USS Tarazed (AF-13)

USS "Tarazed" (AF-13) was a "Mizar"-class stores ship acquired by the U.S. Navy for use in World War II. She had the task of supplying troops and ships in the field with the food and supplies necessary to keep them on the move.

"Tarazed" (AF-13) was built in 1932 as SS "Chiriqui" at Newport News, Virginia, by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.; was acquired by the Navy on 4 June 1941 from the United Fruit Co. through the Maritime Commission on a bare-boat basis; was converted for Navy use by Brewer's Drydock Co., Staten Island, New York; and was commissioned on 14 June 1941, Comdr. J. M. Connally in command.

Neutrality period operations

"Tarazed" loaded supplies and headed for the coast of North Carolina to provision ships of the Neutrality Patrol. After returning to New York, she got underway late in August for a voyage to Iceland to resupply American and British naval units.

World War II North Atlantic operations

When Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into World War II, the store ship was at Halifax preparing to join another convoy bound for Iceland. Upon completion of the voyage, she proceeded to Baltimore, Maryland, for an extensive overhaul before making resupply runs to Newfoundland, Iceland, and Bermuda. In July 1942, "Tarazed" arrived at Boston, Massachusetts, from Nova Scotia and took on a cargo for ports in Puerto Rico, Trinidad, and Panama. On 21 September, she returned to Baltimore laden with sugar which was urgently needed in the United States. The ship continued supply runs from Baltimore or Norfolk, Virginia, to the Caribbean until mid-1943.

Supporting the invasion of North Africa

On 8 June 1943, "Tarazed" joined Task Force 65 at Norfolk; headed for North Africa; and arrived at Mers el Kebir, Algeria, on the 22d. She partially unloaded there; and, on the 30th, she steamed to Oran to help provision that port. On 4 July, "Tarazed" headed for the United States in convoy GUS-9. She arrived at Norfolk on 23 July, was replenished, and set course for Bermuda. After supplying ports there and at Cuba, she returned to the United States, arriving at Bayonne, New Jersey, on 13 August. Eight days later, "Tarazed" weighed anchor for North Africa, arriving at Mers el Kebir on 2 September. After calling at Bizerte and Algiers, she returned to the United States in convoy GUS-15 and arrived at Norfolk on 4 October. Late that month, she joined convoy UGS-22 to take war materiel to Oran, Bizerte, and Palermo. Then, with the exception of a voyage to the Mediterranean in April, she transported provisions to the Caribbean during the first five months of 1944.

Supporting the invasion of southern France

In June, "Tarazed" delivered provisions to ships in the ports of Plymouth, Swansea, and the Isle of Portland, England, and at Belfast, Northern Ireland. She steamed from Norfolk on 24 August and arrived at Oran on 4 September to supply ships supporting the invasion of southern France. She continued making logistics runs to the Mediterranean into April 1945 and turned to supplying bases and ports in the Caribbean until 15 December 1945 when she was ordered to report to the 8th Naval District for subsequent disposal.

Post-war decommissioning

"Tarazed" was decommissioned on 4 January 1946, was returned to her owner through the War Shipping Administration at New Orleans, Louisiana, the same day, and was struck from the Navy list on 21 January 1946. She served the United Fruit Co. as SS "Chiriqui" until 1958. She was then sold to Union-Partenreederei T/S of Bremen, Germany, and was renamed SS "Blexen".

Military honors and awards

"Tarazed" received one battle star for World War II

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/09/06/0613.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AF-13 Tarazed]