 USSMurzim (AK-95) | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name |
|
| Namesake | |
| Ordered | as aType EC2-S-C1 hull,MCE hull 633[1] |
| Builder | California Shipbuilding Corporation,Terminal Island, Los Angeles, California |
| Cost | $1,254,162[2] |
| Yard number | 58[1] |
| Way number | 13[1] |
| Laid down | 10 July 1942 |
| Launched | 17 August 1942 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. Albert E. Bowen |
| Acquired | 8 April 1943 |
| Commissioned | 14 May 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 7 June 1946 |
| Renamed | Murzim, 17 March 1943 |
| Stricken | 23 June 1947 |
| Identification |
|
| Honors & awards |  1 ×battle star |
| Fate |
|
| General characteristics[3] | |
| Class & type | Crater-classcargo ship |
| Type | Type EC2-S-C1 |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 441 ft 6 in (134.57 m) |
| Beam | 56 ft 11 in (17.35 m) |
| Draft | 28 ft 4 in (8.64 m) |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 12.5 kn (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph) |
| Capacity |
|
| Complement | 206 |
| Armament |
|
USSMurzim (AK-95) was aCrater-classcargo ship commissioned by theUS Navy for service inWorld War II. She was named afterMurzim, the star in constellationCanis Major.Murzim was manned byUnited States Coast Guard personnel and was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in theAsiatic-Pacific Theater.
In light of the Mount Hood tragedy, which involved the complete explosion of another ammunition ship,USS Mount Hood, it became clear that those onMurzim and other ammo ships were running the risk of nearly instantaneous death by catastrophic explosion at every moment of their stint in thePacific Theater. Nevertheless, the crew worked even under the threat of air attack warnings, transferring their cargo to other fighting ships.[citation needed]
Murzim was laid down 10 July 1942, under aUnited States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 633, asLiberty ship SSBrigham Young byCalifornia Shipbuilding Corporation,Terminal Island, Los Angeles, California; and launched 17 August 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Albert E. Bowen; renamedMurzim 17 March 1943; acquired by the Navy underbareboat charter from the MARCOM on 8 April 1943; converted for use as a naval cargo ship by theLos Angeles Shipbuilding & Drydock Company, Los Angeles, California; and commissioned 14 May 1943.[4]
For almost two monthsMurzim operated along the west coast of the United States under the11th Naval District; thence, after loading general cargo, she departed fromSan Francisco on 8 July 1943, and arrived atNew Caledonia on 5 August. She then began cargo shuttle runs among American bases in theSouth Pacific and during the next year, she delivered supplies from ports inAustralia,New Zealand, andNew Caledonia to theNew Hebrides, theFiji Islands, and theSolomon Islands. She carried out several voyages betweenNouméa andGuadalcanal, and in the spring of 1944 she extended her runs northward along the Solomon chain toBougainville,New Georgia,Green Island, and theRussells. In mid-June she sailed from the Solomons viaNew Guinea to theAdmiralties where she discharged cargo atManus. After steaming to Australia for a cargo of ammunition, she returned to New Guinea 24 August.[4]
For almost two months,Murzim suppliedantiaircraft ammunition to ships atHollandia preparing for the invasion of thePhilippines. After filling her holds with ammunition fromBrisbane and Sydney Australia, she sailed without escort for the Philippines on 24 October. Arriving inLeyte Gulf on 29 October, she began duty as an ammo station ship. During the next three months she supplied ships fromcruisers toLSTs with a variety of ammunition which ranged from 6 in (152 mm) to 20 mm (0.79 in). Despite numerous air alerts, her crew carried out the dangerous business of transferring ammunition to ships alongside. During an enemy air attack on 27 November, her20 mm guns splashed a Japanese plane attacking the cargo ship from starboard.[4]
Between 27 January and 4 February 1945,Murzim steamed in convoy to Manus where she replenished her holds with ammunition. Thence, after joining a convoy at Hollandia, she returned to Leyte on 22 March, and resumed ammo station duty in Leyte Gulf. During the closing weeks of the war against Japan, she delivered cargo to Manus and cruised to the Philippines with additional supplies of ammunition.[4]
Following theJapanese surrender,Murzim was authorized for use inatomic tests in the Marshalls, and was ordered to transfer to jointTask Force 1, 25 February 1946. However, she was assigned to the14th Naval District for inactivation 11 March, and she decommissioned atPearl Harbor 7 June. She remained at Pearl Harbor until March 1947, when she was towed to San Francisco. Her name was struck from theNavy Directory 23 June.Murzim was transferred to MARCOM 5 August 1947, and entered theNational Defense Reserve Fleet,Suisun Bay.[4]
On 19 March 1973, she was sold toNicolai Joffe Corporation, for $168,113, to be scrapped. She was withdrawn from the fleet 27 July 1973.[5]
Murzim received one battle star for World War II service.[4]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
