>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1970) Vol. 5, pp.297-298.





PICTOR





	A constellation.





AF-54

Displacement:  15,500 t. (fully loaded)

Length:  459’2”

Beam:  63’

Draft:  25’10”

Speed:  14 k.

Complement:  241

Armament:  8 40mm; 12 20mm

Class:  ALSTEDE

Maritime Commission Standard Type:  C2-S-B1





	PICTOR (AF—54) was laid down under a Maritime 

Commission contract as S. S. GREAT REPUBLIC (MC—187) 

18 March 1942 by the Moore Shipbuilding Co., Oakland, 

Calif.; launched 4 June 1942; sponsored by Mrs. William 

Craig, Jr.; and delivered 29 June 1943.



	From 29 June 1943 until April 1950, she served as S. S. 

GREAT REPUBLIC for various private companies, including 

United Fruit Co., and Pacific Far East Lines of San 

Francisco, Calif.  In April 1950, she was returned to the 

Maritime Commission and was moored in an inactive status in 

Suisun Bay, Calif.



	In September 1950, the Navy acquired this merchant ship 

from the Maritime Administration for conversion into a store 

ship.  PICTOR commissioned 13 September 1950, and reported 

for duty to the Pacific Fleet.



	During the Korean Conflict, she made tours of the Far 

East to supply perishable foods and dry stores to personnel 

in Korea and on the Taiwan patrol.



	After the Korean War, she continued to store, 

refrigerate, transport, and issue, underway and in port, 

perishable foods and dry stores for the 1st and 7th Fleets 

off the west coast and in the western Pacific.



	During the Vietnam War, she supplied food and dry goods 

to the 7th Fleet on station off Vietnam.  She decommissioned 

in December 1969 and was returned to MarAd in August 1970.



	[Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 June 

1976, PICTOR was “disposed of by MarAd sale” on 25 November 

1981.  As of June 1999, she remained a part of the National 

Defense Reserve Fleet.]



Internet Web Site:

	Naval Vessel Register

		www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/AF54.htm





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com