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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Bridge (AF-1)
ex
 USS Bridge (1917 - 1920)


International Radio Call Signs,

WWII - USS Bridge (AF-1)
NESF
Nan - Easy - Sugar - Fox
1917 - USS Bridge
NOI
Nan - Oboe - Item
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - World War I Victory Medal (with Transport clasp) - American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal
Bridge Class Stores Ship:
  • Laid down, 12 June 1915, at Boston Navy Yard, Boston, MA.
  • Launched, 18 May 1916
  • Commissioned USS Bridge, 2 June 1917, LCDR. William K. Riddle in command
  • Designated Provisions Stores Ship (AF-1), 17 July 1920
  • During World War II USS Bridge was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 8 to 22 May 1945
  • Following WWII USS Bridge was assigned to Occupation service from 25 October 1945 to 27 June 1946
  • Decommissioned, 27 June 1946, at Sasebo, Japan
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS Bridge earned one battle star for her World War II service
  • Turned over to the State Department, Foreign Liquidation Commission for disposal, 22 December 1947
  • Sold to Madrigal Shipping Co., Manila, P.I., 22 December 1947, renamed SS Don Jose
  • Final Disposition, scrapped in Japan by Kudamatsu in March 1953
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5207 tons (Displacement rose in 1945 to 9,500 tons)
    Length 423' 11"
    Beam 55' 2"
    Draft 22' 9"
    Speed 14 kts.
    Complement 1945
    Officers 21
    Enlisted 261
    Cargo Capacity 3,170 DWT
    non-refrigerated 86,757 Cu ft
    refrigerated 4,300 Cu ft
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Armament
    As Built
    four single 5"/51 gun mounts
    one 3/50" AA gun mount
    Armament August 1942
    two original 5"/51s aft
    original 3/50" AA gun mount
    one quadruple 1.1" AA gun mount forward
    eight single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Armament February 1945
    one twin 40mm AA gun mount which replaced the 1.1" mount forward
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount aft, which replaced the original two 5"/51s
    four single 3'/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    Propulsion
    two Boston Navy Yard triple expansion steam engines
    two White Forester boilers, 200psi Sat°
    Ship's Service Generators
     two turbo-drive 50Kw 120V D.C.
     one Diesel-drive 30Kw 120V D.C.
    two propellers 5,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Bridge 141k
    Namesake

