USS Mark (AG-143)

Career (United States)
U.S. Army service:
Name:	FS-214
Builder:	Higgins Industries, New Orleans, Louisiana
Yard number:	80
Completed:	December 1944
Out of service:	30 September 1947
U.S. Navy service:
Acquired:	30 September 1947
Renamed:	USS Mark (AG-143)
In service:	2 December 1947
Reclassified:	AKL-12, 13 March 1949
Commissioned:	1 October 1965
Decommissioned:	1 July 1971
Fate:	Transferred to Taiwan, 1971
Struck:	15 April 1976
Career (Republic of China)
Name:	ROCS Yung Kang (AKL 514)
Commissioned:	1 July 1971
Fate:	Unknown
Status:	Sold outright= 1 May 1976
General characteristics
Type:	Design 427 coastal freighter
Displacement:	693 long tons (704 t)
Length:	180 ft (55 m)
Beam:	33 ft (10 m)
Draft:	10 ft (3.0 m)
Speed:	13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Complement:	39

USS Mark (AG-143), was built as the Aircraft Repair variant, Design 427, of the Army FS types as FS-214 for use by the United States Army. She was built at Higgins Industries, New Orleans, Louisiana, completed in December 1944. The ship was designed with the well deck covered to provide shop space for the work of repairing aircraft by an embarked Aircraft Maintenance Unit (Floating)

The ship suffered a casualty when the ship's starboard engine exploded on 13 April 1945. Albert M. Boe, the civilian Chief Engineer, stayed at his post to shut down engines despite burns that were fatal. He was awarded the posthumous Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal. Later a ship was named in his honor.

Toward the close of the war the vessels were assigned names and the ship was renamed Colonel Raymond T. Lester, an Army Air Corps officer.

The ship was acquired by the United States Navy at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, on 30 September 1947; and placed in service on 2 December 1947.

Service history

Mark served as a unit in the Subic–Sangley Ferry Service until reclassified AKL-12 on 13 March 1949. Then, as a light cargo ship attached to Service Force, 7th Fleet, she carried cargo and passengers to various units of that fleet operating in the Philippines area. The ship was placed 'Out of Service' in 1956.

With the escalation of U.S. Forces activities in Southeast Asia in 1963-64, the range of her resupply missions were extended to include frequent cruises to the Republic of Vietnam. As a result of these trips, she was placed in a commissioned status on 1 October 1965, Lt. F. R. Sanderlin in command. For the next eight months she continued to operate from Subic Bay; but with each passing month, the length of her visits was increased. In June 1966 she commenced full-time operations in the combat area. In addition to supply missions the ship surveyed waters critical to operations in the Dinh River, Dong Nia River and Bassac River of the Mekong Delta. From 1966 to 1969 Mark, with only one interruption for overhaul, kept vital supplies moving from Saigon and Vung Tau to the riverine and coastal surveillance forces conducting operations "Game Warden" and "Market Time".

On 1 July 1971 Mark was transferred to Taiwan where she served in the Republic of China Navy as the intelligence gathering ship Yung Kang (AKL 514).

References

• This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links

• Mobile Riverine Force Association: History of The USS Mark (AKL-12) (Vietnam period with photos)
• Photo gallery at navsource.org