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UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

Photo # 19-N-32046:  USS Taganak off the Mare Island Navy Yard, 26 July 1942

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-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Taganak (AG-45), 1942-1946.
Served as USS Lake Shore (ID # 1792) in 1918-1919

USS Taganak, a 3000-ton (displacement) miscellaneous auxiliary, was built in 1917 as the civilian cargo ship War Shell. She had World War I service as USS Lake Shore (ID # 1792) and was later the merchant vessel Olympic. Acquired by the U.S. Maritime Commission in May 1942 and almost immediately turned over to the Navy, Olympic was renamed Taganak (AG-45) and placed in commission in July 1942. She steamed to the south Pacific in October and carried cargo between ports in that region for the rest of World War II, with one trip back to the U.S. in October 1943 for an overhaul that lasted until February 1944. Taganak had a brief brush with active combat on 19 August 1943, when she was attacked off Australia by the Japanese submarine I-17. She was undamaged in the incident, in which the submarine was sunk by U.S. Navy aircraft and the Royal New Zealand Navy corvette Tui. Arriving at San Francisco, California, in late October 1945, she remained in that area until decommissioning in March 1946. Taganak was sold in November 1946, reportedly for scrapping, but had a long subsequent civilian career under the names Glento, Pilhamm and Lulu, and was not broken up until 1960.

This page features, and provides links to, all the views that are available related to USS Taganak (AG-45).

For an earlier image of this ship, see:

  • SS War Shell (Cargo Ship, 1917), which was USS Lake Shore (ID # 1792) in 1918-1919.


    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: 19-N-32046

    USS Taganak (AG-45)


    Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 26 July 1942.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 625 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 19-N-32047

    USS Taganak (AG-45)


    Bow-on view, taken off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 26 July 1942.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 49KB; 740 x 620 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 19-N-32050

    USS Taganak (AG-45)


    View from astern, with a motor tug nearby, while off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 26 July 1942.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 620 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 19-N-32051

    USS Taganak (AG-45)


    Plan view forward, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 26 July 1942.
    Note boat cradles mounted atop the forward hatches, very long cargo-handling booms, details of the pilothouse area, and life raft mounted amidships.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 126KB; 740 x 620 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 19-N-32052

    USS Taganak (AG-45)


    Plan view amidships and aft, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 26 July 1942.
    Note the ship's masts, heavy lift boom and ventilation cowls.
    Men are loading boxes onto the ship from the truck at right. Truck has serial number USN 74615 painted on its door.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 136KB; 740 x 625 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     


    For an earlier image of this ship, see:

  • SS War Shell (Cargo Ship, 1917), which was USS Lake Shore (ID # 1792) in 1918-1919.


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    Page made 8 June 2003