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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Hannibal (AG-1)
ex
 USS Hannibal (1898 - 1921)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Quebec - Victor

NAQV
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Spanish Campaign Medal - World War I Victory Medal (with Escort Clasp)
Bottom Row - American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp) - American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
  • Built in 1898 as SS Joseph Holland, a Collier, by J. Blumer and Co., Sunderland, Great Britain
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 16 April 1898
  • Commissioned as the US Navy Collier USS Hannibal, 7 June 1898, CDR. H. G. Colby in command
  • Decommissioned, 15 August 1911
  • Recommissioned, 16 October 1911
  • Decommissioned in 1920 at Philadelphia, PA.
  • Recommissioned, 9 February 1921 as USS Hannibal (AG-1)
  • Decommissioned, 21 August 1944, at Philadelphia
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 16 September 1944
  • Final Disposition, departed Philadelphia, 3 November 1944, for NAS Patuxent River in tow of USCGC Naugatuck (WYT-92) and Toka (YTB-149). In March 1945 Hannibal was intentionally grounded on a sand bar 7 miles east of Point Lookout, between Point Lookout and Smith's Island (38.02.439 N 076.92.08W) for use as an aerial bombing target. Hannibal was replaced as a target in 1966 by ex-USNS American Mariner (T-AGM-12), apparently almost on top of what was left of Hannibal
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,000 t.
    Length 274' 1"
    Beam 39' 2"
    Draft 17' 7"
    Speed 9 kts.
    Complement 244
    Armament
    one 4" gun mount
    two 3" guns
    eight, .50-cal. machine guns
    Propulsion
    coal fired boilers
    one vertical triple expansion steam engine
    single propeller, 1,100 shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Hannibal
    Hannibal
    094900120    		 201k
    Namesake
    (Hannibal counting the signet rings of Roman nobles killed during the battle, statue by Sébastien Slodtz, 1704, Louvre.)

    Hannibal was a Carthaginian general and statesman who is widely considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. His father, Hamilcar Barca, was a leading Carthaginian commander during the First Punic War (264–241 BC). His younger brothers were Mago and Hasdrubal, and he was brother-in-law to Hasdrubal the Fair; all also commanded Carthaginian armies. (Wikipedia)    		 Tommy Trampp>
    Hannibal 118k SS Joseph Holland arriving at Brooklyn, N.Y., 9 May 1898, to be converted into the navy collier Hannibal. The ship's name has been crudely painted out on her stern and lifeboats but she retains the "FSH" stack markings of the Francis Stanley Holland firm. Mollenhauer Sugar Refining Co. in the background was a Brooklyn waterfront landmark.
    US National Archives, RG-19-MC box 1, photo # unknown, courtesy Shipscribe.com    		 Mike Green
    Hannibal 110k SS Joseph Holland at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. 20 May 1898, awaiting conversion to the navy collier Hannibal. The receiving ship USS Vermont is behind her as are two other ships probably awaiting conversion. She still carries her original owner's stack markings.
    US National Archives, RG-19-MC box 1, photo # unknown, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Mike Green
    Hannibal 81k USS Hannibal probably Hampton Roads, VA., 2 May 1907.
    US Navy photo # NH 99734 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Hannibal 80k USS Hannibal at anchor, 2 January 1914, location unknown.
    US Navy photo # NH 761 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 Fred Weiss
    Hannibal 114k USS Hannibal at anchor showing the wear and tear of surveying operations circa 1915.
    US National Archives, RG-19-A-31, photo # unknown, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Mike Green
    Hannibal 114k YC-57 moored with USS Hannibal under way probably at Guantanamo Bay, circa 1918. David Wright
    Hannibal 52k USS Hannibal at Brest, France, circa 1918-1919 while serving as tender to US Navy Submarine Chasers at Plymouth, England.
    US Navy photo # NH 64966 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , the Peter K. Connelly collection, courtesy of William H. Davis, 1967.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Hannibal 90k USS Hannibal moored in a Caribbean area harbor, possibly St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, in 1919.
    US Navy photo # NH 78195 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , courtesy of CDR. Donald J. Robinson, USN (MSC), 1973.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Hannibal 79k USS Hannibal at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, in 1919.
    US Navy photo # NH 99699 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , collection of George K. Beach USS SC-331.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    USS Hannibal (AG-1)
    Hannibal 108k USS Hannibal (AG-1) at Philadelphia, PA., getting underway to conduct surveys in Cuban waters during the 1920s.
    US Navy photo # NH 99719 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , Collection of LeRoy R. Horstman.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Hannibal 67k USS Hannibal (AG-1) at anchor in the 1920s, location unknown.
    US Navy photo # NH 665 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command     		US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Hannibal 67k USS Hannibal (AG-1) at anchor in the Caribbean while engaged in survey work during the early 1920s.
    US Navy photo # NH 99700 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , collection of LeRoy R. Horstman.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Hannibal 109k US Hannibal (AG-1) at anchor in the Caribbean while engaged in survey work during the early 1920s. Hannibal has a barge and the two submarine chasers alongside. Outboard subchaser is USS SC-353 and the other is probably USS SC-223. Both worked with Hannibal on survey work.
