USS Celeno (AK-76) was a Crater-classcargo ship in the service of the US Navy in World War II. Named with a variant spelling of the star Celaeno in the constellation Pleiades, it was the only ship of the Navy to bear this name.
Celeno was laid down 3 November 1942 as liberty ship SS Redfield Proctor, MCE hull 439, by Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard No. 2, Richmond, California, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract; launched 12 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. G. G. Sherwood; transferred to the Navy 19 December 1942; and commissioned 2 January 1943.[4]
Unloading cargo off Guadalcanal on 16 June, Celeno was attacked by a swarm of Japanese bombers. As the freighter's antiaircraft guns began to fire, the dive bombers scored three near misses, then hit Celeno's stern, putting her 5-inch (127 mm)/38 caliber gun out of operation. Her men stood to the remaining guns, and aided in downing at least three enemy planes and damaging several others. A second direct hit set two of Celeno's holds on fire, and another near miss sent her deck cargo of diesel oil and gasoline flaming. With her rudder jammed from the first hit, Celeno circled, as her crew determined to save her. Skillful damage control and seamanship beached her safely on Lunga Point, and when the air attack had been fought off, Celeno was towed off for repairs at Port Purvis on Florida Island in the Solomons. Fifteen of her crew were killed and 19 wounded in the attack.[4]
Further repairs at Espiritu Santo and San Francisco fitted Celeno for action once more, and the ship returned to the South Pacific in January 1944 to continue her support of the Solomons campaign. As the seizure of bases in the Admiralty Islands began, Celeno brought troops and cargo to Manus through the spring of 1944, and continued to operate throughout the Solomons, Bismarcks, and Marianas. She sailed to Australia and New Zealand, then made a cargo run to newly secured Iwo Jima. Returning to Nouméa, Celeno performed rear-area support for the Okinawa operation by voyages to Eniwetok and Ulithi, en route to Okinawa itself, where she arrived 18 June. She returned to Ulithi 3 July, and resumed cargo operations throughout the South Pacific.[4]
In November 1945, Celeno sailed to Iwo Jima to embark troops for transportation to Saipan, where she picked up another group of men bound for the west coast.[4]
Decommission and final dispositionedit
Celeno was decommissioned at San Francisco, 1 March 1946, and transferred to MARCOM.[4] She was delivered to Suisun Bay, California, the same day for layup in the National Defense Reserve Fleet.[5] She was sold to Union Minerals & Alloys Corporation, for $65,139.89 on 14 March 1961, for scrapping. She was removed, 6 June 1961.[5] Her scrapping was completed 4 August 1961.[3]
Awardsedit
Celeno received three battle stars for World War II service.[4]
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USS Celeno AK 76 was a Crater class cargo ship in the service of the US Navy in World War II Named with a variant spelling of the star Celaeno in the constellation Pleiades it was the only ship of the Navy to bear this name USS Celeno AK 76 November 1943HistoryUnited StatesNameRedfield Proctor CelenoNamesakeRedfield Proctor The star CelaenoOrderedas a Type EC2 S C1 hull MCE hull 439 1 BuilderPermanente Metals Corporation Richmond CaliforniaCost 1 112 554 2 Yard number439 1 Way number6 1 Laid down3 November 1942Launched12 December 1942Sponsored byMrs G G SherwoodAcquired19 December 1942Commissioned2 January 1943Decommissioned1 March 1946Stricken20 March 1946IdentificationHull symbol AK 76 Code letters NYJYHonours andawards3 battle starsFateSold for scrapping 14 March 1961 completed 4 August 1961General characteristics 3 Class and typeCrater class cargo shipDisplacement4 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 propellerSpeed12 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 Complement207Armament1 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 3 Decommission and final disposition 4 Awards 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksConstruction editCeleno was laid down 3 November 1942 as liberty ship SS Redfield Proctor MCE hull 439 by Permanente Metals Corporation Yard No 2 Richmond California under a Maritime Commission MARCOM contract launched 12 December 1942 sponsored by Mrs G G Sherwood transferred to the Navy 19 December 1942 and commissioned 2 January 1943 4 Service history editCeleno joined the Pacific Fleet and cleared San Francisco 10 January 1943 with cargo for Noumea New Caledonia She arrived 1 February to support the operations on Guadalcanal and throughout the Solomons with cargo brought from New Zealand to Noumea Tulagi and Guadalcanal itself 4 Unloading cargo off Guadalcanal on 16 June Celeno was attacked by a swarm of Japanese bombers As the freighter s antiaircraft guns began to fire the dive bombers scored three near misses then hit Celeno s stern putting her 5 inch 127 mm 38 caliber gun out of operation Her men stood to the remaining guns and aided in downing at least three enemy planes and damaging several others A second direct hit set two of Celeno s holds on fire and another near miss sent her deck cargo of diesel oil and gasoline flaming With her rudder jammed from the first hit Celeno circled as her crew determined to save her Skillful damage control and seamanship beached her safely on Lunga Point and when the air attack had been fought off Celeno was towed off for repairs at Port Purvis on Florida Island in the Solomons Fifteen of her crew were killed and 19 wounded in the attack 4 Further repairs at Espiritu Santo and San Francisco fitted Celeno for action once more and the ship returned to the South Pacific in January 1944 to continue her support of the Solomons campaign As the seizure of bases in the Admiralty Islands began Celeno brought troops and cargo to Manus through the spring of 1944 and continued to operate throughout the Solomons Bismarcks and Marianas She sailed to Australia and New Zealand then made a cargo run to newly secured Iwo Jima Returning to Noumea Celeno performed rear area support for the Okinawa operation by voyages to Eniwetok and Ulithi en route to Okinawa itself where she arrived 18 June She returned to Ulithi 3 July and resumed cargo operations throughout the South Pacific 4 In November 1945 Celeno sailed to Iwo Jima to embark troops for transportation to Saipan where she picked up another group of men bound for the west coast 4 Decommission and final disposition editCeleno was decommissioned at San Francisco 1 March 1946 and transferred to MARCOM 4 She was delivered to Suisun Bay California the same day for layup in the National Defense Reserve Fleet 5 She was sold to Union Minerals amp Alloys Corporation for 65 139 89 on 14 March 1961 for scrapping She was removed 6 June 1961 5 Her scrapping was completed 4 August 1961 3 Awards editCeleno received three battle stars for World War II service 4 References edit a b c Kaiser No 2 2010 MARCOM a b Navsource 2014 a b c d e f g DANFS a b MARAD Redfield Proctor Bibliography edit Celeno Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships Naval History and Heritage Command Retrieved 16 December 2016 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Kaiser Permanente No 2 Richmond CA ShipbuildingHistory com 13 October 2010 Retrieved 16 December 2016 USS Celeno AK 76 Navsource org 4 April 2014 Retrieved 16 December 2016 REDFIELD PROCTOR United States Department of Transportation Retrieved 16 December 2016 SS REDFIELD PROCTOR Retrieved 15 December 2017 External links editPhoto gallery of USS Celeno AK 76 at NavSource Naval History Celeno United States Department of Transportation Retrieved 16 December 2016 Portal nbsp World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Celeno amp oldid 1162524735, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
