USS Vela (AK-89)

USS Vela (AK-89) 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 Joe C. Specker".

Building a ship for the Army

"Vela" (AK-89) was originally scheduled for construction under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 652) and was assigned the name "MV Charles A. Ranlett". However, her construction was transferred to the supervision of the Navy on 1 January 1943. She was laid down as "Vela" (AK-89) on 5 June 1944 at Camden, New Jersey, by the Penn-Jersey Shipbuilding Corp.; launched on 15 January 1945; and sponsored by Mrs. Elbert Bradford Ferguson.

Army service as USAT Joe C. Specker

She was transferred to the U.S. Army on 17 January 1945. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 8 February 1945. She served as a Port Rehabilitation vessel and renamed "USAT Joe C. Specker".

MSTS service as USNS Vela (T-AK-89)

On 11 June 1952, Vela was returned to the Navy and transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service. She was placed in service at Baltimore, Maryland, the following day and was reinstated on the Navy list on 22 August. She operated out of New York through 1958, ranging from Canadian coastal waters to the Caribbean on supply missions.

Final decommissioning

Later transferred to the Maritime Administration and placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, she was berthed in the Hudson River until she was sold on 23 November 1970 to Hierros Ardes, S.A., Spain, and scrapped.

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/09/13/130089.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - T-AK-89 Vela - USAT Joe C. Specker]