Those ships represented five different ship classes. NHF members are being converted to members of the Naval Institute. Click to read Parts I, II, and III of George Stewarts blog series about Casco Bay during WWII. Her very distinguished career came to that many lost their lives in service to their Country. USS Denebola (AD 12) - DESLANT flagship from 1941-1944. The first series of posts will concentrate primarily on the afloat activities that took place during the war years. and on September 1, 1940 she joined company with Destroyer Division Denebola left the convoy under the escort of HMS Cleveland and [1] USS Denebola's task was to carry stores, refrigerated items, and equipment to ships in the fleet, and to remote stations and staging areas. It includes a discussion of the postwar events that occurred in the bay between 1946 and 1947, plus photos of some of the historic ships that visited the bay during the war years. Naval and Coast Guard are on record as having visited the bay during the war years. The above photo shows the area in Casco Bay where the moorings and anchorages were located at it appears today. My friend Donald Gary Kennedy who I am still in touch with remembers you quite well. However, it would play a major role in winning the Battle of the Atlantic. In the early 1990s, he was active in the Denebola's reunion association, and contributed many articles to their newsletter, "Tender Topics.". I have a data base with over 800 ships that visited or served in the bay during WW II. immediately departed for Hamilton, Bermuda arriving on August 16. Finally, in 1967, it was declared surplus and sold. A total of fifty-one Coast Guard vessels appear on the list. This web page is mainly a link to different parts of the story. Idaho, U.S.S. The series of articles/blogs by Capt. For this reason, it was chosen to fill the role of the inner base. WWII German Field Gear & Equipment. On November 6, 1945, the Denebola departed for San Diego, California. I do not remember type of gate in the net. It was one of sixty Eagle Boats built under a plan initiated by Henry Ford in a shipyard on the River Rouge near Detroit, Michigan in 1918-1919. While the VA completed . band music in the City's Chamber of Commerce Building almost every ; sponsored by Miss J. HullNumber.com does not retain your payment information if you make a purchase. Stewart is one of only two World War II-built destroyer escorts still in existence. var d = new Date() She served in World War II and was decommissioned there 10 April 1946. in Eniwetok on June 30, 1945. The bay had a number of disadvantages due to its remote location, the lack of suitable docking facilities, weather, and other concerns. 62'; dr. 28'6"; s. 16 k.; cpl. ,VICTORY SHIPS, shipbuildinghistory.com Merchant ships Victory ships. I made a ONE time contribution several years ago in honor of a family member who died. in her. The Denebola departed for Eniwetok on June 19, 1945 and arrived training of our new destroyers being readied for duty in the Pacific Her displacement was 11,200 tons fully loaded and her top speed was 18.3 knots. About 75 percent of the personnel taking to Korean from the Korean War came by the merchant marine. She was launched by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation on February28, 1944, and was completed on April5, 1944. The ship's United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3 and hull number 105 (1021). The 10,600-ton ship was constructed for the Maritime Commission. After the war, she was owned by a number of merchant shipping companies in Argentina before being scrapped in 1978. ComDesLantF1t also was instrumental in the USS Denebola (AF-56) was a Denebola-class stores ship acquired by the U.S. Navy. Its keel was laid on 2 May 1944. I have a picnic photo of you and me. My grandfather laid mines in Casco bay before or when we got involved in WWII. Also, particularly noteworthy, was the important role played in Wasp, U.S.S. The Maritime Commission turned her over to a civilian contractor, the Alcoa, for operation until the end of World WarII hostilities. The National Archives recently partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to digitize the Vietnam-era log books in support of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. During WWII, she served as a ferryboat based in Portland to and from naval vessels moored or anchored out in the bay. She was built as SS Hibbing Victory as a type VC2-S-AP2 Victory ship built by Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation of Portland, Oregon, under a Maritime Commission. Ranger returned in 1943 prior to supporting the invasion of North Africa. Many ships that served during the war were decommissioned, although a significant number of these would return to service for the Korean War in 1951. I found 7 subs on their list that surrendered in Portsmouth but no details are provided on the circumstances leading up to their surrender. Naval Institute is maintaining and preserving the former Naval Historical Foundation website so readers and former NHF members can still access past issues of Pull Together and other content. Any information would be greatly appreciated. A high point was when the ship delivered the first 19 gun salvo in naval history. Mediterranean Sea area. In August 1943, U-106 was sunk off Spain by British and Australian Sutherland aircraft. Liberty ships were designed to be used just for World War II. Her crew was eligible for the following medals and commendations: Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! She made a port call in Oran, Algeria with Convoy A The Bucknell Victory was a type VC2-S-AP2 victory ship built by Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard 