USS Muskingum (AK-198)

History

United States
Name:	Muskingum
Namesake:	Muskingum County, Ohio
Ordered:	MC hull 2152
Builder:	Globe Shipbuilding Co., Superior, Wisconsin
Laid down:	28 January 1944
Launched:	30 June 1944
Sponsored by:	Mrs. Henry Larson
Acquired:	date unknown
Commissioned:	24 April 1945
Decommissioned:	7 March 1946
In service:	1 July 1950, as USNS Muskingum (T-AK-198)
Struck:	5 June 1946 and 15 June 1973
Identification:	Hull symbol:AK-198 Hull symbol:T-AK-198
Fate:	loaned, to the Department of the Interior, Trust Territory Pacific, 1 April 1982 transferred to the Republic of Palau, 7 April 1982
Notes:	also served the U.S. Army as USAT V-108
General characteristics ^[1]
Class & type:	Alamosa-class cargo ship
Type:	C1-M-AV1
Displacement:	2,382 long tons (2,420 t) (standard) 7,450 long tons (7,570 t) (full load)
Length:	388 ft 8 in (118.47 m)
Beam:	50 ft (15 m)
Draft:	21 ft 1 in (6.43 m)
Installed power:	1,750 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion:	1 × Nordberg Diesel diesel TSM 6 engine 1 × shaft
Speed:	11.5 kn (13.2 mph; 21.3 km/h)
Capacity:	3,945 t (3,883 long tons) DWT
Complement:	15 Officers 70 Enlisted
Armament:	1 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 caliber dual purpose gun 6 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons anti-aircraft gun mounts

USS Muskingum (AK-198) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship built for the United States Maritime Commission completed in April 1945. Muskingum was transferred to the Navy on loan and supported the end-of-war Navy effort and was subsequently placed in service with the U.S. Army under the Shipping Control Authority for the Japanese Merchant Marine with a Japanese crew. In 1950 she was reclaimed by the Navy as USNS Muskingum (T-AK-198) and remained in her service until struck in 1973.

Built in Superior, Wisconsin

Muskingum, a type C1-M-AV1 cargo ship constructed for the United States Maritime Commission with delivery 6 April 1945 and transfer to the United States Navy on a loan basis the same day.^[2] The ship was laid down 26 January 1944 and launched by Globe Shipbuilding Co., Superior, Wisconsin on 30 June 1944 sponsored by Mrs. Henry Larson.^[3] Muskingum was then completed at Samuelson Ship Yard, Beaumont, Texas.^[2] The ship, designated a Cargo ship (AK), commissioned as USS Muskingum (AK‑198) on 24 April 1945 at Houston, Texas, Lt. M. H. Bryant in command.^[3]^[4]

World War II-related service

After shakedown, she departed Gulfport, Mississippi, 26 May 1945 with cargo for the Pacific Ocean. She arrived at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, 4 August 1945 via the Panama Canal and Manus, the Admiralty Islands. The next few months were spent in carrying passengers and freight between Philippine ports.^[3]

She departed Tacloban, Leyte, 24 January 1946, arriving Yokohama 31 January. The ship was decommissioned 7 March 1946 and turned over to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) for transfer to the U.S. Army Transportation Corps on a bareboat charter basis.^[2] She was stricken from the Navy List 5 June 1946.^[3]

Army control

Muskingum was given the Army designation V-208 and operated between ports in Japan, Korea, and the Mariana Islands under control of the Shipping Control Authority for the Japanese Merchant Marine (SCAJAP) with overall control exercised by Supreme Commander of Allied Forces, Japan. Muskingum was operated by Japanese until 1 July 1950 when title was transferred to Navy.^[2]^[3]

Reacquired from the U.S. Army

Muskingum was reinstated on the Navy List for operations under Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) WesPac (Western Pacific). During the Korean War, she carried supplies between Japan and Korea.^[3]

In 1951, Muskingum, designated T-AK-198, was under control of MSTS Far East, operating out of Japan. Besides providing logistical support for U.S. forces in Korea, Muskingum carried supplies to American and Allied forces in South Vietnam.^[3]

Decommissioning

Muskingum continued with service with the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) until she was struck from the Navy List on 15 June 1973 and on 4 October 1973 title was returned to the Maritime Administration, successor to the Maritime Commission and loaned to the United States Department of Interior for Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands use.^[2]^[3]

On 7 April 1982 Muskingum was permanently transferred to the Republic of Palau.^[2] Her subsequent fate is not known.

