USS Kent Island

USS Kent Island (AG-78/AKS-26) was a Belle Isle-class miscellaneous auxiliary acquired by the U.S. Navy shortly before the end of World War II. She was used to transport personnel and cargo and was inactivated and disposed of shortly after the war.

History
United States
NameKent Island
NamesakeKent Island
BuilderNew England Shipbuilding Corporation, South Portland, Maine
Laid down19 November 1944 as type (EC2-S-C1) hull, (MCE hull 3092)
Launched9 January 1945
Sponsored byMrs. Nan Hatch
Acquiredby the Navy 19 January 1945
Commissioned1 August 1945 as USS Kent Island (AG-78)
Decommissioned22 June 1946, at Orange, Texas
In service19 January 1945 as USS Kent Island
Out of service23 January 1945
ReclassifiedAKS-26, 18 August 1951
RefitTodd Shipbuilding Company, Hoboken, New Jersey
Stricken1 April 1960
Fatescrapped, 2 November 1960
General characteristics
TypeBelle Isle-class miscellaneous auxiliary
Displacement
  • 5,766 tons light
  • 14,200 tons full load
Length441'6"
Beam56'11"
Draft23'
Propulsionreciprocating steam engine, single shaft, 1,950hp
Speed12.5 knots
Complement883 officers and enlisted
Armamentone single 5 in (130 mm)/38 dual purpose gun mount, twelve 20 mm single AA gun mounts

Constructed at Portland, Maine

Kent Island (AG-78) was launched 9 January 1945 by New England Shipbuilding Corporation, South Portland, Maine, under a U.S. Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. Nan Hatch; transferred to the Navy 19 January 1945; commissioned the same day, ferried to Todd Shipbuilding Company, Hoboken, New Jersey; decommissioned 23 January 1945 for conversion to a barracks and issue ship; and recommissioned 1 August 1945.

After shakedown in the Chesapeake Bay, Kent Island cleared Norfolk, Virginia, 31 August for duty with the Service Force Pacific Fleet. She arrived Pearl Harbor 9 October via San Diego, California, to commence operations in Hawaiian waters.

She sailed for Okinawa 17 October to receive Navy veterans for transportation to the United States, and returned San Francisco, California, 30 November. Kent Island cleared San Francisco 3 January 1946, transited the Panama Canal, and arrived Hampton Roads 26 January.

Inactivation

Following upkeep, she put into Orange, Texas, 15 March where she was placed out of commission in reserve 22 June 1946. She was redesignated AKS-26 on 18 August 1951 and struck from the Navy List 1 April 1960. Kent Island was sold to Southern Scrap Material Co. 2 November 1960 to be scrapped.

References

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