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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive


Contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN Ret.

Camden (IX-42)
ex
USS Camden (AS-6) (1920 - 1931)
USS Camden (ID-3143) (1917 - 1920)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Papa - Romeo
NAPR
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - World War I Victory Medal (with bronze star in lieu of Transport clasp)
Bottom Row - American Defense Medal (with bronze star in lieu of Fleet clasp) - American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal


Camden Class Submarine Tender:
  • Built in 1900 as SS Kiel, at Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellscraft, Flensburg, Germany
  • Seized by the US Government at US entry into WWI
  • Transferred to the United States Shipping Board (USSB), 22 May 1917
  • Acquired by the Navy and Commissioned as Cargo Ship USS Camden (ID-3143), 15 August 1917, LCDR. E. C. Jones, USNRF, in command
  • Decommissioned, 3 May 1918, at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA., for conversion to a Submarine Tender
  • Recommissioned, 21 February 1919
  • Designated (AS-6), 17 July 1920
  • Decommissioned, 26 May 1931, at Philadelphia, PA.
  • Reclassified as a barracks ship Miscellaneous Unclassified, (IX-42), 17 September 1940
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Final Disposition, sold, 23 October 1946, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,075 t.
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 47' 8"
    Draft 24'
    Speed 12 kts.
    Complement 345
    Armament
    four 4" guns
    two 3" guns
    Propulsion
    one reciprocating vertical quadruple expansion steam engine
    two Babcock & Wilcox boilers

