USS Kenmore (AK-221)

Last updated
USS Kenmore (AK-221).jpg
USS Kenmore (AK-221), in San Francisco Bay, California, in late 1945 or early 1946.
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
Name
  • James H. McClintock
  • Kenmore
Namesake
Owner War Shipping Administration (WSA)
Operator
Orderedas a Type EC2-S-C1 hull, MCE hull 1664 [1]
Builder California Shipbuilding Corporation, Terminal Island, Los Angeles, California
Yard number197 [1]
Way number3 [1]
Laid down8 May 1943
Launched30 May 1943
Sponsored byMrs. T. J. Bluechel
In service12 June 1943
RenamedKenmore, 27 October 1943
Reclassified Naval Transport, 27 October 1943
Identification Hull symbol: AP-162
Fatetransferred to the US Navy, 14 November 1943
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameKenmore
Acquired14 November 1943
Commissioned14 November 1943
Decommissioned1 February 1946
Reclassified Cargo Ship, 20 August 1944
Stricken25 February 1946
Identification
Honors and
awards		 Bronze-service-star-3d.png 2 × battle star
FateSold for scrapping, 13 February 1973, removed, 26 March 1973
General characteristics [2]
Class and type Crater-class cargo ship
Type Type EC2-S-C1
Displacement
  • 4,023 long tons (4,088  t) (light)
  • 12,350 long tons (12,550 t) (full load)
Length441 ft 6 in (134.57 m)
Beam24 ft 6 in (7.47 m)
Draft28 ft 4 in (8.64 m)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed12.8  kn (23.7  km/h; 14.7  mph)
Capacity
  • 4,470 t (4,400 long tons) DWT
  • 300,000 cu ft (8,500 m3) (non-refrigerated)
Armament

USS Kenmore (AP-162/AK-221) was a Crater-class cargo ship built during World War II for the US Navy. Kenmore was named after George Washington's sister Elizabeth's house Kenmore. Kenmore was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

Contents

Construction

Kenmore was laid down 8 May 1943, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull No. 1664, as the Liberty ship SS James H. McClintock, by California Shipbuilding Corporation, Terminal Island, Los Angeles, California; launched on 30 May 1943; sponsored by Mrs. T. J. Bluechel; renamed Kenmore 27 October 1943; acquired by the Navy and commissioned 14 November 1943. [3]

Service history

1943–1944

Kenmore loaded cargo and departed Oakland, California, 22 November 1943, arriving Pearl Harbor on 1 December. After repairs at Pearl Harbor, she prepared for the Marshall Islands invasion and departed Hawaii 25 January 1944. Nine days later she arrived off the shores of Majuro Atoll with troops and equipment of the attacking force. The cargo ship returned to Pearl Harbor 21 February, to embark garrison troops for the Gilbert Islands, debarking them at Tarawa in March. [3]

After shuttling troops between the Gilberts and Hawaii for the next two months, Kenmore departed Honolulu 29 May, for Kwajalein, the staging area for the invasion of the Marianas. There she loaded troops of the 106th Infantry and arrived with the massive amphibious force in the assault area off Saipan 20 June. After a beachhead was secured, Kenmore remained in the area until 8 July, unloading cargo and equipment. Throughout the summer she transported troops among the Marshalls, Marianas, and Hawaii. [3]

Reclassified AK-221 on 20 August, Kenmore stood out of Honolulu 25 September, with cargo and reinforcements for the Palau Islands via Eniwetok, arriving Kossal Roads 29 October. She continued supplying the Pacific Islands with men and equipment for the next six months. [3]

1945–1946

The cargo ship departed Ulithi 20 April 1945 with reinforcements needed for the Okinawa campaign, arriving there six days later. [3]

In the closing days of the war, Kenmore shuttled troops between California and the Pacific Islands, insuring the already inevitable victory. When hostilities ended 15 August, Kenmore was assigned to Operation "Magic Carpet" duty. She made two cruises between the Islands, China, and San Francisco arriving with her final group 15 December. [3]

Post-war decommissioning

Kenmore remained in San Francisco, and decommissioned there 1 February 1946. She was delivered to the War Shipping Administration the same day for return to her owner. [3] Her name reverted to James H. McClintock. [2]

Fate

She was placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay Group, until purchased by Chi Shun Hua Steel Company, Ltd., on 13 February 1973, for $185,150. She was physically removed from the Reserve Fleet on 26 March 1973. [4]

Awards

Kenmore received two battle stars for World War II service. [3]

Notes

    Citations

    Bibliography

    Online resources

    Related Research Articles

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

    USS Naos (AK-105) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II. Naos was named after the star Naos, in the constellation Puppis. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

    USS <i>De Grasse</i> (AK-223) Cargo ship of the United States Navy

    USS De Grasse (AP-164/AK-223), originally SS Nathaniel J. Wyeth, was a Crater-class cargo ship active with the United States Navy during World War II. It was the second ship of the Navy to bear the name De Grasse, named after French Admiral François Joseph Paul de Grasse.

    USS Leonis (AK-128) was a Crater-class cargo ship in service with the US Navy in World War II. It was the only ship of the Navy to have borne this name, Latin for "of a lion", presumably referring to the northern constellation Leo.

    USS Prince Georges (AP-165/AK-224) was a Crater-class cargo ship in the service of the US Navy in World War II. Named after the Prince George's County, Maryland, it was the only ship of the Navy to bear this name.

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

    The USS Alnitah (AK-127) was a Crater-class cargo ship in the service of the US Navy in World War II. Named a spelling variation of the star Alnitak in the constellation Orion, it was the only ship of the Navy to bear this name.

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

    USS Mintaka (AK-94) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II. She was named after Mintaka, a star in the Orion constellation. Mintaka was crewed by United States Coast Guard personnel and was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

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

    USS Bootes (AK-99) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II. She was named after the constellation Boötes. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

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

    USS Rotanin (AK-108) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the United States Navy for service in World War II. Rotanin, which is a misspelling of the name "Rotanen", was named after the star Beta Delphini, a star located in the constellation Delphinus. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

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

    USS Alkes (AK-110) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II, named after Alkes, a star in the Crater constellation. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

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

    USS Rutilicus (AK-113) was a Crater-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 Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

    USS Alderamin (AK-116) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II, named after Alderamin, the alpha star in constellation Cepheus. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

    USS <i>Matar</i> Liberty ship of WWII

    USS Matar (AK-119) was a Crater-class cargo ship, converted from a Liberty Ship, commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II. She was first named after Napoleon B. Broward, an American river pilot, captain, and politician; he was elected as the 19th Governor of the US state of Florida. She was renamed and commissioned after Matar, a binary star in the constellation of Pegasus. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

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

    USS Lesuth (AK-125) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II. Lesuth was named after the star Lesuth in the constellation Scorpius. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

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

    USS Megrez (AK-126) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II. Megrez was named after Megrez, a star in the constellation Ursa Major. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

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

    USS Seginus (AK-133) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

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

    USS Ara (AK-136) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II. Ara is named after the constellation Ara. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

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

    USS Ascella (AK-137) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II. Ascella was named after Ascella, a star in the constellation Sagittarius. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

    USS Pavo (AK-139) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II, named after the constellation Pavo. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

    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>Livingston</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

    USS Livingston (AP-163/AK-222) was a Crater-class cargo ship built for the US Navy during World War II. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.