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USS Nanshan (AG-3)
Encyclopedia
USS Nanshan (AG-3) was a collier
in the service of the United States Navy
.
Nanshan was launched in 1896 by Grangemouth Dockyard Company
, Grangemouth
, Scotland
for merchant service as a collier in the Far East; purchased at Hong Kong
on 6 April 1898 from Frank Smythe; and placed in service the same day, Captain
E. H. Stovell of the British Marine Service in command.
's Asiatic Squadron
, Nanshan sailed from Hong Kong on 24 April 1898 with the squadron, remaining outside the harbor during the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May. She coaled Dewey's victorious ships until Manila
was occupied on 13 August, and continued to serve in the Philippines
and on the China Station
. Aside from a brief period out of service at Cavite Navy Yard for upkeep from 29 March 1906-1 February 1907, Nanshan served in the Far East until 10 May 1913, when she returned to San Francisco to coal ships along the coasts of California, Mexico, and South America.
Placed out of service at Mare Island Naval Shipyard
on 31 March 1914 for repairs, Nanshan was placed in full commission on 1 August with her first Navy crew. Supply missions ranging from Alaska to Hawaii continued until 1 February 1918, when she sailed for Hampton Roads, Virginia, via the Panama Canal
.
This cargo trip ended with her return to Mare Island on 16 May when she resumed her usual operations, which included in July 1919 an emergency mission to Kodiak, Alaska
and the Pribilof Islands
bringing badly needed food. From 5 December 1919-3 December 1921, Nanshan served as a target repair ship. She decommissioned at Mare Island on 18 January 1922 and was sold on 29 July to John A. Bercovich Co.
In Chinese, "Nanshan" means "south mountain" and refers to a small group of mountains in Kwangtung Province. The ship retained her former name in naval service.
Collier (ship type)
Collier is a historical term used to describe a bulk cargo ship designed to carry coal, especially for naval use by coal-fired warships. In the late 18th century a number of wooden-hulled sailing colliers gained fame after being adapted for use in voyages of exploration in the South Pacific, for...
in the service of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
Nanshan was launched in 1896 by Grangemouth Dockyard Company
Grangemouth Dockyard Company
The Grangemouth Dockyard Company was a British shipbuilding and ship repair firm located at Grangemouth, on the Firth of Forth, Scotland.-History:...
, Grangemouth
Grangemouth
Grangemouth is a town and former burgh in the council area of Falkirk, Scotland. The town lies in the Forth Valley, on the banks of the Firth of Forth, east of Falkirk, west of Bo'ness and south-east of Stirling. Grangemouth had a resident population of 17,906 according to the 2001...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
for merchant service as a collier in the Far East; purchased at Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
on 6 April 1898 from Frank Smythe; and placed in service the same day, Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
E. H. Stovell of the British Marine Service in command.
Service history
Acquired by the Navy as a supply ship for Commodore George DeweyGeorge Dewey
George Dewey was an admiral of the United States Navy. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War...
's Asiatic Squadron
Asiatic Squadron
The Asiatic Squadron was a squadron of United States Navy warships stationed in East Asia during the latter half of the 19th century, it was created in 1868 when the East India Squadron was disbanded...
, Nanshan sailed from Hong Kong on 24 April 1898 with the squadron, remaining outside the harbor during the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May. She coaled Dewey's victorious ships until Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
was occupied on 13 August, and continued to serve in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and on the China Station
China Station
The China Station was a historical formation of the British Royal Navy. It was formally the units and establishments responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, China....
. Aside from a brief period out of service at Cavite Navy Yard for upkeep from 29 March 1906-1 February 1907, Nanshan served in the Far East until 10 May 1913, when she returned to San Francisco to coal ships along the coasts of California, Mexico, and South America.
Placed out of service at Mare Island Naval Shipyard
Mare Island Naval Shipyard
The Mare Island Naval Shipyard was the first United States Navy base established on the Pacific Ocean. It is located 25 miles northeast of San Francisco in Vallejo, California. The Napa River goes through the Mare Island Strait and separates the peninsula shipyard from the main portion of the...
on 31 March 1914 for repairs, Nanshan was placed in full commission on 1 August with her first Navy crew. Supply missions ranging from Alaska to Hawaii continued until 1 February 1918, when she sailed for Hampton Roads, Virginia, via the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
.
This cargo trip ended with her return to Mare Island on 16 May when she resumed her usual operations, which included in July 1919 an emergency mission to Kodiak, Alaska
Kodiak, Alaska
Kodiak is one of 7 communities and the main city on Kodiak Island, Kodiak Island Borough, in the U.S. state of Alaska. All commercial transportation between the entire island and the outside world goes through this city either via ferryboat or airline...
and the Pribilof Islands
Pribilof Islands
The Pribilof Islands are a group of four volcanic islands off the coast of mainland Alaska, in the Bering Sea, about north of Unalaska and 200 miles southwest of Cape Newenham. The Siberia coast is roughly northwest...
bringing badly needed food. From 5 December 1919-3 December 1921, Nanshan served as a target repair ship. She decommissioned at Mare Island on 18 January 1922 and was sold on 29 July to John A. Bercovich Co.
In Chinese, "Nanshan" means "south mountain" and refers to a small group of mountains in Kwangtung Province. The ship retained her former name in naval service.