USS Vestal (AR-4)

From open-encyclopedia.com - the free encyclopedia.

The USS Vestal began life with a civilian crew in 1909 when she entered service as a fleet collier. She served three years in this capacity before undergoing nearly a year's worth of yardwork and being commissioned as a fleet repair ship in 1913 under the command of Commander Edward Latimer Beach, USN. She was attached to the Atlantic fleet and served along the east coast until Spring of 1914 when she was dispatched along with other ships for the occupation of the Mexican port of Vera Cruz.

Following the US entry into World War I, Vestal was deployed to Queenstown where she provided services for ships of the American fleet. She stayed there for the duration of the war and beyond, finally returning in 1919.

In 1925 she underwent modification that changed her from a coal-powered ship to an oil-fired one. Soon thereafter, the submarine S-51 was rammed and sunk by the SS City of Rome and Vestal was called to help recover the submarine. Following the completion of recovery, Vestal was transferred to the Pacific Fleet in 1927 and served there until the outbreak of war following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941.

The Vestal was in Pearl Harbor the day of the attack, moored next to the USS Arizona (BB-39) when the attack started. Her position relative to such a large target would have serious consequences as some of the bombs meant for Arizona hit Vestal instead. With the explosion of the Arizona, Vestal was cast adrift and purposefully beached on the shore at ‘Aiea Bay to prevent her from sinking.