Honors and awards

Qualified Muskingum personnel were eligible for the following:

References

↑ "USS Muskingum (AK-198)". Navsource.org. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Maritime Administration. "Muskingum". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Naval History And Heritage Command. "Muskingum". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History And Heritage Command. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
↑ Naval History And Heritage Command. "Ship Abbreviations and Symbols". Naval History And Heritage Command. Retrieved 12 May 2015.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - USS Muskingum AK-198 - USAT V-108 - USNS Muskingum (T-AK-198)

Alamosa-class cargo ship

Alamosa Alcona Amador Antrim Autauga Beaverhead Beltrami Blount Brevard Bullock Cabell Caledonia Charlevoix Chatham Chicot Claiborne Clarion Codington Colquitt Craighead Dodridge^* Duval^* Fairfield Faribault Fentress Flagler Gadsden Glacier Grainger Gwinnett Habersham Hennepin Herkimer Hidalgo Kenosha Lebanon Lehigh Lancaster Marengo Midland Minidoka Muscatine Muskingum Nicollet Pembina Pemiscot Pinellas Pipestone Pitkin Poinsett Pontotoc Richland Rockdale Schuyler Screven Sebastian Somerset Sussex Tarrant Tipton Traverse^* Tulate^* Washtenaw^** / Sgt. George Peterson Westchester^* Wexford^† / Coastal Crusader Maiden's Eye / Colonel William J. O'Brien Becket Bend / Private John F. Thorson Short Splice Long Splice / Private Frank J. Petrarca

* = Canceled August 1945 ** = Canceled August 1945, but completed as Coastal Guide † = Canceled August 1945, but completed as Coastal Crusader List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy

Type C1-M ships

Type C1-M-AV1	Alamosa Alcona Acorn Knot / Sgt. George D Keathley Amador Anchor Bend Anchor Hitch Antrim Autauga Beaverhead Becket Bend / Private John F. Thorson Becket Hitch Bell Ringer / Captain Arlo L. Olson Beltrami Bight Knot Blackwall Hitch Blount Boatswain's Hitch Bowline Knot Brevard Bullock Buntline Hitch Cabell Cable Splice Caledonia Cape Somerset Cape Stanhope Capstan Knot Carrick Bend Cat's Paw Chain and Crown Charlevoix Chatham Check Knot / Sgt. Joseph E. Muller Chicot Cinch Knot Claiborne Clarion Clove Hitch Coastal Captain Coastal Charger Coastal Courser Coastal Crusader Coastal Guide / Sgt. George Peterson Coastal Mariner Coastal Monarch Coastal Monitor Coastal Rambler Coastal Ranger Coastal Telegrapher Codington Colquitt Craighead Crossing Hitch Crown and Diamond Crown Knot Diamond Hitch Diamond Knot Doddridge Double Loop Dragon Fly Duval Elmer J. Burr Emerald Knot Fairfield Faribault Fentress Fiador Knot Fisherman's Bend Flagler Flemish Knot Gadsden Glacier Grainger Grass Knot Gunner's Knot Gwinnett Habersham Half Hitch Half Knot Harold W. Roberts Hawser Bend Hawser Eye Hawser Splice Hennepin Herkimer Hickory Bay Hickory Beck Hickory Bourne Hickory Brae Hickory Brook Hickory Burn Hickory Cairn Hickory Cape Hickory Coll Hickory Crest Hickory Dale Hickory Dell Hickory Dyke Hickory Ghyll Hickory Glen Hickory Isle Hickory Knoll Hickory Lake Hickory Mount Hickory Stream Hickory Tarn Hickory Tor Hidalgo Honda Knot Hook Hitch Horseshoe Splice Jacob's Ladder Jumper Hitch Kenneth E. Gruennert / Grommet Reefer Kenosha Knob Knot Lancaster Lanyard Knot Leader Loop Lebanon Lehigh Lever's Bend Lewis Hall Link Splice / Sgt. Jonah E. Kelley Lock Knot Long Eye Long Splice / Private Frank J. Petrarca Loop Knot Magnus Hitch Maiden's Eye / Colonel William J. O'Brien Mainsheet Eye Manrope Knot Marengo Mariner's Splice Marline Hitch Marlingspike Hitch Masthead Knot Midland Minidoka Mooring Hitch Mooring Knot Muscatine Muskingum Nicollet Ocean Plat Pembina Pemiscot Phoebe Knot Pinellas Pipestone Pitkin Poinsett Pontotoc Reef Knot Reeving Eye Richland Rigger's Eye Ring Hitch Ring Knot Ring Splice Roband Hitch Rockdale Rolling Hitch Rose Knot Round Splice / Private Jose F. Valdez Running Knot Sailmaker's Splice Sailor's Splice Salmon Knot Sampan Hitch Schuyler Screven Sebastian Shamrock Knot Sheepshank Sheet Bend Shell Bar Short Splice Sinnet Snakehead Snug Hitch Somerset / Coastal Sentry Span Splice Spanish Bowline Spar Hitch Spindle Eye / Sgt. Curtis F. Shoup Spool Sinnet Square Knot Square Sinnet Star Knot Studding Sail Sussex Sword Knot Tag Knot Tapir Splice Tarrant Terminal Knot Thimble Eye Timber Hitch Tipton Traverse True Knot Tucked Bend Tulare Turk's Head Wall Knot Water Knot Westchester William G. Fournier William N. Nelson Yard Hitch

Type C1-M-AV7	Coastal Liberator

Type C1-M-AV8	Crossing Knot Flat Knot Marline Bend Persian Knot Single Hitch Solid Sinnet

Type C1-MT-BU1	Arizona Pine California Redwood Oregon Fir Washington Cedar

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