USS Kent Island

Last updated
USS Kent Island (AG-78) at anchor in San Francisco Bay, California (USA), circa in December 1945 (NH 82193).jpg
Kent Island, circa in December 1945
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameKent Island
Namesake Kent Island
Builder New England Shipbuilding Corporation, South Portland, Maine
Laid down19 November 1944 as type (EC2-S-C1) hull, (MCE hull 3092)
Launched9 January 1945
Sponsored byMrs. Nan Hatch
Acquiredby the Navy 19 January 1945
Commissioned1 August 1945 as USS Kent Island (AG-78)
Decommissioned22 June 1946, at Orange, Texas
In service19 January 1945 as USS Kent Island
Out of service23 January 1945
ReclassifiedAKS-26, 18 August 1951
Refit Todd Shipbuilding Company, Hoboken, New Jersey
Stricken1 April 1960
Fatescrapped, 2 November 1960
General characteristics
TypeBasilan-class miscellaneous auxiliary
Displacement
  • 5,766 tons light
  • 14,200 tons full load
Length441 ft 6 in (134.57 m)
Beam56 ft 11 in (17.35 m)
Draft23 ft (7.0 m)
Propulsionreciprocating steam engine, single shaft, 1,950hp
Speed12.5 knots
Complement883 officers and enlisted
Armamentone single 5 in (130 mm)/38 dual purpose gun mount, twelve 20 mm single AA gun mounts

USS Kent Island (AG-78/AKS-26) was a Basilan-class miscellaneous auxiliary acquired by the U.S. Navy shortly before the end of World War II. She was used to transport personnel and cargo and was inactivated and disposed of shortly after the war.

Contents

Constructed at Portland, Maine

Kent Island (AG-78) was launched 9 January 1945 by New England Shipbuilding Corporation, South Portland, Maine, under a U.S. Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. Nan Hatch; transferred to the Navy 19 January 1945; commissioned the same day, ferried to Todd Shipbuilding Company, Hoboken, New Jersey; decommissioned 23 January 1945 for conversion to a barracks and issue ship; and recommissioned 1 August 1945.

After shakedown in the Chesapeake Bay, Kent Island cleared Norfolk, Virginia, 31 August for duty with the Service Force Pacific Fleet. She arrived Pearl Harbor 9 October via San Diego, California, to commence operations in Hawaiian waters.

She sailed for Okinawa 17 October to receive Navy veterans for transportation to the United States, and returned San Francisco, California, 30 November. Kent Island cleared San Francisco 3 January 1946, transited the Panama Canal, and arrived Hampton Roads 26 January.

Inactivation

Following upkeep, she put into Orange, Texas, 15 March where she was placed out of commission in reserve 22 June 1946. She was redesignated AKS-26 on 18 August 1951 and struck from the Navy List 1 April 1960. Kent Island was sold to Southern Scrap Material Co. 2 November 1960 to be scrapped.

Related Research Articles

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

USS Crater (AK-70) was the lead ship of her class of converted liberty ship cargo ships in the service of the US Navy in World War II. She was first named after John James Audubon, an American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. She was renamed and commissioned after the constellation Crater, she was the only ship of the Navy to bear this name.

USS <i>Darke</i> Haskell-class attack transport ship

USS Darke (APA-159) was a Haskell-class attack transport in service with the United States Navy in from 1944 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1974.

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

USS Acubens (AKS-5) was an Acubens-class general stores issue ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II, named after the star Acubens, the alpha star in Cancer. She was responsible for delivering and disbursing goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

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

USS Kochab (AKS-6) was an Acubens-class general stores issue ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering and disbursing goods and equipment to locations in the war zone. The vessel was constructed by Delta Shipbuilding Co. of New Orleans, Louisiana, and launched on 8 March 1944 under a Maritime Commission contract. After being acquired the U.S. Navy, the vessel was converted into a general stores ship and entered service on 4 November 1944. Kochab supported American operations in the Pacific Theater, sailing between US bases on Pacific islands. Following the war's end, Kochab sailed to the US with returning personnel and operated along the United States West Coast before being decommissioned on 17 April 1946. The vessel was then placed in reserve. Kochab was sold for scrap in 1965.

