USS Shenandoah (AD-26) was one of ten planned destroyer tenders built at the tail end of World War II (orders for four of the ships were cancelled due to the cessation of hostilities). The lead ship in her class, she was the third United States naval vessel named for the Shenandoah River which runs through Virginia and West Virginia.
Shenandoah off Norfolk, Virginia (USA), 16 September 1975
The third Shenandoah was laid down on 16 September 1944 by Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc. of Tacoma, Washington, launched on 29 March 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Daniel Hunt, and commissioned on 13 August 1945.
Service historyedit
Shenandoah completed her fitting out in December and sailed to the East Coast via the Panama Canal, where she reported for duty with Destroyer Force, United States Atlantic Fleet in January 1946. Until June 1947 she tended destroyers in various east coast ports, primarily at Norfolk, Virginia, her home port. The tender deployed on her first tour of duty with the 6th Fleet from June through August 1947. In the next 20 years, she was assigned 13 more tours in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1958, she was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal service in Lebanon.
Shenandoah's most publicized tour of duty was in 1964. She won international acclaim for her heroic rescue of the crew of the Dutch merchant ship Doris. The freighter broke loose from her moorings during the height of a storm and became impaled upon the rocks of Molo San Vincenzo in Naples' outer harbor. A line was run to the freighter by the crew of the Shenandoah, and all aboard were rescued minutes before Doris rolled over and sank. The destroyer tender also won recognition in 1965 for her repairs to the bow of the aircraft carrierUSS Shangri-La (CV-38) which had collided with a destroyer during maneuvers.
Shenandoah was awarded the Battle Efficiency Pennant for her competence in destroyer tending in 1952 and 1956 and the Meritorious Unit Commendation in 1970. She was awarded the Engineering "E" in 1958 and 1965, and the Supply "E" in 1962, 1963, and 1967. Shenandoah was again deployed with the 6th Fleet in 1968, 1970, and 1973. She returned to her home port on 15 December 1973 and into July 1974 was tending ships on the East Coast.
Shenandoah was decommissioned at Naval Station Norfolk, and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register on 1 April 1980. Transferred to the Maritime Administration for disposal, she was sold, 1 March 1982.
"AD-26 Shenandoah". Service Ship Photo Archive. Retrieved 18 February 2009.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Shenandoah (AD-26).
January 01, 1970
shenandoah, other, ships, with, same, name, shenandoah, planned, destroyer, tenders, built, tail, world, orders, four, ships, were, cancelled, cessation, hostilities, lead, ship, class, third, united, states, naval, vessel, named, shenandoah, river, which, run. For other ships with the same name see USS Shenandoah USS Shenandoah AD 26 was one of ten planned destroyer tenders built at the tail end of World War II orders for four of the ships were cancelled due to the cessation of hostilities The lead ship in her class she was the third United States naval vessel named for the Shenandoah River which runs through Virginia and West Virginia Shenandoah off Norfolk Virginia USA 16 September 1975History United States NameUSS Shenandoah NamesakeShenandoah River BuilderTodd Pacific Shipyards Tacoma Washington Laid down16 September 1944 Launched29 March 1945 Commissioned13 August 1945 Decommissioned1 April 1980 Stricken1 April 1980 FateSold for scrapping 1 March 1982 General characteristics TypeShenandoah class destroyer tender Displacement11 755 long tons 11 944 t Length492 ft 150 m Beam69 ft 6 in 21 18 m Draft27 ft 6 in 8 38 m Speed18 knots 33 km h 21 mph Complement1 035 Armament2 5 38 caliber guns 8 40 mm AA guns 22 20 mm guns AA guns The third Shenandoah was laid down on 16 September 1944 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Inc of Tacoma Washington launched on 29 March 1945 sponsored by Mrs Daniel Hunt and commissioned on 13 August 1945 Service history editShenandoah completed her fitting out in December and sailed to the East Coast via the Panama Canal where she reported for duty with Destroyer Force United States Atlantic Fleet in January 1946 Until June 1947 she tended destroyers in various east coast ports primarily at Norfolk Virginia her home port The tender deployed on her first tour of duty with the 6th Fleet from June through August 1947 In the next 20 years she was assigned 13 more tours in the Mediterranean Sea In 1958 she was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal service in Lebanon Shenandoah s most publicized tour of duty was in 1964 She won international acclaim for her heroic rescue of the crew of the Dutch merchant ship Doris The freighter broke loose from her moorings during the height of a storm and became impaled upon the rocks of Molo San Vincenzo in Naples outer harbor A line was run to the freighter by the crew of the Shenandoah and all aboard were rescued minutes before Doris rolled over and sank The destroyer tender also won recognition in 1965 for her repairs to the bow of the aircraft carrier USS Shangri La CV 38 which had collided with a destroyer during maneuvers Shenandoah was awarded the Battle Efficiency Pennant for her competence in destroyer tending in 1952 and 1956 and the Meritorious Unit Commendation in 1970 She was awarded the Engineering E in 1958 and 1965 and the Supply E in 1962 1963 and 1967 Shenandoah was again deployed with the 6th Fleet in 1968 1970 and 1973 She returned to her home port on 15 December 1973 and into July 1974 was tending ships on the East Coast Shenandoah was decommissioned at Naval Station Norfolk and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register on 1 April 1980 Transferred to the Maritime Administration for disposal she was sold 1 March 1982 References editThis article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here AD 26 Shenandoah Service Ship Photo Archive Retrieved 18 February 2009 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Shenandoah AD 26 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Shenandoah AD 26 amp oldid 1181335550, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
