USS Poinsett (AK-205)

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USS Poinsett (AK-205) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship acquired by the US Navy just prior to the end of World War II. She carried supplies and ammunition to the Pacific Ocean battle areas and was awarded one battle star for her operations in the Borneo area.

USS Poinsett (AK-205) probably running builder's trials in the Great Lakes c. September, 1944
History
United States
NamePoinsett
NamesakePoinsett County, Arkansas
Orderedas type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2159[1]
BuilderLeathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Yard number325[1]
Laid down6 November 1943
Launched22 May 1944
Sponsored byMrs. Robert L. Rote
Acquired22 January 1945
Commissioned7 February 1945
Decommissioned25 January 1946
Stricken12 March 1946
Identification
Honors and
awards
one battle star for World War II service
FateSold 25 February 1947, Bergenske Dampakibaselskab (Bergen Line)
History
NorwayNorway
NameCarina
OwnerBergenske Dampakibaselskab (Bergen Line)
Acquired25 February 1947
FateSold
History
South KoreaSouth Korea
NameMasan
NamesakeCity of Masan
FateScrapped, 1979
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeAlamosa-class cargo ship
TypeC1-M-AV1
Tonnage5,032 long tons deadweight (DWT)[1]
Displacement
  • 2,382 long tons (2,420 t) (standard)
  • 7,450 long tons (7,570 t) (full load)
Length388 ft 8 in (118.47 m)
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft21 ft 1 in (6.43 m)
Installed power
Propulsion1 × propeller
Speed11.5 kn (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Capacity
  • 3,945 t (3,883 long tons) DWT
  • 9,830 cu ft (278 m3) (refrigerated)
  • 227,730 cu ft (6,449 m3) (non-refrigerated)
Complement
  • 15 Officers
  • 70 Enlisted
Armament

Construction

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Poinsett was laid down under US Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2158, by Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, 6 November 1943; launched 22 May 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Robert L. Rote; acquired by the Navy 22 January 1945; and commissioned at Houston, Texas, 7 February 1945.[3]

Service history

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World War II service

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After shakedown off Galveston, Texas, Poinsett loaded ammunition at Theodore, Alabama, and departed for the Panama Canal 21 March. She steamed to Ulithi thence to Zamboanga, Philippine Islands, arriving 11 May.[3]

After issuing ammunition there, she proceeded to Tawi Tawi, Sulu Archipelago, and joined the main forces for the invasion of Balikpapan (1 July). On 10 July she departed Borneo for Morotai and the Philippines, whence she sailed southeast to Manus. There, while loading fleet issue clothing and small stores, she received word of the war’s end.[3]

Post-war decommissioning

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Poinsett then proceeded to Manila and Guiuan, Samar, to discharge her cargo. She departed 19 November for the Panama Canal and Norfolk, Virginia, for inactivation. Decommissioned 25 January 1946, she was returned to MARCOM, 29 January 1946, and her name was struck from the Navy List, 12 March 1946.[3]

Merchant service

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On 25 February 1947, MARCOM sold Poinsett to Bergenske Dampakibaselskab (Bergen Line), of, Norway, for $693,862. She was reflagged for Norway and her name was changed to Carina.[2][4]

She was subsequently sold to the Government of South Korea and renamed Masan.[3] She was scrapped in 1979, in South Korea.[2]

Honors and awards

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Poinsett received one battle star for World War II service:[2]

Notes

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Citations

Bibliography

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Online resources

  • "Poinsett (AK-205)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2016.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "C1 Cargo Ships". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  • "Poinsett (AK-205)". Navsource.org. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  • "Poinsett (AK-205)". United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
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  • Photo gallery of USS Poinsett (AK-205) at NavSource Naval History