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    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Camden (ID # 3143)
    Camden
    09360632
    43k
    Namesake
    Camden A city in and the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. Camden is part of the Delaware Valley (Philadelphia metropolitan area) and is located directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia.
    Official seal of Camden, New Jersey
    Benjamin Franklin Bridge across the Delaware River, connecting Camden with Philadelphia. CC BY-SA 3.0 by Jeffrey Phillips Freeman - Debeo Morium, via Wikimedia Commons
    Tommy Trampp
    Camden 76k USS Camden (ID-3143) at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C., 11 June 1917, while being converted from the German cargo steamship SS Kiel. Note USS Reposo II (SP-198) on the near side of the pier.
    US Navy photo # NH 55043, for the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Camden 104k USS Camden (ID-3143) moored pierside at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C., 23 August 1917.
    US Navy photo # NH 55041, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Camden 68k USS Camden (ID-3143) at anchor off Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C., 23 August 1917.
    US Navy photo # NH 55039, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Camden 64k USS Camden (ID-3143) off Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C., 23 August 1917.
    US Navy photo # NH 55040, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Camden 151k USS Camden (ID-3143) in the early stages of conversion to a Submarine Tender at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 27 June 1918. The ship has been largely stripped except for the bare hull, masts, and boiler uptakes. The well deck forward was filled in during the conversion and new superstructures were added.
    US National Archives, RG-19-A-31, Photo No. Unknown, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.
    Mike Green
    Camden 64k USS Camden (ID-3143) with USS Talbot (Destroyer # 114) at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA., 28 August 1919.
    US Navy photo # NH 47001, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Crosby Collection.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Camden 86k USS Camden (ID-3143) at the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, MA., 13 October 1919. Panoramic photograph by J. Crosby, Naval Photographer, 11 Portland St., Boston, MA.
    US Navy photo # NH 99891, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Crosby Collection.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Camden
    09360630
    913k USS Camden (ID-3143) ship's cooks, circa 1917.
    Photos contributed by Jacqueline Cusick. Her Great Grandfather Clarence William Bell served in Camden during World War I.
    Bob Canchola
    Camden
    09360608
    151k USS Camden (ID-3143) at anchor, 21 January 1920, at Pensacola, FL. with USS R-1 (Submarine #-78) alongside.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-434937 (same as US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 99894), now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    Rick Davis
    Camden 95k USS Camden (ID-3143) at New York City, 2 May 1920, with six "R" type submarines alongside. USS R-5 (Submarine #-82) is the third sub from the left.
    US Navy photo # NH 82521, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , collection of William E. Bennington, Senior. Donated by W.E. and R.W. Bennington, 1974.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    USS Camden (AS-6)
    Camden 81k USS Camden (AS-6) off New York City with twelve submarines alongside, circa 1920. Submarines are, from inboard to outboard (left to right):
    USS R-1 (SS-78);
    USS R-2 (SS-79);
    USS R-4 (SS-81);
    USS R-5 (SS-82);
    USS R-6 (SS-83);
    USS R-10 (SS-87);
    USS R-9 (SS-86);
    USS R-8 (SS-85);
    USS R-7 (SS-84);
    USS R-3 (SS-80);
    USS S-4 (SS-109); and
    USS S-3 (SS-107).
    US Navy photo # NH 99892, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Camden 107k USS Camden (AS-6) in New York Harbor during the early 1920s, with several "R" type submarines alongside. The sub closest to Camden is USS R-1 (SS-78). Note that all these submarines have platforms forward of their fairwaters for a 3"/50 gun, but only one of them carries the gun.
    US Navy photo # NH 61543, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Camden
    09360610
    186k USS Camden (AS-6) in # 1 Wet Basin at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., just before leaving for the West Coast, April 1921. The original photograph is printed on postal card ("AZO") stock.
    US Navy photo # NH 102968, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005.
    Robert Hurst
    Camden 133k USS Camden (AS-6) at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 29 January 1921. Panoramic photograph by Crosby, Naval Photographer, 11 Portland St., Boston, MA.. Donation of CAPT. Stephen S. Roberts, USNR (Ret), 2008. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command photo #: NH 106294 Robert Hurst
    Camden 79k USS Camden (AS-6) in San Pedro Harbor, CA., 1921. Submarines alongside are (from outboard to inboard):
    USS R-1 (SS-78);
    USS R-3 (SS-80);
    USS R-8 (SS-85);
    USS R-4 (SS-81);
    USS R-2 (SS-79); and
    USS R-10 (SS-87).
    US Navy photo # NH 55044, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .
    US Naval History and Heritage Command web site
    Camden 83k USS Camden (AS-6) circa the early 1920s, with four "R" type submarines alongside, including (from left to right):
    USS R-6 (SS-83);
    USS R-4 (SS-81);
    unidentified; and
    USS R-2 (SS-79);.
    US Navy photo # NH 92002, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , collection of Joseph A. Hendricks.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command web site
    Camden 67k USS Camden (AS-6) in San Diego Harbor, CA., during the early 1920s, with four "R" type submarines alongside. The outboard submarine is USS R-8 (SS-85). The inboard "boat" is USS R-6 (SS-83).
    US Navy photo # NH 101183, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , courtesy of H.R. ("Ed") Coffer, 1986.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command web site
    Camden 52k USS Camden (AS-6) at anchor with "R" type submarines alongside, during the early 1920s.
    US Navy photo # NH 99890, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , collection of Chief Quartermaster John Harold, USN.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command web site
    Camden 82k USS Camden (AS-6), at anchor, with unidentified submarines alongside, date and location unknown. Postcard photo George Klos
    Savannah 92k Control Force submarines and their tenders at Cristobal, Panama Canal Zone, circa 1923. The tenders are (from left to right): USS Savannah (AS-8), USS Bushnell (AS-2), USS Beaver (AS-5) and USS Camden (AS-6). Submarines are mostly "R" type boats, among them USS R-23 (SS-100) and USS R-25 (SS-102), both in the nest alongside Savannah's port quarter. The larger submarine alongside Savannah's bow may be USS S-1 (SS-105), with her large seaplane hangar. Photo by A.E. Wells.
    US Navy photo # NH 42573 courtesy of CDR. Christopher Noble, USN (Retired), 1967. From the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Camden 37k USS Camden (AS-6) with two other submarine tenders in the distance, circa the middle or later 1920s. USS Savannah (AS-8) is furthest from the camera, in the left center. USS Bushnell (AS-2) is in the center.
    US Navy photo # NH 72935, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , donation of Lieutenant Gustave J. Freret, USN (Retired), 1970.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command web site
    Camden 107k USS Camden (AS-6) off Pensacola, FL., 23 December 1924. Ships in the distance are: USS Savannah (AS-8), in center, and USS Bushnell (AS-2), at left. The original print was autographed in June 1967 by Admiral Thomas C. Hart, USN (Retired), who used Camden as his flagship from May 1930 to January 1931, while he was Commander, Control Force, U.S. Fleet. He was a Rear Admiral at that time.
    US Navy photo # NH 55046, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .
    US Naval History and Heritage Command web site
    Camden 71k USS Camden (AS-6) off Gonaives, Haiti, in 1925, with several submarines alongside. USS Shawmut (CM-4) is in the left background.
    US Navy photo # NH 74636, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , donation of Lieutenant Gustave J. Freret, USN (Retired), 1971.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command web site
    Camden 98k USS Camden (AS-6) underway off Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL. 31 January 1927.
    US Navy photo # NH 99893, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .
    US Naval History and Heritage Command web site
    Camden 158k USS Camden (AS-6), USS Maryland (BB-46) and two "S" type submarines; and two V-1 class submarines, in port in May 1927.
    US Navy photo # NH 46418, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .
    US Naval History and Heritage Command web site
    Camden 169k USS Camden (AS-6) photographed circa the middle or later 1920s, with ten "S" type submarines alongside. The submarines are (on Camden's starboard side, from left to right):
    USS S-18 (SS-123);
    unidentified Electric Boat type "S-boat";
    USS S-19 (SS-124);
    USS S-12 (SS-117) and
    an unidentified Government type "S-boat".
    (on Camden's port side, from left to right):
    unidentified Government type "S-boat";
    USS S-7 (SS-112);
    USS S-8 (SS-113);
    USS S-9 (SS-114); and
    USS S-3 (SS-107).
    US Navy photo # NH 46418, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , collection of Vice Admiral Dixwell Ketcham, USN.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command web site
    Camden
    09360629
    210k USS Camden (AS-6) underway in San Francisco Bay off the city of San Francisco, circa November-December 1930. Camden was outbound to Honolulu, TH. Note the San Francisco Ferry Building in the background. Photo - Jim Kurrasch
    Battleship Iowa Pacific Battleship Center
    Caption - Darryl Baker.
    Camden (IX-42)
    Camden 73k Camden (IX-42) at right and Seattle (IX-39) at Pier 92, North River, New York City, while serving as receiving ships during or shortly after World War II.
    US Navy photo # NH 89402, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , courtesy of Ted Stone, 1979.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command web site

