- USS Taganak (AG-45)
USS "Taganak" (AG-45) – also known as USS "Lake Shore" (ID-1792) – was a commercial
cargo ship acquired by theU.S. Navy duringWorld War I as "Lake Shore". She was again reacquired duringWorld War II as "Taganak". During both wars she carried a variety of cargo for the Navy, including coal, ammunition, and general cargo. She survived both wars and was returned to civilian service after each war.Constructed in Ohio
"Taganak" (AG-45) was built in 1917 as "War Shell" at
Toledo, Ohio , by the Toledo Shipbuilding Company. Acquired by theUnited States Shipping Board and delivered to the United States Navy for use as a mine carrier, the ship was renamed "Lake Shore", commissioned atPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania , on11 January 1918 , and assigned to theNaval Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS).World War I service as "Lake Shore"
"Lake Shore" was refitted at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, armed with one 5-inch gun and one six-pounder, manned with a complement of 64, and got underway for
Hampton Roads, Virginia , on7 February . The ship loaded a cargo of coal there and sailed forBoston, Massachusetts , arriving on the 17th. After discharging her cargo, "Lake Shore" returned toNorfolk, Virginia , on the 27th. She then loaded coal and mines for the North Sea barrage, sailed forScotland on7 March , and arrived atLamlash on the 29th.The steamer returned to
Norfolk, Virginia , on5 May and sailed on the 18th for Boston where she received an extensive overhaul. On17 June , she proceeded, viaNew York City , to Norfolk where she loaded mines and general cargo. Herconvoy sailed on27 June forScotland and reached Corpach on15 July . "Lake Shore" returned to Norfolk on18 August . She made two more trips fromHampton Roads toEurope -- one back to theBritish Isles and one toFrance -- before returning home on6 February 1919 . She was decommissioned on5 March 1919 and returned to the Shipping Board the next day.Post-war decommissioning
In 1923, "Lake Shore" was sold to the E. K. Wood Lumber Company, Inc., of
San Francisco, California , and renamed "Olympic". The steamer was operated by the lumber company along the Pacific coast until it was withdrawn from service in 1940.World War II service as "Taganak"
Early in
World War II , to relieve its acute shortage of cargo ships, the Navy reacquired "Olympic" on23 May 1942 . Following repairs, alterations, and refitting atMare Island , the ship was commissioned as "Taganak" (AG-45) on23 July 1942 , Lt. Comdr. 0. H. Pitts,USNR , in command. "Taganak", formally purchased on28 September 1942 , sailed for the South Pacific, viaPearl Harbor , in late October. Upon her arrival atNoumea ,New Caledonia , she was sent toNew Zealand to return with a load of lumber. The ship then shuttled cargo between New Zealand,New Caledonia ,New Hebrides , and theSolomon Islands for the next year.Attacked by a Japanese submarine
On
19 August 1943 , "Taganak" was a few hours out ofNoumea en route toEspiritu Santo with a cargo of ammunition when she was attacked by a Japanesesubmarine . HMNZS "Tui" attacked the enemy withdepth charge s and forced it to the surface. Americandive bomber s of Scouting Squadron VS-57 came to the assistance of the New Zealand corvette and aided in the kill of the Japanese submarine 1-17. Rescue efforts succeeded in saving a few survivors.On
26 October , "Taganak" stood out ofTutuila ,Samoa , and headed for the United States laden with copra. The ship arrived atSan Pedro, California , on19 November ; discharged her cargo, and moved toOakland, California , for an overhaul. On11 February 1944 , "Taganak" sailed for the South Pacific to resume shuttling inter-island cargo. She put intoAuckland ,New Zealand , on6 February 1945 for repairs and then plied the waters of the SouthPacific Ocean carrying cargo until after hostilities with Japan ended. The old steamer departedTutuila on30 September and headed for the United States.Post-war decommissioning
She arrived at San Francisco on
26 October 1945 ; was decommissioned atVallejo, California , on25 March 1946 ; was struck from theNavy list on12 April ; and was sold on15 November 1946 to the Pillsbury and Martignoni Co., San Francisco, for scrap.See also
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United States Navy
*World War II References
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* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/49/49045.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - Lake Shore (ID 1792) - AG-45 Taganak]
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