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USS Holland (AS-3)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Holland (AS-3)

USS Holland (AS-3) was launched by the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., 12 April 1926, sponsored by Miss Elizabeth Saunders Chase, daughter of Admiral J. V. Chase, and commissioned 1 June, Comdr. John B. Earle in command.

USS Holland (AS-3) arrived in San Francisco from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on 24 April to become flagship of Captain J. T. Thompkins, Commander Submarine Divisions, Battle Fleet. On 24 September she was permanently assigned to base at San Diego, Calif., tending submarine divisions there with periodic tours to Panama to service submarines based at the Canal Zone.

In addition to being the flagship of Submarine Division 12, USS Holland (AS-3) temporarily served as Submarine Force Flagship (March-July 1933). In June 1935 she became joint flagship of Submarine Squadron 6 and Submarine Division 12. This duty continued until June 1941 when she became flagship of Submarine Squadron 2. On 22 November 1941 USS Holland (AS-3) arrived at Cavite Naval Base, P.I., to service submarines of the Asiatic Fleet. Due 'to the air raids in early December 1941, USS Holland (AS-3) was hurried out of Manila Bay under cover of night with her vital cargo of repair and replacement parts for submarines of the Asiatic Fleet.

While based in Australia, USS Holland (AS-3) serviced and overhauled several submarines before returning for overhaul at Mare Island Navy Yard in late February 1943. She reached Pearl Harbor from the West Coast in June and completed 22 refits and 13 repair jobs for submarines within the next 11 months. She shifted to Midway Atoll on 1 June 1944 and sailed the following month directly to support submarines in the Marianas Islands. Holland returned to Pearl Harbor late in November. By the close of hostilities, USS Holland (AS-3) had given 55 instances of refit to submarines, provided repair and service to 20 surface craft and completed various jobs on shore installations.

USS Holland (AS-3) set course 6 June 1946 by way of Pearl Harbor for San Diego where she arrived on 28 June. She shifted to San Pedro for inactiviation overhaul in the Terminal Island Navy Yard, then was towed to San Diego where she was decommissioned on 21 March 1947. USS Holland (AS-3) was assigned to the San Diego, Calif., group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet until her name was struck from the Navy Register on 18 June 1952. 

For a complete history of USS Holland (AS-3) please see its DANFS page.