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USS Albireo

January 01, 1970

The USS Albireo (AK-90) was a Crater-class cargo ship in the service of the US Navy in World War II and manned by a US Coast Guard crew. She was the only ship of the Navy to have borne this name. She is named after Albireo, a star in the constellation of Cygnus.

Broadside view of USS Albireo (AK-90) off San Francisco, 30 March 1943.
History
United States
Name
  • John G. Nicolay
  • Albireo
Namesake
Orderedas a Type EC2-S-C1 hull, MCE hull 525[1]
BuilderPermanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California
Cost$1,146,263[2]
Yard number525[1]
Way number2[1]
Laid down17 January 1943
Launched25 February 1943
Sponsored byMrs. Donald W. Day
Acquired9 March 1943
Commissioned29 March 1943
Decommissioned5 July 1946
Stricken31 July 1946
Identification
FateSold for commercial use, 22 August 1947
Union of South Africa
NamePresident Steyn
NamesakeMartinus Theunis Steyn
OwnerSouthern Steamship Proprietary, Ltd., Johannesburg
Acquired22 August 1947
FateSold 1949
Union of South Africa
NamePresident Steyn
OwnerNorthern Steamship Proprietary, Ltd., Johannesburg
Acquired1949
FateSold 1951
Liberia
NameHidalgo
OwnerCia Nav Hidalgo, SA, Panama RP
Acquired1951
FateSold 1954
Liberia
NameOcean Sailor
OwnerBlue Bay Steamship Corporation
Acquired1954
FateSold for scrap, 1967
General characteristics [3]
Class and typeCrater-class cargo ship
Displacement
  • 4,023 long tons (4,088 t) (standard)
  • 14,550 long tons (14,780 t) (full load)
Length441 ft 6 in (134.57 m)
Beam56 ft 11 in (17.35 m)
Draft28 ft 4 in (8.64 m)
Installed power
  • 2 × Oil fired 450 °F (232 °C) boilers, operating at 220 psi (1,500 kPa) ,  (manufactured by Babcock & Wilcox)
  • 2,500 shp (1,900 kW)
Propulsion
Speed12.5 kn (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph)
Capacity
  • 7,800 t (7,700 long tons) DWT
  • 444,206 cu ft (12,578.5 m3) (non-refrigerated)
Complement206
Armament

Construction edit

Albireo was laid down 17 January 1943, as liberty ship SS John G. Nicolay, MCE hull 525, by Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard No. 1, Richmond, California, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract; launched on 25 February 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Donald W. Day; acquired by the Navy under a bareboat charter on 9 March 1943; converted for naval service by the Matson Navigation Co.; renamed Albireo on 17 March 1943 and simultaneously designated AK-90; and commissioned at San Francisco, California, on 29 March 1943.[4]

Service history edit

Assigned to the Naval Transport Service, the cargo ship conducted shakedown training in San Francisco Bay before getting underway on 9 April 1943, for a cargo run to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The ship arrived back at San Francisco on 5 May and operated along the west coast through late August, towing barges and delivering cargo to Seattle, Washington; Eureka and San Francisco, California; and Astoria, Oregon. Albireo departed San Francisco on 26 August in a convoy bound for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, and Wellington, New Zealand; arrived back at San Francisco on 20 November; discharged her cargo at Oakland, California; and entered the United Engineering Co. shipyard for repairs.[4]

The ship got underway for Espiritu Santo on 27 December. She arrived there on 1 February 1944 and unloaded her cargo and passengers. On 22 February, she shifted to Guadalcanal to discharge more cargo. Albireo touched at Espiritu Santo once again on 20 March; then sailed three days later for the west coast. The ship reached San Francisco on 19 April. After taking on another load of supplies and equipment, the cargo vessel set sail on 2 May for Seeadler Harbor, Manus Island. She arrived there on 22 June and remained in port for approximately six weeks while discharging cargo ashore.[4]

Albireo weighed anchor on 1 August and touched at Milne Bay, New Guinea, three days later. She debarked elements of a Navy construction battalion and their equipment before getting underway again on 26 August. The vessel reached San Francisco on 21 September and entered a brief period of upkeep. She made a voyage to Pearl Harbor in October, returned to San Francisco on 1 November, and underwent voyage repairs and alterations at the United Engineering Co. The ship resumed operations on 26 November, and she joined a convoy bound for Espiritu Santo. She paused en route at Pearl Harbor for minor repairs and to take on personnel and arrived at Espiritu Santo on 25 December.[4]

The vessel remained in port there through the Christmas holidays. On 3 January 1945, the ship reversed her course back to the west coast. She arrived in San Francisco Bay on 6 February and began a period of voyage repairs and alterations. The cargo vessel made another voyage to Manus during late February, March, and April. After a three-day in-port period at Pearl Harbor, the ship arrived back at San Francisco on 19 May.[4]

After a leave and upkeep period, Albireo set sail on 13 June for the Philippines. She arrived in San Pedro Bay on 14 July. In early August, she began her voyage to San Francisco and, while sailing to the west coast, received word of the Japanese capitulation ending World War II.[4]

