USNS Sagitta (T-AK-87)

USNS Sagitta (T-AK-87) was an "Enceladus"-class cargo ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering goods and equipment to locations in the war zone. After commissioning, she was transferred to the U.S. Army as "USAT Marvin Lyle Thomas".

Building a ship for the Army

"Sagitta" (AK-87) was laid down as MC hull 650 on 24 January 1944 by Penn-Jersey Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, New Jersey; launched on 9 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Frank L. Hare; and transferred to the U.S. Army on 18 July 1944.

U.S. Army service

She was acquired by the U.S. Army, 18 July 1944, renamed "USAT Marvin Lyle Thomas", used as a Port Rehabilitation Vessel.

MSTS service

Transferred from the Army to the Navy under assignment to the Military Sea Transportation Service on 26 April 1952, "Sagitta" operated as a summer DEW line resupply ship out of New York City from 1952 through 1959. She steamed annually to St. Johns and Argentia, Newfoundland; and to Goose Bay, Labrador. She also voyaged to Cartwright, Labrador, annually except in 1954; to Makkovick, Labrador, annually from 1957 through 1959; to Resolution Island, Northwest Territories, annually except in 1952 and 1957; and to Narsarsauk, Greenland, in June 1954 and 1957.

Winters in warmer waters

During the winters, she carried cargo to Bermuda; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Cristobal, Panama Canal Zone, annually from 1953 through 1955; and to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 1956. Occasionally sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, she visited Piraeus, Greece, from 9 to 12 February 1957, and Port Lyautey, Morocco, from 2 to 6 February 1958.

Other service

Transferred to the Maritime Administration on 23 February 1960, she remained in the National Defense Reserve Fleet until 25 April 1966 when she was transferred to the Army for duty, first at Fort Eustis, Virginia; and then, from 1968 into 1974, at Curtis Bay, Maryland, where she provided stevedore training. Final Disposition: scrapped in 1976.

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/09/13/130087.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - USAT Marvin Lyle Thomas - USNS Sagitta T-AK-87]