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| USS Fulton (AS-11) | |
|---|---|
| Ship name | USS Fulton (AS-11) |
| Ship country | United States |
| Ship namesake | Robert Fulton |
| Ship builder | Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Fore River Shipyard |
| Ship laid down | 31 March 1941 |
| Ship launched | 27 September 1941 |
| Ship sponsor | Mrs. Henry F. Bryan |
| Ship commissioned | 17 May 1942 |
| Ship decommissioned | 31 March 1991 |
| Ship fate | Stricken and sold for scrap |
| Ship displacement | 11,000 tons (full load) |
| Ship length | 560 ft |
| Ship beam | 78 ft |
| Ship draft | 27 ft |
| Ship propulsion | Steam turbines |
| Ship speed | 20 knots |
| Ship complement | 1,200 |
| Ship armament | Various anti-aircraft guns (wartime fit) |
USS Fulton (AS-11)
USS Fulton (AS-11) was a United States Navy submarine tender named for inventor Robert Fulton. Built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation at the Fore River Shipyard, Fulton served through World War II, the early Cold War, and into the late 20th century, providing maintenance, repair, logistics, and support to U.S. Navy submarine forces and allied vessels. She participated in Pacific operations, postwar fleet restructuring, and numerous overhaul and modernization programs before final decommissioning.
Laid down at Fore River Shipyard on 31 March 1941, Fulton was launched on 27 September 1941 and sponsored by Mrs. Henry F. Bryan, with commissioning on 17 May 1942 under a wartime accelerated production schedule tied to U.S. Navy shipbuilding demands. Her construction involved Bethlehem Steel facilities and wartime industrial coordination with agencies such as the U.S. Maritime Commission and naval district bureaus, reflecting the mobilization exemplified by programs like the Two-Ocean Navy Act. Fulton’s outfitting included heavy machine shops, torpedo and battery servicing spaces, and specialized equipment to support classes of submarines including Gato-class, Balao-class, and later Tench-class boats.
Following shakedown, Fulton deployed to the Pacific Ocean theater to support submarine units based at forward areas such as Pearl Harbor, Midway Atoll, and endgame logistics hubs that serviced boats returning from patrols against Japanese shipping and naval units. Fulton’s wartime role integrated with commands like COMSUBPAC and worked alongside tenders such as USS Pelias (AS-14), providing repairs after encounters with forces during operations linked to campaigns like the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign and the Marianas Turkey Shoot air-sea engagements. After World War II, Fulton participated in the postwar demobilization and support of occupation duties in locations tied to occupation Japan logistics, while interacting with institutions such as the Bureau of Ships and naval shore establishments at Guam and Subic Bay.
In the late 1940s and into the 1950s Fulton was integral to fleet readiness during crises including the Korean War, repairing and provisioning submarines and coordinating with fleet commands including 7th Fleet task groups and shore activities at bases like Sasebo and Yokosuka. Her crews performed complex overhauls on diesel-electric boats and supported training cycles involving Groton-related programs and fleet exercises such as Operation Mainbrace-era NATO interoperability efforts.
As the Cold War intensified, Fulton underwent modifications to support newer submarine technologies associated with NATO commitments and U.S. strategic shifts exemplified by programs like Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM). She serviced diesel boats while interfacing with advanced platforms emerging from yards like Electric Boat Company and supervised armament updates for torpedo and sonar systems developed in coordination with laboratories such as Naval Research Laboratory and commands like NAVSEA. Fulton rotated between home ports and forward-deployed sites, cooperating with allied navies including the Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy, and units participating in exercises like RIMPAC.
Refits during the 1960s and 1970s improved her machine shops, electronics repair shops, and berthing to support extended deployments tied to contingencies such as the Cuban Missile Crisis aftermath and maritime posture during the Vietnam War. Fulton’s logistic role connected to supply chains involving Defense Logistics Agency-managed spare parts and embarked personnel from schools like Naval Electronics Systems Command. She also hosted inspections and certifications by authorities such as the Commandant of the Navy Yard and participated in protocols aligned with treaties like the SALT I negotiations’ naval implications.
After decades of service and changing strategic requirements driven by the advent of nuclear-powered attack and ballistic missile submarines built by Newport News Shipbuilding and Electric Boat, Fulton’s diesel-support role diminished. She was decommissioned in stages as submarine tenders were consolidated, ultimately being stricken from the Naval Vessel Register and sold for scrap following processes administered by the Maritime Administration and disposal contracts with private shipbreaking firms. Her end-of-service procedures followed precedents from other auxiliaries such as USS Hector (AR-7) and mirrored fleet reductions associated with post-Cold War force restructuring efforts.
Over her service life Fulton earned campaign and service recognitions tied to her support roles during World War II and the Korean War, with unit awards and commendations administered by Navy Unit Commendation and Battle "E" evaluations. Her crew members were eligible for individual decorations linked to campaigns recorded by the Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual and received commendations reflecting excellence in submarine tender operations, logistics, and fleet service.
Category:United States Navy submarine tenders Category:Ships built in Quincy, Massachusetts Category:1941 ships