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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USAV FB-535
ex
 USAJMP Octopus (1941 - 1942)


Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Freight-Supply Vessel / Junior Mine Planter / Ferryboat
  • Built in 1924 as the wooden car ferry Tourist #2 at Astoria, OR.
  • Launched in 1924 and delivered in 1924 to the Astoria-North Beach Ferry Co.
  • Except for WWII service Tourist #2 operated in the Pacific Northwest from 1924 to 1966 on the Astoria–Megler Ferry route on the Columbia River
  • Purchased by the U.S. Army in 1942 for use as a Mine Planter
  • Renamed and designated USAJMP Octopus initialy assigned to laying mines in the lower Columbia River early in World War II, and later redesignated ferryboat FB-535 while operating as a ferry running between Fort Canby and Fort Stevens until the end of the war
  • Retired from U.S. Army service, date unknown
  • Purchased by the Oregon State Highway Commission in 1948, returning to ferry service on the Columbia River
  • Tourist #2 was reassigned to different ferry routes several times in her career
  • Renamed Islander of Pierce County, date unknown
  • Retired from Oregon State Highway Commission Ferry service, date unknown
  • Sold in 1996 to Argosy Cruises and renamed MVKirkland
  • Kirkland was refurbished, adding bars and a galley and 12-foot floor-to-ceiling windows, making the main deck unique among vessels in the Northwest
  • The vessel is listed on the Washington Historic Register and the National Register of Historic Places
  • On the morning of 28 August 2010. Kirkland suffered an engine room fire while docked at Kirkland, WA.
  • Argosy Cruise LInes concluded that it was not economical to repair the ferry
  • Sold in 2010 to Christian Lint who moored the vessel in Bremerton, WA. and used it for special events
  • Sold in 2016 to the Astoria Ferry Group, and returned it to Astoria on 1 August for restoration, renamed Tourist #2
  • the ferry partially sank in the Columbia River at Astoria where it was moored and for sale on July 28th 2022
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 95 gross tons
    Length 98'
    Beam 36'
    Draft 8'
    Speed unknown
    Freight Capacity unknown
    Complement unknown
    Armament unknown
    Propulsion
    one gasoline engine
    single propeller
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Merchant Service
    Tourist #2
    300753501    		 43k MV Kirkland underway, date and location unknown.
    The Nauticapedia, photo by George Schneider    		 John Spivey
    Tourist #2
    300753502    		 374k MV Kirkland underway in the Lake Washington Ship Canal, seen here from West Montlake Park, Seattle, WA., 15 October 2009.
    Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons     		 
    Tourist #2
    300753503    		 170k MV Kirkland moored at Marina Park, Kirkland, WA., 9 January 2010.
    Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons     		 
    USAV FB-535
    Tourist #2
    300753504    		 96k USAV FB-535 at the Mine Docks, Fort Stevens, Oregon 1941-1945.
    US Army Signal Corps photo from picryl.com    		 John Spivey
    There is no history record available for Octopus / FB-535 at NavSource
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 12 May 2024