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History of USS PICTOR AF-54

USS PICTOR (AF-54) was a Pictor-class stores ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1950. Originally built as the SS Great Republic, she was acquired and converted to provide underway replenishment of food and dry stores to fleet units at sea. During her service, USS PICTOR operated extensively in the Pacific, supporting U.S. naval operations during the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War era. She earned several campaign stars for her service before being decommissioned in 1969 and eventually struck from the Naval Vessel Register.

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ABOUT USS PICTOR AF-54

  • Origins as a Liberty Ship: USS Pictor (AF-54) was originally built as the SS Great Republic, a C2-S-B1 type cargo ship, during World War II before being converted to a stores ship for the U.S. Navy.
  • Commissioning Date: She was commissioned into the U.S. Navy on September 13, 1950, during the Korean War, to support fleet operations with provisions and supplies.
  • Namesake: The ship was named after the constellation "Pictor," which is Latin for "the painter's easel."
  • Korean War Service: USS Pictor played a key role in the Korean War, delivering food, refrigerated goods, and other supplies to U.S. Navy ships and bases in the Western Pacific.
  • Vietnam War Support: The ship was active throughout the Vietnam War, supplying the U.S. Seventh Fleet and supporting combat operations off the coast of Vietnam.
  • Nickname: Among her crew, she was affectionately called "The Refrigerator Ship" due to her primary mission of transporting perishable goods.
  • Global Reach: USS Pictor made repeated deployments to the Far East, visiting ports in Japan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and occasionally Australia, demonstrating the logistical reach of the U.S. Navy.
  • Long Service Life: The ship served for over two decades, from 1950 until her decommissioning in 1969, highlighting her reliability and importance to fleet logistics.
  • Awards and Honors: USS Pictor earned multiple campaign stars and commendations for her service in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
  • Final Fate: After decommissioning, she was struck from the Naval Register and eventually sold for scrapping in 1976, ending her long and storied career.

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