USS Poinsett (AK-205)

USS Poinsett (AK-205) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship acquired by the US Navy just prior to the end of World War II. She carried supplies and ammunition to the Pacific Ocean battle areas and was awarded one battle star for her operations in the Borneo area.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Poinsett.
USS Poinsett (AK-205) probably running builder's trials in the Great Lakes c. September, 1944
History
United States
Name: Poinsett
Namesake: Poinsett County, Arkansas
Ordered: as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2159[1]
Builder: Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Yard number: 325[1]
Laid down: 6 November 1943
Launched: 22 May 1944
Sponsored by: Mrs. Robert L. Rote
Acquired: 22 January 1945
Commissioned: 7 February 1945
Decommissioned: 25 January 1946
Stricken: 12 March 1946
Identification:
Honors and
awards:		 one battle star for World War II service
Fate: sold 25 February 1947, Bergenske Dampakibaselskab (Bergen Line)
History
Norway
Name: Carina
Owner: Bergenske Dampakibaselskab (Bergen Line)
Acquired: 25 February 1947
Status: Sold
History
South Korea
Name: Masan
Namesake: City of Masan
Fate: scrapped, 1979
General characteristics [2]
Class and type: Alamosa-class cargo ship
Type: C1-M-AV1
Tonnage: 5,032 long tons deadweight (DWT)[1]
Displacement:
  • 2,382 long tons (2,420 t) (standard)
  • 7,450 long tons (7,570 t) (full load)
Length: 388 ft 8 in (118.47 m)
Beam: 50 ft (15 m)
Draft: 21 ft 1 in (6.43 m)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 1 × propeller
Speed: 11.5 kn (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Capacity:
  • 3,945 t (3,883 long tons) DWT
  • 9,830 cu ft (278 m3) (refrigerated)
  • 227,730 cu ft (6,449 m3) (non-refrigerated)
Complement:
  • 15 Officers
  • 70 Enlisted
Armament:

Construction

Poinsett was laid down under US Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2158, by Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, 6 November 1943; launched 22 May 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Robert L. Rote; acquired by the Navy 22 January 1945; and commissioned at Houston, Texas, 7 February 1945, Lieutenant Commander Robert M. Baughman, USNR, in command.[3]

Service history

World War II service

After shakedown off Galveston, Texas, Poinsett loaded ammunition at Theodore, Alabama, and departed for the Panama Canal 21 March. She steamed to Ulithi thence to Zamboanga, Philippine Islands, arriving 11 May.[3]

After issuing ammunition there, she proceeded to Tawi Tawi, Sulu Archipelago, and joined the main forces for the invasion of Balikpapan (1 July). On 10 July she departed Borneo for Morotai and the Philippines, whence she sailed southeast to Manus. There, while loading fleet issue clothing and small stores, she received word of the war’s end.[3]

Post-war decommissioning

Poinsett then proceeded to Manila and Guiuan, Samar, to discharge her cargo. She departed 19 November for the Panama Canal and Norfolk, Virginia, for inactivation. Decommissioned 25 January 1946, she was returned to MARCOM, 29 January 1946, and her name was struck from the Navy List, 12 March 1946.[3]

Merchant service

On 25 February 1947, MARCOM sold Poinsett to Bergenske Dampakibaselskab (Bergen Line), of, Norway, for $693,862. She was reflagged for Norway and her name was changed to Carina.[2][4]

She was subsequently sold to the Government of South Korea and renamed Masan.[3] She was scrapped in 1979, in South Korea.[2]

Honors and awards

Poinsett received one battle star for World War II service:[2]

  • Borneo Campaign (1 to 10 July 1945)

Notes
    Citations
    1. C1 Cargo Ships 2009.
    2. Navsource 2014.
    3. DANFS 2015.
    4. MARAD.

    Bibliography

    Online resources

    • "Poinsett (AK-205)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
    • "C1 Cargo Ships". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
    • "Poinsett (AK-205)". Navsource.org. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
    • "Poinsett (AK-205)". United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
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    • Photo gallery of USS Poinsett (AK-205) at NavSource Naval History


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