USS Aurelia (AKA-23): Difference between revisions
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| 1 × [[5" /38 caliber gun|5"/38 caliber DP gun]], <br/> 4 × [[40mm/56 caliber gun|twin 40 mm AA guns]], <br/>16 × [[20mm | | 1 × [[5" /38 caliber gun|5"/38 caliber DP gun]], <br/> 4 × [[40mm/56 caliber gun|twin 40 mm AA guns]], <br/>16 × [[20mm Oerlikon (autocannon)|20 mm AA guns]] | ||
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''Aurelia'' got underway on 5 January 1945 to carry troops and cargo to [[Eniwetok]] and [[Guam]]. She returned to Hawaii on [[5 February]] to embark more troops. On the 13th, the ship sailed, via Eniwetok, for the [[Philippines]]. She dropped anchor at [[Leyte (island)|Leyte]] on [[4 March]] and began unloading her cargo the next day. On [[6 March]], she embarked combat troops scheduled to assault Okinawa and got underway for training maneuvers. Three weeks later, the attack cargo ship headed for the [[Ryukyus]]. On [[1 April]], D day for the [[Battle of Okinawa|landings on Okinawa]], she entered the transport area and began lowering her boats. ''Aurelia'' continued to operate in that embattled area until [[14 April]] when she headed for [[Saipan]]. On the 16th, she continued on toward Hawaii. After a four-day stay in Pearl Harbor, the ship sailed for the California coast and arrived at [[Alameda, CA|Alameda]] on [[12 May]]. | ''Aurelia'' got underway on 5 January 1945 to carry troops and cargo to [[Eniwetok]] and [[Guam]]. She returned to Hawaii on [[5 February]] to embark more troops. On the 13th, the ship sailed, via Eniwetok, for the [[Philippines]]. She dropped anchor at [[Leyte (island)|Leyte]] on [[4 March]] and began unloading her cargo the next day. On [[6 March]], she embarked combat troops scheduled to assault Okinawa and got underway for training maneuvers. Three weeks later, the attack cargo ship headed for the [[Ryukyus]]. On [[1 April]], D day for the [[Battle of Okinawa|landings on Okinawa]], she entered the transport area and began lowering her boats. ''Aurelia'' continued to operate in that embattled area until [[14 April]] when she headed for [[Saipan]]. On the 16th, she continued on toward Hawaii. After a four-day stay in Pearl Harbor, the ship sailed for the California coast and arrived at [[Alameda, CA|Alameda]] on [[12 May]]. | ||
The vessel moved to [[San Diego, California|San Diego]] on [[7 June]] for amphibious training exercises. She began loading her cargo at [[San Pedro, CA|San Pedro]] on [[24 June]] and put to sea on the 30th. Aurelia reached Pearl Harbor on [[6 July]] and, 10 days later, sailed for Saipan, via Eniwetok. She returned to Pearl Harbor on [[12 August]]. While she was in port there, word of [[Surrender of Japan|Japan's capitulation]] on [[15 August]] reached the ship. ''Aurelia'' embarked [[ | The vessel moved to [[San Diego, California|San Diego]] on [[7 June]] for amphibious training exercises. She began loading her cargo at [[San Pedro, CA|San Pedro]] on [[24 June]] and put to sea on the 30th. Aurelia reached Pearl Harbor on [[6 July]] and, 10 days later, sailed for Saipan, via Eniwetok. She returned to Pearl Harbor on [[12 August]]. While she was in port there, word of [[Surrender of Japan|Japan's capitulation]] on [[15 August]] reached the ship. ''Aurelia'' embarked [[United States Marine Corps|Marines]] slated for [[Occupied Japan|occupation duty]] and got underway on [[1 September]] for [[Japan]]. The ship debarked her passengers at [[U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo|Sasebo]] and sailed on [[26 September]] for the [[Philippines]] to pick up [[U.S. Army|Army]] troops and equipment for transportation to Sasebo. | ||
The vessel reached Sasebo on [[21 October]] and was then assigned to the Magic-Carpet fleet. She received on board Marine Corps personnel for passage back to the United States and delivered them to [[San Francisco, California]] on [[13 November]]. She stood out to sea on the 29th for her last round-trip voyage to the [[Orient]], embarked another contingent of veterans in Japan, and arrived back in San Francisco on 16 January 1946. | The vessel reached Sasebo on [[21 October]] and was then assigned to the Magic-Carpet fleet. She received on board Marine Corps personnel for passage back to the United States and delivered them to [[San Francisco, California]] on [[13 November]]. She stood out to sea on the 29th for her last round-trip voyage to the [[Orient]], embarked another contingent of veterans in Japan, and arrived back in San Francisco on 16 January 1946. | ||
