USS Eridanus (AK-92)
Encyclopedia
USS Eridanus (AK-92) was an Crater-class
cargo ship
commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II
, named after the constellation Eridanus
. She was responsible for delivering goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.
Eridanus (AK-92) was launched 9 April 1943 by Permanente Metals
Corp., Richmond, California
, as SS Luther Burbank; sponsored by Mrs. Luther Burbank; acquired by the Navy 22 April 1943; and commissioned 8 May 1943, Lieutenant Commander F. W. Johnson, USCGR, in command.
, New Zealand
, the Philippines
, and the Palaus from 26 June 1943 to 3 February 1946, often making lengthy tows in addition to her cargo operations. Almost constantly at sea, she played her part in the Navy's gigantic task of carrying supplies for its ships and shore bases, as well as for the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Army, half way round the world at the same time as it carried on combat operations. In February 1944 she made a direct contribution to the troops seizing islands in the northern Solomons, bringing cargo and passengers to Bougainville
.
Her last service was a long and difficult towing job, in which she took section of a floating drydock from Eniwetok, sailing 4 February 1946, to Hampton Roads, Virginia, arriving 16 April.
, 15 May 1946, name reverted to SS Luther Burbank. She was then laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
and sold for commercial service in February 1947 to John P. G. Livanos, Athens
, and re-flagged Greece
and renamed . She ran aground at Kunsan, Korea while bound from Baltimore, Maryland, to Inchon with coal, 15 November 1955, and broke in two, 21 November 1955. She was declared a total loss and sold to Far Eastern Marine Transport Co Ltd, Inchon, 18 September 1956. Both parts were refloated, towed to Pusan then to Shimonoseki, Japan]. The aft section arrived 18 September 1956, with the name . The forepart arrived 21 September 1956. Both parts were then towed to Tokyo
where they were rejoined by I.H.I. and lengthened to 449ft, (grt7321) (dwt11000) and she resumed service as SS Silla, flagged South Korean. She was laid up 31 January 1972 at Masan
, South Korea. Final Dispensation: sold to local breakers and resumed trading for short period before being scrapped at Masan, September 1972.
Crater class cargo ship
Crater-class cargo ship is a category of freighter that was constructed for use by the United States Navy during World War II under Maritime Commission EC2-S-C1 type....
cargo ship
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, named after the constellation Eridanus
Eridanus (constellation)
Eridanus is a constellation. It is represented as a river; its name is the Ancient Greek name for the Po River. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations. It is the sixth largest of the modern...
. She was responsible for delivering goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.
Eridanus (AK-92) was launched 9 April 1943 by Permanente Metals
Permanente Metals
Permanente Metals Company managed the Richmond Shipyards, owned by Henry J. Kaiser. These four of the Kaiser Shipyards were known for the construction of Liberty ships.The company was also a major producer of magnesium during World War II...
Corp., Richmond, California
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
, as SS Luther Burbank; sponsored by Mrs. Luther Burbank; acquired by the Navy 22 April 1943; and commissioned 8 May 1943, Lieutenant Commander F. W. Johnson, USCGR, in command.
World War II Pacific Theatre operations
Eridanus carried cargo and passengers between U.S. West Coast ports and bases in the southwest Pacific, the HawaiiansHawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, and the Palaus from 26 June 1943 to 3 February 1946, often making lengthy tows in addition to her cargo operations. Almost constantly at sea, she played her part in the Navy's gigantic task of carrying supplies for its ships and shore bases, as well as for the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Army, half way round the world at the same time as it carried on combat operations. In February 1944 she made a direct contribution to the troops seizing islands in the northern Solomons, bringing cargo and passengers to Bougainville
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 , which includes the adjacent island of Buka and assorted outlying islands...
.
Her last service was a long and difficult towing job, in which she took section of a floating drydock from Eniwetok, sailing 4 February 1946, to Hampton Roads, Virginia, arriving 16 April.
Decommissioning and follow-up
She was decommissioned at Baltimore, Maryland, 8 May 1946, and returned to the returned to War Shipping AdministrationWar Shipping Administration
The War Shipping Administration was a World War II emergency war agency of the US Government, tasked to purchase and operate the civilian shipping tonnage the US needed for fighting the war....
, 15 May 1946, name reverted to SS Luther Burbank. She was then laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
National Defense Reserve Fleet
The National Defense Reserve Fleet consists of "mothballed" ships, mostly merchant vessels, that can be activated within 20 to 120 days to provide shipping for the United States of America during national emergencies, either military or non-military, such as commercial shipping crises.The NDRF is...
and sold for commercial service in February 1947 to John P. G. Livanos, Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, and re-flagged Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and renamed . She ran aground at Kunsan, Korea while bound from Baltimore, Maryland, to Inchon with coal, 15 November 1955, and broke in two, 21 November 1955. She was declared a total loss and sold to Far Eastern Marine Transport Co Ltd, Inchon, 18 September 1956. Both parts were refloated, towed to Pusan then to Shimonoseki, Japan]. The aft section arrived 18 September 1956, with the name . The forepart arrived 21 September 1956. Both parts were then towed to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
where they were rejoined by I.H.I. and lengthened to 449ft, (grt7321) (dwt11000) and she resumed service as SS Silla, flagged South Korean. She was laid up 31 January 1972 at Masan
Masan
Masan was a formerly a municipal city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The city was situated on Masan Bay , approximately 35 km west of Busan. It was known for its textile industry, and it was the site of Hite Brewery's production facilities.During the control of the Mongolians, the...
, South Korea. Final Dispensation: sold to local breakers and resumed trading for short period before being scrapped at Masan, September 1972.
Military awards and honors
Eridanus received one battle star for World War II service. Her crew was eligible for the following medals:- American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
- World War II Victory Medal (with Asia clasp)