| Career (US) | |
|---|---|
| Laid down: | as SS Veragua |
| Launched: | date unknown |
| Acquired: | 20 March 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 8 May 1942 |
| Decommissioned: | 21 June 1946 |
| Struck: | date unknown |
| Fate: | Returned to United Fruit Co., 21 June 1946 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 7,068 t.(lt) 11,880 t.(fl) |
| Length: | 447 ft 10 in (136.50 m) |
| Beam: | 60 ft 4 in (18.39 m) |
| Draft: | 24 ft 6 in (7.47 m) |
| Propulsion: | Turbo-electric, twin screws, 11,000shp |
| Speed: | 19 kts. (max) |
| Capacity: | 2,615 metric tons deadweight (DWT) |
| Complement: | 238 |
| Armament: | one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount, four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts, eight 20mm guns |
USS Merak (AF-21) was a Mizar-class cargo ship acquired by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering necessary goods and equipment to ships and stations in the war zone.
The second Merak to be named by the U.S. Navy, AF-21 was built in 1932 as SS Veragua by Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding Corp., Quincy, Massachusetts, for United Fruit Co.; acquired by the Navy 20 March 1942 on a bareboat charter; renamed Merak 31 March 1942; and commissioned at Galveston, Texas, 8 May 1942, Comdr. L. E. Divoll in command.
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Following conversion by Todd Galveston Dry Dock Co., 18 May, the Merak proved to be a very active durable transporter of men and supplies. Shakedown training began on her maiden Navy voyage to Charleston, South Carolina. Adding her logistic support to the war effort, she completed 10 voyages in convoy from east coast ports to the island ports of the Caribbean by 20 March 1943. Turning northward Merak arrived 12 April at Reykjavík, Iceland. Again steaming southward she completed two short deliveries to Cuba before undertaking her first wartime transatlantic crossing in July, debarking men, mail, and stores in Algeria, North Africa. In between additional Caribbean assignments, Merak made trips to both Sicily and Scotland before the end of 1943.
This pattern of Caribbean sailings and transatlantic voyages continued until February 1945 with Merak steaming across from Bayonne, New Jersey, to Italian ports four times in this interval. After a brief drydock period Merak replenished ships and bases from Iceland to Trinidad. On her last voyage to Reykjavík, a blizzard blew her ashore while anchored at Argentia, Newfoundland, 14 July 1946. Freed by tugs she completed this voyage and two more to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad before being released by the Navy.
Having served well, Merak decommissioned 21 June 1946 at New York and was returned to her owner on that date.
Merak’s crew were authorized the following medals:
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