USS Pontotoc (AVS-7)

USS Pontotoc (AK-206/AG-94/AVS-7) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship acquired by the US Navy shortly before the end of World War II. She was converted into a Gwinnett-class aviation stores issue ship to carry aviation parts and spares, and to issue them to the US Pacific Fleet and activities as needed.

USS Pontotoc (AVS-7)
History
United States
Name: Pontotoc
Namesake:
Ordered: as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2160[1]
Builder: Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Yard number: 326[1]
Laid down: 15 January 1944
Launched: 2 July 1944
Commissioned: 22 March 1945
Decommissioned: 26 April 1946
Reclassified:
  • prior to launch, Miscellaneous Auxiliary
  • 25 May 1945, Aviation Stores Issue Ship
Refit: prior to 22 March 1945, converted to Gwinnett-class Aviation Stores Issue Ship
Stricken: 8 May 1946
Identification:
Fate: Sold to France, 14 August 1947
Republic of France
Name: Taurus
Operator: Messageries Maritimes
Acquired: 14 August 1947
Fate: reflagged to Morocco, 1960
Morocco
Name: Tadjera
Acquired: 1960
Fate: Scrapped, 1968[1]
General characteristics [2]
Class and type:
  • Alamosa-class cargo ship (1944–1945)
  • Gwinnett-class aviation stores issue ship (1945–1946)
Type: C1-M-AV1
Tonnage: 5,010 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

Pontotoc was laid down for the US Maritime Commission (MARCOM), MC hull 2160, by Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, 15 January 1944; classified AK-206 on 25 February 1944; launched 2 July 1944; acquired from MARCOM on a loan-charter basis 28 February 1945; reclassified AG–94 on 12 March 1945; and commissioned 22 March 1945, Lieutenant Commander Charles W. Lockard in command.[3]

After shakedown, Pontotoc transited the Panama Canal and arrived Pearl Harbor 18 April 1945. Reclassified as Gwinnett-class aviation stores issue ship AVS-7 effective 25 May, Pontotoc steamed for the Philippine Islands, reporting for duty 8 July at Guiuan, Samar, Philippine Islands. She provided aviation stores on station in the Philippines through the end of hostilities.[3]

Post-war inactivation

Pontotoc then proceeded to the 12th Naval District. She decommissioned and was delivered to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) 26 April 1946, at San Francisco, California. She was struck from the Navy List 8 May 1946.[3]

Merchant service

She was sold 14 August 1947, to the French firm Messageries Maritimes, and renamed Taurus. In 1960 she was sold to Morocco and renamed Tadjera.[2][4]

Notes
    Citations
    1. C1 Cargo Ships 2009.
    2. Navsource 2013.
    3. DANFS 2015.
    4. MARAD.

    Bibliography

    Online resources

    • "Nicollet". 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.
    • "Pontotoc (AG-94/AVS-7)". Navsource.org. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
    • "Pontotoc (AK-206/AVS-7)". United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
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