USS Dorchester (APB-46)

USS "Dorchester" (APB-46), a "Benewah"-class barracks ship, was the second ship of the United States Navy named for Dorchester County, Maryland, and Dorchester County, South Carolina. Her hull classification symbol was initially to be LST-1112. She was first redesignated a General Stores Issue Ship (AKS-17) on 8 December 1944, then as a Self-propelled Barracks Ship (APB-46). Her keel was laid down by Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company of Evansville, Indiana. She was launched on 12 April 1945 sponsored by Mrs. J.A. Walsh, and commissioned on 15 June 1945, Lieutenant W.T. Roberts, Jr., USNR, in command.

Sailing from New Orleans 5 August 1945, Dorchester embarked troops at Pearl Harbor, then sailed to deliver cargo and receive more passengers at Eniwetok and Guam as she made her passage to Japan. On 15 October she reported for service as barracks ship at Wakayama and at Kobe from 11 February 1946 to 4 March. Dorchester then sailed for San Francisco, California, arriving 9 April. She was placed out of commission in reserve at Vancouver, Washington on 16 October 1946. Dorchester remained in the reserve fleet until she was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 June 1973. She was sold on 1 August 1974 for conversion to commercial service. She was converted to a fish processing vessel under the name Pacific Pride. By 2002, she was owned by Trident Seafoods of Seattle, Wa and was operating under the name Alaska Packer. She is still on their fleet listing as of February 2008.

ee also

*USS "Dorchester" for other ships of the same name.
*USAT "Dorchester" for the United States Army Transport famous for the Four Chaplains.
* [http://www.tridentseafoods.com/company/vessels.php Trident Seafoods Vessel Listing]