USS Fentress (AK-180)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States |
|
| Name: | Fentress |
| Namesake: | Fentress County, Tennessee |
| Ordered: | as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2376 |
| Builder: | Kaiser Shipbuilding Co., Richmond, California |
| Laid down: | 1944 |
| Launched: | 10 March 1945 |
| Sponsored by: | Mrs. G. M. Ellis |
| Commissioned: | 4 May 1945 |
| Decommissioned: | 20 February 1946 |
| In service: | 1 July 1950 as USNS Fentress (T-AK-180) |
| Out of service: | 15 October 1973 |
| Struck: | 5 June 1946 |
| Identification: | Hull symbol:AK-180 |
| Fate: | 4 July 1982, to the Government of the Marshall Islands |
| Status: | fate unknown |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Class & type: | Alamosa-class cargo ship |
| Type: | C1-M-AV1 |
| Displacement: |
|
| Length: | 388 ft 8 in (118.47 m) |
| Beam: | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Draft: | 21 ft 1 in (6.43 m) |
| Installed power: | 1,750 shp (1,300 kW) |
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: | 11.5 kn (13.2 mph; 21.3 km/h) |
| Capacity: | 3,945 t (3,883 long tons) DWT |
| Complement: |
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| Armament: |
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USS Fentress (AK-180) – later known as USNS Fentress (T-AK-180) -- was an Alamosa-class cargo ship acquired by the U.S. Navy during the final months of World War II. In 1950, she was reactivated and placed into service with the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS Fentress. She was ultimately transferred to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
Contents
Built in Richmond, California
Fentress (AK-180) was launched on 10 March 1945 by Kaiser Cargo, Inc., Richmond, California; sponsored by Mrs. G. M. Ellis; and commissioned 4 May 1945, Lieutenant G. T. Malley, USNR, in command.
After shakedown and availability, Fentress engaged in local operations until 27 June 1945 when she departed San Francisco, California, to transport cargo among the Philippine Islands. On 20 February 1946 she was placed out of commission and returned to the U.S. Maritime Commission.
Service with the MSTS
After the organization of the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), Fentress was reacquired on 1 July 1950 for service under MSTS cognizance and continued in that capacity until decommissioned at an unknown date.
Struck and disposed of
Fentress was struck from the Navy List on 15 October 1973 and transferred to the Government of the Trust Territory in the Pacific Ocean.
This ship was apparently still docked on the Hawaiian Islands in 1982, as it was seen on the Magnum P.I. episode, "I do".
Her ultimate fate is not known.
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AK-180 Fentress