    USS Camden (ID-3143 / AS-6 / IX-42)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Jones, Edward Coffey, USNRF15 August 1917 - 3 May 1918
     Decommissioned3 May 1918 - 21 February 1919
    02LCDR. Logan, James Alexander, USN (USNA 1910) :COMO21 February 1919 - ?
    03LCDR. Munroe, William Robert, USN (USNA 1908) :VADMno dates
    04CAPT. Defreees, Joseph Rollie, USN (USNA 1900) :RADM1 October 1919 - 12 January 1920
    05CAPT. Miller, William Siebel, USN (1899)12 January 1920 - 12 December 1921
    06LCDR. McFarlane, Scott Bartlett, USN12 January 1921 - 5 January 1922
    07CAPT. Bronson Jr., Amon, USN (USNA 1896)5 January 1922 - January 1922
    08CAPT. Briggs, Zeno Everett, USN (USNA 1898)January 1922 - September 1922
    09CDR. Arwine Jr., John S., USN (USNA 1903)September 1922 - 2 February 1923
    10CDR. Mitchael, Herbert Harlan, USN (USNA 1904)2 February 1923 - 12 February 1924
    11CDR. Newton, William Flewellen, USN (USNA 1906)12 July 1924 - 7 June 1926
    12CDR. Pryor, Frank Davis, USN (USNA 1907)7 June 1926 - 1927
    13CDR. Eberle, William Edgar, USN (USNA 1905)1927 - 15 June 1929
    14CAPT. Wilcox Jr., John Walter, USN (USNA 1905)15 June 1929 - 10 March 1931
    15CDR. Blankenship, Ernest Joseph, USN (USNA 1909)10 March 1931 - 26 May 1931
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves. Photos courtesy Bill Gonyo

    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Submarine Tenders of the United States Navy
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation

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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 28 June 2024