USS ''Calamares'' (AF-18) was a
cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is a merchant ship that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year, handling the bulk of international trade. Cargo ships are usu ...
acquired by the
U.S. Navy for service in
World War I. When
World War II occurred, she was again re-commissioned into service, providing goods to units in the various oceans of the world.
''Calamares'' (No. 3662) was built in 1913 by
Workman, Clark and Company
Workman, Clark and Company was a shipbuilding company based in Belfast.
History
The business was established by Frank Workman and George Clark in Belfast in 1879 and incorporated Workman, Clark and Company Limited in 1880. By 1895 it was the UK ...
.,
Belfast,
Northern Ireland; chartered by the
U.S. Army from
United Fruit Co.; transferred to the navy 1 April 1918; outfitted at
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
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Film and television
* '' ...
; commissioned 10 April 1918 and reported to the U.S.
Cruiser and Transport Force The Cruiser and Transport Service was a unit of the United States Navy's Atlantic Fleet during World War I that was responsible for transporting American men and materiel to France.
Composition
On 1 July 1918, the Cruiser and Transport Force was ...
.
World War I North Atlantic operations
Between April and October 1918 ''Calamares'' made five voyages to
France as her part of the Navy's vast responsibility to transport to the
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces (A. E. F.) was a formation of the United States Army on the Western Front of World War I. The A. E. F. was established on July 5, 1917, in France under the command of General John J. Pershing. It fought alon ...
reinforcements, munitions, and supplies. On 11 October 1918 she was transferred to the
Naval Overseas Transportation Service
Military Sealift Command (MSC) is an organization that controls the replenishment and military transport ships of the United States Navy. Military Sealift Command has the responsibility for providing sealift and ocean transportation for all US m ...
at New York, and converted to a
refrigerator ship.
End-of-war activity
''Calamares'' carried perishable provisions on three voyages to France from 8 November 1918 to 12 March 1919, and then was reassigned to the Cruiser and Transport Force for service as a troop carrier. On five
transatlantic voyages between 25 March and 17 August ''Calamares'' brought home more than 10,000 troops from
St. Nazaire
Saint-Nazaire (; ; Gallo: ''Saint-Nazère/Saint-Nazaer'') is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France, in traditional Brittany.
The town has a major harbour on the right bank of the Loire estuary, near the Atlantic Ocean. T ...
and
Brest.
Calamares was decommissioned 18 September 1919, and returned to her civilian peacetime operations.
Reactivation for duty in World War II
World War II required the services of every available ship, and ''Calamares'' was once more called. On 12 December 1941 the veteran ship was reacquired by the navy, classified AF-18, and converted to a provisions storeship. She was recommissioned on 10 April 1943 and reported to the
U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Pacific Theatre operations
Destined for a dual role as food carrier and issuing ship, ''Calamares'' cleared
San Francisco, California, 23 April 1943 for
Noumea,
New Caledonia
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, image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg
, map_alt = Location of New Caledonia
, map_caption = Location of New Caledonia
, mapsize = 290px
, subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...
, where from 13 May to 11 June she issued provisions to the fleet units operating from this headquarters of the South Pacific. In June, she sailed to
Auckland, New Zealand, for fresh stores, and from
Noumea ''Calamares'' made a cruise of the South Pacific bases, supplying navy and army forces ashore. Returning to San Francisco in August, the storeship operated between the west coast and
Pearl Harbor until 22 November, when she sailed for the South Pacific again, carrying Christmas delicacies as well as the usual stores for ships based on Funafuti, Ellice Islands, and Nouméa.
On 1 January 1944 ''Calamares'' reported to Commander, Service Force U.S. 7th Fleet, at Sydney, Australia, and until June 1945, provided vital logistic support for operations in New Guinea and the Philippines, carrying provisions from Australia, and on two occasions from San Francisco, to the operation areas.
Post-war decommissioning
After hostilities ended ''Calamares'' continued to support Far East operations into 1946. Returning to Norfolk, Virginia, 1 April 1946, ''Calamares'' was decommissioned at Baltimore, Maryland, 25 April 1946, and returned to the War Shipping Administration.
Military awards and honors
''Calamares'' crew members were authorized the following medals:
* World War I Victory Medal (United States), World War I Victory Medal
* American Campaign Medal
* Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
* World War II Victory Medal
* Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
References
External links
NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - ID-3662 / AF-18 Calamares
{{DEFAULTSORT:Calamares (AF-18)
Ships built in Belfast
1913 ships
Stores ships of the United States Navy
Unique transports of the United States Navy
World War I auxiliary ships of the United States
World War II auxiliary ships of the United States