USS Flagler (AK-181)
| Career (USA) |   |
|---|---|
| Name: | Flagler |
| Namesake: | a county in southern Florida |
| Ordered: | as type (C1-M-AV1) hull |
| Builder: | Kaiser Cargo Inc., Richmond, California |
| Laid down: | date unknown |
| Launched: | 24 March 1945 |
| Sponsored by: | Mrs. T. B. Smith |
| Commissioned: | 18 May 1945 as USS Flagler (AK-181) |
| Decommissioned: | 24 December 1945, at Okinawa |
| Struck: | date unknown |
| Fate: | returned to the U.S. Maritime Commission at an unspecified date; 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 Flagler (AK-181) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship acquired by the U.S. Navy during the final months of World War II. She served the Pacific Ocean theatre of operations for a short period of time before being decommissioned at Okinawa and returned to the U.S. Maritime Administration for dispositioning.
Contents
Built in Richmond, California
Flagler (AK-181) was launched 24 March 1945 by Kaiser Cargo Co., Inc., Richmond, California; sponsored by Mrs. T. B. Smith; and commissioned 18 May 1945, Lieutenant P. S. Smith, USNR, in command.
Flagler sailed from San Francisco, California, 5 July 1945 with cargo for Ulithi and Leyte Gulf, where she discharged the last of her load 6 August. Here she loaded supplies and men for Okinawa, from which she sailed 29 August for Guam and Saipan.
Grounded during a typhoon
Okinawa-bound again 12 September, Flagler sailed through a raging typhoon, which caused some damage to the ship, but arrived safely 18 September. Twice while at Okinawa she put to sea to avoid typhoons, evading the first. During the second, on 9 October, she was grounded. Success in a difficult salvage operation refloated her 26 October.
Decommissioning and disposal
Flagler was decommissioned at Okinawa 24 December 1945, and returned to her owners.
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-181 Flagler
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