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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Mindanao (ARG-3)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Yankee - Golf
 NPYG
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Luzon Class Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship:
  • Laid down, 11 April 1943, as SS Elbert Hubbard, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime
  • Commission contract (MCE hull 983) at Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, MD.
  • Launched, 13 May 1943
  • Commissioned, USS Mindanao (ARG-3), 6 November 1943, CDR. George B. Evans in command
  • During World War II USS Mindanao was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II, USS Mindanao was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    13 October to 30 November 19451 December 1945 to 27 March 1946

  • Decommissioned, 17 May 1947 at Orange, TX.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Texas Group, Orange, TX.,
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1961
  • Transferred to custody of the Maritime Commission, 9 May 1961 for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, TX.
  • Permanent custody assumed by the Maritime Administration, 9 January 1962
  • Title transferred to Artificial Reef Program, State of Florida, 12 March 1980
  • Final Disposition, reefed off Daytona Beach FL, 11 November 1980
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,350 t.(trial)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 23' (lim)
    Speed 12.5 kts. (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 31
    Enlisted 552
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    one 3"/50 gun mount
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Ship's Service Generators
    three 350Kw 450V A.C.
    two 60Kw 120V D.C.
    Fuel Oil Capacity 19,540Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Machine Corp. vertical triple expansion reciprocating steam engine
    two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers 220psi 450°
    single propeller, 2,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    War Shipping Administration
    Mindanao 113k Overhead view of ex-Elbert Hubbard under tow in Chesapeake Bay, 20 May 1943, one week after launching. The ship was converted to Mindanao (ARG-3) and commissioned 6 November 1943.
    United States Maritime Commission photo from the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Mike Green
    USS Mindanao (ARG-3)
    Mindanao
    United States Maritime Commission    		 283k Overhead and port stern view of USS Mindanao (ARG-3, 23 November 1943, at Hampton Roads, VA.
    United States Maritime Commission photo from the collections of the US National Archives and US National Archives PhotoNo. 80-G-89075, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Mike Green
    Mindanao
    US National Archives
    Photo No. 80-G-89075    		 300k
    Mindanao 93k USS Mindanao (ARG-3) at anchor, November 1943, probably at Hampton Roads, VA.
    US Navy photo    		 Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Mindanao 141k Explosion of USS Mount Hood (AE-11) in Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands, 10 November 1944

    Small craft gathered around USS Mindanao (ARG-3) during salvage and rescue efforts shortly after USS Mount Hood (AE-11) blew up about 350 yards away from Mindanao's port side. Mindanao, and seven motor minesweepers (YMS) moored to her starboard side, were damaged by the blast, as were USS Alhena (AKA-9), in the photo's top left center, and USS Oberrender (DE-344), in top right.
    Note the extensive oil slick, with tracks through it made by small craft.
    Copied from the War Diary, Manus Naval Base, for November 1944
    US Navy photo # NH 95405 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Mindanao 110k Explosion of USS Mount Hood (AE-11) in Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands, 10 November 1944

    Four motor minesweepers (YMS) alongside the starboard side of Mindanao (ARG-3) shortly after USS Mount Hood (AE-11) blew up about 350 yards away from USS Mindanao (ARG-3)'s port side. These wooden minesweepers were protected from most of the direct force of the blast by Mindanao's hull, but received some damage.
    USS YMS-340 is second from the left. Note that her open bridge bulwarks have been blown down. Also note differing types of retracting acoustics "hammer box" mountings on the bows of these ships.
    Copied from the War Diary, Manus Naval Base, for November 1944
    US Navy photo # NH 96175 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Mindanao 203k Explosion of USS Mount Hood (AE-11) in Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands, 10 November 1944

    Salvage and rescue work underway on USS Mindanao (ARG-3) shortly after USS Mount Hood (AE-11) blew up about 350 yards away. Note heavy damage to Mindanao's hull and superstructure, including large holes from fragment impacts. View looks forward from alongside her port quarter.
    Mindanao had 180 crewmen killed and injured by this explosion. She was under repair until 21 December 1944.
    Small craft alongside or nearby include (from left) YPB-6 (probable identification), two LCVPs and YPB-7.
    Copied from the War Diary, Manus Naval Base, for November 1944
    US Navy photo # NH 96174 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 Robert Hurst
    Mindanao 73k USS Mindanao (ARG-3) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from DANFS.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    USS Mindanao (ARG-3)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Evans, George Blaine, USN6 November 1943 - 15 May 1945
    02CDR. Ivaldi, Joseph Albert15 May 1945 - 10 September 1946
    03LCDR. Toney, Edgar Wayne, USN10 September 1946 - 17 May 1947
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Data Base
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 5 April 2019