History | |
---|---|
United States | |
Name | USS Pollux |
Namesake | Pollux, the southern of two bright stars in the constellation Gemini, twin star of Castor [ citation needed ] |
Ordered |
|
Laid down | 2 October 1941 |
Launched | 5 February 1942 |
Acquired | 23 March 1942 |
Commissioned | 27 April 1942 |
Decommissioned | 3 April 1950 |
In service | 5 August 1950 |
Out of service | 31 December 1968 |
Stricken | 1 January 1969 |
Fate | Sold for scrapping, 2 September 1969 |
General characteristics | |
Displacement | 7,350 t.(lt) 13,910 t.(fl) |
Length | 459 ft 2 in (139.95 m) |
Beam | 63 ft (19 m) |
Draught | 26 ft 5 in (8.05 m) |
Propulsion | steam turbine, single shaft, 6,000shp |
Speed | 16 kts. |
Complement | 315 |
Armament | one 5 in (130 mm) dual purpose gun mount, four 3 in (76 mm) gun mounts |
USS Pollux (AKS-4) was a Castor-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 third ship to be named Pollux by the Navy, AKS–4 was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearney, New Jersey as SS Nancy Lykes for Lykes Brothers Steamship Company, 2 October 1941; launched 5 February 1942; acquired by the Navy 19 March; transferred to the Robbins Dry Dock and Repair Co., Brooklyn, New York, for conversion; and commissioned 27 April 1942.
After a shakedown cruise, Pollux operated as a unit of the Commander, Service Force, Atlantic. She supplied forces afloat and Allied bases at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba; St. Thomas, Virgin Islands; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Trinidad and Jamaica, West Indies; Colón, Panama Canal Zone; Recife and Bahia, Brazil; and Bermuda. She operated out of the U.S. East Coast ports of New York City, Bayonne, New Jersey, Baltimore, Maryland, and Norfolk, Virginia.
Pollux sailed 24 August 1943 for duty in the Pacific Ocean, sailing independently from the Panama Canal Zone to Sydney, Australia. During the next 15 months she supported the Eastern and Western New Guinea Campaigns, and the Admiralty Islands Campaign. During this period she made numerous trips replenishing her stores from Sydney and Brisbane, Australia; Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides; and Oakland, California.
Pollux then supported the Philippine Liberation Campaign. Operating out of New Guinea she ran a shuttle service between the islands servicing forces afloat and bases at Leyte Gulf; Mangarin Bay, Mindoro; Lingayen Gulf; Subic Bay, Tawitawi, Sulu Archipelago; Morotai; Parang, Mindanao; Taloma Bay, Davao Gulf; Zamboanga. Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Iloilo, Panay; Cebu City, Cebu. and Manila. On 18 February 1945 Pollux evacuated 124 repatriates from Lingayen Gulf. These men were the first POW’s to be freed by US troops in the Manila area. During World War II Pollux steamed 136,152 miles, generally on unescorted supply lines. Although she received no battle stars, her services permitted the fleet to operate far in advance of normal bases.
After World War II she operated in the Pacific with Service Squadron 1 earning the Navy Occupation Service Medal, 9 October to 12 November 1945; participating in the atomic tests at Bikini Atoll; and earning the China Service Medal for periods from 29 March 1947 to 6 August 1949.
Pollux was placed in commission in reserve 3 April 1950, but recommissioned 5 August 1950. She served in the Korean War during periods from 13 October 1950 to 19 July 1953. From July 1953 through 1957 her operations continued between the West Coast of the United States and ports of the Far East, including Japan, Korea, and the Philippines.
After an extensive overhaul and modernization in 1958, Pollux was assigned the homeport of Yokosuka, Japan, with Service Group 3, never to see the U.S. again. With the outset of the Vietnam War, Pollux served almost continually in the South China Seas supplying the various task groups of the U.S. 7th Fleet.
Pollux decommissioned at Yokosuka, Japan, 31 December 1968. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 1 January 1969.
Pollux received five battle stars for Korean War service:
Pollux received seven campaign stars for the Vietnam War:
Pollux’ crew members were eligible for the following medals:
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation – China Service Medal (extended) – American Campaign Medal – Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal – World War II Victory Medal – Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) – National Defense Service Medal (2) – Korean Service Medal (5) – Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (6-Taiwan Straits, 1-Quemoy-Matsu, 7-Vietnam) – Vietnam Service Medal (7) – Philippine Liberation Medal – United Nations Service Medal – Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal – Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
USS Krishna (ARL-38) was one of 39 Achelous-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Krishna, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name, and only one of three ships to be named after a Hindu deity.
USS Jason (AR-8) was the fourth of the Vulcan class repair ship of the United States Navy in service from 1944 to 1995, serving in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War. At the time of her decommissioning, Jason was the oldest ship in continual commission in the United States Navy, and the final ship in continual commission from World War II onward.
USS Clarion River was an LSM(R)-401-class medium-type landing ship (LSM) built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for the Clarion River in west central Pennsylvania, she was the only US Naval vessel to bear the name.
USS Hickman County (LST-825) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in Kentucky and Tennessee, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.
USS Taluga (AO-62) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served her country primarily in the Pacific Ocean Theatre of Operations, and provided petroleum products where needed to combat ships. For performing this dangerous task in combat areas, she was awarded four battle stars during World War II, four during the Korean War, and six campaign stars during the Vietnam War.
USS Tolovana (AO-64) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served her country primarily in the Pacific Ocean Theatre of Operations, and provided petroleum products where needed to combat ships. For performing this dangerous task in combat areas, she was awarded one battle star during World War II, two during the Korean War, and thirteen campaign stars and the Navy Unit Commendation during the Vietnam War.
USS Castor (AKS-1) was a Castor-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 Grapple (ARS-7) is a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946 and from 1951 to 1977. In 1977, she was sold to Taiwan and was renamed ROCS Da Hu (ARS-552).
USS Deliver (ARS-23) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Safeguard (ARS-25) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1947 and from 1952 to 1979. She was then transferred to Turkey where she served as TCG Işın (A-589) until 2017.
USS Bolster (ARS-38) was a Bolster-class rescue and salvage ship acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II and remained in service during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Zelima (AF-49) was an Alstedes-class stores ship acquired by the United States Navy at the end of 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 Elkhorn (AOG-7) was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker in service with the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1972. She was then sold to Taiwan, where she served as ROCS Hsing Lung (AOG-515/AOG-517). Her final fate is unknown.
USS Genesee (AOG-8) was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations.
USS Kishwaukee (AOG-9) was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations.
USS Tombigbee (AOG-11) was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1972. She was then sold to Greece, where she served as Ariadni (A414) until 2003.
The third USS Tillamook (ATA-192), originally USS ATA-192, a United States Navy tug in service from 1945 to 1971.
USS Tawakoni (ATF-114) was an Abnaki-class fleet ocean tug that served on active duty with the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1978, seeing action in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. After thirty-four years of service, she was sold to the Republic of China Navy (Taiwan), where she served until November 2020.
USS Stone County (LST-1141) was a LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. She was transferred to the Royal Thai Navy as HTMS Lanta (LST-4).
USS Sumner County (LST-1148) was a LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Coast Guard during World War II.
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .