USS Fulton (AS-1)-- Part 4: Panama Canal Zone, Asiatic Fleet and a Disastrous Fire

The Fulton was recommissioned  on 2 December 1930 as a gunboat and had duty as a survey ship in the Panama Canal Zone.  It was reclassified as the USS Fulton (PG-49).  It conducted surveys  in the area until 1932 when it went to San Diego and made preparations to join the U.S. Asiatic Fleet.

Her assigned station was Hong Kong where the ship arrived in November and then made voyages to Cavite  Navy Yard in the Philippines and cruised along the Chinese coast from Hong Kong to Canton until March 1934.

On this day a fire broke out amidships.  As the ship appeared to be sinking, the crew was taken off by the British destroyer HMS Wishart and merchant ship SS Tinian.  Three of the crew suffered injuries.    The crew was taken to  the Royal Navy Dockyard at Hong Kong.  The British destroyer HMS Whitshed stood by the burning Fulton until the fire was put out.  An American tug arrived  to tow the Fulton to Hong Kong where emergency repairs were made and she was towed to Cavite.

The United States Department of the Navy  later passed thanks along to British authorities for their service.

Damage to the Fulton was considered too great and she was decommissioned  on 12 May 1934 and scrapped later that year.

The Story of a Ship.  --Cooter