On the first day of September, the vessel moored in San Francisco Bay and entered upkeep. Later that month, she sailed to San Pedro, California, to take on cargo. The ship got underway on 5 October and reached Eniwetok on the 23d. She continued on to Samar and Manila, Philippines. Albireo left the latter port on 26 November and sailed to Yokosuka, Japan. Upon her arrival there on 3 December, the ship began providing supplies and equipment to American occupation forces ashore. She remained in Japanese waters until late March 1946.[4]

Albireo left Japan and shaped a course for the United States. She paused at Eniwetok in late March through early April; then pressed on to the Panama Canal Zone. The cargo ship transited the canal on 29 May and headed on toward the east coast.[4]

Decommissioning edit

Albireo arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, on 18 June, and was decommissioned there on 5 July 1946. She was turned over to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) for disposal on 18 July 1946, and her name was struck from the Navy list on 31 July 1946.[4] She entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, Virginia, on 17 July 1946.[5]

Merchant service edit

Albireo was sold to Southern Steamships Proprietary, Ltd., of Johannesburg, 22 August 1947, renamed SS President Steyn, and re-flagged as a Union of South African ship. In 1949 she was sold to Northern Steamships Proprietary, Ltd., of Johannesburg.[3]

In 1951 the ship was sold to Cia Nav Hidalgo SA, Panama RP, renamed SS Hidalgo and re-flagged in Liberia. She was sold again in 1954, to Blue Bay Steamship Corporation, and renamed SS Ocean Sailor.[3]

The ship was finally sold to Japanese breakers, and scrapped following her arrival at Kure, Japan on 10 April 1967.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Kaiser No. 1 2010.
  2. ^ MARCOM.
  3. ^ a b c d Navsource 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i DANFS 2015.
  5. ^ MARAD.

Bibliography edit

  • "Albireo". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2016.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "Kaiser Permanente No. 1, Richmond CA". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  • "USS Albireo (AK-90)". Navsource.org. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  • "JOHN G. NICOLAY". United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  • "SS JOHN G. NICOLAY". Retrieved 15 December 2017.

