 USS Mark in South Vietnam, circa in 1966 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| U.S. Army service: | |
| Name | FS-214 |
| Builder | Higgins Industries |
| Yard number | 80 |
| Completed | December 1944 |
| Out of service | 30 September 1947 |
| U.S. Navy service: | |
| Acquired | 30 September 1947 |
| Renamed | USS Mark (AG-143) |
| In service | 2 December 1947 |
| Reclassified | AKL-12,13 March 1949 |
| Commissioned | 1 October 1965 |
| Decommissioned | 1 July 1971 |
| Fate | Transferred to Taiwan,1971 |
| Stricken | 15 April 1976 |
 Taiwan | |
| Name | ROCS Yung Kang (AKL 514) |
| Commissioned | 1 July 1971 |
| Fate | Unknown |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Design 427 coastal freighter |
| Displacement | 693 long tons (704 t) |
| Length | 180 ft (55 m) |
| Beam | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Draft | 10 ft (3.0 m) |
| Speed | 13 knots (24 km/h;15 mph) |
| Complement | 39 |
USS Mark (AG-143),was built as the Aircraft Repair variant,Design 427, [1] [2] of the Army FS types as FS-214 for use by the United States Army. She was built at Higgins Industries,New Orleans,Louisiana,completed in December 1944. The ship was designed with the well deck covered to provide shop space for the work of repairing aircraft by an embarked Aircraft Maintenance Unit (Floating). [note 1]
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The ship suffered a casualty when the ship's starboard engine exploded on 13 April 1945. Albert M. Boe,the civilian Chief Engineer,stayed at his post to shut down engines despite burns that were fatal. He was awarded the posthumous Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal. Later a ship was named in his honor. [4]
Toward the close of the war the vessels were assigned names and the ship was renamed Colonel Raymond T. Lester, [1] an Army Air Corps officer.
The ship was acquired by the United States Navy at Subic Bay,Philippine Islands,on 30 September 1947;and placed in service on 2 December 1947.
