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USS Pollux (AKS-2)

The second USS Pollux (AKS-2) was a Castor-class general stores issue ship.

History
United States
NameUSS Pollux
NamesakePollux, the southern of two bright stars in the constellation Gemini, twin star of Castor
BuilderFederal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, New Jersey
Laid down26 May 1939, as SS Comet
Launched16 December 1939
Acquired16 January 1941
Commissioned6 May 1941
Stricken25 March 1942
FateRan aground and sank, 18 February 1942
General characteristics
Class and typeCastor-class general stores issue ship
Displacement
  • 7,350 long tons (7,468 t) light
  • 13,910 long tons (14,133 t) full load
Length459 ft 2 in (140 m)
Beam63 ft (19 m)
Draft26 ft 5 in (8.05 m)
PropulsionSteam turbine, single shaft, 6,000 hp (4,474 kW)
Speed17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Complement199 officers and enlisted
Armament

Pollux was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Hoboken, N.J. as SS Comet on 26 May 1939; launched on 16 December 1939, acquired by the Navy on 16 January 1941; converted to a general stores ship by the Brewers Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Hoboken, N.J., and commissioned on 6 May 1941.

Service history edit

Pollux was ready for sea on 24 May 1941, and served with the Atlantic Fleet on regular provisioning cruises.

Loss edit

On 18 February 1942 Pollux grounded during a storm at Lawn Point off Newfoundland and was wrecked with 93 fatalities. USS Truxtun (DD-229) was also wrecked, at Chambers Cove, off St. Lawrence harbour with 110 fatalities. USS Wilkes (DD-441) grounded at the same time, but made way with no fatalities.

At 04:14 on the 18th, searchlights were sighted revealing land 2 points on the port bow. The Commanding Officer of Pollux had just entered the bridge from the chart house, and immediately gave the order for full speed astern, hard right rudder and sounding collision quarters. But it was too late and 3 minutes later the ship grounded. Realizing that she was hard aground and starting to go down slightly by the head, the Commanding Officer ordered full speed ahead to prevent the ship from sliding off and sinking in deep water.

Due to the extremely difficult surf caused by the gale raging in the Atlantic and the bitterness of the winter weather loss of life was heavy on both Pollux and Truxtun. Heroic efforts to swim lines ashore failed due to the inability to handle them when they became oil soaked. Some of the crew attempted to swim ashore, many unsuccessfully. Finally lines with a boatswain's chair were rigged to a ledge and the remaining personnel were conveyed ashore. Truxtun broke up almost immediately after grounding and soon thereafter Pollux did likewise. The survivors owed their rescue in large measure to the tireless, efficient and in many cases heroic action of the people of Lawn and St. Lawrence, Newfoundland.[1]

Pollux was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 25 March 1942.

The total loss of life between both the USS Pollux and the USS Truxtun was 203 victims.

References edit

  1. ^ Dead Reckoning: The Pollux-Truxton Disaster

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

External links edit

  • Unofficial website for the USS Pollux (AKS-2) and USS Pollux (AKS-4) 25 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine
  • NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive: AKS-2 Pollux
  • 'As If They Were Angels' documentary

46°52′37.1″N 55°28′43.8″W / 46.876972°N 55.478833°W / 46.876972; -55.478833

pollux, other, ships, with, same, name, pollux, second, castor, class, general, stores, issue, ship, history, united, states, nameuss, pollux, namesakepollux, southern, bright, stars, constellation, gemini, twin, star, castor, builderfederal, shipbuilding, dry. For other ships with the same name see USS Pollux The second USS Pollux AKS 2 was a Castor class general stores issue ship History United States NameUSS Pollux NamesakePollux the southern of two bright stars in the constellation Gemini twin star of Castor BuilderFederal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company New Jersey Laid down26 May 1939 as SS Comet Launched16 December 1939 Acquired16 January 1941 Commissioned6 May 1941 Stricken25 March 1942 FateRan aground and sank 18 February 1942 General characteristics Class and typeCastor class general stores issue ship Displacement7 350 long tons 7 468 t light 13 910 long tons 14 133 t full load Length459 ft 2 in 140 m Beam63 ft 19 m Draft26 ft 5 in 8 05 m PropulsionSteam turbine single shaft 6 000 hp 4 474 kW Speed17 knots 31 km h 20 mph Complement199 officers and enlisted Armament1 5 38 caliber gun 4 3 50 caliber guns Pollux was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co Hoboken N J as SS Comet on 26 May 1939 launched on 16 December 1939 acquired by the Navy on 16 January 1941 converted to a general stores ship by the Brewers Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co Hoboken N J and commissioned on 6 May 1941 Contents 1 Service history 2 Loss 3 References 4 External linksService history editPollux was ready for sea on 24 May 1941 and served with the Atlantic Fleet on regular provisioning cruises Loss editOn 18 February 1942 Pollux grounded during a storm at Lawn Point off Newfoundland and was wrecked with 93 fatalities USS Truxtun DD 229 was also wrecked at Chambers Cove off St Lawrence harbour with 110 fatalities USS Wilkes DD 441 grounded at the same time but made way with no fatalities At 04 14 on the 18th searchlights were sighted revealing land 2 points on the port bow The Commanding Officer of Pollux had just entered the bridge from the chart house and immediately gave the order for full speed astern hard right rudder and sounding collision quarters But it was too late and 3 minutes later the ship grounded Realizing that she was hard aground and starting to go down slightly by the head the Commanding Officer ordered full speed ahead to prevent the ship from sliding off and sinking in deep water Due to the extremely difficult surf caused by the gale raging in the Atlantic and the bitterness of the winter weather loss of life was heavy on both Pollux and Truxtun Heroic efforts to swim lines ashore failed due to the inability to handle them when they became oil soaked Some of the crew attempted to swim ashore many unsuccessfully Finally lines with a boatswain s chair were rigged to a ledge and the remaining personnel were conveyed ashore Truxtun broke up almost immediately after grounding and soon thereafter Pollux did likewise The survivors owed their rescue in large measure to the tireless efficient and in many cases heroic action of the people of Lawn and St Lawrence Newfoundland 1 Pollux was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 25 March 1942 The total loss of life between both the USS Pollux and the USS Truxtun was 203 victims References edit Dead Reckoning The Pollux Truxton Disaster This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here External links editUnofficial website for the USS Pollux AKS 2 and USS Pollux AKS 4 Archived 25 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine NavSource Online Service Ship Photo Archive AKS 2 Pollux The Sinking of the USS Pollux and USS Truxtun As If They Were Angels documentary 46 52 37 1 N 55 28 43 8 W 46 876972 N 55 478833 W 46 876972 55 478833 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Pollux AKS 2 amp oldid 1163817425, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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