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USS Geoanna (IX-61)
Encyclopedia
Geoanna (IX-61) was an unclassified miscellaneous vessel
that was never commissioned and thus never bore the USS designation. Geoanna, the only ship of the United States Navy
to be given that name, was a steel auxiliary schooner
built in 1934 by Craig Shipbuilding Company in Long Beach, California
. She was acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission on 1 February 1942. She was placed in service 19 February 1942.
Assigned to the 11th Naval District, Geoanna performed miscellaneous duties for Port Director, San Pedro, until turned over to the United States Coast Guard
on a temporary basis 2 July 1943. She served as a Coast Guard operational training ship until being redelivered to the Maritime Commission by the Navy 28 August 1943. Acquired by the U.S. Army 3 September 1943 and designated TP-249.
In late 1943 the Army operated radio communication sailing ships Geoanna and Volador joined the previously operating, Australian registered vessels, Harold and Argosy Lamal in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA). A crew of mixed Army, Navy and Australian civilian personnel operated these predecessors of the CP, or Command Post, ships in the Port Moresby, Woodlark and Laee-Salamau areas.) Geoanna was given the Army designation of TP-249. The ship served as a communications relay during operations of the Western New Guinea campaign
into the Moluccas through landings at Tacloban in the Philippines.
Unclassified miscellaneous vessel
The IX hull classification symbol is used for ships of the United States Navy that do not fit into one of the standard categories...
that was never commissioned and thus never bore the USS designation. Geoanna, the only ship of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
to be given that name, was a steel auxiliary schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
built in 1934 by Craig Shipbuilding Company in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. She was acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission on 1 February 1942. She was placed in service 19 February 1942.
Assigned to the 11th Naval District, Geoanna performed miscellaneous duties for Port Director, San Pedro, until turned over to the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
on a temporary basis 2 July 1943. She served as a Coast Guard operational training ship until being redelivered to the Maritime Commission by the Navy 28 August 1943. Acquired by the U.S. Army 3 September 1943 and designated TP-249.
In late 1943 the Army operated radio communication sailing ships Geoanna and Volador joined the previously operating, Australian registered vessels, Harold and Argosy Lamal in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA). A crew of mixed Army, Navy and Australian civilian personnel operated these predecessors of the CP, or Command Post, ships in the Port Moresby, Woodlark and Laee-Salamau areas.) Geoanna was given the Army designation of TP-249. The ship served as a communications relay during operations of the Western New Guinea campaign
Western New Guinea campaign
The Western New Guinea campaign was a series of actions in the New Guinea campaign of World War II. United States and Australian forces assaulted Japanese bases and positions in the northwest coastal areas of Netherlands New Guinea and adjoining parts of the Australian Territory of New Guinea...
into the Moluccas through landings at Tacloban in the Philippines.
External links
- Photo gallery at Navsource.org
- Army schooner Geoanna (TP-249) image
- Forgotten Fleet Review
