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USS Fulton (AS-1)
Encyclopedia
USS Fulton (AS-1) was the lead ship of her class of submarine tender
s.
The Fulton was launched on 6 June 1914 by New London Ship and Engine Company
, Groton, Connecticut
. The ship was sponsored by Mrs. A. T. Sutcliffe, great granddaughter of Robert Fulton
, for whom the ship is named. Fulton was commissioned on 7 December 1914, Lieutenant
J. D. Wilson in command.
During her first six months of service, Fulton tended submarine
s at Norfolk, Charleston, New York, and Newport, then after overhaul, arrived at New London on 2 November 1915, where in 1918 she was the base ship for the newly formed Submarine School. Through 1922, this was to be her principal base for operations with submarines along the east coast and in the Caribbean from Cape Cod
to Cuba
. She took part in maneuvers and war games, served as station ship at New London, and in the summer of 1922 was flagship of Commander, Atlantic Submarine Flotillas. Reassigned as tender for the Submarine Base at Coco Solo, Canal Zone, Fulton arrived there on 4 April 1923, and during the following year joined in exercises on both sides of the Panama Canal Zone
as well as making a survey of Almirante Bay, Panama. She returned to Philadelphia on 14 July 1925, and there was decommissioned and placed in reserve on 5 October.
Fulton was recommissioned on 2 September 1930 for duty as a surveying ship in the Canal Zone, reclassified PG-49 on 29 September. On 3 March 1931, she returned to Balboa. Aside from a voyage north for overhaul in the winter of 1931-32, she conducted surveys in the Canal Zone area until arriving at San Diego on 13 August 1932 to prepare for duty in the Asiatic Fleet
. Her assigned station was Hong Kong
, where she arrived on 3 November. With infrequent voyages to Cavite Navy Yard in the Philippines, Fulton patrolled the south China coast from Hong Kong to Canton until 14 March 1934. On that day, a fire broke out amidships when exhaust lines from two cylinders of a diesel engine
carried away and ignited oil on the engine. The crew assembled on the bow and stern, and were taken off by and SS Tsinan, three of the men having minor injuries. HMS Whitshed stood by the burning ship until a salvage party got the fire under sufficient control to allow her to be taken in tow for Junk Bay. On 24 March, an American tug
came to tow Fulton into Hong Kong, where she received emergency repairs to allow her to be towed to Cavite. There she was decommissioned on 12 May.
Fulton should not be confused with , a patrol vessel that operated from 1917-1919.
Submarine tender
A submarine tender is a type of ship that supplies and supports submarines.Submarines are small compared to most oceangoing vessels, and generally do not have the ability to carry large amounts of food, fuel, torpedoes, and other supplies, nor to carry a full array of maintenance equipment and...
s.
The Fulton was launched on 6 June 1914 by New London Ship and Engine Company
New London Ship and Engine Company
The New London Ship and Engine Company was established in Groton, Connecticut by the Electric Boat Company to manufacture diesel engines.The company was incorporated on 11 October 1910, with production starting in July 1911.-Founders:...
, Groton, Connecticut
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
. The ship was sponsored by Mrs. A. T. Sutcliffe, great granddaughter of Robert Fulton
Robert Fulton
Robert Fulton was an American engineer and inventor who is widely credited with developing the first commercially successful steamboat...
, for whom the ship is named. Fulton was commissioned on 7 December 1914, Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
J. D. Wilson in command.
During her first six months of service, Fulton tended submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s at Norfolk, Charleston, New York, and Newport, then after overhaul, arrived at New London on 2 November 1915, where in 1918 she was the base ship for the newly formed Submarine School. Through 1922, this was to be her principal base for operations with submarines along the east coast and in the Caribbean from Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. She took part in maneuvers and war games, served as station ship at New London, and in the summer of 1922 was flagship of Commander, Atlantic Submarine Flotillas. Reassigned as tender for the Submarine Base at Coco Solo, Canal Zone, Fulton arrived there on 4 April 1923, and during the following year joined in exercises on both sides of the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
as well as making a survey of Almirante Bay, Panama. She returned to Philadelphia on 14 July 1925, and there was decommissioned and placed in reserve on 5 October.
Fulton was recommissioned on 2 September 1930 for duty as a surveying ship in the Canal Zone, reclassified PG-49 on 29 September. On 3 March 1931, she returned to Balboa. Aside from a voyage north for overhaul in the winter of 1931-32, she conducted surveys in the Canal Zone area until arriving at San Diego on 13 August 1932 to prepare for duty in the Asiatic Fleet
United States Asiatic Fleet
The United States Asiatic Fleet was part of the U.S. Navy. Preceding the World War II era, until 1942, the fleet protected the Philippines.Originally the Asiatic Squadron, it was upgraded to fleet status in 1902. In 1907, the fleet became the First Squadron of the Pacific Fleet. However, on 28...
. Her assigned station was 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...
, where she arrived on 3 November. With infrequent voyages to Cavite Navy Yard in the Philippines, Fulton patrolled the south China coast from Hong Kong to Canton until 14 March 1934. On that day, a fire broke out amidships when exhaust lines from two cylinders of a diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
carried away and ignited oil on the engine. The crew assembled on the bow and stern, and were taken off by and SS Tsinan, three of the men having minor injuries. HMS Whitshed stood by the burning ship until a salvage party got the fire under sufficient control to allow her to be taken in tow for Junk Bay. On 24 March, an American tug
Tugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
came to tow Fulton into Hong Kong, where she received emergency repairs to allow her to be towed to Cavite. There she was decommissioned on 12 May.
Fulton should not be confused with , a patrol vessel that operated from 1917-1919.