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| USN Arcturus-class attack cargo ship 14,225 Tons 459' 1" x 63' x 26' 5" 1 x 5"/38 DP gun 4 x Twin 40mm guns 4 x .50 cal MG |
Ship History Built by Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Company in Chester, Pennsylvania. Laid down August 15, 1938 as SS Mormacdove. Launched July 6, 1939 sponsored by Miss Alice W. Clement. Delivered September 21, 1939 owner and operator Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc. for use as a cargo ship. Wartime History On June 2, 1941 acquired by the U.S. Navy (USN) and renamed USS Alchiba (AK-23) and converted into a Arcturus-class attack cargo ship at Boston Navy Yard. On June 15, 1941 commissioned in the U.S. Navy (USN). Assigned to the Naval Transportation Service and steams from Boston to Charleston for a shakedown training cruise off the east coast of the United States via Quonset Point and Halifax and embarks cargo and personnel bound for Iceland. On October 22, 1941 departs Halifax as part of convoy HX 156 bound for Iceland. On November 30, 1942 arrives Reykjavík and unloads then returns to the United States. On December 26, 1941 arrives New York and enters drydock for repairs. On January 11, 1942 departs New York via Norfolk bound for Charleston and loaded with cargo. On January 27, 1942 departs bound for the Pacific. On February 2, 1942 transits the Panama Canal and joins Base Force, Pacific Fleet and proceeds to the Society Islands. On February 17, 1942 arrives Bora Bora and unloads. On March 14, 1942 departs bound for Chile. On March 29, 1942 arrives Antofagasta and loads a cargo of ingots and electrolytic copper then departs via Panama Canal bound for New York and unloads and a week later departs for Charleston for repairs and alterations. In late May 1942 departs for Hampton Roads and loads cargo and personnel. On June 10, 1942 departs Hampton Roads and again transits the Panama Canal bound for the South Pacific. On July 11, 1942 arrives Wellington and is assigned to Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet, Transport Division C and assigned to Task Force 62 (South Pacific Amphibious Force), Task Group 62.1, Transport Group X-Ray. On July 22, 1942 departs for Fiji to participate in amphibious landing exercises then embarks cargo and personnel and departs bound for the Solomon Islands. On August 7, 1942 arrives off Guadalcanal and disembarked her troops, unloaded her cargo. On August 9, 1942 helps rescue survivors of USS Astoria (CA-34) sunk during the Battle of Savo Island and the same day departs bound for New Caledonia. On August 13, 1942 arrives Nouméa and loads cargo and nine days later departs via Pago Pago and Tongatapu before arriving at Espiritu Santo. On September 18 1942 returns to Guadalcanal and unloads cargo then departs for New Caledonia to load more supplies and returns. On November 1, 1942 returns to Guadalcanal and shuttles supplies between Guadalcanal and Tulagi. On November 28, 1942 at 6:16am while anchored off Lunga Point on Guadalcanal hit by two torpedoes fired by Japanese midget submarine HA-10 launched earlier that day by Japanese submarine I-16 that hit the port side and causes fuel drums and ammunition in the cargo hold to explode causing flames to shoot 150' into the air and her captain, James Shepherd Freeman ordered the vessel beached to prevent sinking. For five days, the ship burned before the fires could be brought under control. For his actions, Freeman earned the Silver Star. PARTIAL HISTORY Postwar On July 19, 1946 transfered to the Maritime Commission and renamed Mormacdove. On March 29, 1948 sold and refitted for service as a merchant vessel and renamed MS Tjipanas. During 1967 renamed MS Tong Jit and registered in Singapore. Fate During 1973, sold to a Chinese ship breaker and afterwards broken up for scrap. Awards For her World War II service, USS Alchiba earned three battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation for her service at Guadalcanal. References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Combat Narratives Miscellaneous Actions in the South Pacific pages 58-67 NavSource - USS Alchiba (AKA-6) / USS Alchiba (AK-23) Contribute
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