USS Chimon (AG-150)

USS "Chimon" (AG-150/AKS-31) – also known as USS "LST-1102" -- was an sclass|LST-511|tank landing ship launched by the U.S. Navy during the final months of World War II. Chimon served as a transport and stores ship for the U.S. 7th Fleet, and was decommissioned after service in the Korean War.

Constructed in Evansville, Indiana

"Chimon" was launched as "LST-1102" 10 January 1945 by Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Works, Evansville, Indiana; sponsored by Mrs. O. Snyder; and commissioned 29 January 1945, Lieutenant L. J. Patterson, USNR, in command.

World War II-related service

Sailing from Gulfport, Mississippi, 7 March 1945, "LST-1102" arrived at Pearl Harbor 4 April to load cargo for delivery to bases at Kwajalein, Eniwetok, and Ulithi.

This duty completed, she joined a convoy at Leyte 21 June and arrived at Okinawa 5 days later to complete offloading her cargo. After transporting Marines from Naha to Hagushi, she sailed from Okinawa 10 July and returned to Pearl Harbor 5 August. At the close of the war, she loaded men and equipment for the occupation of Japan, and on 27 September arrived at Wakayama, Japan. "LST-1102" continued to support the occupation of Japan until 4 November 1945. She called at Guam to embark homeward bound servicemen and arrived back at Pearl Harbor 1 December to undergo conversion to a mobile spare parts ship.

Converted into a spare parts ship

Her conversion completed, "LST-1102" got underway from Pearl Harbor 4 April 1946 to return to Far Eastern duty at Shanghai, and Tsingtao, China until 8 October 1947. Arriving at San Pedro, California, 7 November, she shifted to San Diego, California, a week later and was placed out of commission in reserve there 21 November 1947.

She was reclassified "AG-150", 27 January 1949 and assigned the name "Chimon" on 1 February 1949.

Korean War service

Recommissioned 27 December 1950 under the command of Lieutenant G. W. Hessemer, USNR, Chimon was assigned to Service Squadron 3 and sailed for the Far East on 2 May 1951. Arriving at Sasebo, Japan, 13 June, she alternated operations from that port and Yokosuka in support of the Korean War.

Reclassified "AKS-31" on 18 August 1951, she remained in the Far East serving the 7th Fleet in its watchful operations to keep peace until 20 November 1957, occasionally visiting Hong Kong and the Philippines.

Post-war decommissioning

Arriving at San Francisco, California, 22 December, "Chimon" was placed in commission in reserve 22 January 1958 and out of commission in reserve 22 April 1958. "Chimon" was sold, and removed from naval custody on 2 November 1959.

Honors and awards

"Chimon" received one battle star (as "LST-1102") for World War II service.

See also

* United States Navy
* World War II

References

*
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/161102.htm NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive - LST-1102 - AG-150 / AKS-31 Chimon]