrichi, Ernest Gustav, USNRF20 September 1919 - 29 October 1919
    03LTjg. Morrison, Francis B., USNRF29 October 1919 - 2 March 1920
    04LT. Jones, Ernest Larkin, USN2 March 1921 - 30 June 1921
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 7 May 2021