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

USS Luna (AKS-7) was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was originally named for Harriet Hosmer, a neoclassical sculptor, considered the first female professional sculptor. She was converted shortly after completion to an Acubens-class general stores issue ship and renamed Luna, the latin name for the Moon. She was responsible for delivering and disbursing goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

USS Volans (AKS-9) was an Acubens-class general stores issue ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering and disbursing goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

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

USS Cybele (AKS-10) was an Acubens-class general stores issue ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering and disbursing goods and equipment to locations in the Pacific war zone. The vessel was launched on 9 October 1944 by Delta Shipbuilding Co., New Orleans, Louisiana and entered service with the U.S. Navy on 16 April 1945. The vessel was decommissioned on 22 August 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal on 24 April 1947. The vessel was scrapped in 1965.

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

USS Hecuba (AKS-12) was an Acubens-class general stores issue ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering and disbursing goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

USS Viburnum (AN-57/YN-76) was a Ailanthus-class net laying ship which served with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Ocean theatre of operations. While operating in the Caroline Islands, she was severely damaged when struck by what appeared to be a Japanese torpedo. However, she continued her work as well as she could, and, when she returned to the United States, she was considered too damaged to repair. She was sold in her damaged condition, and was eventually scrapped.

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

USS Malanao (AG-44) was a commercial cargo ship acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was used to transport cargo in the South Pacific Ocean, and was decommissioned after the end of the war.

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

USS Belle Isle (AG-73/AKS-21) was a Basilan-class miscellaneous auxiliary acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Belle Isle was configured as a repair ship and used in Pacific Ocean operations. At war’s end she was converted to a stores ship before being finally decommissioned.

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

USS Coasters Harbor (AG-74) was a Basilan-class miscellaneous auxiliary acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was configured as a repair ship and sent to the Pacific Ocean just as the war ended. She was retained to participate in atomic testing at Bikini Atoll.

USS <i>Cuttyhunk Island</i> Auxiliary ship

USS Cuttyhunk Island (AG-75/AKS-23) was a Belle Isle-class miscellaneous auxiliary acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Cuttyhunk Island was built as the war was coming to an end, and was used as a transport. She was later classified as a stores ship and eventually scrapped.

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

USS Avery Island (AG-76/AKS-24) was a Basilan-class miscellaneous auxiliary acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was used to transport personnel and carry cargo and was inactivated and disposed of shortly after the war.

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

USS Indian Island (AG-77/AKS-25) was a Basilan-class miscellaneous auxiliary acquired by the U.S. Navy shortly before the end of World War II. She was used to transport personnel and carry cargo and was inactivated and disposed of shortly after the war.

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

USS Pontotoc (AK-206/AG-94/AVS-7) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship acquired by the US Navy shortly before the end of World War II. She was converted into a Gwinnett-class aviation stores issue ship to carry aviation parts and spares, and to issue them to the US Pacific Fleet and activities as needed.

USS Proton (AG-147/AKS-28) -- also known as USS LST-1078 – was an LST-542-class tank landing ship launched by the U.S. Navy during the final months of World War II. Proton served as a troop ship, a cargo ship and as an electronic parts supply ship for the U.S. Pacific Fleet and was decommissioned following the Korean War.

USS <i>League Island</i> (AG-149) Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS League Island (AG-149/AKS-30) – also known as USS LST-1097 - was an LST-511-class tank landing ship launched by the U.S. Navy during the final months of World War II. League Island served as a supply and stores-issue ship for the U.S. 7th Fleet, and was decommissioned after the war.

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

USS Faribault (AK-179) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship acquired by the U.S. Navy during the final months of World War II. Faribault served US military forces in the Pacific Ocean until shortly after the war when she was deactivated. During the Korean War, she was reactivated and served with distinction, having been awarded two battle stars before final decommissioning.

USS <i>Grainger</i> 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

References