On [[24 January]], ''Aurelia'' sailed, via the Panama Canal, for the [[Gulf Coast]]. She reached [[New Orleans]], La., on [[7 February]] and was decommissioned at [[Orange, Texas]], on 14 March 1946. The ship was then transferred to the Maritime Commission, and her name was struck from the Navy list on 19 June 1946. | On [[24 January]], ''Aurelia'' sailed, via the Panama Canal, for the [[Gulf Coast]]. She reached [[New Orleans, Louisiana]], La., on [[7 February]] and was decommissioned at [[Orange, Texas]], on 14 March 1946. The ship was then transferred to the Maritime Commission, and her name was struck from the Navy list on 19 June 1946. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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*[http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/02/02023.htm NavSource Online: AKA-23 ''Aurelia''] | *[http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/02/02023.htm NavSource Online: AKA-23 ''Aurelia''] | ||
*[http://ussrankin.org/id352.htm 51 Years of AKAs] | *[http://ussrankin.org/id352.htm 51 Years of AKAs] | ||
[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]] | |||
Latest revision as of 11:00, 1 November 2024
 USS Aurelia (AKA-23) | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Laid down: | 5 February 1944 |
| Launched: | 4 July 1944 |
| Commissioned: | 14 October 1944 |
| Decommissioned: | 14 March 1946 |
| Struck: | 19 June 1948 |
| Fate: | Unknown |
| General Characteristics | |
| Builder: | Walsh-Kaiser Co., Inc. |
| Hull type: | S4-SE2-BE1 |
| Displacement: | 4,087 tons light, 7,080 tons loaded |
| Length: | 426 ft (129.8 m) |
| Beam: | 58 ft (17.7 m) |
| Draft: | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Propulsion: | Steam turbo-electric drive; two boilers, two propellers, 6,000 shp (4.5 MW) |
| Speed: | 16.9 knots (31.3 km/h) |
| Complement: | 321 (20 officers, 301 men), plus 255 embarked troops |
| Armament: | 1 × 5"/38 caliber DP gun, 4 × twin 40 mm AA guns, 16 × 20 mm AA guns |
| Boats: | 14 LCVP, 8 LCM |
USS Aurelia (AKA-23) was an Artemis class attack cargo ship named after the minor planet 419 Aurelia. The origin of the name is unknown. USS Aurelia served as a commissioned ship for 17 months, and earned one battle star for World War II service.
History
Aurelia (AKA-23) was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1884) on 5 February 1944 at Providence, R.I., by the Walsh-Kaiser Co., Inc.; launched on 4 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Roy P. Mills; and acquired and commissioned on 14 October 1944, LCDR E. G. MacMurdy in command.
In early November 1944, the attack cargo ship got underway for shakedown training in the Chesapeake Bay. She arrived at Norfolk, Va., on the 23d to embark troops and load cargo, sailed on the 28th for Hawaii—via the Panama Canal—and reached Pearl Harbor on 17 December.
Aurelia got underway on 5 January 1945 to carry troops and cargo to Eniwetok and Guam. She returned to Hawaii on 5 February to embark more troops. On the 13th, the ship sailed, via Eniwetok, for the Philippines. She dropped anchor at Leyte on 4 March and began unloading her cargo the next day. On 6 March, she embarked combat troops scheduled to assault Okinawa and got underway for training maneuvers. Three weeks later, the attack cargo ship headed for the Ryukyus. On 1 April, D day for the landings on Okinawa, she entered the transport area and began lowering her boats. Aurelia continued to operate in that embattled area until 14 April when she headed for Saipan. On the 16th, she continued on toward Hawaii. After a four-day stay in Pearl Harbor, the ship sailed for the California coast and arrived at Alameda on 12 May.
The vessel moved to San Diego on 7 June for amphibious training exercises. She began loading her cargo at San Pedro on 24 June and put to sea on the 30th. Aurelia reached Pearl Harbor on 6 July and, 10 days later, sailed for Saipan, via Eniwetok. She returned to Pearl Harbor on 12 August. While she was in port there, word of Japan's capitulation on 15 August reached the ship. Aurelia embarked Marines slated for occupation duty and got underway on 1 September for Japan. The ship debarked her passengers at Sasebo and sailed on 26 September for the Philippines to pick up Army troops and equipment for transportation to Sasebo.
The vessel reached Sasebo on 21 October and was then assigned to the Magic-Carpet fleet. She received on board Marine Corps personnel for passage back to the United States and delivered them to San Francisco, California on 13 November. She stood out to sea on the 29th for her last round-trip voyage to the Orient, embarked another contingent of veterans in Japan, and arrived back in San Francisco on 16 January 1946.
On 24 January, Aurelia sailed, via the Panama Canal, for the Gulf Coast. She reached New Orleans, Louisiana, La., on 7 February and was decommissioned at Orange, Texas, on 14 March 1946. The ship was then transferred to the Maritime Commission, and her name was struck from the Navy list on 19 June 1946.
References
- Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (Primary source for this article)