USS Bryce Canyon

USS Bryce Canyon (AD-36) was a Shenandoah-class destroyer tender, the only ship to be named for the Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah.

USS Bryce Canyon
History
United States
NameUSS Bryce Canyon
NamesakeBryce Canyon National Park
Ordered8 November 1944
BuilderCharleston Navy Yard
Laid down7 July 1945
Launched7 March 1946
Commissioned15 September 1950
Decommissioned30 June 1981
Stricken30 June 1981
Nickname(s)BC, Building 36
Honours and
awards		1 battle star (Korea)
FateSold for scrapping 6 April 1982
General characteristics
TypeShenandoah-class destroyer tender
Displacement8,091 long tons (8,221 t)
Length492 ft (150 m)
Beam70 ft (21 m)
Draft28 ft (8.5 m)
Speed18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement859 officers and enlisted
Armament2 × 5 in (130 mm) guns

Bryce Canyon was launched 7 March 1946 by Charleston Navy Yard and sponsored by Mrs. William J. Carter, wife of Rear Admiral Carter. Little additional work was done on her until after the outbreak of the Korean War. Charleston Naval Shipyard then completed the tender and she was commissioned 15 September 1950.

Service history

Bryce Canyon transited the Panama Canal 5 December and reported to the Pacific Fleet. On 26 March 1951 she got underway from San Diego, California for the Far East. Arriving at Yokosuka, Japan, 12 April 1951, she spent the next seven months in Japanese waters repairing and servicing vessels based at Yokosuka and Sasebo. Bryce Canyon left Japan 4 November 1951 and arrived at San Diego 18 November 1951.

She got underway, via Pearl Harbor, for her second Western Pacific cruise in June, 1952. This cruise was completed 16 February 1953 when she arrived at Long Beach, California. On 26 September 1953 she again sailed for Sasebo where she arrived 16 October. Bryce Canyon provided tender service in Sasebo, Yokosuka, Nagoya, and Kobe during this tour. She returned to the United States 17 June 1954.

Her fourth Western Pacific tour commenced 25 February 1955. She serviced vessels at Subic Bay, Luzon, between 16 March and 28 April and then proceeded to Yokosuka, arriving 11 May 1955. Bryce Canyon returned to Long Beach 11 August 1955. On 9 December 1955 she departed California on her fifth Western Pacific tour which ended at Long Beach on 26 October 1956. Between Far Eastern cruises Bryce Canyon has operated along the West Coast. Home Port Long Beach, California 6-month duration with 6 months at Pearl Harbor. Cruises to Pacific theatre every 4 years.

Bryce Canyon received one battle star for her services to the forces afloat in the Korean War. Bryce Canyon was decommissioned on 30 June 1981. She was sold for scrapping to National Metal and Steel, Terminal Island, Ca on 6 April 1982.

Notable former crew
  • Stan Hitchcock, mid 1950s, leader of the ship's band, "The Bryce Canyon Troubadours"

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

  • "Bryce Canyon". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 27 February 2007.
  • "AD-36 Bryce Canyon". Service Ship Photo Archive. Retrieved 8 October 2007.
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