USS Nicollet
USS Nicollet (AK-199/AG-93/AVS-6) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship acquired by the U.S. Navy shortly before the end of World War II. She was converted into a Gwinnett-class aviation stores issue ship to carry aviation parts and spares, and to issue them to the US Pacific Fleet and activities as needed.
USS Nicollet (AVS-6), probably photographed underway in San Francisco Bay, California, in 1945. | |
History | |
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United States | |
Name | Nicollet |
Namesake | Nicollet County, Minnesota |
Ordered | as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2153[1] |
Builder | Globe Shipbuilding Company, Superior, Wisconsin |
Yard number | 120[1] |
Laid down | 9 February 1944 |
Launched | 31 July 1944 |
Sponsored by | Mrs. F. C. Hanson |
Commissioned | 27 April 1945 |
Decommissioned | 17 June 1946 |
Reclassified |
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Refit | prior to 12 March 1945, converted to Gwinnett-class Aviation Stores Issue Ship |
Stricken | 3 July 1946 |
Identification |
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Fate | Sold to France, 24 July 1947 |
History | |
Republic of France | |
Name | Djerada |
Namesake | City of Djerada |
Acquired | 24 July 1947 |
Fate | reflagged to Morocco, 1959 |
History | |
Morocco | |
Name | Djerada |
Acquired | 1959 |
Fate | Scrapped in Spain, February 1970 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type |
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Type | C1-M-AV1 |
Tonnage | 5,010 long tons deadweight (DWT)[1] |
Displacement |
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Length | 388 ft 8 in (118.47 m) |
Beam | 50 ft (15 m) |
Draft | 21 ft 1 in (6.43 m) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion | 1 × propeller |
Speed | 11.5 kn (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph) |
Capacity |
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Complement |
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Armament |
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Construction
Nicollet was laid down 9 February 1944, for the US Maritime Commission, MC hull 2153, by Globe Shipbuilding Corporation; named Nicollet 25 February 1944; launched 31 July 1944, as AK-199; sponsored by Mrs. F. C. Hanson; converted for Navy use by Samuelson Shipyard, Beaumont, Texas, and Brown Shipyard, Houston, Texas; redesignated AG–93 on 12 March 1945; and commissioned 27 April.[3]
Service history
World War II-related service
After shakedown in the Gulf of Mexico Nicollet was reclassified AVS–6 effective 25 May 1945. Steaming to the Pacific Ocean, she arrived in the forward area and was assigned to Commander, Air Forces, Subordinate Command Forward, Pacific Fleet. She operated out of Apra Harbor, Guam.[3]
Nicollet followed closely behind the invasion forces to supply newly acquired airstrips and aviation activities with spare parts and other needs. She salvaged goods, returned materials for repair and eventual re-use, and supplied aircraft carriers at sea.[3]
Post-War and decommission
At the end of hostilities she continued to support naval and marine air groups, both carrier and land-based. In April 1946 she returned to the U.S. West Coast via Pearl Harbor. Following a cruise to the Gulf of Mexico, she sailed again to the western Pacific Ocean.[3]
Returning to San Francisco, California, she decommissioned and was returned to the War Shipping Administration 17 June. She was struck from the Navy Register.[3]
Merchant service
Nicollet was sold to the Republic of France on 24 July 1947. She was reflagged for France and renamed Djerada.[4] In 1959 she was transferred to Morocco and reflagged. She was eventually scrapped in 1970[1]
Bibliography
Online resources
- "Nicollet". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 17 November 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- "C1 Cargo Ships". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
- "Nicollet (AG-93/AVS-6)". Navsource.org. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
- "Nicollet (AK-199/AVS-6)". United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
External links
- Photo gallery of USS Nicollet (AVS-6) at NavSource Naval History