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USS Glacier (AF-4) 

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Glacier (AF-4) 

USSGlacier (AF-4) was built as the merchant ship, SS Port Chalmers, in 1891 by J. L. Thompson & Son, Sunderland, England; purchased from the Federal Line, London, July 1898; commissioned at New York 5 July 1898, Comdr. J. P. Merrill, USN, commanding; had her name changed to Delmonico 6 July 1898, and to Glacier 6 days later.

USSGlacier (AF-4) departed Hampton Roads 15 August, and for the following 5 months she supplied ice, meat, and stores to ships of the North Atlantic Fleet operating in the West Indies during the Spanish-American War. Sailing from San Juan 3 January 1899, she arrived at New York 1 week later, and decommissioned there 6 March. USSGlacier (AF-4) recommissioned at New York 31 March 1899, assigned to the Asiatic Station, she stood out of Hampton Roads 24 May and arrived 15 July at Manila Bay via the Mediterranean and Suez Canal.

USSGlacier (AF-4) stood out of Cavite 16 August, and arrived at Boston 14 November via the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean, and New York. Departing Boston 4 January 1907, USSGlacier (AF-4) became a unit of the Atlantic Fleet, and engaged in supplying fresh provisions to ships operating in the Atlantic and Caribbean area until returning to New York 14 October. As a storeship, she departed New York 5 December and accompanied the Atlantic Fleet on its good will and training cruise to the Pacific, stopping at various ports in the Caribbean, South America, and Mexico en route. Arriving 14 April 1908 at San Francisco. USSGlacier (AF-4) cruised with the Fleet on the California coast until departing San Francisco 29 June. She continued as supply ship to the Atlantic Fleet on its famous voyage around the world. 

Continuing in her service as supply ship to the Pacific Fleet until 1918, USSGlacier (AF-4) was employed in delivering fresh provisions, stores, ammunition, target material, and mail; transporting personnel; and towing target rafts and coal barges. Her principal area of operations was on the West Coast, Mexico, and Central America. As a Naval Overseas Transport Ship, she made three trips to Europe carrying fresh meats and general stores to naval forces operating in European waters. The first two trips were made from New York to the British Isles, 2 June- 26 July 1918 and 13 August-20 October 1918, and the third trip from New York to Brest, 4 Nov 1918-4 January 1919, returning to Norfolk with a cargo of aviation material and high explosives for New York. Standing in at New York 10 January 1919, USSGlacier (AF-4)was detached from NOTS and assigned to the Train Squadron, Atlantic Fleet From 6 May to 25 June 1919, she issued stores to the Atlantic Fleet and engaged in target practice with the fleet on the East Coast.

USSGlacier (AF-4) departed New York 24 July, arrived 17 August at San Pedro, and became attached to the Train Squadron, Pacific Fleet. Until 1921 she was engaged in transporting stores, ammunition, and personnel to ships operating off the California coast and Canal Zone area. Arriving 31 October 1921 at Mare Island, USSGlacier (AF-4) decommissioned there 6 March 1922. 

For a complete history of USSGlacier (AF-4) please see its DANFS page.