USS Sebastian (AK-211)

Career (USA)
Name: Sebastian
Namesake: A county in Arkansas
Ordered: as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2165
Builder: Leatham D. Smith Shipbuilding Co., Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Laid down: 10 August 1944
Launched: 21 December 1944
Sponsored by: Miss J.C. Sullivan
Acquired: by the U.S. Navy, 10 August 1945
Commissioned: 11 September 1945 as USS Sebastian (AK-211)
Decommissioned: 14 November 1945
Renamed: Coastal Highflyer by the U.S. Maritime Commission
Refit: converted to AK at New Orleans, Louisiana
Struck: 28 November 1945
Fate: fate unknown
General characteristics
Type: Alamosa-class cargo ship
Tonnage: 2,382 tons
Tons burthen: 7,435 tons
Length: 388' 8"
Beam: 50'
Draft: 21' 1"
Propulsion: Diesel, single screw, 1,700shp
Speed: 11.5 knots
Complement: 85 officers and enlisted
Armament: one 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount; six 20mm guns

USS Sebastian (AK-211) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship that was constructed for the U.S. Navy during the closing period of World War II. She was retained by the Navy for only a short period of service before being inactivated as "excess to needs."

Contents

Built in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Sebastian (AK-211) was laid down on 10 August 1944 under U.S. Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2165) by the Leathern D. Smith Shipbuilding Co., Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; launched on 21 December 1944; sponsored by Miss J.C. Sullivan; delivered to the U.S. Maritime Commission on 31 January 1945; acquired by the Navy on loan charter on 10 August 1945; converted to an AK at New Orleans, Louisiana; and commissioned on 11 September 1945.

World War II-related service

Commissioned after the end of World War II, Sebastian was retained by the Navy only briefly.

Post-war inactivation

She was decommissioned on 14 November 1945 and simultaneously returned to the Maritime Commission's War Shipping Administration for subsequent maritime service under the name Coastal Highflyer. The name Sebastian was struck from the Navy List on 28 November 1945.

References