U.S.S. Capella
AK-13
1942
(Saratoga Model Shipyard SMY-68)
- Class: Sirius - 4 cargo ships of 1919
- Displacement: 11,400 tons
- Dimensions: 401' x 54'2" x 24'5"
- Machinery: 1-shaft steam turbine, S.H.P. 2,500 = 11.5 knots
- Armament: 2-5"/51, 4-3"/50, 8-20mm guns
- Complement: 271
- Builder: American International Shipbuilding Corp, Hog Island, PA
- Laid down: 1919
- Launched: 3 Mar 1920
- Delivered: 17 Apr 1920
- Acquired: 20 Nov 1921
- Commissioned: 8 Dec 1921 / 10 Nov 1938
- Decommissioned: 1 Sep 1924 / 30 Nov 1945
- Notes: Laid down and launched as SS Comerant, a United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corp Standard Type A Freighter built at Hog Island. After a short period of commercial service she was one of six Hog Islanders taken over by the Navy in 1921, four of which received an AK designation. Renamed USS Capella, she arrived San Diego 22 Mar 1922 and began shipping duties along west coast. In Oct 1923 she carried relief supplies to Japan after the Yokohama earthquake. Put into reserve in 1924, she spent 14 years in layup before recommissioning in 1938. Resumed transport duties on east and west coasts, including towing 10,700 ton New Orleans floating drydock from Panama Canal to Pearl Harbor in Jul-Aug 1940. Returned to east coast Sep 1940 to carry cargo to new bases from Caribbean to Greenland. While in Narragansett Bay on 9 Apr 1942 she was accidentally torpedoed by PT-59 with eight injuries; repaired at New York Navy Yard and resumed operations 20 May 1942. Made four transatlantic crossings starting from Jun 1944. Laid up postwar and sold for scrap Oct 1947.
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