USS Medea (AKA-31)

USS Medea (AKA-31) was an Artemis-class attack cargo ship named after the minor planet 212 Medea, which in turn was named for a mythical enchantress who helped Jason win the Golden Fleece. USS Medea served as a commissioned ship for 15 months.

History
United States
Name: USS Medea
Builder: Walsh-Kaiser Company, Providence, Rhode Island
Laid down: 9 August 1944
Launched: 30 November 1944
Commissioned: 10 January 1945
Decommissioned: 24 April 1946
Stricken: 15 October 1946
Honours and
awards:		 1 battle star (WWII)
Fate: Sold for scrapping, 1965
General characteristics
Class and type: Artemis-class attack cargo ship
Type: S4–SE2–BE1
Displacement:
  • 4,087 long tons (4,153 t) light
  • 7,080 long tons (7,194 t) full
Length: 426 ft (130 m)
Beam: 58 ft (18 m)
Draft: 16 ft (4.9 m)
Speed: 16.9 knots (31.3 km/h; 19.4 mph)
Complement: 303 officers and enlisted
Armament:

Medea (AKA-31) was laid down under Maritime Commission contract 5 August 1944, by Walsh–Kaiser Co., Inc., Providence, RI; launched 30 November 1944; sponsored by Mrs. A. C. Clarke; and commissioned 10 January 1945, Lt. Comdr. Wesley A. Sherberth in command.

Service history

Following shakedown in Chesapeake Bay, Medea loaded cargo at Hampton Roads, and steamed to Hawaii, arriving Pearl Harbor 3 March 1945. Departing Honolulu 6 April, she operated in the Marianas for the next two months, before embarking troops for Okinawa. She arrived off the Hagushi beaches, Okinawa 10 June, and spent the next nine days discharging troops and cargo. After the cessation of hostilities on 15 August, she carried occupation troops from the Philippines to Japan until November, when she reported for duty with the "Magic Carpet" fleet.

Medea decommissioned in the 8th Naval District, headquartered at New Orleans, 24 April 1946. She was struck from the Naval Register 15 October, and transferred to the War Shipping Administration 29 October. She was finally scrapped in 1965.

Medea received one battle star for World War II service.

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References
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