USS Faribault (AK-179)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

USS ''Faribault'' (AK-179) was an acquired by the U.S. Navy during the final months of World War II. ''Faribault'' served US military forces in the Pacific Ocean until shortly after the war when she was deactivated. During the Korean War, she was reactivated and served with distinction, having been awarded two battle stars before final decommissioning.


Construction

''Faribault'' was launched 24 February 1945 by Kaiser Cargo, Inc.,
Richmond, California Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was municipal corporation, incorporated on August 7, 1905, and has a Richmond, California City Council, city council.
, under a Maritime Commission contract, MC hull 2375; sponsored by Mrs. L. J. Morand; acquired by the Navy 20 April 1945; and commissioned the same day.


Service history


World War II-related service

Between 16 June and 1 September 1945, ''Faribault'' voyaged from San Francisco, California, to Leyte and Eniwetok with cargo, then sailed again 29 September with cargo for use in the
occupation of Japan Japan was occupied and administered by the victorious Allies of World War II from the 1945 surrender of the Empire of Japan at the end of the war until the Treaty of San Francisco took effect in 1952. The occupation, led by the United States wi ...
. She remained in the western Pacific Ocean, carrying cargo to and from Yokosuka, Guam,
Saipan Saipan ( ch, Sa’ipan, cal, Seipél, formerly in es, Saipán, and in ja, 彩帆島, Saipan-tō) is the largest island of the Northern Mariana Islands, a Commonwealth (U.S. insular area), commonwealth of the United States in the western Pa ...
, Okinawa, Luzon, Samar, and Manus Island, until returning to San Francisco 23 April 1946. ''Faribault'' was decommissioned at Seattle, Washington, 10 July 1946, and returned to the US Maritime Commission the following day.


Korean War reactivation

Reacquired 16 May 1947, ''Faribault'' was recommissioned 26 June 1947 at Bremerton, Washington, and assigned to duty in the
Service Force, Pacific Fleet Service Force, United States Pacific Fleet, usually known as COMSERVPAC, was a service support command of the United States Pacific Fleet from 1942 until 1973. It was the reincarnation of the former Base Force. The Service Force comprised the suppl ...
, based on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. She ranged among the islands of the Hawaiian, Marshall,
Caroline Caroline may refer to: People * Caroline (given name), a feminine given name * J. C. Caroline (born 1933), American college and National Football League player * Jordan Caroline (born 1996), American (men's) basketball player Places Antarctica * ...
, and Philippine groups, as well as other isolated islands such as Johnston Island. Between 7 November 1952 and 22 July 1953, she carried cargo from Pearl Harbor to
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
and Korea for support of the troops in Korea, then returned to duty in the Central Pacific. ''Faribault'' served in the Far East once more between 11 August 1954 and 3 April 1955, and during September, October, and November 1954, lay at Tourane and Haiphong, Indochina, acting as fleet issue ship to the force carrying out Operation Passage to Freedom, the evacuation of civilian refugees from Communist-held North Vietnam. From April 1955 through the remainder of the year, she carried cargo from Pearl Harbor to Midway Islands and the Marshall Islands.


Final decommissioning

On 13 April 1956 she arrived at San Diego, California, where she was placed out of commission in reserve 20 July 1956, in the San Diego Group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Ultimately, following the rejection of two bids, both for a scrap sale in the United States, the Learner Company won the bid opened on 21 September 1960, to scrap the vessel in Japan. The Maritime Administration awarded the contract on 17 October 1960. The vessel was removed from government custody on 14 December 1960.


Honors and awards

''Faribault'' received two battle stars for Korean War service.


Notes

;Citations


Bibliography

Online resources * * * *


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Faribault (AK-179) Alamosa-class cargo ships Faribault County, Minnesota Ships built in Richmond, California 1945 ships World War II auxiliary ships of the United States