Isle Royale Forums

Not particularly relevant to anything, but I thought this was interesting:

http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/maritime/navships.htm

USS Isle Royale - AD-29: USS Isle Royale was launched by Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Seattle, WA, 19 September 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Greer A. Duncan; and delivered to the Navy 2 July 1946 for lay-up in the San Diego Reserve Fleet.
During her period of inactivation, Isle Royale served as headquarters ship for the San Diego Subgroup, Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was designated to replace Hamul in the active fleet, and commissioned at Long Beach 9 June 1962, taking Hamul’s officers and men as that ship decommissioned. After shakedown Isle Royale moved to Long Beach to begin her services to Pacific Fleet destroyers, supplying them with parts and vital repair facilities. The tender sailed for Pearl Harbor 8 February 1963 and for the next seven months served the destroyers roaming the Pacific on their vital peace-keeping mission. She returned to Long Beach from this deployment 11 September 1963, and conducted training operations in California waters until June 1964. The ship then got underway again for Pearl Harbor, where she operated until 30 October. She returned to Long Beach 5 November where she operated until departing 3 August 1965 for a scheduled 6-month mid-Pacific cruise. However, upon arriving Pearl Harbor, she received orders to proceed on to the Philippines where she tended ships of the 7th Fleet fighting in Vietnam Isle Royale returned to Long Beach 5 March 1966 and operated along the West Coast until sailing again for the Far East 16 September. She remained in the Orient operating primarily out of Subic Bay tending the destroyers of the 7th Fleet until her return to Long Beach 12 April 1967. Thereafter Isle Royale operated in waters off southern California preparing for future action.

Nice. I had no Idea they named ships after national parks.

And here's the rest of the story (from Wikipedia):

After she was decommissioned on 11 March 1970, Isle Royale was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 September 1976. Custody was transferred to the Maritime Administration, for disposal; Isle Royale was sold by MARAD on 1 December 1977, to Waterman Supply Co. who stripped her any usable parts before selling the hulk to International Steel Co. for scrap.

They even have a hat. Ever see one of these on the Island?

http://www.ussisleroyale.com/shipstore.htm

kfinnguy wrote:Nice. I had no Idea they named ships after national parks.

Seems that these repair ships were named: Shenandoah, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Isle Royale, Tidewater & Brice Canyon.

As a cover and cancellation collector ( envelopes and postmarks), I found in my collection an envelope sent from the USS Isle Royale with a picture of the ship and it's ship cancel on the cover. It is a nice addition to a small Isle Royale memorabilia collection.