USS Arequipa (AF-31)

History
United States
Ordered: as R1-M-AV3 hull, MC hull 2195
Laid down: 17 January 1944
Launched: 4 May 1944
Acquired: 19 December 1944
Commissioned: 14 January 1945
Decommissioned: 25 August 1955
Struck: 1 September 1961
Fate: sold in December 1972
General characteristics
Displacement: 3,139 t.(lt) 6,240 t.(fl)
Length: 338 ft (103 m)
Beam: 50 ft (15 m)
Draught: 18 ft (5.5 m)
Propulsion: diesel engine, single screw, 1,700shp
Speed: 12 kts. (max)
Capacity: 2,120 long tons deadweight (DWT)
Complement: 84
Armament: one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount, six single 20mm gun mounts

USS Arequipa (AF-31) was an Adria-class stores ship acquired by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. Her task was to carry stores, refrigerated items, and equipment to ships in the fleet, and to remote stations and staging areas.

Arequipa was laid down on 17 January 1944 under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2195) by Pennsylvania Shipyards, Inc., at Beaumont, Texas; launched on 4 May 1944; sponsored by Mrs. L. Osius; transferred to the Navy on 19 December 1944; towed to Todd Shipyards in Galveston, Texas, for conversion; and commissioned on 14 January 1945, Lt. Ralph E. Deckwa in command.

World War II service

After a brief shakedown in the Gulf of Mexico followed by a short availability, the store ship departed Galveston on 31 January and steamed to Mobile, Alabama, to receive her initial load. She departed the United States on 7 February as part of Service Squadron 9 and shuttled provisions to various ships and shore activities throughout the Pacific Ocean, primarily in the Philippine Islands, the Admiralty Islands, and the Netherlands East Indies.

End-of-war activity

Before the end of October 1945, Arequipa had serviced 905 ships and 41 shore activities and travelled over 35,000 miles. On 19 December, she went into drydock at Manicani Island in Leyte Gulf.

Post-war operations

Following overhaul, Arequipa returned to the United States and picked up provisions in San Francisco, California, for delivery to ports throughout the Pacific Islands, Japan, and China. From May 1946 until November 1954, the stores ship delivered supplies, almost without interruption except for periodic repair and overhaul.

Inactivation and decommissioning

Arequipa underwent a pre-inactivation overhaul at Pearl Harbor from November 1954 to June 1955 and then steamed to San Diego, California, to join the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was decommissioned on 25 August 1955, and her name was struck from the Navy list on 1 September 1961. She was sold in December 1972 to Star-Kist Foods, Inc., of Terminal Island, California, for non-transportation use. Fate: unknown. The Arequipa was toured by a former crewman, Don King USN (Ret), in San Diego prior to being towed offshore and scuttled to become an artficial reef.

Military awards and honors

Arequipa received one battle star for the Korean War conflict. Her crew was eligible for the following medals:

See also

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

External links

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