    US Navy photo # NH 99701 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , collection of LeRoy R. Horstman.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Hannibal 98k USS Hannibal (AG-1) at anchor, April 1924, location unknown.
    US Navy photo # NH 63541 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Hannibal 53k USS Hannibal (AG-1) at Philadelphia Navy Yard, with her officers and crew posing on the deck, circa late 1920. Panoramic photograph taken by E.E. Hildebrandt, Naval Aircraft Factory, Philadelphia.
    US Navy photo # NH 103195, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 Robert Hurst
    Hannibal
    094900122
    ISM 14434    		 355k Long distance aerial views of USS Hannibal (AG-1) and USS Nokomis (PY6) berthed at pier 3, Philadelphia Navy Yard between 5 March and 6 August 1931.
    Photos by Aeroservice, in collections of Independence Seaport Museum as #14434 and #14435. Used for educational and non-commercial purposes.    		 John Chiquoine
    Hannibal
    094900123
    ISM 14435    		 217k
    Hannibal
    094900121    		 322k USS Hannibal (AG-1) moored pierside at Norfolk, VA, 23 October 1933.
    Norfolk Public Library (Va.), Sargeant Memorial Collection.    		 Mike Green
    Hannibal 86k USS Hannibal (AG-1) anchored at Bahia Honda, Panama, 3 February 1934.
    US Navy photo # NH 53627 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command     		US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Hannibal 77k USS Hannibal (AG-1) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    Hannibal 114k USS Hannibal (AG-1) near the Norfolk Navy Yard, 26 November 1941. She appears to be carrying a full complement of surveying launches.
    US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo # 19-N-25954, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Robert Hurst
    Hannibal
    094900124
    		 338k Long distance aerial view of a seaplane passing USS Hannibal (AG-1) while at anchor off Norfolk, VA., 2 August 1942.
    Life Magazine photo by George Strock Used for educational and non-commercial purpose.    		 John Chiquoine
    Hannibal 126k USS Hannibal (AG-1) underway near Norfolk Navy Yard, 11 July 1943.
    US National Archives, RG-19-LCM., Photo # 19-N-51958 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Mike Green
    Hannibal 127k Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal letter of 29 September 1944 to President Franklin D. Roosevelt recommending that authority be granted to use Hannibal as a radar bombing target at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. David Wright
    USS Hannibal (AG-1)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Colby, Harrison Gray Otis, USN (USNA 1867)7 June 1898 - 22 September 1898
    02MASTER Easton, Richard Joseph (Naval Auxiliary Service)1906 - 21 May 1908
     In Ordinary at Boston21 May 1908 - 10 May 1909
    03MASTER Randall, Albert Borland (Naval Auxiliary Service)10 May 1909 - 1910
    04MASTER Horton, Fred Edward (Naval Auxiliary Service)1910 - 10 May 1911
    05CDR. Hayward, George North, USN (USNA 1888)10 May 1911 - 15 August 1911
     Decommissioned15 August 1911 - 16 October 1911
    06CDR. Gilmer, William Witt, USN (USNA 1885)16 October 1911 - 16 October 1911
    07CDR. Hayward, George North, USN (Ret.) (USNA 1888)16 December 1911 - 7 May 1918
    08CDR. Joyce, Charles Sheriden7 May 1918 - 15 August 1919
     Decommissioned Philadelphia15 August 1919 - 9 February 1921
    07CDR. Fisher, Joseph Otto, USN (USNA 1902)9 February 1921 - 29 July 1922
    08CDR. Parker, Edward Constant Southword, USN (USNA 1902)29 July 1922 - 21 June 1923
    09CDR. Conn, Jr., William Tipton, USN (USNA 1902)21 June 1923 - 1924
    10CDR. Rodgers, Christopher Raymond Paul, USN (USNA 1904) 1 September 1925 - 24 August 1927
    11CAPT. Smyth, William Woods, USN (USNA 1903)24 August 1927 - 28 August 1929
    12CAPT. LeBreton, David McDougal, USN (USNA 1904) :RADM28 August 1929 - 30 April 1931
    13CDR. Slayton, Charles Churchill, USN (USNA 1907)30 April 1931 - 7 June 1932
    14CDR. Hinckley, Robert Messinger, USN (USNA 1911)7 June 1932 - 7 August 1934
    15CDR. Stevens, James Garfield, USN (USNA 1908) 7 August 1934 - 6 June 1936
    16CDR. Campbell, Colin, USN (USNA 1917)6 June 1936 - 7 June 1938
    17CDR. Corns, Virgil Edward, USN7 June 1938 - 10 June 1940
    18LCDR. Bell, Russell Dudley, USN10 June 1940 - 15 March 1943
    19CDR. Johnson, Elder Paul, USN15 March 1943 - 10 June 1944
    20LCDR. Leonard, Charles Albert, USN 10 June 1944 - 21 August 1944
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    Last Updated 1 September 2023