USS Fentress (AK-180)
| Career (USA) |   |
|---|---|
| Name: | Fentress |
| Namesake: | A county in Tennessee |
| Ordered: | as type (C1-M-AV1) hull |
| Builder: | Kaiser Cargo Inc., Richmond, California |
| Laid down: | date unknown |
| Launched: | 10 March 1945 |
| Sponsored by: | Mrs. G. M. Ellis |
| Commissioned: | 4 May 1945 as USS Fentress (AK-180) |
| Decommissioned: | 20 February 1946 |
| In service: | 1 July 1950 as USNS Fentress (T-AK-180) |
| Out of service: | date unknown |
| Struck: | 15 October 1973 |
| Fate: | transferred to Navy of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, 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 Fentress (AK-180) – later known as USNS Fentress (T-AK-180) -- was an Alamosa-class cargo ship acquired by the U.S. 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.
Contents
Built in Richmond, California
Fentress (AK-180) was launched on 10 March 1945 by Kaiser Cargo, Inc., Richmond, California; sponsored by Mrs. G. M. Ellis; and commissioned 4 May 1945, Lieutenant G. T. Malley, USNR, in command.
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.
Service with the MSTS
After the organization of the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), Fentress was reacquired on 1 July 1950 for service under MSTS cognizance and continued in that capacity until decommissioned at an unknown date.
Struck and disposed of
Fentress was struck from the Navy list on 15 October 1973 and transferred to the Government of the Trust Territory in the Pacific Ocean.
This ship was apparently still docked on the Hawaiian Islands in 1982, as it was seen on The Magnum P.I. episode, "I do".
Her ultimate fate is not known.
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-180 Fentress
| ||||||||||||||
- Ship infoboxes without an image
- Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
- Alamosa class cargo ships
- Ships built in Richmond, California
- 1945 ships
- World War II auxiliary ships of the United States
- United States Navy Tennessee-related ships
- United States Navy ships transferred to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
