- USS Portunus (AGP-4)
USS "Portunus" (AGP-4) was an "LST-1"-class
tank landing ship acquired by theU.S. Navy for use duringWorld War II as a tender for patrol boats. "Portunus" was laid down as "LST-330" by thePhiladelphia Naval Shipyard ,12 November 1942 ; launched11 February 1943 as "Portunus" (AGP-4); and commissioned atBaltimore, Maryland ,12 June 1943 , Lt. Comdr. James R. Hanna in command.World War II Pacific Theatre operations
After shakedown along the
U.S. East Coast , this motortorpedo boat tender departed the U.S.23 July 1943 in task group TG 29.6 for thePanama Canal , whence she continued toAustralia . At Cairns,10 October , she loaded PT Base 4 gear for transport toKana Kope ,New Guinea . On the 20th she arrived atBuna ,New Guinea , and until4 July 1944 repaired and serviced U.S. and Australian naval units operating along the New Guinea coast. Underway4 July in convoy with USS|Hilo|AGP-2 and 8 units of MTB Squadron 25, "Portunus" arrived atMios Woendi in theSchoutens 9 July . Through December, she underwent overhaul atBrisbane, Australia , and on29 January 1945 returned to Mios Woendi and resumed repair work.Invasion of the Philippines
On
20 February she got underway forLeyte Island, whence she proceeded toIlo Ilo , Panay, to support MTB Ron 33 during the assault there and to establish a patrol base after its success. The assault waves met no apparent opposition, the enemy having set fires and demolition charges and evacuated the city.Okinawa operations
On
2 April "Portunus" got underway forSamar andLeyte . On16 April she joined company with the remainder of TG 78.2 to land the 24th Infantry Division,U.S. Army and secureParang ,Mindanao . She steamed between various points onMindanao andSamar , supplying MTB’s, until16 July when she got underway inconvoy forOkinawa . She anchored offHagushi ,21 July and shifted toTogouchi Harbor the next day. She serviced and repaired MTB Ron 31 and 37 and various other units through29 September when she prepared to get underway forCalifornia and inactivation.Post-war decommissioning
Decommissioned at
Mare Island, California ,18 April 1946 , she was struck from theNavy List 13 November 1946 , transferred to theMaritime Commission 6 February 1948 and simultaneously delivered to the Kaiser Co.,Oakland, California , for scrapping.Military awards and honors
"Portunus" earned 3
battle stars forWorld War II serviceReferences
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/09/09/0904.htm NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive - LST-330 / AGP-4 Portunus]
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