USS Diphda

Last updated
USS Diphda (AKA-59) underway at sea, circa in the 1950s (1396453842642).jpg
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Diphda
NamesakeThe star Diphda in the constellation Cetus
Builder Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey
Launched11 May 1944
Commissioned8 July 1944
Decommissioned11 May 1956
Honours and
awards
FateScrapped 1976
General characteristics
Class and type Andromeda-class attack cargo ship
Type Type C2-S-B1
Displacement6,737 long tons (6,845 t)
Length459 ft 2 in (139.95 m)
Beam63 ft (19 m)
Draft26 ft 4 in (8.03 m)
Speed16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement429
Armament1 × 5"/38 caliber gun mount

USS Diphda (AKA-59) was an Andromeda-class attack cargo ship named after a star in the constellation Cetus. She served as a commissioned ship for 11 years and 10 months.

Contents

Diphda was launched 11 May 1944 by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey, under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. Anna Rosenberg; transferred to the Navy on 7 July 1944; and commissioned the next day.

Service history

19441945

Diphda sailed from Norfolk on 15 August 1944, loaded cargo at Pearl Harbor from 4 to 21 September, then sailed to New Guinea for practice landings. On 4 January 1945, she departed Noemfoor Island for the invasion of Lingayen Gulf. Returning to Manus on 24 January, she loaded landing craft to replace those transferred at Lingayen Gulf, then loaded cargo at Wakde Island for San Pedro Bay, Leyte, where she arrived on 10 February.

Signature of Captain Willson on Ensign Bob Fay's shellback certificate for crossing the equator probably en route to Manus Island, August 28, 1945 Shellback Certificate for Robert C Fay aboard USS Diphda (AKA-59) on 28 August 1945.jpg
Signature of Captain Willson on Ensign Bob Fay's shellback certificate for crossing the equator probably en route to Manus Island, August 28, 1945

After training exercises in the Philippines until 27 March 1945, Diphda sortied for the invasion of Okinawa, discharging her cargo in the transport area from 1 to 10 April. She returned to Pearl Harbor on 25 April for voyage repairs and alterations, then continued to the west coast, arriving at San Francisco on 18 June. She voyaged to Pearl Harbor carrying ammunition from 8 July to 5 August, then sailed from San Francisco on 13 August with cargo for Manus and Samar. She carried Army cargo to Wakanoura Wan, Honshū, in support of the occupation of Japan, then embarked homeward bound servicemen at Okinawa, returning with them to Portland, Oregon, on 29 November.

19461956

Between 11 January and 22 May 1946 and again between 28 November 1946 and 17 May 1947, Diphda served in the Far East, carrying cargo to Guam, Okinawa, and Chinese ports. She transported cargo for the Second Arctic Expedition to Point Barrow, Alaska, between 9 July and 11 October 1947, then performed similar service between west coast ports, occasionally cruising as far west as Guam, Pearl Harbor, and Saipan. In both 1949 and 1950, her cargo duty took her to the east coast, and between 26 May and 20 June 1950, she called at Whittier and Kodiak, Alaska.

With the outbreak of hostilities in Korea, Diphda was assigned to Service Force, Pacific (ServPac), for duty as an ammunition ship. She made an emergency delivery of ammunition at Pusan, Korea, and offloaded the remainder of her cargo at Yokosuka before returning to San Francisco on 12 September 1950. Six days later, she got underway for an extended tour in Korean waters during which she carried ammunition between depots in Japan and Korea and to combat units and ships. On 26 December, she replenished heavy cruiser Saint Paul (CA-73) at sea. Diphda returned to San Francisco on 29 October 1951 for overhaul.

From 5 February to 11 November 1952, Diphda served with the Military Sea Transportation Service, making shuttle runs from the west coast to the western Pacific, shuttling between Oakland, California, and Japanese ports. Except for service as station fleet issue ship at Sasebo from 12 May to 27 October 1954, Diphda continued this duty until 2 December 1955. Diphda was placed out of commission in reserve at San Diego on 11 May 1956.

Awards

Diphda received one battle star for World War II service and six battle stars for Korean War service.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Leo</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Leo (AKA-60), an Andromeda-class attack cargo ship, was named for the constellation Leo. She is the only ship of the United States Navy to hold this name. USS Leo served as a commissioned ship for 10 years and 5 months.

USS <i>Ottawa</i> (AKA-101) Naval cargo ship

USS Ottawa (AKA-101) was a Tolland-class attack cargo ship in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1947. She was sold into commercial service and was lost in 1951.

USS <i>Winston</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Winston (AKA-94/LKA-94) was an Andromeda-class attack cargo ship in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1957 and from 1961 to 1969. She was scrapped in 1979.

USS <i>Warrick</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Warrick (AKA-89) was an Andromeda-class attack cargo ship in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1957. She was sunk as a target in 1971.

USS <i>Uvalde</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Uvalde (AKA-88) was an Andromeda-class attack cargo ship in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1957 and from 1961 to 1968. She was scrapped in 1969.

USS <i>Sheliak</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Sheliak (AKA-62) was an Andromeda-class attack cargo ship in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. In 1948, she was sold into commercial service and was scrapped in 1969.

USS <i>Alshain</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Alshain (AKA-55) was an Andromeda-class attack cargo ship in the service of the United States Navy. She was named after the star Alshain in the constellation Aquila, and served as a commissioned ship for 11 years and 9 months.

USS <i>Chara</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Chara (AKA-58) was an Andromeda-class attack cargo ship named after a star in the constellation Canes Venatici. She was later converted to an ammunition ship and redesignated (AE-31).

USS <i>Centaurus</i> (AKA-17) Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Centaurus (AKA-17) was an Andromeda-class attack cargo ship named after the constellation Centaurus. She was one of a handful of World War II AKAs manned by officers and crew from the United States Coast Guard. She served as a commissioned ship for 2 years and 6 months.

USS <i>Electra</i> (AKA-4) Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Electra (AKA-4) was an Arcturus-class attack cargo ship named after Electra, a star in the Pleiades star cluster in the constellation Taurus. She served as a commissioned ship for seven years.

USS <i>Cavalier</i> U.S. Navy attack transport ship, 1943-1968

USS Cavalier (AP-82/APA-37) was a Bayfield-class attack transport in the United States Navy. She was named for Cavalier County, North Dakota.

USS <i>King County</i> (LST-857)

USS King County (LST-857) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in Texas and Washington, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Pitkin County</i> (LST-1082)

USS Pitkin County (LST-1082) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after Pitkin County, Colorado, she was the only U.S. Naval Vessel to bear the name.

USS Chicot (AK-170) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

USS <i>Audrain</i>

USS Audrain (APA-59) was a Gilliam-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II.

USS <i>Banner</i> (APA-60)

USS Banner (APA-60) was a Gilliam-class attack transport that served with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was scuttled in 1948.

USS <i>Sibley</i>

USS Sibley (APA-206) was a Haskell-class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1975.

USS <i>Sheridan</i>

USS Sheridan (APA-51) was an Ormsby-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II.

USS <i>Grainger</i> (AK-184) Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Grainger (AK-184) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship that served the US Navy during the final months of World War II. In 1947 she was placed back in service and served in the Korean War, earning two battle stars

USS <i>Comet</i> (AP-166)

The third USS Comet (AP-166) was a United States Navy La Salle-class transport in commission from 1944 to 1946. She saw service in the Pacific Theater of Operations during the latter stages of World War II and the immediate postwar period.

References