 USSPocomoke (AV-9) off San Francisco, May 1943 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USSPocomoke |
| Builder | Ingalls Shipbuilding |
| Laid down | 14 August 1939 |
| Launched | 8 June 1940, as SSExchequer |
| Acquired | 16 October 1940 |
| Commissioned | 18 July 1941, as USSPocomoke (AV-9) |
| Decommissioned | 10 July 1946 |
| Stricken | 1 June 1961 |
| Fate | Sold, 12 December 1961 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Pocomoke-classseaplane tender |
| Displacement | 8,950 long tons (9,094 t) |
| Length | 492 ft (150 m) |
| Beam | 69 ft 6 in (21.18 m) |
| Draft | 21 ft 2 in (6.45 m) |
| Propulsion | Steam turbine, 8,500 hp (6,338 kW), 1 shaft |
| Speed | 17knots (20 mph; 31 km/h) |
| Complement | 689 |
| Armament | |
| Service record | |
| Part of |
|
| Awards | 2Battle stars for World War II |
USSPocomoke (AV-9) was aPocomoke-classseaplane tender, originally built as theSS Exchequer and acquired by theU.S. Navy as the military build-up occurred in theUnited States just prior toWorld War II. She operated principally in the Pacific Theatre of the war and serviced military seaplanes. At war’s end, she returned to the United States with twobattle stars.
She was built on 14 August 1939 byIngalls Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company,Pascagoula, Mississippi, for theMaritime Commission; launched 8 June 1940; sponsored by Mrs. Marian Barkley Truitt, wife of Max O. Truitt, Maritime Commissioner; acquired by the Navy 16 October 1940; and following conversion commissioned 18 July 1941.
When the United States entered World War II in December 1941,Pocomoke was attached toTask Group 4.3 of the Support Force,Atlantic Fleet, stationed atArgentia, Newfoundland. She tended two patrol planes which scouted waters approaching the harbor searching for GermanU-boats which threatenedconvoys carrying desperately needed war material toEngland. On 9 January 1942 she departed Argentia en route toNaval Station Norfolk, Virginia, where she entered theyard for alterations.
Following training and exercises she departedBoston, Massachusetts, 21 May for Argentia to act asflagship for Commander,Task Force 24, and tender for Commander, Patrol Wing 7. Returning to Boston 15 August, she proceeded via Norfolk toGuantanamo Bay, Cuba. She discharged cargo there and atTrinidad, and steamed back to Norfolk 8 October.
On 30 OctoberPocomoke got underway, transited thePanama Canal, and proceeded viaSeymour Bay,Galapagos Islands, toSan Diego, California, 27 November. Then steaming toSan Francisco, California, she sailed 2 December forPearl Harbor where she dischargedspare parts and supplies.
After returning to theU.S. West Coast for additional supplies,Pocomoke sailed to Pearl Harbor 4 January 1943, then, escorted byUSS Breese, proceeded to theFiji Islands where she unloaded cargo. Following her return to the United States viaChristmas Island and Pearl Harbor, she carried supplies and spare parts toOahu 23 February to 11 March, and returned to San Francisco for repairs atOakland, California, until 6 May.
The next day she weighed anchor forHawaii where she took on supplies and equipment at Pearl Harbor, and pushed on toNoumea,New Caledonia. On 6 June she embarked men of Patrol Bombing SquadronsVPB-15 andVPB-23 atEspiritu Santo and provided vital tender services in the area until sailing for Pearl Harbor 18 September. There she loaded cargo for Fleet Air Photograph Squadron 3 and sailed 1 October forCanton Island. She returned to San Diego 21 October. One week later she steamed with cargo and passengers for Pearl Harbor and continued on toPalmyra Island,Tutuila,Efate Island, andEspiritu Santo, off-loading much needed parts and supplies at these points before returning toAlameda, California, 14 December.
Pocomoke continued her vital services, taking on Marine Night Fighter Squadron 532 (VMF(N)-532) with planes,rolling stock and equipment and sailed via Pearl Harbor toFunafuti Atoll, anchoring there 11 January 1944. WithUSS Tisdale she steamed forTarawa and returned to Hawaii 25 January. Another brief return to the West Coast was followed by a stopover at Pearl Harbor to take on troops andammunition destined forEspiritu Santo. Shuttling cargo and fighting men between Espiritu Santo andGuadalcanal consumedPocomoke’s efforts until she sailed 4 April among the islands of theSolomons group, dispensing needed services, and back to Espiritu Santo. She tendedseaplanes atKwajalein andEniwetok before anchoring offSaipan 15 June to begin operations for Patrol Squadron 16 which were continued until 12 September. She departed forKossol Passage,Palau Islands where she continued her repair and supply functions until 23 November. She finally sailed viaUlithi,Eniwetok, and Pearl Harbor for San Francisco, arriving 15 December.
Late January 1945, sawPocomoke again underway for Pearl Harbor andManus Island to report for duty with Commander, Air Force,U.S. 7th Fleet 18 February. She returned to the task of ferrying supplies and passengers, getting underway forSan Pedro Bay,Leyte Gulf, andSamar Island. She then tended seaplanes atPalawan Island andTawitawi Island, for the duration of the active fighting war in the Pacific.
On 28 August 1945 administrative command changed to CommanderPhilippine Sea Frontier, and 9 SeptemberPocomoke set course forSangley Point,Manila Bay. From 11 September 1945 through 1 February 1946, she steamed among the various islands in thePhilippine group, dispensing her services, providing supplies, ferrying troops, and operating search patrols wherever needed.
Pocomoke returned to San Diego 28 February 1946 and transited thePanama Canal 11 March to report for duty to Commander, Air Force, Atlantic. She was ordered to Norfolk, unloaded her ammunition and steamed intoPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, where she was placed in the reserve group of theAtlantic Reserve Fleet.Pocomoke decommissioned 10 July 1946 her name was struck from theNavy List 1 June 1961, she was ordered disposed 20 September 1961, and was sold 12 December 1961 to theUnion Minerals and Alloys Corporation.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.
