_-_DPLA_-_f83c104767cc42ce13278002dcb7d896_(cropped).jpg) USS Regulus (AF-57) | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Escanaba (1944–1952) *Regulus (1952-1971 |
| Namesake | Escanaba, Michigan *Regulus constellation |
| Owner | War Shipping Administration (1944–1952) * US Navy (1952–1971) |
| Operator | American South African Line (1944–1948) * North American Shipping Company (1948–1950) * US Navy (1952–1971) |
| Ordered |
|
| Laid down | 29 April 1944 |
| Launched | 7 June 1944 |
| Acquired | 5 May 1952 |
| Commissioned | 3 February 1954 |
| Decommissioned | 10 September 1971 |
| Renamed | Regulus 1952 |
| Stricken | 10 September 1971 |
| Fate | Grounded on areef, damaged beyond economical repair |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 4,960 tons(lt) 10,850 tons(fl) |
| Length | 455 ft 3 in (138.76 m) |
| Beam | 62 ft (19 m) |
| Draught | 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m) |
| Propulsion | geared steam turbine, single propeller, 8,500 shp |
| Speed | 16 kts. |
| Complement | 250 |
| Armament | four twin3 in (76 mm)/50 dual purposegun mounts |
USSRegulus (AF-57) was aDenebola-classstores ship acquired by theUnited States 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 vessel to be namedRegulus by the Navy,Regulus was built underUnited States Maritime Commission contract under theEmergency Shipbuilding program. She was laid down asSSEscanaba Victory (MCV hull 112) by theOregon Shipbuilding Corporation,Portland, Oregon, 29 April 1944; launched 7 June 1944. She was sponsored by Mrs. Aubrey D. Day; and delivered to the Maritime Commission 29 June 1944.
SSEscanaba Victory serviced as a supplycargo ship forWorld War II. She was operated by theAmerican South African Line under the USMaritime Commission. She served in thePacific War and participating in thelandings on Leyte.Escanaba Victory supported troops in the Leyte landings from 18 Oct. 1944 to 29 Nov. 1944. While under the command of USN Armed Guard CO Lt. Wendell H. Mixson, she earned battle stars for use of herdeck guns in defending herself and other US ships against enemy aircraft, including kamikazes. "With every available gun brought to bear and blazing at a Japanese suicide plane which started its swift run on theEscanaba Victory and her dangerous cargo, you and the gallant crew under your command poured a continuous stream of projectiles into the diving craft, remaining steadfast at your stations in the face of almost certain death and holding to the target until it crashed into the sea in flames a short distance off the port quarter. The daring and aggressive fighting spirit displayed by you and your gunners throughout 47 grueling days of combat duty resulted in the destruction or complete rout of numerous hostile aircraft and reflect the highest credit upon the United States Naval Service."[1] In 1948 she was laid up in theNational Defense Reserve Fleet atWilmington, North Carolina. In 1950 she was removed from theReserve Fleet and repaired. She was operated by the North American Shipping Company for the Maritime Commission to deliver supplies toKorea for theKorean War. The SSEscanaba Victory transported goods, mail, food and other supplies. About 90 percent of the cargo was moved by merchant marine naval to the war zone. SSEscanaba Victory made trips to Korea between 1950 and 1952, helping American forces engaged againstCommunist aggression inSouth Korea.[2][3][4]
The SSEscanaba Victory was acquired by the Navy from the Commission's successor, theUnited States Maritime Administration, 5 May 1952; converted by theTodd Shipyard,Brooklyn, New York; and commissioned asRegulus (AF-57) on 3 February 1954. She was Commanded by John D. Lautaret.
Completing initial training and outfitting on the west coast,Regulus, homeported atAlameda, California, loaded atSan Francisco, California, and on 8 May 1954 got underway for theFar East. A unit ofService Squadron 3, she operated out ofSasebo and replenished units of theUnited States Seventh Fleet at sea and in ports fromJapan to thePhilippines until November when she steamed for theUnited States. Returning to San Francisco 2 December, she was deployed again 26 February–26 August 1955, extending her range on that tour to ports inIndochina.
From 1955 to 1970 she continued to rotate regularly to the westernPacific Ocean, transporting in 1957 art treasures fromKorea to the United States for exhibition. During the early 1960s, her deployed time in the Western Pacific was increased and from 1964 her primary mission was shifted to replenishment of Seventh Fleet units operating off the coast ofVietnam to support theVietnam War. Her triennial overhaul periods excepted,Regulus, equipped in 1965 with ahelicopter deck for vertical replenishment, continued to carry provisions to the units of theUnited States Pacific Fleet until the night of 16–17 August 1971.
_aground_at_Hong_Kong%2c_in_August_1971.jpg)
_aground_in_Hong_Kong%2c_in_1971.jpg)
While riding outtyphoon Rose atHong Kong,Regulus grounded onKau I Chau Island on 17 August 1971,[5] ripping open her hull. After three weeks of attempting to refloatRegulus, it was finally decided that the damage she had incurred was too severe to warrantsalvage. The ship was cut up and removed in pieces.Regulus was decommissioned 10 September 1971 and subsequently struck from theNavy List.
Regulus’ crew was eligible for the following medals:
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1971 | |
|---|---|
| Shipwrecks |
|
| Other incidents |
|
