USS Mars (AC-6)

The second USS Mars (AC-6) was a collier of the United States Navy. The ship was laid down by the Maryland Steel Co., Sparrows Point, Maryland on 5 October 1908, launched on 10 April 1909, sponsored by Miss Juliana Keyser, and commissioned at Norfolk on 26 August 1909. She was the sister of the USS Hector (AC-7).

Mars
History
United States
NameUSS Mars
BuilderBethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard, Maryland
Laid down5 October 1908
Launched10 April 1909
Sponsored byMs. Juliana Keyser
Commissioned26 August 1909
Decommissioned3 July 1912
Recommissioned11 December 1912
Decommissioned15 July 1913
Recommissioned8 May 1914
Decommissioned27 December 1921
Reclassified"AC-6", 17 July 1920
Stricken26 April 1923
Fate
  • Sold, 22 June 1923
  • Ran aground and abandoned, 8 November 1924
General characteristics
TypeCollier
Displacement11,250 long tons (11,430 t) normal
Length403 ft (123 m)
Beam53 ft (16 m)
Draft24 ft 8 in (7.52 m)
Speed12.65 kn (14.56 mph; 23.43 km/h)
Complement82
Armament4 × 0.5 in (12.7 mm) machine guns

Service history

19101913

Assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, Mars departed Norfolk on 6 January 1910 for Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, for fueling operations in the Caribbean. Returning Norfolk on 14 March, the collier sailed on 1 April for the South Atlantic Squadron. Arriving at Maldonado Bay, Uruguay, on the 25th, she remained there, coaling ships, until heading home on 14 May, and arriving Norfolk on 4 June.

After operations out of Norfolk, the collier sailed on 14 December with stores for the European station. On 7 January 1911, Mars cleared Cherbourg, France, to return to Norfolk on the 26th. She served out of Norfolk for the next 18 months, making five voyages to Guantanamo, before decommissioning on 3 July 1912 to go into drydock at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Mars recommissioned on 11 December and resumed her east coast operations off Portsmouth until again decommissioned on 15 July 1913.

19141921

On 8 May 1914, Mars recommissioned and departed six days later for Vera Cruz to support fleet action off Mexico following the arrest of a U.S. Navy shore party in April. Returning to Newport News, Virginia on 12 September, she sailed for the Marianas, arriving Apra Harbor, Guam on 20 January 1915. On 7 March, Mars steamed for home, arriving Norfolk on 22 May. She departed with supplies on 24 July for the first of three voyages from the east coast to Balboa, Canal Zone, ending at Baltimore, Maryland on 9 April 1916.

Mars sailed for the west coast on 26 April, arriving San Diego on 7 June. She operated along the coasts of western Mexico and Central America until 6 July 1917, when she headed for the east coast, reaching Norfolk on the 31st.

For the next 21 months, the ship served off the Atlantic coast transporting coal, cargo, and passengers. Assigned to the newly established Naval Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS) on 9 January 1918, Mars made four cruises to the Mediterranean between 1 April 1919 and 25 November 1921, when she retired to Hampton Roads, Virginia. The collier was reclassified "AC-6" on 17 July 1920.

Decommissioning and sale

Mars decommissioned on 27 December 1921, was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 26 April 1923, and sold to Mr. John E. Walsh, Boston, Massachusetts on 22 June. On 8 November 1924, she ran aground off Daiquiri, Cuba — with the loss of one life — and was abandoned.

References

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