USS Adria (AF-30)

USS Adria (AF-30) was an "Adria"-class stores ship acquired by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. Her task was to carry stores, refrigerated items, and equipment to ships in the fleet, and to remote stations and staging areas.

"Adria" was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2194) on 27 December 1943 at Beaumont, Texas, by the Pennsylvania Shipyards, Inc., launched on 16 April 1944, sponsored by Mrs. L. C. Allen; acquired by the Navy on a loan charter basis on 30 November 1944, converted at Galveston, Texas, for service as a store ship, and placed in commission at Galveston on 26 December 1944, Lt. Comdr. Laurence W. Borst in command.

World War II service

After her final fitting out, "Adria" held a shakedown cruise in the Gulf of Mexico off Galveston. She then sailed to Mobile, Alabama, to pick up cargo. The vessel got underway on 19 January 1945 and headed for the Panama Canal Zone. She reached Balboa on the 25th and discharged a portion of her cargo.

Transfer to the Pacific Fleet

The ship then transited the Panama Canal and continued on toward Hawaii. She arrived at Pearl Harbor on 14 February and was subsequently assigned to service Squadron 8, Service Force, Pacific Fleet. On 18 February the store ship departed Hawaii, shaped a course for the west coast of the United States, and reached San Francisco, California, on the last day of the month.

Upon her arrival in San Francisco, the ship took on cargo and mail destined for Allied bases in the forward areas of the Pacific Ocean. She left California on 10 March and sailed directly to Eniwetok, Marshall Islands. She arrived at that atoll on the 31st and unloaded part of her cargo before continuing on to the Marianas. She arrived at Saipan on 5 April, then moved to Guam on the 9th to discharge the remainder of her provisions.

Under attack at Okinawa

In mid-April, "Adria" sailed to Ulithi where she took on more supplies and sailed on 20 April for Kerama Retto. During the rest of April and the first half of May the vessel operated near Okinawa unloading her cargo to support forces in the area, enemy air alerts frequently interrupted her operations. During an air raid on 30 April, one of "Adria's" crew members was fatally wounded by the explosion of a small caliber shell. With her holds empty, the ship left Okinawa on 7 May to sail to Pearl Harbor.

After a pause at Ulithi, "Adria" arrived at Pearl Harbor on the 29th to take on more equipment and supplies and then reversed her course and proceeded back to Okinawa.

End-of-war operations

The store ship made stops at Eniwetok and Ulithi before reaching Okinawa on 4 July. Over the next three weeks, the vessel unloaded her cargo ashore. When this process was completed "Adria" sailed to the Philippine Islands. She paused at Leyte on 27 July; then continued on to Hawaii.

Post-war operations

The ship pulled into Pearl Harbor on 16 August soon after Japanese capitulation ended World War II. She spent almost one month in port for repairs and loading before sailing once again on 11 September. The vessel made a port call at Okinawa on 2 October, then sailed on to Korea. She touched at Jinsen on the 6th to unload her supplies in support of Allied occupation forces. The ship also stopped at Taku and Tsingtao, China, to discharge cargo, before setting a course for the United States. She reached Seattle, Washington, on 16 November.

After voyage repairs at Seattle, "Adria" set sail on 16 December for the western Pacific. She made port calls at Saipan and Guam to unload her cargo, then left the latter island on 5 February 1946 to sail back to the United States. The ship reached Seattle on 28 February, but commenced another shuttle run to the Far East on 19 March. She visited Yokosuka, Japan; Shanghai, China and Hong Kong. The ship got underway from Shanghai on 24 May and shaped a course for the Panama Canal Zone. She transited the Panama Canal on 2 July, then sailed via Mobile, Alabama, to Norfolk, Virginia.

Return to East Coast operations

Upon her arrival at Norfolk on 10 July, "Adria" began operations with Service Force, Atlantic Fleet. During the remaining eight years of her naval career, the ship made supply runs to various points in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Among her ports of call were Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Hamilton, Bermuda, Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, Trinidad; Casablanca, Morocco; Gibraltar; Bremerhaven, Germany; Plymouth, England. and Argentia, Newfoundland. In addition to her overseas cargo runs, "Adria" operated along the east coast of the United States. She also held a number of training exercises and operations in the Chesapeake Bay. Her routine was also broken by regular periods of repair and upkeep at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia.

Inactivation and decommissioning

On 6 January 1954, the vessel entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for a period of repair work prior to her inactivation. She got underway again on 9 March and sailed to Orange, Texas. "Adria" arrived there on 18 March. She was placed out of Commission, in reserve, at Orange on 1 June 1954 and was berthed there with the Texas Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet. The ship remained at Orange until 1 July 1960, when her name was struck from the Navy list and she was transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up at Beaumont, Texas. She was struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1960. Final Disposition: sold by MARAD, 27 June 1977, her fate unknown.

Military awards and honors

"Adria’s" crew was eligible for the following medals and ribbons:
* China Service Medal (extended)
* American Campaign Medal
* Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
* World War II Victory Medal
* Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
* National Defense Service Medal

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* Cargo ship

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/06/0630.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AF-30 Adria]