- USS Elk (IX-115)
USS "Elk" (IX-115), an "Armadillo"-class tanker designated an
unclassified miscellaneous vessel , was the second ship of theUnited States Navy to be named for theelk , a largedeer of the northern forests ofEurope ,Asia , andNorth America . Her keel was laid down byCalifornia Shipbuilding Corporation , inWilmington, California , as "William Winter" for the Maritime Commission. She was launched on6 November 1943 sponsored by Mrs. H. H. Hall, delivered direct to the Navy26 November 1943 , and commissioned the same day with Lieutenant W. T. Stannard, USNR, in command."Elk" sailed from
San Pedro, California , on12 January 1944 forKwajalein where she served from19 February to19 April as station tanker to fuel ships in the assault and occupation of theMarshall Islands . Mooring toMajuro , she fueled combatant ships at this base until June, then carried petroleum products betweenMajuro ,Kwajalein , andEniwetok to support the Marianas operation. From26 June she was based again on Majuro, providing fuel for destroyers of the Security Patrol who guarded the waters around the bypassed, enemy-held islands ofWotje ,Mili , andJaluit .After a fueling assignment at Tarawa in September
1944 , "Elk" reported to the advance fleet base atUlithi on15 October and there began the vital task of fueling the ships of the fast-moving Third Fleet and Fifth Fleet for their far-ranging air and surface strikes against Japanese bases. In April1945 she arrived atOkinawa to fuel thedestroyer s of theradar picket line. When hostilities ceased, "Elk" was atLeyte preparing to sail with a convoy toOkinawa . In September she arrived at Sasebo,Japan , to serve in the occupation. "Elk" returned to theUnited States in early1946 , was decommissioned atNorfolk, Virginia , on17 May 1946 , and reverted to the Maritime Commission20 May 1946 ."Elk" received one
battle star forWorld War II service.References
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