Capella was built in 1920 as Comerant by American International Shipbuilding Corporation, Hog Island, Pennsylvania, under a Shipping Board contract; acquired by the Navy 20 November 1921; and commissioned 8 December 1921.
Relief supplies to Japanedit
Capella arrived at San Diego, California, 19 March 1922 to carry cargo along the west coast until July, when she returned to the east coast for similar duty in the next 4 months. Back in California waters in November, Capella sailed to Japan in October 1923 to bring food and medical supplies, donated by American citizens, as well as water for the relief of earthquake-desolated Yokohama.
Placed in reserveedit
The cargo ship resumed west coast operations until February 1924 when she returned to Norfolk, Virginia. Capella was decommissioned and placed in reserve there 1 September 1924. She was recommissioned 10 November 1938, and resumed supply runs along the east and west coast in alternate periods, on occasion penetrating Alaskan waters.
Pre-WWII and WWII serviceedit
During July and August 1940 Capella assisted in the tow of the Navy's 10,700 ton New Orleans floating drydock from Balboa, Panama Canal Zone to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Capella and USS Navajo (AT-64) conducted an in-line, tandem tow with logistics support from USS Platte (AO-24). The duration of the operation was 44 days and covered 4,771 nautical miles at an average speed of 4.5 knots.[2]
As war threatened and the United States began the buildup of Western Hemisphere bases acquired from the British, Capella was recalled to the east coast late in September 1940. The veteran cargo ship supported bases from the Panama Canal Zone to Newfoundland with cargoes brought from Atlantic ports until 1944. In June she cleared on the first of four transatlantic convoy crossings to Scotland, and North and West Africa, all so safely guarded as to be made without incident.
On 9 April 1942, Capella was hit by a friendly torpedo fired from PT-59, causing eight injuries, but no deaths.
Post WWII and decommissioningedit
Capella returned to Caribbean cargo duty in June 1945, and on 30 November 1945 was decommissioned at Norfolk, Virginia. She was transferred to the War Shipping Administration in July 1946.
Referencesedit
^"USS Capella (AK-13)". Navsource.org. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
^U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, Volume 67, September 1941, pages 1241–61
capella, other, ships, with, same, name, capella, cargo, ship, united, states, navy, during, world, named, capella, star, photographed, pierside, probably, between, 1922, 1924history, united, states, namecomerant, capella, namesakecapella, star, builderamerica. For other ships with the same name see USS Capella USS Capella AK 13 was a cargo ship in the United States Navy during World War II She was named for Capella the star USS Capella AK 13 Photographed pierside probably between 1922 and 1924History United States NameComerant Capella NamesakeCapella star BuilderAmerican International Shipbuilding Corporation Hog Island Pennsylvania Laid down1 July 1919 Launched3 March 1920 Completed17 April 1920 77th in the series and was given the ID number 4215 W Acquired20 November 1921 Commissioned8 December 1921 as USS Capella AK 13 Recommissioned10 November 1938 Decommissioned1 September 1924 30 November 1945 Stricken19 December 1945 IdentificationHull symbol AK 13 FateSold for scrapping 2 October 1947 to H H Buncher for scrapping by Boston Metals Baltimore MD General characteristics 1 TypeDesign 1022 ship Displacement4 037 t 3 973 long tons standard 11 500 t 11 300 long tons full load Length401 ft 122 m Beam54 ft 1 in 16 48 m Draft24 ft 5 in 7 44 m Installed power2 500 shp 1 900 kW Propulsion1 General Electric Curtis steam turbines 3 Babcock amp Wilcox boilers header type boilers 215psi 475 1 shaft Speed11 kn 13 mph 20 km h Capacity4 960 DWT Complement18 officers 253 enlisted Armament2 5 in 130 mm 51 caliber single purpose guns replaced with 1 5 in 130 mm 38 caliber dual purpose gun 4 3 in 76 mm 50 caliber dual purpose guns added at the end of 1940 8 20 mm 0 79 in Oerlikon cannons anti aircraft gun mounts added in 1942 Contents 1 Built in Pennsylvania 2 Relief supplies to Japan 3 Placed in reserve 4 Pre WWII and WWII service 5 Post WWII and decommissioning 6 ReferencesBuilt in Pennsylvania editCapella was built in 1920 as Comerant by American International Shipbuilding Corporation Hog Island Pennsylvania under a Shipping Board contract acquired by the Navy 20 November 1921 and commissioned 8 December 1921 Relief supplies to Japan editCapella arrived at San Diego California 19 March 1922 to carry cargo along the west coast until July when she returned to the east coast for similar duty in the next 4 months Back in California waters in November Capella sailed to Japan in October 1923 to bring food and medical supplies donated by American citizens as well as water for the relief of earthquake desolated Yokohama Placed in reserve editThe cargo ship resumed west coast operations until February 1924 when she returned to Norfolk Virginia Capella was decommissioned and placed in reserve there 1 September 1924 She was recommissioned 10 November 1938 and resumed supply runs along the east and west coast in alternate periods on occasion penetrating Alaskan waters Pre WWII and WWII service editDuring July and August 1940 Capella assisted in the tow of the Navy s 10 700 ton New Orleans floating drydock from Balboa Panama Canal Zone to Pearl Harbor Hawaii Capella and USS Navajo AT 64 conducted an in line tandem tow with logistics support from USS Platte AO 24 The duration of the operation was 44 days and covered 4 771 nautical miles at an average speed of 4 5 knots 2 As war threatened and the United States began the buildup of Western Hemisphere bases acquired from the British Capella was recalled to the east coast late in September 1940 The veteran cargo ship supported bases from the Panama Canal Zone to Newfoundland with cargoes brought from Atlantic ports until 1944 In June she cleared on the first of four transatlantic convoy crossings to Scotland and North and West Africa all so safely guarded as to be made without incident On 9 April 1942 Capella was hit by a friendly torpedo fired from PT 59 causing eight injuries but no deaths Post WWII and decommissioning editCapella returned to Caribbean cargo duty in June 1945 and on 30 November 1945 was decommissioned at Norfolk Virginia She was transferred to the War Shipping Administration in July 1946 References edit USS Capella AK 13 Navsource org Retrieved June 10 2015 U S Naval Institute Proceedings Volume 67 September 1941 pages 1241 61 nbsp This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Capella AK 13 amp oldid 1224479273, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
