USS Mars (AC-6)

The first "Mars" (AC‑6) was laid down by the Maryland Steel Co., Sparrows Point, Maryland, 5 October 1908; launched 10 April 1909; sponsored by Miss Juliana Keyser; and commissioned at Norfolk 26 August 1900, Master A. B. Randall, Naval Auxiliary Service, in command.

Assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, "Mars" departed Norfolk 6 January 1910 for Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, for fueling operations in the Caribbean. Returning Norfolk 14 March, the collier sailed 1 April for the South Atlantic Squadron. Arriving Maldonada Bay, Uruguay, the 25th, she remained there, coaling ships, until heading home 14 May, and arriving Norfolk 4 June.

After operations out of Norfolk, the collier sailed 14 December with stores for the European station. On 7 January 1911 "Mars" cleared Cherbourg, France, to return to Norfolk the 26th. She served out of Norfolk for the next year and a half, making five voyages to Guantanamo, before decommissioning 3 July 1912 to go into drydock at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H. Mars recommissioned 11 December and resumed her east coast operations off Portsmouth until again decommissioned 15 July 1913.

On 8 May 1914 "Mars" recommissioned and departed 6 days later for Vera Cruz to support fleet action off Mexico following the arrest of a U.S. Navy shore party in April. Returning to Newport News, Va., 12 September, she sailed for the Marianas, arriving Apra Harbor, Guam, 20 January 1915. On 7 March "Mars" steamed for home, arriving Norfolk 22 May. She departed with supplies 24 July for the first of three voyages from the east coast to Balboa, Canal Zone, ending at Baltimore, Md., 9 April 1916.

"Mars" sailed for the west coast 26 April, arriving San Diego 7 June. She operated along the coasts of western Mexico and Central America until 6 July 1917 when she headed for the east coast, reaching Norfolk the 31st.

For the next 21 months the ship served off the Atlantic coast transporting coal, cargo, and passengers. Assigned to the newly established NOTS 9 January 1918, "Mars" made four cruises to the Mediterranean between 1 April 1919 and 25 November 1921 when she retired to Hampton Roads, Va. The collier was classified AC‑6 on 17 July 1920. "Mars" decommissioned 27 December 1921, was struck from the Navy list 26 April 1923, and sold 22 June 1923 to Mr. John E. Walsh, Boston, Mass. On 8 November 1924 she ran aground off Daiquire, Cuba, with the loss of one life and was abandoned.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m5/mars-i.htm