USS Rockdale (AK-208)
| Career (USA) |  100x35px |
|---|---|
| Name: | Rockdale |
| Namesake: | A county in Georgia |
| Ordered: | as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2162 |
| Builder: | Leatham D. Smith Shipbuilding Co., Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin |
| Laid down: | 15 January 1944 |
| Launched: | 1 October 1944 |
| Sponsored by: | Mrs. William R. Crawford |
| Acquired: | by the U.S. Navy, 5 June 1945 |
| Commissioned: | 26 June 1945 as USS Rockdale (AK-208) at Galveston, Texas |
| Decommissioned: | 22 March 1946, at Norfolk, Virginia |
| Struck: | 12 April 1946 |
| Fate: | returned to the U.S. Maritime Commission, 26 June 1946; fate unknown |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Alamosa-class cargo ship |
| Tonnage: | 2,382 tons |
| Tons burthen: | 7,435 tons |
| Length: | 388' 8" |
| Beam: | 50' |
| Draft: | 21' 1" |
| Propulsion: | Diesel, single screw, 1,700shp |
| Speed: | 11.5 knots |
| Complement: | 85 officers and enlisted |
| Armament: | one 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount; six 20mm guns |
USS Rockdale (AK-208) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship that was constructed for the U.S. Navy during the closing period of World War II. She served with distinction in the Pacific Ocean theatre of operations and returned home in 1946 to be placed into the “mothball” fleet where she silently remained, subsequent fate unknown.
Contents
Built in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Rockdale (AK-208) was laid down 15 January 1944 as MC hull 2162 by Leatham D. Smith Ship Building Co., Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; launched 1 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. William R. Crawford; acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission on loan-charter basis 5 June 1945; and commissioned at Galveston, Texas, 26 June 1945, Lt. Comdr. Robert F. Mendler, USNR, in command.
World War II service
Following shakedown off Galveston, Texas, Rockdale got underway from Gulfport, Mississippi, for the Panama Canal. Transiting the Canal 27 July, she proceeded to Hollandia, New Guinea, where she arrived 2 September to unload her cargo. On 9 September she steamed for Australia, reaching Brisbane 17 September. She got underway for Manus Island 25 September arriving 3 October. Underway the next day, she made Saipan on the 10th.
Rockdale got underway on 13 October for Okinawa where she arrived 5 days later. On 1 November she sailed for the Mariana Islands and operated in that island group until getting underway for the Panama Canal on 13 January 1946. She transited the Canal on 20 February and arrived Norfolk, Virginia, on 1 March.
Post-war inactivation
Rockdale decommissioned there 22 March, was returned to the War Shipping Administration on the 26th for lay-up in the James River, and was struck from the Navy list 12 April 1946.
References
- This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AK-208 Rockdale
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