USS Draco (AK-79)

USS Draco (AK-79), Puget Sound, August 1945
History
United States
Name:
  • John M. Palmer
  • Draco
Namesake:
Ordered: as a Type EC2-S-C1 hull, MCE hull 453[1]
Builder: Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California
Yard number: 453[1]
Way number: 9[1]
Laid down: 15 Dec 1942[1]
Launched: 19 January 1943
Sponsored by: Miss G. M. San Facon
Acquired: 31 January 1943
Commissioned: 16 February 1943
Decommissioned: 28 November 1945
Struck: 19 December 1945
Identification:
Honors and
awards:		 2 × battle stars
Fate: Returned to MARCOM, 27 July 1946, laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, Virginia, 28 November 1945
Status: sold, 9 August 1947
Union of South AfricaUnion of South Africa
Name: President Kruger
Namesake: Paul Kruger
Owner: Southern Steamship Proprietary, Ltd., Johannesburg
Acquired: 9 August 1947
Fate:
Status: scrapped April 1968
General characteristics [2]
Class and type: Crater-class cargo ship
Displacement:
  • 4,023 long tons (4,088 t) (standard)
  • 14,550 long tons (14,780 t) (full load)
Length: 441 ft 6 in (134.57 m)
Beam: 56 ft 11 in (17.35 m)
Draft: 28 ft 4 in (8.64 m)
Installed power:
Propulsion:
Speed: 12.5 kn (14.4 mph; 23.2 km/h)
Capacity:
  • 7,800 t (7,700 long tons) DWT
  • 444,206 cu ft (12,578.5 m3) (non-refrigerated)
Complement: 206
Armament:

USS Draco (AK-79) was an Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II. Named after the constellation Draco. She was responsible for delivering goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

Construction

Draco was launched 19 January 1943 as SS John M. Palmer, MCE hull 453, by Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard No. 2, Richmond, California, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract; sponsored by Miss G. M. San Facon; transferred to the Navy 31 January 1943; and commissioned 16 February 1943, Lieutenant Commander Earle L. Evey, USNR, in command.[3]

Service history

Draco towed YFD-21 from Seattle, Washington, by way of Pearl Harbor to Espiritu Santo, arriving 5 May 1943. She carried cargo from Auckland, New Zealand, to bases on Nouméa, Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal, and the Fiji Islands, and acted in support of the consolidation of the Solomons, the invasions of Cape Torokina, Bougainville, and Emirau. From 27 July to 10 August 1944 she unloaded cargo at Guam in the capture and occupation of that island, then returned to cargo runs between New Zealand and the Solomons until arriving at Ulithi 26 May 1945.[3]

Draco sailed from Ulithi 20 June 1945, for Okinawa, where she discharged Army supplies from 26 June to 12 July. Sailing by way of Guadalcanal to load salvaged equipment and vehicles, Draco arrived at Tacoma, Washington, 27 August 1945.[3]

Post-war decommissioning

Draco was decommissioned 28 November 1945 and returned to MARCOM for disposal the same day.[3] She entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, Virginia, 28 November 1945.[4]

Merchant service

On 9 August 1947, she was sold to the South African company, Southern Steamship Proprietary, Ltd., and renamed President Kruger. She was again sold in 1951, and renamed Riviera. In 1953, she was sold and renamed Effie. She was renamed President Pretorius in 1958, and finally sold in April 1968, to be scrapped at Kaohsiung, Taiwan.[2]

Awards

Draco received two battle stars for World War II service.[3]

Notes

    Citations

    Bibliography

    Online resources


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