- USS Denebola (AD-12)
The USS "Denebola" (AD-12) was an "Altair"-class
destroyer tender named for "Denebola ", the second brightest star in theconstellation Leo.Originally built in 1919 as SS "
Edgewood " by Skinner and Eddy ofSeattle, Washington , then transferred from the Shipping Board on4 November 1921 and converted for naval use atPhiladelphia Navy Yard . She was commissioned as USS "Denebola" (AD-12) on28 November 1921 with Commander J. F. Daniels in command. "Denebola" served on theAtlantic Coast until21 November 1922 when she clearedPhiladelphia for theMediterranean and duty as tender and repair ship to the U.S. Naval Detachment in Turkish waters. She got underway fromConstantinople 18 November 1923 and called atBizerte andTunis, Tunisia ;Gibraltar ; and theAzores on her way toNew York , where she arrived23 December . "Denebola" joined in winter maneuvers in theCaribbean in 1924. She was placed out of commission in reserve atPhiladelphia on9 August . Except for the period 1931 to 1934 when she served as barracks ship atNorfolk for the crews of battleships undergoing modernization, "Denebola" remained out of commission, at Philadelphia until the was towed toBaltimore, Maryland in 1940. She was commissioned in ordinary there18 January 1940 for overhaul and refit. Again in full commission6 April 1940 Denebola sailed to Norfolk for shakedown exercises inChesapeake Bay , then returned to Baltimore to have flag quarters installed. On14 August she arrived atNorfolk Navy Yard and reported to Commander, Destroyers, Atlantic Squadron, U.S. Fleet, to overhauldestroyer s and serve asflagship . On1 September she sailed for Halifax, Nova Scotia, arriving 5 days later, to prepare and transfer to the British government destroyers involved in the land bases-destroyers exchange. She was visited by theEarl of Athlone ,Governor-General of Canada , on8 September . Returning to Norfolk3 November , she made two similar trips to Halifax in the next month and a half. During early 1941 "Denebola" served at Norfolk, tending destroyers and conducting schools in repair work, cruising toGuantanamo Bay, Cuba , once and toBermuda twice. She arrived inCasco Bay, Maine on12 September to serve as tender to destroyers and other ships there until5 July 1944 . "Denebola" sailed from Norfolk24 July 1944 for duty in theMediterranean , furnishing tender services atCagliari ,Sardinia , during the invasion of southern France. She continued this duty atAjaccio ,Corsica , andSt. Tropez ,France , until23 September when she put in toNaples for tender duty until27 October . She returned to Casco Bay, Maine1 December . Arriving at Boston30 April 1945 for repairs, "Denebola" got underway13 May for thePacific , arriving atEniwetok 30 June . She provided upkeep and repair services to destroyers and other ships until6 November when she sailed forSan Diego , arriving26 November . She aided in preparing ships for decommissioning until14 February 1946 when she got underway forSan Francisco . "Denebola" was decommissioned there10 April 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal1 July 1946 . "Denebola" received one battle star forWorld War II service.References
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