USS Athanasia

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USS Athanasia (AF-41).jpg
USS Athanasia (AF-41) Anchored in San Francisco Bay, California, c. 1945.
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
Ordered
  • as Stevedore Knot,
  • R1-M-AV3 hull, MC 2332
Laid down14 August 1944
Launched12 October 1944
Commissioned3 April 1945
Decommissioned20 December 1945
Stricken8 January 1946
Identification IMO number:  5028265
FateScrapped (date unknown)
General characteristics
Tonnage2,120 long tons deadweight (DWT)
Displacement3,139 t.(lt) 6,240 t.(fl)
Length338 ft (103 m)
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draught18 ft (5.5 m)
Propulsion diesel engine, single screw, 1,700shp
Speed12 kts. (max)
Complement84
Armamentone single 3 in (76 mm) dual purpose gun mount, six single 20 mm gun mounts

USS Athanasia (AF-41) was an Adria stores ship stores ship acquired by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. Her task was to carry stores, refrigerated items, and equipment to ships in the fleet, and to remote stations and staging areas.

Contents

Athanasia was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2332) on 14 August 1944 at Beaumont, Texas, by the Pennsylvania Shipyards, Inc.; launched on 12 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. E. C. Sloat: acquired by the Navy on 13 March 1945; converted for naval service by the Todd Galveston Dry Dock, Inc., Galveston, Texas; and commissioned at Galveston on 3 April 1945.

Service history

Following brief shakedown training in the Gulf of Mexico, the new cargo ship proceeded to Mobile, Alabama, to take on provisions. On 26 April, Athanasia sailed for the Pacific Ocean. She transited the Panama Canal on 3 May and continued on to Hawaii. The vessel reached Pearl Harbor on the 22d and reported to Service Squadron 8 for duty. Athanasia left Pearl Harbor on 29 May, bound for the Marshall Islands. She arrived at Eniwetok on 4 June and began discharging provisions. Eight days later, the ship got underway for Ulithi. At that atoll, she joined a convoy bound for the Ryukyus. On 26 June, the ships reached Kerama Retto and began discharging dry and frozen provisions to ships of the Fleet. Athanasia then moved to Hagushi Bay, Okinawa, and continued her resupply duties. On 12 July, the cargo ship set out in a convoy for the return voyage to Hawaii.

After a two-day pause en route at Ulithi, Athanasia moored at Pearl Harbor on 4 August and began reloading her holds. Four days later, she shaped a course back to Okinawa via Ulithi. While she was still en route, she received word of the Japanese capitulation. The ship arrived at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, on 4 September. Departing on the 12th, Athanasia joined a convoy for Pearl Harbor. She had a brief layover at Saipan in mid-September, then pressed on toward Hawaii. However, the ship was diverted to Seattle, Washington. During a dense fog encountered off British Columbia, Athanasia grounded on the rocks of Bajo Point, Nootka Island, on 12 October. Salvage operations were conducted, and the ship was refloated on the 21st. She was then towed to Seattle for repairs.

On 20 December 1945 the ship was decommissioned and was returned to the War Shipping Administration for disposal. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 8 January 1946. Final Disposition: scrapped (date unknown).

Military awards and honors

Athanasia earned one battle star for her World War II service. Her crew was eligible for the following:

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References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .

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