USS Octans

Last updated

USS Octans (AF-26) underway at sea on 24 April 1944 (AWM 302691).JPG
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
BuilderWorkman Clark Belfast
Laid downdate unknown
Launchedin 1917 as SS Ulua
Acquired8 May 1943
Commissioned11 June 1943
Decommissioned6 March 1946
Stricken20 March 1946
FateScrapped 1948
General characteristics
Displacement11,030 t.(fl)
Length440 ft (130 m)
Beam54 ft 4 in (16.56 m)
Draught26 ft 2 in (7.98 m)
PropulsionReciprocating engines, twin screws, 6,000hp
Speed13.5 kts. (max)
Complement227
Armamentone single 5 in (130 mm) dual purpose gun mount, four 3 in (76 mm) dual purpose guns, eight 20 mm guns

USS Octans (AF-26) was a stores ship acquired by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II, named after the constellation Octans. She was responsible for delivering necessary goods and equipment to ships and stations in the war zone.

Contents

Octans (AF–26) was built as SS Ulua in 1917 by Workman Clark and Co., Ltd., Belfast; acquired by the Navy 8 May 1943 under charter through the War Shipping Administration from her owner, the United Fruit Co.; and commissioned 11 June.

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

Following two weeks of fitting out at Oakland, California, Octans departed San Francisco Bay on 25 June 1943, bound for Noumea, New Caledonia. Arriving there 17 July, she took up her mission of transporting fresh and frozen provisions from New Zealand and Australian ports to ships and bases located in the Solomons, the Admiralties, and New Guinea.

Transporting wounded soldiers

During an availability at Sydney, Australia, in November 1944, another capability and task was added with the installation of a 30-bed sick bay. On succeeding trips to Australia from more-advanced bases, wounded soldiers and sailors were transferred from the battle areas to recovery havens.

Shooting down a Japanese plane in the Philippines

From that time also, Octans began to range farther to the north as she made supply trips to Leyte, Mindoro, and Luzon. While returning from Leyte Gulf on 1 January 1945, she was credited with downing one of a number of Japanese planes which attacked her convoy.

Post-war activity

With almost two years of supply duty behind her, Octans returned to the U.S. West Coast for a brief overhaul, arriving at Oakland 15 May. Seven weeks later, following a stop in Seattle, Washington, for provisions, she again crossed the Pacific Ocean, arriving at Manila on 13 August. After two more trips to Australia, the stores ship made deliveries to Shanghai, China, and departed 29 December for the United States.

Post-war decommissioning

Octans sailed to the U.S. East Coast and arrived in Baltimore, Maryland, on 20 February 1946. Decommissioning on 6 March, she was returned to her owner the same day and struck from the Navy List on 20 March.

Military awards and honors

Octans’ crew members were authorized the following medals:

Related Research Articles

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 <i>Aldebaran</i> US Navy combat stores ship

USS Aldebaran (AF-10), the lead ship of her class of stores ship is the only ship of the United States Navy to have this name. She is named after Aldebaran, a star of the first magnitude in the constellation Taurus.

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

USS Boreas (AF-8) was an Arctic-class stores ship acquired by the United States Navy after World War I. She served with distinction during World War II, supplying food and other supplies to ships and installations in the combat zones of the Pacific Theater.

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

USS Pastores (AF-16) was a Pastores class store ship acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War I and re-acquired during World War II. Pastores served as a stores ship, responsible for delivering supplies to military personnel in combat and non-combat areas. She served in both World War I and II, and was awarded one battle star during World War II.

USS <i>Arctic</i> (AF-7) Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Arctic (AF-7) was an Arctic-class stores ship acquired by the United States Navy shortly after World War I, which saw extensive service in World War II. She served in the Pacific Ocean, delivering food and household items to ships and bases.

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

USS Glacier (AF-4) was a Glacier-class stores ship acquired by the U.S. Navy for use in the Spanish–American War. She served again during World War I in the dangerous North Atlantic Ocean, delivering general goods and ammunition to American Expeditionary Force troops in Europe.

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

USS Calamares (AF-18) was a cargo ship acquired by the U.S. Navy for service in World War I. When World War II occurred, she was again re-commissioned into service, providing goods to units in the various oceans of the world.

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

USS Triangulum (AK-102) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II. Triangulum was named after the constellation Triangulum. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

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

USS Ganymede (AK-104) 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 war zone. Named after the largest of the moons of Jupiter, Ganymede was the only ship of the Navy to bear this name.

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 <i>Shaula</i> Liberty ship of WWII

USS Shaula (AK-118) 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 James Screven, an American general during the American Revolutionary War. She was renamed and commissioned after Shaula, the second-brightest star system in the constellation of Scorpius. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

USS <i>Phobos</i> Crater-class cargo ship

USS Phobos (AK-129) 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>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 <i>Hyades</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Hyades (AF-28) was the lead ship of her class of stores ships 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.

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

USS Adria (AF-30) was an Adria-class stores ship in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1954. She was scrapped in 1977.

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

USS Karin (AF-33) was an Adria stores ship in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1958. She was into commercial service in 1969 and was scrapped in 1987.

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

USS Latona (AF-35) was an Adria-class stores ship in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1949. She was scrapped in 1973.

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

USS Malabar (AF-37) was an Adria-class stores ship in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1955. She was scrapped in 1977.

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

USS Bondia (AF-42) was an Adria-class stores ship in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1946 and from 1951 to 1973. She was scrapped in 1974.

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

USS Laurentia (AF-44) was an Adria-class stores ship in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1946 and from 1950 to 1970. She was scrapped in 1973.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .The entry can be found here.

  1. ↑ "Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual NAVPERS 15,790". Transcribed by HyperWar Foundation. 1953. p. 201. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
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.