USS ''Pipestone'' (AK-203) was an that was constructed for the
US Navy during the closing period of
World War II. By the time she was scheduled for commissioning, the war’s end caused her to be declared “excess to needs” and she was returned to the US Government and struck by the Navy.
Construction
''Pipestone'' was laid down under
US Maritime Commission
The United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) was an independent executive agency of the U.S. federal government that was created by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, which was passed by Congress on June 29, 1936, and was abolished on May 24, 195 ...
(MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2157, by Globe Shipbuilding Co.,
Superior, Wisconsin
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. She was transferred to the Navy in April 1945. ''Pipestone'' was scheduled for commissioning. However, because of the Allied victory in the
Pacific Ocean theatre of operations, her commissioning was delayed.
Merchant service
''Pipestone'' was ordered returned to MARCOM for disposal. Her name subsequently reverted to ''Coastal Explorer''.
''Coastal Explorer'' was used by a couple of shipping companies from 1945–1946, before being sold to the government of the
Republic of Peru
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for $693,862.
On 20 February 1947, she was sold to the Peru. She was operated by
Corperacion Peruana e Vapores,
Callao
Callao () is a Peruvian seaside city and Regions of Peru, region on the Pacific Ocean in the Lima metropolitan area. Callao is Peru's chief seaport and home to its main airport, Jorge Chávez International Airport. Callao municipality consists o ...
, Peru, and renamed ''Putumayo''. In 1968 she was sold to
Naviera Panamar S.A., also of Callao, and renamed ''Felipe''.
She was eventually sold to
Gold Shipping S.A., Panama, and finally sold for scrapping to Spanish shipbreakers in 1974.
Notes
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pipestone (AK-203)
Alamosa-class cargo ships
Ships built in Superior, Wisconsin
1945 ships
World War II auxiliary ships of the United States
Pipestone County, Minnesota