.gif)
USS Muskingum (AK-198)
Encyclopedia
USS Muskingum (AK-198) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship
that was constructed for the U.S. Navy during the closing period of World War II. Muskingum supported the end-of-war Navy effort and was subsequently placed in service with the U.S. Army as USAT V-108. In 1950 she was reclaimed by the Navy as USNS Muskingum (T-AK-198) and remained in her service until struck in 1973.
, 30 June 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Henry Larson; and commissioned 24 April 1945 at Houston, Texas
, Lt. M. H. Bryant in command.
, she departed Gulfport, Mississippi
, 26 May 1945 with cargo for the Pacific Ocean. She arrived at Subic Bay
, Philippine Islands, 4 August 1945 via the Panama Canal
and Manus
, the Admiralty Islands
. The next few months were spent in carrying passengers and freight between Philippine ports.
She departed Tacloban, Leyte
, 24 January 1946, arriving Yokohama
31 January. The ship was decommissioned 7 March 1946 and turned over to the War Shipping Administration
(WSA) for future transfer to the U.S. Army Transportation Corps. She was striken from the Navy List
5 June 1946.
The cargo ship was designated V-208 and operated between ports in Japan, Korea
, and the Mariana Islands
under control of the Japanese Merchant Marine. Overall control was exercised by Supreme Commander of Allied Forces, Japan
.
, she carried supplies between Japan and Korea.
Since 1951, AK-198 has been under control of MSTS Far East, operating out of Japan. Besides providing logistical support for U.S. forces in Korea, Muskingum carried supplies to American and Allied forces in South Vietnam
.
Navy.
Her subsequent fate is not known.
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
that was constructed for the U.S. Navy during the closing period of World War II. Muskingum supported the end-of-war Navy effort and was subsequently placed in service with the U.S. Army as USAT V-108. In 1950 she was reclaimed by the Navy as USNS Muskingum (T-AK-198) and remained in her service until struck in 1973.
Built in Superior, Wisconsin
Muskingum, a cargo ship, was laid down 26 January 1944; launched by Globe Shipbuilding Co., Superior, WisconsinSuperior, Wisconsin
Superior is a city in and the county seat of Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 26,960 at the 2010 census. Located at the junction of U.S. Highways 2 and 53, it is north of and adjacent to both the Village of Superior and the Town of Superior.Superior is at the western...
, 30 June 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Henry Larson; and commissioned 24 April 1945 at Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, Lt. M. H. Bryant in command.
World War II-related service
After shakedownSea trial
A sea trial is the testing phase of a watercraft . It is also referred to as a "shakedown cruise" by many naval personnel. It is usually the last phase of construction and takes place on open water, and can last from a few hours to many days.Sea trials are conducted to measure a vessel’s...
, she departed Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi after the state capital Jackson. It is the larger of the two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. As of the...
, 26 May 1945 with cargo for the Pacific Ocean. She arrived at Subic Bay
Subic Bay
Subic Bay is a bay forming part of Luzon Sea on the west coast of the island of Luzon in Zambales, Philippines, about 100 kilometers northwest of Manila Bay. Its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility named U.S...
, Philippine Islands, 4 August 1945 via the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
and Manus
Manus Island
Manus Island is part of Manus Province in northern Papua New Guinea and is the largest island of the Admiralty Islands. It is the fifth largest island in Papua New Guinea with an area of 2,100 km², measuring around 100 km × 30 km. According to the 2000 census, Manus Island had a...
, the Admiralty Islands
Admiralty Islands
The Admiralty Islands are a group of eighteen islands in the Bismarck Archipelago, to the north of New Guinea in the south Pacific Ocean. These are also sometimes called the Manus Islands, after the largest island. These rainforest-covered islands form part of Manus Province, the smallest and...
. The next few months were spent in carrying passengers and freight between Philippine ports.
She departed Tacloban, Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
, 24 January 1946, arriving Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
31 January. The ship was decommissioned 7 March 1946 and turned over to the War Shipping Administration
War Shipping Administration
The War Shipping Administration was a World War II emergency war agency of the US Government, tasked to purchase and operate the civilian shipping tonnage the US needed for fighting the war....
(WSA) for future transfer to the U.S. Army Transportation Corps. She was striken from the Navy List
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
5 June 1946.
The cargo ship was designated V-208 and operated between ports in Japan, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, and the Mariana Islands
Mariana Islands
The Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
under control of the Japanese Merchant Marine. Overall control was exercised by Supreme Commander of Allied Forces, Japan
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers was the title held by General Douglas MacArthur during the Occupation of Japan following World War II...
.
Reacquired from the U.S. Army
Muskingum was operated by Japanese under jurisdiction of the U.S. Army until 1 July 1950, when she was reinstated on the Navy List for operations under Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) WesPac (Western Pacific). During the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, she carried supplies between Japan and Korea.
Since 1951, AK-198 has been under control of MSTS Far East, operating out of Japan. Besides providing logistical support for U.S. forces in Korea, Muskingum carried supplies to American and Allied forces in South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
.
Decommissioning
Muskingum continued with service with the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) until an unknown date and was struck from the Navy List on 15 June 1973. On 1 April 1982 Muskingum was transferred to the Trust Territory of the Pacific IslandsTrust Territory of the Pacific Islands
The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was a United Nations trust territory in Micronesia administered by the United States from 1947 to 1986.-History:...
Navy.
Her subsequent fate is not known.
Honors and awards
Qualified Muskingum personnel were eligible for the following:- American Campaign MedalAmerican Campaign MedalThe American Campaign Medal was a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was first created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt...
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign MedalThe Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal is a service decoration of the Second World War which was awarded to any member of the United States military who served in the Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945 and was created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was...
- World War II Victory MedalWorld War II Victory MedalThe World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. The decoration commemorates military service during World War II and is awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of...
- Navy Occupation Service MedalNavy Occupation Service MedalThe Navy Occupation Service Medal is a decoration of the United States Navy which was issued to Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel who participated in the European and Asian occupation forces following the close of the World War II. The decoration was also bestowed to personnel who...
(with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service MedalNational Defense Service MedalThe National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
- Vietnam Service MedalVietnam Service MedalThe Vietnam Service Medal is a military award which was created in 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The distinctive design was the creation of sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, a former employee of the Army Institute of Heraldry. The medal is issued to recognize military service during...
(1) - Philippines Liberation Medal
- Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal