Saturn (AG-4): Photographs

USS Saturn (1898-1922) In the Elizabeth River near the Norfolk Navy Yard in August 1900 while serving as a collier. She is being assisted by the Navy tug Sioux (later YT-19). Photo No. NH 44072 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command.
USS Saturn (1898-1922) Shown as a civilian-manned U.S. Navy Auxiliary between circa 1905 and 1913. Note the original short bridge island that ends just forward of the pilot house and her relatively low freeboard when loaded. Her original owner, the Boston Towboat Co., designed her to tow coal barges while carrying coal in her holds, and she was sometimes called a "seagoing iron tug." Photo No. NH 92198 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command.
USS Saturn (1898-1922) Photographed by a Seattle, Washington, photographer (Webster & Stevens) circa August 1915. She is still in her original configuration but now has radio antennas swung between spreaders at the top of the two masts. This photo was published, possibly in October 1920 when it was out of date, with the following caption: "U.S. Naval Radio Repair Ship Saturn: At a Seattle pier, supplies are being piled into the hold of this big government craft to be rushed to the Pribilof Islands to save 600 inhabitants of those islands from starvation." Photo No. None Source: Shipscribe
USS Saturn (1898-1922) Near the Mare Island Navy Yard on 11 May 1916 being assisted by the Navy tug Tillamook (Tug No. 16). Saturn has been altered to serve as a support ship for Navy radio stations in Alaska and elsewhere. Her bridge island has been extended forward to near the foremast and stowage for boats to take supplies ashore to remote radio stations has been added aft with a kingpost and boom near the stern to handle them. Some of these radio stations had been built by expeditions in USS Buffalo in 1911 and 1914 and Nero in 1912. Photo No. Unknown Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command.
USS Saturn (1898-1922) Leaving the radio station dock at Sitka, Alaska, on 15 October 1917 headed for San Francisco. The dock was at the Sitka Naval Coaling Station. The sender of the original post card wrote that Saturn "rolls so much that sometimes that long row of portholes is underwater." Photo No. NH 107086 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command.
USS Saturn (1898-1922) The 6-inch gun that was fitted on the ship's stern circa 1918. At the same time two 3" guns were fitted on the bridge island forward of the pilot house. The handwritten caption in the contemporary scrapbook from which this snapshot was taken was "For freedom of the Seas." The ship was in Alaskan waters. Other small auxiliaries that received 1-6" and 2-3" guns at this time were Hannibal (see AG-1) and Leonidas (see AD-7). Photo No. None Source: Shipscribe.
USS Saturn (1898-1922) A deck view taken from the forecastle looking aft in Alaskan waters circa 1918-1919. This snapshot was in the same scrapbook as the view of the stern gun, above. Photo No. None Source: Shipscribe.
USS Saturn (1898-1922) At Vladivostok, Russia, in January 1919 unloading equipment onto the ice for the radio station that the expedition carried by the ship built there. The Ford car on the beach was being used to tow supply sleds. The 6-inch gun has been removed from the stern but the two 3-inch guns remain, as do the large supply boats with their kingpost and crane on the stern of the ship. Photo No. NH 79052 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command.
USS Saturn (1898-1922) At Kodiak, Alaska, in 1919. The vacant platform built on the stern for the 6" gun is clearly visible, as is one of the 3" guns forward of the bridge. The crowsnests on the masts were fitted during World War I. Photo No. NH 84672 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command.
USS Saturn (1898-1922) In Alaskan waters circa 1919. The image includes the handwritten inscription "Complements of the Officers and Crew, USS Saturn." Another copy has the additional pen inscription "July 4th 1919, Seward, Alaska," probably in connection with a trip some of the officers' wives made to Alaska at about this time. This is a nice view of the ship in her post-World War I configuration. Photo No. None Source: Shipscribe.