USS Mars AFS-1
A Navy REPLENISHMENT Ship
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Ship WEBSITE
The 1st Mars (AC‑6) was named for the Roman God of War, the 2nd (AFS‑1) for the borough in Butler County in western Pennsylvania named for the planet. DANFS.
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The Mars crew members are anxious to discuss this proposal at their September Reunion.
USS Mars (AFS-1) during a VERTREP underway replenishment with USS Coral Sea (CVA-43),
November 1966 in WestPac.  Photo by Michael O'Brian USS Coral Sea

Final Disposition, disposed as targets during RIMPAC 2006, sunk 15 July 2006

Mars Class Combat Stores Ship:
Laid down, 5 May 1962, at National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, CA.

Displacement: 9,200 t.(lt) 15,900-18,663 t.(fl)  Length: 581' Beam: 79'  Draft: 27' (max.)
Speed: 20 kts.   Complement: (USS) 486 (MSC) 49 Navy, 125 civilian merchant seamen
Aircraft: two UH-46 Sea Knight helicopters
Armament: two twin 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
Propulsion: three 580 psi Babcock and Wilcox boilers, one De Laval Turbine, single propeller
Sister Ships
USS CONCORD AFS-5    USS NIAGARA FALLS AFS-3    USS SAN DIEGO AFS-6
USS SAN JOSE AFS-7        USS SYLVANIA AFS-2        USS WHITE PLAINS AFS-4
HISTORY                 Terry Sirmans: Facebook              NAVSOURCE

Hello Vern!

"Our next newsletter concerning this proposal, will be posted.  We will be having our next reunion in Vancouver, WA in September which is  explained on our web site.

We have 95 crewmembers from the Mars living in and around the I5 interstate.  This proposal will be brought up at the reunion business meeting.  We are having great interest generated already for this project.  I have also passed this along to friends from the AFS6 and AFS4."

Sincerely,   Art Sweetland  Webmaster

Hello John!

I am very happy that you have contacted me with your reunion information.  I already have plans for those dates and will not be able to attend.  However check our web site for the Mars I have updated the link to your new web site for the Sylvania from our link page.

All of our newsletters are available to anyone visiting our site from the newsletter page; issues 1 through 33 which is the current issue are listed in numerical order.  Issue 34 is 95 percent completed at this point in time and will be published by 31 May 2012. 

I received an email from Vern Bouwman who is a Naval Historian.  He has contacted the Mars to create interest in starting a museum for all Naval Supply Vessels currently there is none in existence.  Our story needs to be told to the people of this great country.   Our ship’s bell is located in Mars Pennsylvania in the town square.  I believe this to be the only piece from our ship or any of its class to be salvaged and on display anywhere is this great land.                                   Find the bell in a video by clicking the image right.

I am keeping in touch with you along with two men from the San Diego, one man from the White Plains.  We need to grow a group of former sailor’s from the AFS type ships to make a consolidated effort in bringing about this museum.   Please bring this concept up at your reunions business meeting in August.  I am very excited about this whole concept and can see a great future for all us former AFS type sailors.

Thank you for your time John Pierce and smooth sailing.
Sincerely,   Art Sweetland  Webmaster

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Music by TIM BARRON SM3 1968-70 USS Kawishiwi AO-146