USS Laurentia

History
United States
Ordered	as Wall and Crown; R1-M-AV3 hull, MC hull 2206;
Laid down	23 October 1944
Launched	12 December 1944
Acquired	19 May 1945
Commissioned	as USS Laurentia (AF-44),; 5 June 1945;
Decommissioned	18 June 1946
In service	as USNS Laurentia (T-AF-44); 1 July 1950;
Out of service	1970
Fate	broken up for scrapping in 1973
General characteristics
Tonnage	2,120 long tons deadweight (DWT)
Displacement	3,139 t.(lt) 6,240 t.(fl)
Length	338 ft (103 m)
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draught	18 ft (5.5 m)
Propulsion	diesel engine, single screw, 1,700shp
Speed	12 kts. (max)
Complement	84
Armament	one single 3 in (76 mm) dual purpose gun mount, six single 20 mm gun mounts

USS Laurentia (AF-44) was an Adria-class stores ship in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1946 and from 1950 to 1970. She was scrapped in 1973.

History

Laurentia was laid down under United States Maritime Commission contract by Pennsylvania Shipyards, Inc., Beaumont, Texas, 23 October 1944; launched 12 December 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Oscar Hayes; acquired by the Navy 19 May 1945 for transfer to Galveston, Texas; and commissioned 5 June 1945.

World War II service

After shakedown, Laurentia loaded frozen and refrigerated provisions at Mobile, Alabama, and departed for the Pacific Ocean 27 June. She reached Pearl Harbor 11 July; discharged cargo; then sailed 7 August to carry cold stores to American bases in the Marshalls, the Marianas, and the Palaus. She returned to Pearl Harbor 28 September carrying 250 veterans of the Pacific fighting. After loading more cargo, she sailed for the Philippines 6 October. She reached Tacloban, Leyte, the 23d and supplied ships in Leyte Gulf until sailing for the United States 9 November. She arrived San Francisco, California, 2 December.

Laurentia stocked her cold storage holds and deployed for the Far East 14 December. She reached Yokosuka, Japan, 10 January 1946. During almost the next 3 months she provisioned ships out of Yokosuka and supported occupation operations along the eastern coast of Honshū. She then returned to the U.S. West Coast, arriving at San Francisco 15 May.

U.S. Army service

Decommissioning there 18 June, she was returned to the War Shipping Administration. On 6 November the Maritime Commission transferred her to the United States Army under bareboat charter for supply operations in the Pacific.

Military Sea Transportation Service

Reacquired by the Navy 1 July 1950, Laurentia was assigned to Military Sea Transportation Service and reclassified T-AF-44. Manned by a civilian crew she operated in the Far East during the Korean War. Based at Yokohama and Kobe, Japan, she provisioned American ships in various Japanese ports and steamed the vital sea supply line between Japan and South Korea while carrying supplies to Inchon and Pusan. She continued this important duty until departing Yokohama for the United States 27 February 1954. Steaming via Pearl Harbor and the Panama Canal Zone, she reached New Orleans, Louisiana, 9 April. After loading provisions, she sailed 10 May on a circular supply run to American bases in the Caribbean, principally to the Panama Canal Zone, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Since 1954 she maintained this pattern of operations out of New Orleans and Mobile, and she continued to serve in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico with MSTS.

Decommissioning and fate

Laurentia was placed out of service in 1970 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register (date unknown). Final Disposition: broken up for scrapping in 1973.

Military awards and honors

Laurentia's crew was eligible for the following medals:

References

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

External links

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive – AF-44 Laurentia