USS Gemini (AP-75)

USS "Gemini" (AG-38/AK-52/AP-75) was a sclass|Stratford|transport commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering troops and equipment to locations in the war zone.

"Gemini" (AP-75) a lake-type freighter, was built as SS "Coperas" by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Subsequently renamed "Aetna" and then "Saginaw" around 1937 while in merchant service, she was acquired by the Navy 27 September 1941. Originally designated USS "Matinicus" (AG-38), she was reclassified AK-52 7 January 1942 while undergoing conversion at Bethlehem Steel Company, Boston, Massachusetts. Commissioned as USS "Matinicus" (AK-52) 4 August 1942, Lt. Comdr. W. L. Cain in command, she was redesignated and renamed USS "Gemini" (AP-75) 15 August 1942.

World War II service

"Gemini" sailed 16 August for New York to load troops and sortied 24 October with convoy SC-107 bound for Ireland and United Kingdom ports.

This, her first voyage, was also the most difficult, for the convoy ran into German submarine wolfpacks in mid-Atlantic and from 1 to 4 November no less than fifteen ships, nearly half the convoy, were torpedoed and sunk in a running battle. "Gemini" arrived safely at Reykjavík, Iceland, and spent the next 10 months as a transport for troops and cargo between Icelandic ports.

The ship put in at Boston 3 September 1943 for overhaul, and then embarked troops at New York, departing 9 October bound for the west coast via Panama. After touching at San Pedro, California, for repairs, she reached Honolulu 11 December and commenced duty as an inter-island transport in Hawaiian waters.

In July 1944 "Gemini" shifted her operations to the Marshalls and Gilberts, carrying men and cargo to and from Kwajalein, Apamama, Tarawa, Makin, Majuro, Roi Namur, and Eniwetok. She continued these essential transport duties in support of the allied advance until 1 June 1945 when she got underway for San Francisco, California, via Pearl Harbor. "Gemini" remained in drydock at San Francisco until the end of the war.

After hostilities

"Gemini" sailed 28 August 1945 for the Pacific Ocean again, resuming her earlier transport runs in the Marshalls-Gilberts area and continuing the assignments until her return to San Francisco. She decommissioned at Oakland, California, 8 April 1946 and was turned over to the Maritime Commission 10 September 1946. Subsequently sold to Oly Fenno S.S. Co. Lid., she operated under Finnish papers as Ramsdal out of Abo, Finland.

Military awards and honors

Her crew was eligible for the following medals:
* American Campaign Medal
* Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal
* Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
* World War II Victory Medal
* Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/22/22075.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AG-38 / AK-52 Matinicus / AP-75 Gemini]