United States Navy

Submarine Tenders

USS Emory S. Land AS 39

EMORY SCOTT LAND a native of Canon City, Colorado, attended the University of Wyoming prior to his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland. He entered the Academy as a Naval Cadet and graduated with distinction on May 21, 1902. After two years at sea, then required by law, he was commissioned en Ensign on May 2, 1904. After leaving the Academy, he became a Naval architect specializing in submarine construction.

During World War I, Vice Admiral Land was assigned for duty with the Board of Devices and Plans Connected with Submarines in Warfare in May 1917; the Board of Standardization of Submarines in September 1917; the Staff of Admiral W. S. Sims, USN, Commander Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, at Naval Headquarters, London, England, in July 1918; and the Allied Naval Armistice Commission.

He was awarded the Navy Cross for his work on submarine design and construction and for work in the war zone. As Chief of the Bureau of Construction and Repair from 1932 to 1937, he supervised the design and development of submarines that formed the backbone of the U. S. Submarine Fleet in World War II. On October 1,1932, Rear Admiral Land was designated Chief of the Bureau of Construction and Repair, and remained there until he retired from active duty April 1, 1937. Within a month, he was appointed to the newly created U.S. Maritime Commission, tasked with rehabilitating the Nation's rapidly declining merchant fleet. On February 18, 1938, he became Chairman of the Commission , relieving Joesph P.Kennedy. On February 9, 1942, following the outbreak of WW II, he was also assigned as Administrator of the War Shipping Administration. He served in the dual capacity until the ending of hostilities. During the War, he directed the design, establishment and maintenance of a 6000 vessel merchant fleet, the greatest maritime fleet in the history of the world. He was responsible for the availability of shipping and the resultant flow of manpower and munitions to war fronts extending from the United Kingdom to Russia and from Alaska to the Middle East.

He was advanced to Vice Admiral in 1944 by a special act of Congress. On January 15, 1946, Vice Admiral Land resigned as Chairman of the U.S. Maritime Commission. For outstanding services, he was awarded the Navy's Distinguished Service Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal by the War Department. He then became President of the Air Transport Association of America from 1946-1954 and worked as a consultant for General Dynamics Corporation until his death in November 1971 at age 92.

In September, 2007, the U. S. Navy closed the Naval Support Facility, La Maddalena, Itay, Land received orders to depart on or about 1 October to proceed to Bremerton, Washington for (almost) a years yard availability during which time Land will receive much needed repairs, upgrades and replacements.

{History from the Emory's Web Page and crew}

BREMERTON
The submarine repair ship USS Emory S. Land arrived at Naval Base Kitsap on Thursday for a 10-month "upkeep." The $80 million equipment overhaul and maintenance, which will be performed at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, won't begin until June.

For the past eight years, the ship has been homeported at La Maddalena, Italy, a base that will be closed on Feb. 28. It departed for Bremerton with a crew of 825 in late September. The Navy lists the ship's usual crew size at 83 officers and 1,268 enlisted. The crews are made up mostly of technicians and repair personnel.

While here, the ship will convert to a hybrid crew of Navy sailors and Military Sealift Command mariners and its total crew size will be trimmed to 450. Civilians will operate the ship; sailors will fix and supply attack submarines and surface ships that pull up to it. [Emphasis added]

The Emory Land will remain a Navy ship with a Navy captain as the commanding officer. Capt. Jeffrey Hughes has been in command since June 2006. The ship will stay in Bremerton through September 2009.