.gif)
USS Gratia (AKS-11)
Encyclopedia
USS Gratia (AKS-11) was an Acubens-class general stores issue ship
commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II
. She was responsible for delivering and disbursing goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.
Gratia (AKS-11) was launched under Maritime Commission contract by Delta Shipbuilding Co., New Orleans, Louisiana
, 21 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. John W. Boatwright; acquired by the Navy 20 November 1944; and commissioned the same day, Lt. Charles B. Gray in command.
, where she decommissioned 3 November to undergo conversion. She recommissioned 5 May 1945, Lt. Comdr. William Jonelli in command, and sailed for the Pacific Ocean
as part of Service Squadron 8.
Operating out of Manila
, Gratia carried stores and passengers to ports in the Philippines
, the Admiralties, and New Guinea
. In January 1946, she departed Manila the final time, reaching San Francisco, California
, 4 April via various Japanese ports and Pearl Harbor
.
. Her name was struck from the Navy Register 17 July 1947, and she was transferred to the Maritime Commission. Gratia was part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet
, berthed in Suisun Bay, California, until the fall of 1964 when she was scrapped.
General stores issue ship
General stores issue ship is a type of ship used by the United States Navy during World War II and for some time afterwards.The task of the general stores issue ship was to sail into non-combat, or rear, areas and disburse general stores, such as canned goods, toilet paper, office supplies, etc.,...
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...
. She was responsible for delivering and disbursing goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.
Gratia (AKS-11) was launched under Maritime Commission contract by Delta Shipbuilding Co., New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, 21 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. John W. Boatwright; acquired by the Navy 20 November 1944; and commissioned the same day, Lt. Charles B. Gray in command.
World War II service
She remained in commission only long enough to sail to Galveston, TexasGalveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
, where she decommissioned 3 November to undergo conversion. She recommissioned 5 May 1945, Lt. Comdr. William Jonelli in command, and sailed for the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
as part of Service Squadron 8.
Operating out of Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Gratia carried stores and passengers to ports in 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...
, the Admiralties, and New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. In January 1946, she departed Manila the final time, reaching San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, 4 April via various Japanese ports and Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
.
Post-war decommissioning
After returning to Pearl Harbor 30 May, Gratia decommissioned there 1 July 1946, and was towed to San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. Her name was struck from the Navy Register 17 July 1947, and she was transferred to the Maritime Commission. Gratia was part of 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...
, berthed in Suisun Bay, California, until the fall of 1964 when she was scrapped.