- USS Belle Isle (AG-73)
USS "Belle Isle" (AG-73/AKS-21) was a "Basilan"-class
miscellaneous auxiliary acquired by theU.S. Navy duringWorld War II . "Belle Isle" was configured as a repair ship and used inPacific Ocean operations. At war’s end she was converted to astores ship before being finally decommissioned.Constructed in Maine
"Belle Isle" (AG 73) was laid down on
19 September 1944 atSouth Portland, Maine , by theNew England Shipbuilding Corporation under aU.S. Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 3070); launched on3 November 1944 ; sponsored by Miss Sally Goding; transferred to the Navy on a loan basis on15 November 1944 ; commissioned that same day for the voyage to the conversion yard, Lt. Comdr. James H. Graves, Jr.,USNR , in command; decommissioned on18 November 1944 atHoboken, New Jersey , for conversion to an electronics repair ship by theBethlehem Steel Corporation ; and recommissioned on13 July 1945 .World War II-related service
"Belle Isle" was assigned to
Service Division (ServDiv) 104,Service Squadron (ServRon) 10,U.S. Pacific Fleet , and, by7 October , was atOkinawa in theRyukyu Islands making repairs for ships of the Pacific Fleet.She served at Okinawa until heading for Japan early in December. The ship arrived at
Wakayama on15 December and began repair duties for the occupation forces. That assignment lasted until she departed Japan on31 March 1946 and headed back to theUnited States .Post-war decommissioning
After making port at
San Francisco, California , the electronics repair ship shifted south toSan Diego, California , to prepare for inactivation. She was decommissioned on30 August 1946 and berthed with the San Diego Group,Pacific Reserve Fleet .Temporary reactivation
On
18 August 1951 , while still in reserve, "Belle Isle" was reclassified a stores issue ship and redesignated "AKS-211".Final decommissioning
She remained in reserve until 1960. On
1 April 1960 , her name was struck from theNaval Vessel Register . Her disposal was approved on3 August 1960 , and she was apparently sunk as a target later that year.See also
*
United States Navy
*World War II References
*
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/49/49073.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AG-73 / AKS-21 Belle Isle]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.