    Horatio Bridge (1806-98) was born Augusta, Maine, and graduated from Bowdoin College in 1826. He was admitted to the bar in 1828 and practiced law until 1838 when he entered the Navy as a Purser. In 1854 he was named Chief of the Bureau of Provisions and Clothing. He was the first in the Navy to employ the idea of comprehensive fleet supply which was carried out with conspicuous success during the Civil War. He retired 8 April 1868 and was advanced to Pay Director with the relative rank of Commodore on the Retired List 3 March 1871. He died in 1898 at Athens, Pa. (Text from DANFS)    		 Bill Gonyo and Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard
    Bridge 138k Program for the keel laying of Supply Ship No. 1, 12 June 1915. The event was significant since it represented the first major steel vessel to be constructed by the Boston Navy Yard.
    Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10540    		 Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard
    Bridge 249k Building Slip (Shipways 1), looking forward, 12 June 1915. Note the keel blocks awaiting the start of construction of the still-unnamed Supply Ship No. 1.
    US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10536    		 Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard
    Bridge 123k Crowds gather for the keel laying of Supply Ship No. 1, 12 June 1915.
    US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10537    		 Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard
    Bridge 114k The “Amateur Riveting Gang” for the 12 June 1915 keel laying of Supply Ship No. 1 consisted of the children of officers assigned to the Boston Navy Yard.
    US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10537    		 Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard
    Bridge 149k This progress photo of Supply Ship No. 1 was taken on 6 July 1915, 19 days after keel laying, shows the inner bottom framing looking aft.
    US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10536    		 Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard
    Bridge 221k Supply Ship No. 1, 6 January 1916, 208 days after keel laying, work was underway on the main and superstructure decks. This view looks forward.
    US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10536    		 Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard
    Bridge 26k General Order No. 212 issued a little more than two weeks before her scheduled launching, Supply Ship No. 1 was named USS Bridge by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels. Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard
    Bridge 137k Preparations are underway for the launching of USS Bridge, 18 May 1916. This view was taken from the same vantage point as the 6 Jan. 1916 image above.
    US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10538    		 Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard
    Bridge 104k The ship’s sponsor, Mrs. Granville Searcy Fleece, a grandniece of the ship’s namesake, christens USS Bridge, 18 May 1916.
    US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10538    		 Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard
    Bridge 126k USS Bridge slides into Boston Harbor following her launch on 18 May 1916.
    US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10538    		 Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard
    Bridge 387k USS Bridge launching at Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, 18 May 1916. Courtesy Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection.
    Bridge 538k The propellers of USS Bridge are seen in this view of the ship taken in Dry Dock 2 at Boston Navy Yard, 21 March 1917.
    US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10536    		 Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard
    Bridge 101k USS Bridge at the Boston Navy Yard on 6 June 1917, four days after her commissioning.
    US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10534    		 Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard
    Bridge 85k USS Bridge under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Richard Miller BMC USNR Ret.
    Bridge 78k USS Bridge at Queenstown, Ireland, while wearing pattern camouflage, circa 1918. Possibly taken from USS Melville (Destroyer Tender # 2). The original photograph is printed on post card stock.
    US Navy photo # NH 104459, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center, donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007.    		 Robert Hurst
    Bridge 42k USS Bridge (AF-1) at anchor, location unknown, 27 December 1918
    US Navy photo    		 USS Bridge (AOE-10) web site
    Bridge 15k USS Bridge (AF-1) at anchor, location unknown in January 1920
    US Navy photo    		 USS Bridge (AOE-10) web site
    Bridge
    09060128    		 185k USS Bridge (AF-1) moored pierside at Naval Operating Base, Hampton Roads, VA. in 1920.
    US National Archives Photo # 80-G-1025893, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Rick Davis
    Bridge
    09060127    		 281k USS Bridge (AF-1) at anchor off Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in January 1920.
    US National Archives Photo # 80-G-1025895, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Rick Davis
    Bridge
    09060126    		 243k USS Bridge (AF-1) loading provisions at Naval Operating Base, Hampton Roads, VA., 1 October 1922, before she accompanied destroyers to Turkish waters. Note her tall topmasts, with long-range radio antennas suspended between them.
    US National Archives, Photo No. 80-G-179333 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Mike Green
    ARD-4 67k USS Bridge (AF-1) with ARD-1 under tow in Colon Harbor, Panama Canal Zone, 28 October 1934.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-455970, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Michael Mohl
    Bridge 50k USS Bridge (AF-1) under way, circa, 1936, location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    Bridge 146k USS Bridge (AF-1) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Jim Kurrasch
    Battleship Iowa Pacific Battleship Center
    Bridge 126k Starboard broadside view of USS Bridge (AF-1) near Mare Island Navy Yard, 8 August 1942. The ship has been rearmed, with the forward 3"/50 guns replacing the forward 5"/51 guns, two 3"/50 guns added aft, and a 1.1" quad AA mount added forward. The .50 caliber machine guns have been replaced with 20mm guns.
    U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM, Photo No. 19-LCM-34667 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Mike Green
    Bridge 119k Starboard quarter view of USS Bridge (AF-1) near Mare Island Navy Yard, 8 August 1942.
    U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM, Photo No. 19-N-34664 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Mike Green
    Bridge 133k USS Bridge (AF-1) off Mare Island Navy Yard, 12 January 1942. The ship still has its pre-World War II armament of 4-5"/51 but now also has two 3"/50 guns just aft of the short kingposts forward and raised positions for eight .50 caliber AA machine guns (not installed). All of her gun positions have splinter protection (low bulwarks).
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Mike Green
    USS Bridge (AF-1)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Riddle, William King, USN (USNA 1900)2 June 1917 - 29 August 1918
    02LCDR. Lyons, David, USN29 August 1918 - 7 July 1921
    03CAPT King, Ernest, Joseph USN (USNA 1901) :FADM7 July 1921 - 27 July 1922
    04CDR. Kittinger, Theodore Albert, USN (USNA 1901)27 July 1922 - 14 June 1923
    05CDR. Griswold, Ralph Mancill, USN (USNA 1902)14 June 1923 - 25 September 1923
    06CDR. McCullough Richard Philip, USN (USNA 1904)25 September 1923 - 12 May 1925
    07CDR. Mauldin, Cleon Wirt12 May 1925 - 1 June 1927
    08CAPT. Taylor, Thomas Herbert, USN (USNA 1903)1 June 1927 - 13 May 1929
    09 CAPT. Soulé Jr., Charles Carroll, USN (USNA 1904)13 May 1929 - 24 June 1930
    10 CDR. Shaw, Charles Harlan, USN (USNA 1905)24 June 1930 - 15 July 1931
    11CAPT. Bradley Jr., Willis Winter, USN (USNA 1908)15 July 1931 - 7 May 1932
    12CDR. Allen, Ezra Griffen, USN (USNA 1907)7 May 1932 - 30 June 1934
    13CAPT. McClain, John Franklin, USN (USNA 1908)30 June 1934 - 23 March 1936
    14CDR. Comfort, Roland Marcy, USN (USNA 1909)23 March 1936 - 1 July 1938
    15CDR. Twomey, John Joseph, USN (USNA 1917)1 July 1938 - 12 June 1939
    16CDR. Noble, Julian Bennett, USN (USNA 1919)12 June 1939 - 1 July 1941
    17CAPT. Graham, Roy William Montrose, USN (USNA 1920) :RADM1 July 1941 - 5 August 1941
    18CDR. Jackson Jr., William Bennett, USN (USNA 1921-b)5 August 1941 - 22 May 1942
    19CDR. Sherman, Eugene Proctor, USN (USNA 1921-a)22 May 1942 - 26 October 1943
    20LCDR. Stevens, Robert R., USNR26 October 1943 - 23 June 1944
    21CDR. Saul, Thomas Nelson, USN 23 June 1944 - 14 April 1945
    222LT. Wickre, Orville G., USNR14 April 1945 - 27 June 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves. Photos courtesy Bill Gonyo
    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 5 March 2021