USS Fentress (AK-180/T-AK-180) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship acquired by the US Navy during the final months of World War II. In 1950, she was reactivated and placed into service with the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS Fentress. She was ultimately transferred to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Fentress |
| Namesake | Fentress County, Tennessee |
| Ordered | as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2376[1] |
| Builder | Kaiser Shipbuilding Co., Richmond, California |
| Yard number | 72[1] |
| Laid down | 1944 |
| Launched | 10 March 1945 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. G. M. Ellis |
| Commissioned | 4 May 1945 |
| Decommissioned | 20 February 1946 |
| Stricken | 5 June 1946 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | assigned to Military Sea Transportation Service, 1 July 1950 |
 United States | |
| Name | Fentress |
| Operator | Military Sea Transportation Service |
| In service | 1 July 1950 |
| Out of service | unknown |
| Stricken | 15 October 1973 |
| Identification | Hull symbol: T-AK-180 |
| Fate | transferred 21 November 1973, to Maritime Administration |
 Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands | |
| Name | Fentress |
| In service | 20 July 1974 |
| Out of service | 4 July 1982 |
| Fate | transferred 4 July 1982 |
 Republic of the Marshall Islands | |
| Name | Fentress |
| In service | 4 July 1982 |
| Identification | IMO number: 7619783 |
| Fate | Scrapped 1985 |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Class and type | Alamosa-class cargo ship |
| Type | C1-M-AV1 |
| Tonnage | 5,032 long tons deadweight (DWT)[1] |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 388 ft 8 in (118.47 m) |
| Beam | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Draft | 21 ft 1 in (6.43 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 1 × propeller |
| Speed | 11.5 kn (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph) |
| Capacity |
|
| Complement |
|
| Armament |
|
Construction edit
Fentress was launched on 10 March 1945, by Kaiser Cargo, Inc., Richmond, California, under a Maritime Commission contract, MC hull 2376; sponsored by Mrs. G. M. Ellis; and commissioned 4 May 1945.[3]
Service history edit
edit
After shakedown and availability, Fentress engaged in local operations until 27 June 1945 when she departed San Francisco, California, to transport cargo among the Philippine Islands. On 20 February 1946 she was placed out of commission and returned to the U.S. Maritime Commission.[3]
Service with the MSTS edit
After the organization of the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), Fentress was reacquired on 1 July 1950 for service.[3]
Merchant service edit
Fentress was struck from the Navy List on 15 October 1973 and transferred to the Government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands on 20 July 1974.[2]
On 4 July 1982, she was transferred permanently to the Republic of the Marshall Islands.[2]
This ship was apparently still docked on the Hawaiian Islands in 1982, as it was seen on the Magnum P.I. episode, "I do".[citation needed]
The ship was scrapped in 1985.
Notes edit
- Citations
- ^ a b c C1 Cargo Ships 2009.
- ^ a b c DANFS 2014.
Bibliography edit
Online resources
- "Fentress (AK-180)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. - "C1 Cargo Ships". ShipbuildingHistory.com. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- "Fentress (AK-180)". Navsource.org. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
External links edit
- Photo gallery of USS Fentress (AK-180) at NavSource Naval History