- USS Rigel (AF-58)
USS Rigel (AF-58) was an "Rigel"-class
stores ship acquired by theU.S. Navy . Her task was to carry stores, refrigerated items, and equipment to ships in the fleet, and to remote stations and staging areas.The second ship to be named "Rigel" by the Navy, "AF-58" was laid down under
Maritime Administration contract15 March 1954 by theIngalls Shipbuilding Corp.,Pascagoula, Mississippi ; launched15 March 1955 ; sponsored by Mrs. Austin K. Doyle; and commissioned2 September 1955 , Capt. W. T. Griffin in command.Operating as an improved vessel design
The first of a new class of high-speed, large-capacity, fully refrigerated stores issue ships, "Rigel" completed shakedown out of
Newport, Rhode Island , and her homeport ofNorfolk, Virginia . In February1956 , she sailed south for the first time; underwent further training inCuba n and Puerto Rican waters; and into the fall provided logistic support along the mid-Atlantic seaboard and in theCaribbean . In late fall (14 November -9 December ), she completed her firstU.S. 6th Fleet deployment which included her initiation in her primary mission - replenishment at sea.First Med cruise
During the winter of
1957 , she spent 2 months in the Caribbean, then sailed east, in May, for 4 months in theMediterranean . January1958 brought a return to the Caribbean, followed in March by the initiation of a regular schedule of 6-week replenishment deployments to the Mediterranean with intervening periods spent in loading, upkeep, training, and shipyard overhauls. On her second and third deployments of that year, she directly supported units of theU.S. 6th Fleet sent toLebanon at the request of that country's president. "Rigel" maintained her regularMediterranean logistic deployment schedule through the1960 s. Interruptions came with the replenishment of units engaged ingood will visits to WestAfrica (January1961 ); exercises offIceland andCanada (June1962 , June1965 ); and crises in the Caribbean - theCuban Quarantine (November1962 ) and theDominican Republic Crisis (May1965 ). "Rigel" was fitted out with anamidships helicopter platform in1961 , thus providing her with a vertical replenishment capability. Two years later, that platform was replaced with one on herfantail to simplify the pilots' problems when landing aboard or conducting replenishments. "Rigel" served until decommissioned on23 June 1975 .Assigned to the Military Sealift Command
"Rigel" was placed in service by the
Military Sealift Command (MSC) as "USNS Rigel" (T-AF-58),23 June 1975 . She continued operating with the MSC until (date unknown).Final decommissioning
Struck from the
Navy list on16 May 1994 , the store ship was transferred to theMaritime Administration Rigel has been sold to All Star Metals LLC of Brownsville TX for $469,626 and will be towed there soon.Military awards and honors
"Rigel’s" crew was eligible for the following medals:
*Navy Expeditionary Medal
*National Defense Service Medal
*Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
*Southwest Asia 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/09/06/0658.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AF-58 Rigel]
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