USS Roamer (AF-19)

USS "Roamer" (AF-19) was an sclass|Bridge|cargo ship acquired by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering goods and equipment to ships and stations in the war zone.

The second ship to be named "Roamer" by the Navy, "AF-19" was built in 1935 as M/V "Roamer" by the Maskinbygger Machine & Iron Works, Elsinore, Denmark; was taken over by the United States after the fall of Denmark; operated by the War Shipping Administration in the Caribbean and South Pacific; acquired by the Navy from the WSA under bareboat charter 22 July 1942; and commissioned at Auckland, New Zealand, 30 August 1942, Comdr. Maximillian B. De Leshe in command.

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

The storeship arrived at New Caledonia on 15 September, returned to Auckland, New Zealand, 8 October, and reached Espiritu Santo 27 December. She continued runs from Auckland to the New Hebrides, and to Guadalcanal, until April 1944. She then stopped at Pago Pago, Tongatapu, Funafuti, Wallis, Tutuila, and Efate. Returning to Nouméa on 2 May, she touched at Suva, Funafuti, Tutuila, and Tongatapu before returning to Auckland. She then proceeded north again to Tutuila, Tongatapu, and Guadalcanal. Returning to Auckland on 2 November, she continued to make runs north from New Zealand for the rest of the war. On 5 September 1945, she departed Auckland for Pearl Harbor and San Francisco.

End-of-war operations

Returning to the South Pacific in February 1946, "Roamer" touched at Tutuila, Nouméa, Guadalcanal, and Guam, then proceeded on to Tokyo arriving 16 April. Departing Japan 6 days later, Roamer arrived at San Francisco, California, on 7 May 1946, decommissioned and was redelivered to WSA on 14 June 1946 and was struck from the Navy List on 3 July 1946. Her final fate is unknown.

Military awards and honors

"Roamer's" crew members were authorized the following medals:
* American Campaign Medal
* Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
* World War II Victory Medal

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* World War I

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/06/0619.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AF-19 Roamer]