U.S.S. FULTON

USS FULTON was the first of the Fulton class submarine tenders built in the 1940s. USS Fulton was named for Robert Fulton (1765 - 1815) an American inventor credited with the development of the steamboat. Fulton built the Nautilus, the first succesful submarine, while in France in the late 1790s.

Fulton's keel was laid in the Mare Island Naval Ship, north of San Francisco, California on 19 July 1939. She was launched, 27 December 1940 and after fitting out was commissioned USS Fulton (AS-11) on 12 September 1941. Underway on off the West Coast of the U.S. on 7 December, 1941, USS Fulon transited through Panama, Nicaragua and the Galapagos Islands, providing material support to US Naval installations and seaplanes bases.

As 1942 progressed Fulton steamed from San Deigo to Pearl Harbor where she supported the U.S. submarine forces as they pressed forward against the Japanese with their initial war patrols. June 1942 brought the battle of Midway. The United States Carrier task force commanded by Admirals Flecther and Spruance defeated Admiral Yamamotos forces, but lost the U.S. Carrier Yorktown. USS Fulton carried Yorktown survivors to Pearl Harbor after the battle.

USS Fulton advanced to Midway Island in the Summer of 1942 and then on to Brisbane, Australia. Fulton spent nearly a year, Novemeber 1942 to October 1943 in Australia, providing maintenance and technical support to Allied naval commands. As the "front" of the war advance towards the Japanese home Islands, Uss Fulton advanced her station to Milne Bay, New Guinea, again providing any needed support from October 1943 to March 1944. On a war time footing and based over seas for over three years (December 1941 to March 1944) Fulton sailed for re-fit on the West Coast of the United States.

After re-fit, USS Fulton resumed duties supporting the US Navy Submarine Force effort to finish off the Japanese. During the last 16 months of World War II, Fulton went where needed - Pearl Harbor, Midway, Saipan and Guam. The end of the war in August 1945 had her returning to the U.S. for overhaul, then back to Pearl Harbor in early 1946.

June 9, 1946 Fulton sailed to Bikini Atoll to support the submarines involved in the testing of Atomic bombs. When the testing concluded Fulton returned to the west coast. On 3 April 1947, at the Mare Island Navy Yard where she was constructed, Fulton was decommisioned and placed in reserve.

With the Korean War, Fulton's services were again required. She was recommisioned on 10 April 1951. Transiting the Panama Canal, Fulton arrived in her new home port of New London, CT in March 1951. She susequently spent the next six years on the Western side ot the North Atlantic, ranging from Iceland to the Carribbean, tending a U.S. Submarine force that was evolving from the diesel boats of WWII, through the stream lined Guppys to nuclear powered subs.

In late 1957 USS Fulton sailed on a North Atlantic deployment, participating in Operation Natoflex, and visiting ports of call Rothesay, Scotland, and Portland, England. The 1960's were spent as much of the 1950's were, supporting the Submarine forces based at New London, with occasinal sailings to Western Atlantic locales for operations.