USS Indian Island (AG-77)

Career (USA)
Name:	USS Indian Island
Namesake:	An island on the Penobscot River in the State of Maine
Builder:	New England Shipbuilding Corporation, South Portland, Maine
Yard number:	West Yard
Laid down:	5 November 1944 as type (EC2-S-C1) hull, (MCE hull 3088)
Launched:	19 December 1944
Sponsored by:	Mrs. Mary H. Flaherty
Acquired:	by the Navy, 30 December 1944
Commissioned:	27 July 1945 as USS Indian Island (AG-77)
Decommissioned:	11 May 1947, at Orange, Texas
Reclassified:	AKS-25, 18 August 1951
Refit:	Bethlehem Steel Company, Brooklyn, New York
Struck:	date unknown
Fate:	scrapped at New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1961
General characteristics
Type:	Basilan-class miscellaneous auxiliary
Displacement:	5,371 tons
Tons burthen:	14,200 tons
Length:	442'
Beam:	57'
Draft:	23'
Propulsion:	Worthington Pump & Machinery Corp, Harrison, New Jersey, reciprocating steam engine, single shaft, 1,950hp
Speed:	11.5 knots
Complement:	891 officers and enlisted
Armament:	one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount; four single 40mm AA gun mounts; eight single 20mm AA gun mounts

USS Indian Island (AG-77/AKS-25) was a Basilan-class miscellaneous auxiliary acquired by the U.S. Navy shortly before the end of World War II. She was used to transport personnel and carry cargo and was inactivated and disposed of shortly after the war.

Constructed at Portland, Maine

Indian Island (AG-77) was launched under U.S. Maritime Commission contract by the New England Shipbuilding Corporation, South Portland, Maine, 19 December 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Mary H. Flaherty; acquired by the Navy 30 December 1944; converted to an AG by Bethlehem Steel Company, Brooklyn, New York; and commissioned 27 July 1945, lit. Comdr. J. M. O'Toole in command.

World War II-related service

After shakedown in Chesapeake Bay, Indian Island sailed for the U.S. West Coast via the Panama Canal Zone, arriving San Diego, California, 19 September 1945. She departed San Diego 27 September en route to Shanghai, China, and Sasebo, Japan, where she embarked veterans for return to the United States.

Returning to San Francisco 4 December, Indian Island departed for Orange, Texas, 14 December where she arrived 2 January 1946.

Inactivation

Indian Island decommissioned at Orange, Texas, 11 May 1947 and joined the Texas Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet. Reclassified AKS-25, 18 August 1951, Indian Island remained in the Reserve Fleet until sold for scrapping in August 1960.

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 - USS Indian Island (AG-77)