2, of Richmond, California. I am not sure if he was on a destroyer or escort? For other uses, see, World War II Maritime Commission ship designs, United States naval ship classes of World War II, Small United States and United Nations Warships in the Korean War, page 191, By Paul M. Edwards, capture and occupation of Southern Palau Islands, Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service, Korean War Educator, Merchant Marine, Accounts of the Korean War, MARINERS, THE WEBSITE OF THE MARINERS MAILING LIST. The SS Canada Victory was one of 531 Victory ships built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. For 10 years I worked one small trawler (Dragger) named Jackie B., which according to rumor started out as a 45 footer, but was cut in half amidships about 1940, and 10 feet was added to her waist making her a fast (16+ knots) albeit very limber, 55 LOA by 13 w by 7-1/2 draft vessel with a Gray Marine 671 w/ a 2 to 1 reduction. Along with its sister vessel the Penobscot Bay steamer North Haven (YAG 12), Green Island served as a large liberty boats. of a regular destroyer tender. PARTS of HulNumber are UNDER REVISION. Denebola was decommissioned in April 1976 and struck from the Naval Register, 30 April 1976. During the October 1987 Access to naval support activities in Portland was all by watercraft with trips up to approximately three to six miles. Going Ashoreare the collected posts from George Stewart, retired Navy Captain and NHF blog volunteer). The SS Claremont Victory was the 18th of 531 Victory ships built during World War II. The new 10,500-ton Victory ships were designed to replace the earlier Liberty Ships. Unlike Liberty ships, Victory ships were designed to serve the US Navy after the war and to last longer. This is how the story, as told to me, continued. USN. Mississippi, U.S.S. The ship's United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3 and hull number 104 (1020). The sponsor and christening of the SS Pierre Victory on Dec. 6, 1944 was Mrs. Emma S. Jassmann of Pierre, she had five sons who served during World War II,. In addition she participated in NATO exercises in 1957 and 1958 and carried stores to the Caribbean. RADM Jones shifted his flag from the Denebola SS Skagway Victory was a Victory ship built for the United States during World WarII. Victory Ship class vessels were designed to replace the Liberty Ship class. Five are still in existence as museum ships. It was there for repairs. our Denebola shipmates. My uncle was killed in an accident on a ship harbored in this area, sometime between late 1941 and mid 1942. Image: NH-86699-KN: "Sinking of the Reuben James," October 31, 1941. He was responsible for providing ships to the Commanders of the Support Force in Argentia, Eastern and Caribbean Sea Frontiers, and various other task group commanders as required by CINCLANTFLT. DENEBOLA was armed with two 3"/50 caliber twin rapid fire dual purpose mounts. These vessels entered service between 1944 and 1945, too late to have a significant impact on the war. The Kearny, We also spend a lot of time on the beach between Peaks Island and Cushing Island and seem to remember a submarine net between the islands that on occasion was opened by a small boat. UNDERWAY! Copyright 2011-2022 Naval Historical Foundation. Juneau, My father, Milton W. Sherman, served on her in World War Two, including cruises across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Casco Bay offered plenty of space, protected anchorages, and nearby convoy routes. Pam Owens. Please remove me from any and all of your mailing and phone lists. My grandpa was a lobsterman out of Hadlocks Cove down at the end of the street. Carolina to participate in Navy and Marine Corps war games. a shakedown cruise in the Chesapeake Bay. WWII German Flags and Miscellaneous. These ships reverted to the Flush Deck configuration. The Flag Allowance and the Crew of the Denebola became part of the USS Denebola (AF-56) was a Denebola-class stores ship acquired by the U.S. Navy.She was built as SS Hibbing Victory as a type VC2-S-AP2 Victory ship built by Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation of Portland, Oregon, under a Maritime Commission.The Maritime Administration cargo ship was the 113th ship built. For the outer base, the Navy chose Argentia on Placentia Bay, Newfoundland. She returned to duty and served as convoy escort and patrols in support of invasions of Italy and Southern France. If you have questions, please contact the Naval Institute via email at member@usni.org or by phone at 800-233-8764. Read, USN Free shipping for many products! The SS Minot Victory was a Victory ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. She then returned to USS Denebola (AD-12, destroyer tender) 20, 292-294, 296, 323 HMS Dido (37, light cruiser) 310 USS Doran (DD-634) 112 USAT Dorchester (passenger/cargo vessel) 60-62 USS Doyen (AP-2/APA-1) 157, 410 USCGC Duane (WPG-33) 352 S.S. Duchess of Bedford (Canadian troopship) 43 Duguay-Trouin (French light cruiser) 304 HMS Duke of York (17, battleship) 25, 26 Is it available elsewhere? On June 3, 1942, Rear Admiral Oscar C. Badger, USN, relieved I was wondering if you could help me track down some historical info around Casco Bay in the days immediately after V-E day in WWII. In early 1944, Johnson volunteered for submarine duty. He enjoyed your Museum. (AF-56: dp. April 10, 1946. My neighbor has great stories of summers during war time and were working on writing them all down. Also transferred was Lt j.g. USS Denebola (AD-12), was built in 1919 as Edgewood by Skinner and Eddy, Seattle, Washington and commissioned 28 November 1921. 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