External links edit

  • Photo gallery of Albireo (AK-90) at NavSource Naval History

January 01, 1970
albireo, crater, class, cargo, ship, service, navy, world, manned, coast, guard, crew, only, ship, navy, have, borne, this, name, named, after, albireo, star, constellation, cygnus, broadside, view, francisco, march, 1943, history, united, states, namejohn, ni. The USS Albireo AK 90 was a Crater class cargo ship in the service of the US Navy in World War II and manned by a US Coast Guard crew She was the only ship of the Navy to have borne this name She is named after Albireo a star in the constellation of Cygnus Broadside view of USS Albireo AK 90 off San Francisco 30 March 1943 History United States NameJohn G Nicolay Albireo NamesakeJohn G Nicolay The star Albireo Orderedas a Type EC2 S C1 hull MCE hull 525 1 BuilderPermanente Metals Corporation Richmond California Cost 1 146 263 2 Yard number525 1 Way number2 1 Laid down17 January 1943 Launched25 February 1943 Sponsored byMrs Donald W Day Acquired9 March 1943 Commissioned29 March 1943 Decommissioned5 July 1946 Stricken31 July 1946 IdentificationHull symbol AK 90 Code letters NKGD FateSold for commercial use 22 August 1947 Union of South Africa NamePresident Steyn NamesakeMartinus Theunis Steyn OwnerSouthern Steamship Proprietary Ltd Johannesburg Acquired22 August 1947 FateSold 1949 Union of South Africa NamePresident Steyn OwnerNorthern Steamship Proprietary Ltd Johannesburg Acquired1949 FateSold 1951 Liberia NameHidalgo OwnerCia Nav Hidalgo SA Panama RP Acquired1951 FateSold 1954 Liberia NameOcean Sailor OwnerBlue Bay Steamship Corporation Acquired1954 FateSold for scrap 1967 General characteristics 3 Class and typeCrater class cargo ship Displacement4 023 long tons 4 088 t standard 14 550 long tons 14 780 t full load Length441 ft 6 in 134 57 m Beam56 ft 11 in 17 35 m Draft28 ft 4 in 8 64 m Installed power2 Oil fired 450 F 232 C boilers operating at 220 psi 1 500 kPa manufactured by Babcock amp Wilcox 2 500 shp 1 900 kW Propulsion1 Vertical triple expansion reciprocating steam engine manufactured by Joshua Hendy 1 screw propeller Speed12 5 kn 23 2 km h 14 4 mph Capacity7 800 t 7 700 long tons DWT 444 206 cu ft 12 578 5 m3 non refrigerated Complement206 Armament1 5 in 127 mm 38 caliber dual purpose DP gun 1 3 in 76 mm 50 caliber DP gun 2 40 mm 1 57 in Bofors anti aircraft AA gun mounts 6 20 mm 0 79 in Oerlikon cannon AA gun mounts Contents 1 Construction 2 Service history 2 1 Decommissioning 3 Merchant service 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksConstruction editAlbireo was laid down 17 January 1943 as liberty ship SS John G Nicolay MCE hull 525 by Permanente Metals Corporation Yard No 1 Richmond California under a Maritime Commission MARCOM contract launched on 25 February 1943 sponsored by Mrs Donald W Day acquired by the Navy under a bareboat charter on 9 March 1943 converted for naval service by the Matson Navigation Co renamed Albireo on 17 March 1943 and simultaneously designated AK 90 and commissioned at San Francisco California on 29 March 1943 4 Service history editAssigned to the Naval Transport Service the cargo ship conducted shakedown training in San Francisco Bay before getting underway on 9 April 1943 for a cargo run to Pearl Harbor Hawaii The ship arrived back at San Francisco on 5 May and operated along the west coast through late August towing barges and delivering cargo to Seattle Washington Eureka and San Francisco California and Astoria Oregon Albireo departed San Francisco on 26 August in a convoy bound for Espiritu Santo New Hebrides and Wellington New Zealand arrived back at San Francisco on 20 November discharged her cargo at Oakland California and entered the United Engineering Co shipyard for repairs 4 The ship got underway for Espiritu Santo on 27 December She arrived there on 1 February 1944 and unloaded her cargo and passengers On 22 February she shifted to Guadalcanal to discharge more cargo Albireo touched at Espiritu Santo once again on 20 March then sailed three days later for the west coast The ship reached San Francisco on 19 April After taking on another load of supplies and equipment the cargo vessel set sail on 2 May for Seeadler Harbor Manus Island She arrived there on 22 June and remained in port for approximately six weeks while discharging cargo ashore 4 Albireo weighed anchor on 1 August and touched at Milne Bay New Guinea three days later She debarked elements of a Navy construction battalion and their equipment before getting underway again on 26 August The vessel reached San Francisco on 21 September and entered a brief period of upkeep She made a voyage to Pearl Harbor in October returned to San Francisco on 1 November and underwent voyage repairs and alterations at the United Engineering Co The ship resumed operations on 26 November and she joined a convoy bound for Espiritu Santo She paused en route at Pearl Harbor for minor repairs and to take on personnel and arrived at Espiritu Santo on 25 December 4 The vessel remained in port there through the Christmas holidays On 3 January 1945 the ship reversed her course back to the west coast She arrived in San Francisco Bay on 6 February and began a period of voyage repairs and alterations The cargo vessel made another voyage to Manus during late February March and April After a three day in port period at Pearl Harbor the ship arrived back at San Francisco on 19 May 4 After a leave and upkeep period Albireo set sail on 13 June for the Philippines She arrived in San Pedro Bay on 14 July In early August she began her voyage to San Francisco and while sailing to the west coast received word of the Japanese capitulation ending World War II 4 On the first day of September the vessel moored in San Francisco Bay and entered upkeep Later that month she sailed to San Pedro California to take on cargo The ship got underway on 5 October and reached Eniwetok on the 23d She continued on to Samar and Manila Philippines Albireo left the latter port on 26 November and sailed to Yokosuka Japan Upon her arrival there on 3 December the ship began providing supplies and equipment to American occupation forces ashore She remained in Japanese waters until late March 1946 4 Albireo left Japan and shaped a course for the United States She paused at Eniwetok in late March through early April then pressed on to the Panama Canal Zone The cargo ship transited the canal on 29 May and headed on toward the east coast 4 Decommissioning edit Albireo arrived at Norfolk Virginia on 18 June and was decommissioned there on 5 July 1946 She was turned over to the War Shipping Administration WSA for disposal on 18 July 1946 and her name was struck from the Navy list on 31 July 1946 4 She entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet James River Group Lee Hall Virginia on 17 July 1946 5 Merchant service editAlbireo was sold to Southern Steamships Proprietary Ltd of Johannesburg 22 August 1947 renamed SS President Steyn and re flagged as a Union of South African ship In 1949 she was sold to Northern Steamships Proprietary Ltd of Johannesburg 3 In 1951 the ship was sold to Cia Nav Hidalgo SA Panama RP renamed SS Hidalgo and re flagged in Liberia She was sold again in 1954 to Blue Bay Steamship Corporation and renamed SS Ocean Sailor 3 The ship was finally sold to Japanese breakers and scrapped following her arrival at Kure Japan on 10 April 1967 3 References edit a b c Kaiser No 1 2010 MARCOM a b c d Navsource 2015 a b c d e f g h i DANFS 2015 MARAD Bibliography edit Albireo Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships Naval History and Heritage Command 16 June 2015 Retrieved 17 December 2016 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Kaiser Permanente No 1 Richmond CA www ShipbuildingHistory com 13 October 2010 Retrieved 17 December 2016 USS Albireo AK 90 Navsource org 20 November 2015 Retrieved 17 December 2016 JOHN G NICOLAY United States Department of Transportation Retrieved 17 December 2016 SS JOHN G NICOLAY Retrieved 15 December 2017 External links editPhoto gallery of Albireo AK 90 at NavSource Naval History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Albireo amp oldid 1202370013, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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