USS Nicollet (AVS-6)

USS Nicollet (AK-199/AG-93/AVS-6) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship acquired by the U.S. 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 Nicollet (AVS-6), probably photographed underway in San Francisco Bay, California, in 1945.
History
United States
Name: Nicollet
Namesake: Nicollet County, Minnesota
Ordered: as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2153[1]
Builder: Globe Shipbuilding Company, Superior, Wisconsin
Yard number: 120[1]
Laid down: 9 February 1944
Launched: 31 July 1944
Sponsored by: Mrs. F. C. Hanson
Commissioned: 27 April 1945
Decommissioned: 17 June 1946
Reclassified:
  • 12 March 1945, Miscellaneous Auxiliary
  • 25 May 1945, Aviation Stores Issue Ship
Refit: prior to 12 March 1945, converted to Gwinnett-class Aviation Stores Issue Ship
Stricken: 3 July 1946
Identification:
Fate: Sold to France, 24 July 1947
History
Republic of France
Name: Djerada
Namesake: City of Djerada
Acquired: 24 July 1947
Fate: reflagged to Morocco, 1959
History
Morocco
Name: Djerada
Acquired: 1959
Fate: Scrapped in Spain, February 1970
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

Nicollet was laid down 9 February 1944, for the US Maritime Commission, MC hull 2153, by Globe Shipbuilding Corporation; named Nicollet 25 February 1944; launched 31 July 1944, as AK-199; sponsored by Mrs. F. C. Hanson; converted for Navy use by Samuelson Shipyard, Beaumont, Texas, and Brown Shipyard, Houston, Texas; redesignated AG–93 on 12 March 1945; and commissioned 27 April Lieutenant F. M. Bible in command.[3]

Service history

After shakedown in the Gulf of Mexico Nicollet was reclassified AVS–6 effective 25 May 1945. Steaming to the Pacific Ocean, she arrived in the forward area and was assigned to Commander, Air Forces, Subordinate Command Forward, Pacific Fleet. She operated out of Apra Harbor, Guam.[3]

Nicollet followed closely behind the invasion forces to supply newly acquired airstrips and aviation activities with spare parts and other needs. She salvaged goods, returned materials for repair and eventual re-use, and supplied aircraft carriers at sea.[3]

Post-War and decommission

At the end of hostilities she continued to support naval and marine air groups, both carrier and land-based. In April 1946 she returned to the U.S. West Coast via Pearl Harbor. Following a cruise to the Gulf of Mexico, she sailed again to the western Pacific Ocean.[3]

Returning to San Francisco, California, she decommissioned and was returned to the War Shipping Administration 17 June. She was struck from the Navy Register.[3]

Merchant service

Nicollet was sold to the Republic of France on 24 July 1947. She was reflagged for France and renamed Djerada.[4] In 1959 she was transferred to Morocco and reflagged.[2] She was eventually scrapped in 1970[1]

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

    Bibliography

    Online resources

    • "Nicollet". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 17 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 21 November 2016.
    • "Nicollet (AG-93/AVS-6)". Navsource.org. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
    • "Nicollet (AK-199/AVS-6)". United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 21 November 2016.


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