USS Hesperia

Last updated
Hesperia (AKS-13).jpg
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
Name
  • Sam Dale
  • Hesperia
Namesake
Ordered
  • as Sam Dale
  • EC2-S-C1 hull, MC hull 2825
Laid down9 October 1944
Launched18 November 1944
Commissioned1 April 1945
Decommissioned27 February 1947
Strickendate unknown
FateScrapped in 1973
General characteristics
Class and type Acubens-class stores ship
Displacement4,023 t.(lt) 14,350 t.(fl)
Length441 ft 7 in (134.59 m)
Beam56 ft 11 in (17.35 m)
Draft27 ft 7 in (8.41 m)
Propulsionreciprocating steam engine, single shaft, 2,500 hp (1,900 kW)
Speed11 knots (20 km/h)
Endurance17,000 miles
Complement195
Armament

USS Hesperia (AKS-13) 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.

Contents

Hesperia (AKS-13), built as the Liberty ship SS Sam Dale, was launched under Maritime Commission contract by Delta Shipbuilding Co., New Orleans, Louisiana, 18 November 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Marie Owen; converted to Navy use by Norfolk Naval Shipyard and commissioned 1 April 1945.

World War II service

Following a period of training and shakedown, Hesperia loaded her cargo of general stores for the fleet and sailed 16 May 1945. Transiting the Panama Canal, she arrived Pearl Harbor 13 June 1945. The stores ship then proceeded to the western Pacific for the important job of supplying operating units with some of the thousands of items—from clothing to spare parts—necessary to a modern fighting ship.

She arrived Ulithi 6 July and after issuing stores to the ships present sailed with a convoy for Okinawa, site of the Pacific's largest amphibious assault just 3 months earlier. Hesperia anchored in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, 21 July and began issuing supplies of all kinds to the fleet and shore installations. She continued to function as a mobile supply base, interrupted only by occasional enemy air attacks, until after hostilities ended in mid-August. Having issued her entire stock the ship departed Okinawa 26 August for Manus. She arrived 7 September, loaded another full stock of replacement items, and sailed 22 September.

Surviving a dangerous typhoon

Hesperia encountered the great typhoon which had devastated Okinawa during her voyage to Korea, but after altering course temporarily continued to Jinsen, arriving 17 October. During the next month she serviced nearly 100 ships and small craft engaged in the Korean and Chinese occupations, operating from Jinsen, and later Taku, China. After this vital support duty, allowing the ships to remain on station for longer periods of time, she returned to Guam for a fresh issue 29 November 1945. Loading completed, she sailed 20 December to Yokosuka, Japan, and after her arrival 6 days later issued stores to over 500 ships and small craft and the shore activities connected with the occupation of Japan.

Post-war activity

Her job in Japan temporarily completed, Hesperia got underway 2 March 1946 for the United States, and arrived San Francisco, California, 30 March. During the next months she made two more voyages to supply the fleet, one to Pearl Harbor, the other to Pearl Harbor and Kwajalein.

Decommissioning

Returning to San Francisco 23 December 1946, she decommissioned 27 February 1947, was delivered to the Maritime Commission, and joined the National Defense Reserve Fleet. She was berthed at present at Suisun Bay, California. Final Disposition: she was scrapped in 1973.

Military awards and honors

Hesperia’s crew was eligible for the following medals:

Related Research Articles

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>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>Castor</i> (AKS-1) Cargo ship of the United States Navy

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 <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 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 Iolanda (AKS-14) 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 Liguria (AKS-15) 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>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>Lioba</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Lioba (AF-36) was an Adria-class stores ship in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1955. She was scrapped in 1973.

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

USS Gordonia (AF-43) was an Adria-class stores ship in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1974.

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

USS Valentine (AF-47) was an Adria-class stores ship in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1946 and from 1951 to 1959. In 1967, She was sold into commercial service and she was scrapped in 1987.

USS <i>Kern</i> Patapsco-class gasoline tanker

USS Kern (AOG-2) was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations.

USS <i>Grundy</i>

USS Grundy (APA-111) was a Windsor-class attack transport that served with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1946. She was subsequently sold in to commercial service and was scrapped in 1973.

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 Chimon (AG-150/AKS-31) – also known as USS LST-1102 -- was an LST-511-class tank landing ship launched by the U.S. Navy during the final months of World War II. Chimon served as a transport and stores ship for the U.S. 7th Fleet, and was decommissioned after service in the Korean War.

References

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