- USS Sirius (AK-15)
The USS Sirius (AK-15), ex-
SS Saluda , was built in1918 and1919 by theAmerican International Shipbuilding Corp.,Hog Island, Pennsylvania . She was acquired from theWar Shipping Board on10 December 1921 and commissioned on20 January 1922 .Between the Wars Operations
USS Sirius was assigned to the
Naval Transportation Service carrying cargo and passengers in support of fleet units and bases. For many years, USS Sirius operated along the coasts of theUnited States . She operated on the east coast as far north asBoston, Massachusetts , and reached many ports in theCaribbean . Upon moving to the west coast, she operated fromSan Diego, California , toBremerton, Washington . During1929 ,1930 , and1932 , USS Sirius made numerous trips to and fromAlaska with sealskins as her principalcargo . In1934 , she was attached to theAleutian Island SurveyExpedition and made cruises to many of the islands ofAlaska , charting their waters as she went. USS Sirius continued her resupply operations to variousUnited States naval bases and fleets until1937 when she began making runs toMidway Island . Her scope of operations was increased in1941 to include voyages toWake Island . She was inSan Francisco, California , when war with Japan was begun, and she was fitted out with guns.World War II Pacific Theatre Operations
In early
1942 , USS Sirius was attached to theU.S. Pacific Fleet and leftSan Pedro, California , on1 March , with aconvoy forPearl Harbor . From1942 until1944 , she maintained a schedule of operating fromPearl Harbor toJohnston Island ,Midway Island ,San Francisco, California ,Christmas Island ,Canton Island , andBaker Island . The most noteworthy event of this period was when she transported 30 Japanese Imperial Navy prisoners fromGuam toPearl Harbor in June1942 . In July1944 , theMarshall Islands were added to her list of resupply ports as well asGuam andSaipan .Stateside Overhaul
USS Sirius returned to
San Francisco, California , on20 November 1944 for an overhaul and departed that port again on12 February 1945 forPearl Harbor . She continued her previous port calls until September when she was routed toSeeadler Harbor ,Manus Island ,Admiralty Islands , for the first time. She departed from there forSan Pedro Bay,Leyte Gulf ,Philippine Islands . The cargo ship operated in thePhilippine Islands from29 September until2 December when she sailed forSan Francisco, California , arriving there on26 December 1945.End of War Deactivation
On
5 January 1946 , USS Sirius began preparing for decommissioning by removing her cargo, guns, etc.; and, on27 March , she moved to the Pacific Bridge Company Dock inOakland, California . USS Sirius decommissioned on26 April 1946 ; was struck from theNavy list on5 June ; transferred to theMaritime Commission on1 July 1946 ; and sold to the Kaiser Co., on29 September 1947 , for scrap.References
See also
*
List of United States Navy ships
*World War II External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/13/130015.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AK-15 Sirius]
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