USS Cuttyhunk Island (AG-75)
USS Cuttyhunk Island (AG-75/AKS-23) was a Belle Isle-class miscellaneous auxiliary acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Cuttyhunk Island was built as the war was coming to an end, and was used as a transport. She was later classified as a stores ship and eventually scrapped.
| History | |
|---|---|
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| Name: | Cuttyhunk Island |
| Namesake: | An island off the coast of Massachusetts |
| Builder: | New England Shipbuilding Corporation, South Portland, Maine |
| Laid down: | 16 October 1944 as type (EC2-S-C1) hull, (MCE hull 3088) |
| Launched: | 26 November 1944 |
| Sponsored by: | Mrs. M. M. Dayo |
| Acquired: | by the Navy, 7 December 1944 |
| Commissioned: | 1 September 1945 as USS Cuttyhunk Island (AG-75) |
| Decommissioned: | 3 May 1946, at Orange, Texas |
| Reclassified: | AKS-23, 18 August 1951 |
| Refit: | Eureka Shipbuilding Corporation, Newburg, New York |
| Stricken: | date unknown |
| Fate: | scrapped 1960 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Belle Isle-class miscellaneous auxiliary |
| Displacement: | 5,371 tons |
| Tons burthen: | 14,200 tons |
| Length: | 442' |
| Beam: | 57' |
| Draft: | 23' |
| Propulsion: | reciprocating steam engine, single shaft, 1,950hp |
| Speed: | 11.5 knots |
| Complement: | 891 officers and enlisted |
| Armament: | four 40 mm single gun mounts |
Constructed at Portland, Maine
Cuttyhunk Island (AG-75) was launched 26 November 1944 by New England Shipbuilding Corporation, South Portland, Maine, under a U.S. Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. M. M. Dayo.
World War II-related service
Cuttyhunk Island was acquired by the Navy 7 December 1944; outfitted at Eureka Shipbuilding Corp., Newburg, New York; and commissioned 1 September 1945, Lieutenant Commander N. G. Hole-man, USNR, in command.
Cuttyhunk Island departed Norfolk, Virginia, 24 November 1945 to carry troops from Bermuda to Boston, Massachusetts.
Post-war decommissioning
She reported to Orange, Texas, 31 January 1946, and there was placed out of commission in reserve 3 May 1946. She was reclassified General Stores Issue Ship AKS-23, 18 August 1951.
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 - AG-75 / AKS-23 Cuttyhunk Island