USS Caledonia (AK-167)

Summary

USS Caledonia (AK-167) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

History
United States
NameCaledonia
NamesakeCaledonia County, Vermont
Orderedas type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2112[1]
BuilderKaiser Shipbuilding Co., Richmond, California
Yard number69[1]
Laid downdate unknown
Launched1 January 1945
Sponsored byMrs. V. Brown
Acquired13 March 1945
Commissioned13 March 1945
Decommissioned25 March 1946
Stricken12 April 1946
Identification
FateSold 7 March 1947, to Rederi A / S Hauk (Bucha Goding & Co.), Oslo, Norway
Norway
NameNorse Captain
OwnerRederi A / S Hauk (Bucha Goding & Co.)
Acquired7 March 1947
FateSold 1962
Philippines
Name
  • Mabini (1962–1964)
  • President Quezon (1964–1965)
Namesake
OwnerPhilippine President Lines Inc.
Acquired1962
FateSold to Seven Brothers Shipping Corp., Manila in 1965
Philippines
NameSeven Kings
Namesake
OwnerPhilippine President Lines Inc.
Acquired1965
IdentificationIMO number: 5216240
FateSold for scrapping to Li Chong Co., Ltd. in September 1980
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeAlamosa-class cargo ship
TypeC1-M-AV1
Tonnage5,032 long tons deadweight (DWT)[1]
Displacement
  • 2,382 long tons (2,420 t) (standard)
  • 7,450 long tons (7,570 t) (full load)
Length388 ft 8 in (118.47 m)
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft21 ft 1 in (6.43 m)
Installed power
Propulsion1 × propeller
Speed11.5 kn (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Capacity
  • 3,945 t (3,883 long tons) DWT
  • 9,830 cu ft (278 m3) (refrigerated)
  • 227,730 cu ft (6,449 m3) (non-refrigerated)
Complement
  • 15 Officers
  • 70 Enlisted
Armament

Construction edit

The second ship to be named Caledonia by the US Navy, was launched 1 January 1945 by Kaiser Cargo, Inc., Richmond, California, under a Maritime Commission contract, MC hull 2112; sponsored by Mrs. V. Brown; acquired by the Navy 13 March 1945; commissioned the same day and reported to the U.S. Pacific Fleet.[3]

Service history edit

World War II Pacific Theatre operations edit

Assigned to a role in the Navy's gigantic logistic task of supplying military forces in the Pacific while still carrying out naval, air, and amphibious warfare, Caledonia sailed from San Francisco, California, 1 May 1945, laden with cargo for the base at Manus, where she began discharging 23 May. The cargo ship completed offloading at Samar, Philippine Islands, on 22 June, then steamed to Darwin, Australia, and Milne Bay, New Guinea, to reload supplies essentially needed in the Philippines. After offloading at Samar and Subic Bay in August and September, Caledonia made another voyage to Noumea, New Caledonia, for cargo, returning to Samar, from which she cleared 30 December for Baltimore, Maryland.[3]

Post-war decommissioning edit

Caledonia was decommissioned there 25 March 1946, and was returned to the Maritime Commission four days later.[3]

Merchant service edit

In 1947 Caledonia was sold to Bucha Godager & Co., Oslo, Norway. She was renamed Norse Captain.[2]

In 1962 she was sold to the Philippine President Lines Inc., Manila, the Philippines. She was renamed Mabini in 1962 and then President Quezon in 1964.[2]

In 1965 she was again sold, this time to the Seven Brothers Shipping Corp., Manila. She was again renamed, for the last time, Seven Kings. In 1980 she arrived in September at Kaohsiung, Taiwan for demolition by Li Chong Co. Ltd.[2]

Notes edit

Citations

Bibliography edit

Online resources

  • "Caledonia". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 13 November 2016.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "C1 Cargo Ships". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  • "USS Caledonia (AK-167)". Navsource.org. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.

External links edit

  • Photo gallery of USS Caledonia (AK-167) at NavSource Naval History